About Dachshunds

The Dachshund with it's long body and short legs ( 2 dogs long and 1/2 a dog high ) is a member of the hound group. They were originally developed in German hundreds of years ago for hunting Badgers. "Dachs" is German for Badger.The miniature size was bred to hunt rabbits. The dachshund has a deep chest to allow enough lung capacity to keep going when hunting especially for digging their prey out of burrows. The long ears help to keep grass seeds, dirt, burrs and other debris from entering the ear canal. The curved tail helps the dachshund to be more visable in tall grass and/or to help pull them out a burrow if it becomes stuck.

The dachshund is affectionate, lively, curious and some say slightly mischievous. They may tend to be a little difficult to train, and may attempt to train the trainer. if you establish yourself as the boss then they will strive to please you. Dachshunds show great loyalty and affection, making them an excellent companion for anyone. Dachshunds love to be around people and should never exhibit signs of aggression or timidity.

The Dachshund is naturally free from "doggy" odor. They are very clean and don't need to be bathed often. Longhaired dachshunds should be brushed at least monthly, if not weekly. Since this dog is so low to the ground, he is subject to getting burrs and twigs stuck in his coat which should be removed daily if any are present. Brushing of the coat should be done on a regular basis to prevent tangling and/or matting. The Smooth Haired variety doesn't require much grooming and would respond well to an occasional wipe down with a damp towel, or a rough towel to remove any loose hair.

The Dachshund comes in three different coat varieties. The Smooth Haired Dachshund, Wirehaired Dachshund, and the Longhaired Dachshund. He also comes in two different sizes ; standard and miniature. The Smooth Coat Dachshund should have a straight, smooth, short, and glossy coat that should all be the same length along the body of the dog.The Longhaired Dachshund has a long and straight coat, with hair slightly feathered and longer on the underbelly, ears, chest, and the Wirehaired Dachshund has a coat of broken appearance with wiry, coarse, and harsh hair.