Dachshund Overview

The Dachshund was originally developed in German hundreds of years ago. They were originally bred for hunting Badger, hence the name Dachshund. "Dachs" is the German word for Bader. The elongated body and the shortened legs were bred into this dog to dig the prey out and go inside their burrows forcing them to leave their dens. The Miniature variety was bred to hunt hare and stoat. This breed has also been known to hunt foxes and otters along with the badger.

Dachshund History

Early art safely places the Dachshund around the 15^th and 17^th century, depicting short legged dogs with terrier heads chasing badgers. 

Their three types of coats originated before registrations, making them ideal for different situations. For instance, the wirehaired Dachshund was ideally bred to hunt badgers while digging through thick thorns and briars. 

The German standard for the Dachshund was established in 1879, and the German Dachshund Club was founded in 1888. Around 1914, the Dachshund had become widely established in the U.S. 

Conventional knowledge places the Dachshund at the origin of the American hot dog. In the early 20^th century, it was discovered that an ideal food for baseball games was a bratwurst conveniently stored within a bun. Because the long bratwurst lended its shape to the Dachshund, it was only a matter of drawing short legs and a head to create the mascot the food was advertised with; hence the name, hot dog.

Dachshund Character

This is where the Dachshund really shines. Its well-rounded qualities make it versatile and adaptable to many lifestyles, becoming an ideal family dog; unless, of course, its owner’s lifestyle is too busy to provide appropriate attention. 

The Dachshund is always happy to be at its master’s side, be it on a long walk or just sitting on the couch watching TV. Being durable, as dogs usually are, the wiener dog can easily participate with the bigger dogs at the park. Not to worry though, because their little legs only require a half-hour to an hour of walking every day to stay healthy. 

If given enough exercise, the Dachshund is a perfect pet for an apartment, and a companion is always welcome to its friendly, outgoing demeanor. 

While not impossible, the Dachshund is still a challenging dog to train. Its intelligence is shadowed by its personality, and the dog will steamroll its owner if left without training. Still, it is always eager to learn as long as positive rewards follow. 

Jealousy is no stranger to the Dachshund, so be wary of bringing small children or other dogs into the house. It will usually take some time for the Dachshund to become accustomed to the change, and it may become nippy and noisy of not handled properly. Furthermore, the dog may become greedy if not properly trained, stealing food and becoming overweight, which guarantees back problems in this particular dog. 

But in spite of the Dachshund’s shortcomings, its epic personality can be properly directed with enough training, resulting in an excellent family pet with character to spare.

Dachshund Care

The Long Haired variety requires quite a bit of grooming. Being that this dog is so low to the ground, he is prone to getting burrs, sticks, 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 harsh towel to remove any dead or loose hair.

Dachshund Training

The Dachshund can be stubborn at times, making training a little bit difficult for the average owner. This breed requires firm and consistent handling, but can be a little sensitive so he should always be corrected in a gentle manner, never harsh or this breed could become submissive and timid. Dachshunds respond best to a variety of training methods.

Dachshund Health

Common Health Issues for the Dachshund:

Disclaimer: While we try our best to provide accurate medical reference information, it is very likely that we have errors on our website. Do not use this website to diagnose or treat your dog. Please check with your veterinarian for health advice and treatment options.

Less Common Health Issues for the Dachshund:

Disclaimer: While we try our best to provide accurate medical reference information, it is very likely that we have errors on our website. Do not use this website to diagnose or treat your dog. Please check with your veterinarian for health advice and treatment options.

Dachshund Resources