in

Dachshund: Dog Breed Information

This elongated dog with a narrow muzzle and short limbs is the best hunter and has a strong, strong-willed character. Dachshund always keeps its nose to the wind, and its beautiful posture, head held high and free movement fascinate and delight. If you are an active and energetic person, then you seem to have found your ideal pet!

Appearance

Dachshund is one of the most popular dog breeds, whose representatives exude energy, optimism, curiosity, and a great love of life every second. These are medium-sized, but very strong and hardy dogs, with a squat elongated body, an elongated narrow muzzle, and short limbs.

There are several varieties of Dachshunds: by weight and size and by type of coat. Let’s start with the first classification:

  • Standard Dachshunds. The height at the withers in males is 22-27 cm, females – 20-25 cm. Weight is from 6.5 to 9 kg. Chest girth from 35 cm.
  • Dwarf Dachshunds. Height at withers in males is 16-21 cm, females – 14-19 cm. Chest circumference 30-35 cm.
  • Rabbit Dachshunds. The height at the withers of males is 12-15 cm, females – 13-10 cm. Weight is less than 3.5 kg. Chest circumference less than 30 cm.

By type of wool, Dachshunds are:

  • Shorthaired. The coat is short, smooth, and dense. The following colors are allowed: one-color (red, deer, sable), two-color (black, gray, chocolate with white markings on the limbs, tan with light spots on the head, chest, and limbs, etc.), marble (or harlequin, light main color with red, brown or black irregular spots).
  • Wire-haired. The coat is thick, hard, dense, with an undercoat. There are prominent eyebrows, a mustache, and a small goatee. The color can be different.
  • Long-haired. The coat is long, soft, slightly wavy. The color options are the same as for short-haired Dachshunds.

The eyes of Dachshunds are dark brown, the ears are necessarily drooping and rounded at the tips, the tail is thinning in the direction from the base, and in the active state, it is kept on the line of the back.

Character

The appearance of a Dachshund may give the impression of its clumsiness and sluggishness, but it is difficult to find a more agile and dexterous animal than it. Dachshunds are incredibly energetic, they are always on the move, love to play, and have an inexhaustible source of cheerfulness and optimism. They are quick-witted, brave, hardy – in a word, they have all the qualities of an ideal hunter.

At the same time, the Dachshund is a wonderful pet, but only for active people. If you lead an active lifestyle, this dog will become your best friend and companion, with whom it is so interesting to travel and reach new heights!

However, when starting a Dachshund, one should take into account the willfulness of the breed. If not enough attention is paid to raising a pet, then it is very likely to grow up disobedient and obstinate.

Health

Like other hunters, Dachshunds are characterized by excellent health. However, due to the peculiarities of the skeleton, they may develop back problems and develop hernias. Another “taxicum” disease is acanthosis nigricans, but it is rare. Some diseases can be hereditary, others develop in conditions of improper maintenance and feeding. Be careful when choosing a puppy, study the pedigrees of his ancestors and follow the recommendations for maintenance and care.

The life span of Dachshunds, if properly maintained, ranges from 14 to 17 years.

Care

Dachshunds feel great in living conditions and demonstrate themselves as rather unpretentious pets. Daily active walks are a prerequisite for their maintenance. However, you need to make sure that the dog jumps up and down as little as possible because such jumps cause displacement of the vertebrae.

It is enough to comb out wool for Dachshunds once a week. The condition of the eyes and ears should be monitored regularly.

Correct maintenance is impossible without high-quality balanced feeding. Dachshunds should never be overfed.

History

Unfortunately, it is impossible to trace the entire history of the breed, but it is known that the shorthaired variety is the oldest.

Short-haired Dachshunds were bred in the 17th century. by crossing Pinscher and Brakkov (old undersized hounds). These dogs gave rise to the development of two other varieties: long-haired (crossed with Spaniels, 18th century) and wire-haired (short-haired Dachshunds, Schnauzers, Miniature Pinschers, Scottish Terriers, Dandy Dinmont Terriers participated in the selection). The first official breed standard was published in 1879.

Dachshunds have long been used for hunting game, hare, rabbit, fox, and badger, and have established themselves as the most talented hunters. Today, Dachshunds continue to serve as hunting pets, but, in addition, they are popular pets, which are often kept both outside the city and within the city.

Conclusion

The Dachshund is a very friendly and active dog. She is a true hunter by nature. The pet must be brought up from early childhood, otherwise, the consequences will be unpleasant: you will have to watch the dog fights and periodically remove the spoiled things in the house. Dachshunds need to be started in large families, especially where there are small children. A smart dog is able to understand and analyze situations, she is fearless and loves her owners very much. Dachshund is rarely sick, but it is still worth observing the pet’s health, periodically examining its skin and undercoat for the presence of parasites, lichens, or dermatitis.

Alice White

Written by Alice White

Alice White, a devoted pet lover and writer, has turned her boundless affection for animals into a fulfilling career. Originally dreaming of wildlife, her limited scientific background led her to specialize in animal literature. Now she happily spends her days researching and writing about various creatures, living her dream.

Leave a Reply

Avatar

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *