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Dachshund
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The Dachshund is a short-legged, elongated dog breed of the
hound family. Variations of the pronunciation include däks'hoont, -
hʊnt, -hʊnd, -ənd, dɑks-, dæks-, dæʃ-), the breed's name is
German and literally means "badger dog", from [der] Dachs,
"badger", and [der] Hund, "dog". Due to the long, narrow build,
they are sometimes referred to as a hot dog dog, a wiener dog or
a sausage dog. Not withstanding the German origin of the
dachshund's name, within German-speaking countries, the breed
is known—both formally and informally—as the Dackel, or in the
case of certified hunting and tracking rank, as Teckel.
While classified in the hound group or scent hound group in the
United States and Great Britain, there may be some who consider
the classification to be arguable, speculating that it arose from the
fact that the word Hund, is similar to the English word hound, and
the word "Dachshund" has even been both pronounced and
translated, albeit incorrectly, as "Dash Hound". Many Dachshunds,
especially the wire-haired sub type, may exhibit behavior and
appearance that are similar to that of the terrier group of dogs.
The standard size was developed to scent, chase, and flush
badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature
was developed to hunt smaller prey, like rabbits. An argument can
be made for the scent or hound group classification because the
breed was developed to utilize scent to trail and hunt animals, and
probably descended from scent hounds, such as bloodhounds,
pointers, Basset Hounds, or even Bruno Jura Hounds; with the
dogged and persistent personality and love for digging that
probably developed from the terrier, it can also be argued that
they could belong in the terrier, or "earth dog", group. In the
Fédération Cynologique Internationale (World Canine Federation),
or FCI, the dachshund is actually in its own group, Group 4, which
is the dachshund group. Part of the controversy is due to the fact
that the dachshund is the only certifiable breed of dog to hunt
both above and below ground.
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Dachshund
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Country of origin
United Kindgom
Weight
Miniature: 8-11 lb
Standard: 11-30 lb
Height
Miniature: 12-14 in
Standard: 14-18 in
Coat
Smooth, long and wire-hair
Color
Varies
Life span
12-15 years
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Description
Appearance
The typical dachshund is long-bodied and muscular. They are also
known for their short and stubby legs. Their paws are unusually
large and paddle-shaped, for efficient digging. Their skin is loose
so that it will not tear as the dog tunnels down into tight burrows to
chase its prey. The dachshund has a deep chest to allow enough
lung capacity to keep going when hunting. Their noses are long to
increase the area that absorbs odors.
There are three types, classified by their coats: short-haired,
called "smooth"; long-haired; and wire-haired.
Size
Dachshunds come in three sizes: standard, miniature, and
kaninchen, which means rabbit. Although the standard and
miniature sizes are recognized almost universally, the rabbit size is
not recognized by clubs in the United States and the United
Kingdom, but is recognized by all of the clubs within the Fédération
Cynologique Internationale (World Canine Federation) (FCI), which
contain kennel clubs from 83 countries all over the world.
Coat and Color
Dachshunds exhibit three coat varieties: smooth coat (short hair),
long hair, and wire-hair. Wire hair is the least commonly seen coat
in the US (it is the most common in Germany) and the most recent
coat to appear in breeding standards. Many people are unfamiliar
with wire-hairs and commonly mistake them for other breeds.
Temperament
Dachshunds are playful, known for their propensity for chasing
small animals, birds, and tennis balls with great determination and
ferocity. Many dachshunds are stubborn, making them a challenge
to train.
They have a loud bark, making dachshunds good watchdogs,
though without proper training they can become nuisance barkers.
Dachshunds are known for their devotion and loyalty to their
owners, though they can be standoffish towards strangers. If left
alone, many dachshunds will whine until they have companionship.
Like many dogs if left alone too frequently, some dachshunds are
prone to separation anxiety and may chew objects in the house to
relieve stress. They rank 49th in Stanley Coren's Intelligence of
Dogs, being of average working and obedience intelligence. The
dachshund will, in some cases, show above-average intelligence,
being able to break out of improperly made cages or figuring out
how to get their favorite blanket out of a basket.
Dachshunds can be difficult to housebreak, and patience and
consistency is often needed in this endeavor.
Health
The breed is known to have spinal problems, especially
intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), due in part to an extremely long
spinal column and short rib cage. The risk of injury may be
worsened by obesity, jumping, rough handling, or intense exercise,
which place greater strain on the vertebrae.
Treatment consists of various combinations of crate confinement
and courses of anti-inflammatory medications (steroids and
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like carprofen and
meloxicam), or chronic pain medications, like tramadol. Serious
cases may require surgery to remove the troublesome disk
contents. A dog may need the aid of a cart to get around if
paralysis occurs.
A new minimally invasive procedure called "percutaneous laser
disk ablation" has been developed at the Oklahoma State
University Veterinary Hospital. Originally, the procedure was used
in clinical trials only on dachshunds that had suffered previous
back incidents. Since dachshunds are prone to back issues, the
goal is to expand this treatment to dogs in a normal population.
In addition to back problems, the breed is also prone to patellar
luxation.
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