Dachshund
Dogs
Dachshund
Dachshund |
Long-haired standard dachshund
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Alternative names |
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Country of origin |
Germany |
Common nicknames |
Doxie |
Classification and breed standards |
FCI: |
Group 4 Section 1 #148 |
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AKC: |
Hound |
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ANKC: |
Group 4 - (Hounds) |
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CKC: |
Group 2 - (Hounds) |
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KC (UK): |
Hound |
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NZKC: |
Hounds |
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UKC: |
Scenthound Breeds |
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Not recognized by any major kennel club |
This breed of dog is
extinct |
Notes |
... |
The Dachshund is a short-legged, elongated
dog
breed
of the hound
family. The breed's name is
German and literally means "badger dog" (der Dachs - badger;
der Hund - dog). The breed was developed to
scent,
chase,
hunt, and
kill
badgers and other hole-dwelling animals. Due to their long, narrow build,
they are sometimes referred to in the
United States and elsewhere as "wiener dogs" or "sausage dogs".
Appearance
Black and tan Miniature smooth-haired dachshund
A full-sized Dachshund averages 12 to 24 lb (5 to 10 kg), while the
Miniature variety typically weighs less than 12 lb (5 kg). Modern Dachshunds
are characterized by their crooked legs, loose skin and barrel-like chest,
attributes that were deliberately added to the breed to increase their ability
to burrow into tight spaces. They come in three coat varieties: Smooth,
Longhaired and Wirehaired; the Wirehaired variety is generally shorter in spine
length than the other two.
H. L.
Mencken said that "A dachshund is a half-dog high and a dog-and-a-half
long," which is their main claim to fame.
Temperament
Dachshunds are loyal, playful fun dogs, known for their propensity to chase
small animals and birds. According to the American Kennel Club's breed
standards, "the Dachshund is clever, lively and courageous to the point of
rashness, persevering in above and below ground work, with all the senses
well-developed. Any display of shyness is a serious fault."[1]
Individuals which are indulged may become snappy[2].
Coat type is often considered to be associated with characteristic temperaments;
the long-haired variety, for instance, is considered to be less excitable than
the other types because it was cross-bred with the
Spaniel to
obtain its characteristic long coat. Some who own long-haired Dachshunds might
disagree with this statement, however. Because of the breed's characteristic
barrel-like chest, the dachshund's lungs are unusually large, making for a
sonorous bark.
Health
The breed is known to have spinal problems, due in part to an extremely long
spinal column and short rib cage. The risk of injury can be worsened by
obesity,
which places greater strain on the
vertebrae.
In order to prevent injury, it is recommended that Dachshunds be discouraged
from jumping and taking stairs. It has become increasingly apparent that the
occurrence and severity of these problems is largely hereditary, and responsible
breeders are working to eliminate this characteristic in the breed.
History
Wire-haired Dachshund
Some have theorized that the early roots of the Dachshund go back to
Ancient Egypt, where engravings were made featuring short-legged hunting
dogs. But in its modern incarnation, the Dachshund is a creation of
European
breeders, and includes elements of
German,
French and
English
hounds and
terriers. Dachshunds have been kept by royal courts all over Europe,
including that of
Queen Victoria, who was particularly enamored of the breed.
The first verifiable references to the Dachshund, originally named the "Tachs
Kriecher" (badger crawler) or "Tachs Krieger" (badger catcher), come from books
written in the early 1700s. Prior to that, there exist references to "badger
dogs" and "hole dogs", but these likely refer to purposes rather than to
specific breeds. The original German Dachshunds were larger than the modern
full-size variety, weighing between 30 and 40 lb (14 to 18 kg), and originally
came in straight-legged and crook-legged varieties (the modern Dachshund is
descended from the latter). Though the breed is famous for its use in
exterminating badgers, Dachshunds were also commonly used for
rabbit and
fox hunting, for
locating wounded deer,
and in packs were known to hunt game as large as
wild boar.
Dominant colors and patterns include Red and Black & Tan. Older traditional
patterns such as piebald and sable are recently gaining in popularity. Recently,
other color and pattern combinations have been developed; it is not uncommon to
see Dachshunds with Brown & Tan, Chocolate & Tan, dapple, double dapple, and
even white coats. Unfortunately, some of these colors require extensive
inbreeding to obtain; double dapples are often born eyeless or with severely
underdeveloped eyes. For this reason, the double dapple coat is extremely
disfavored among responsible breeders and owners.
According to kennel club standards, the Miniature variety differs from the
full-size only by size and weight.
Miscellaneous
Symbol of Germany
Dachshunds have traditionally been viewed as a symbol of Germany, despite
their pan-European heritage. During
World War
I the animals fell so far out of favor in
England and
the United States that dachshunds were stoned to death on the street
[3]. Many Americans began referring to Dachshunds as "liberty pups", and
political cartoonists commonly used the image of the Dachshund to ridicule
Germany. The
stigma of the association was revived to a much reduced extent during
World
War II, and it quickly faded away following the war's end. German Field
Marshal
Erwin Rommel was also known for keeping Dachshunds.
The Dachshund for this association with Germany was chosen to be the first
official mascot
for
1972 Summer Olympics with the name "Waldi"
Dachshund Racing
One of the odder controversies that has recently arisen in North America is
the presence of
Dachshund racing events.
This sport originated in a 1993
Miller
Lite television
commercial that listed odd possibilities for sports (including luge
bowling), and has grown immensely in popularity since. It was featured in a
half-time show for the
San Francisco 49ers. You can see the commercial at the "Wiener
Takes All" homepage (see external links below).
While some compare the sport to that of English and later American
Greyhound racing, others see it having the possibility of harming the breed
from strain placed on its spinal column. Others also see the possibility for
abuse of racing Dachshunds, as evidenced by the large number of Greyhounds put
to sleep every year once they have proven unsuitable for racing, and by those
given up for adoption.
See also
External links
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