[daks' hoond] "badger hunter"

Records of this breed date back to the 15th century. It was originally bred in Germany for the purpose of hunting and killing badgers (dachs=badger; hund=dog). The long body and short legs were bred into the breed so the dog could follow the badger into its burrow; its legs are actually quite powerful, since it was often necessary for early dachshunds to dig the badger out of its burrow. Centuries of breeding dachshunds for hunting and killing such a dangerous animal as a badger makes today's dachshunds amazingly fearless for their size.

The name Dachshund became a breed designation in the early 17th century, with smooth and longhaired coat varieties; wirehairs were added as a distinct variety in 1890. American Kennel Club registrations began in 1885.

Dachshunds come in two recognized sizes. The standard stands 14-18 inches high and weighs 16-32 pounds. Miniature dachshunds are no more than 14 inches high and weigh less than 11 pounds.

The dachshund is a lovable and playful dog. It can adapt to most living environments, and is especially well suited for apartment dwellers. Although it can be an ideal pet for children, the dachshund can easily take control of a household if not given specific and very firm boundaries and rules to follow. It is a curious and clever dog, traits which can lead untrained dachshunds to be rather mischievous and, sometimes, destructive.

SOURCE
American Kennel Club www.akc.org/breeds/dachshund/

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This page was last updated on 06/26/2017.