At-A-Glance:  The Dachshund Dog Breed

The Dachshund dog breed has an unforgettable appearance, with a long body, short legs, and a handsome pointed face.

If you enjoy smaller sized dogs who have a bold and adventurous attitude, then the Dachshund is the right one for you.  He loves to hunt, and dig.  If you are fortunate enough to live near a wooded area with trails, you'll enjoy watching your Dachshund catch a scent and go out hunting for game. He is independent but always appreciates the love and attention of his family.

The Dachshund is known to be a wonderful house pet and great around children.  Some of them are more prone to barking than others, but all Dachshunds are considered to be excellent watchdogs with high energy levels.

There are three types of coats and temperaments with this breed:

• Short-haired (or smooth) who is usually alert, bold, and friendly.
• Long-haired who is usually more timid and reserved with strangers and requires a more patient training technique.
• Wire-haired tends to be the most active of the three and though friendly, is the most stubborn.

The Dachshund requires consistent obedience training and early socialization. His great sense of smell will often lead it astray, so make sure you develop a firm training attitude.   Training this dog breed may be a little tough at times, as he is known to be stubborn, but with patience and time, a Dachshund can become excellent at obedience commands.

The Dachshund dog breed comes in two sizes: standard and miniature. The standard-size Dachshund is approximately 9 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 12-24 pounds. The miniature stands 5-6 inches at the shoulder and weighs under 12 pounds.

History/Origin:  The origin of the Dachshund goes back to the 1500's in which their main function was to flush out badgers. It has an excellent sense of smell and a bold and fierce temperament that allowed it to tangle with its sometimes difficult prey.

His size eventually became smaller because it was purposefully bred down in size to hunt foxes and rabbits. Today, however, the Dachshund has become an everyday family house pet.

The Dachshund was officially recognized by the AKC in the early 1900s, and according the the current AKC registration list, this dog has become one of the top five registered breeds of today.

Proper Care & Maintenance:  Even though these dogs can be extremely active and need to expend energy on a daily basis, they are small enough to get plenty of exercise indoors by running around.  However, nothing replaces a nice long walk on a leash through the great outdoors. The Dachshund also enjoys playing games and mental training challenges.

The Dachshund dog breed is known to have a lifespan of between 12 and 14 years.  The only major health concern that is typical of this dog is intervertebral disk disease. Minor concerns are KCS with the occasional health problems springing up of diabetes, gastric torsion, Cushing's disease, deafness, patellar luxation, and seizures. It is suggested that the only specific health test that should be requested is for eye problems.  Obesity can also become a problem with the Dachshund dog when overfed.

The smooth coat of the Dachshund does not require much grooming.  For a long-haired or wire-haired Dachshund, a thorough brushing once or twice per week should suffice.