Mary Allen
The dachshund is a handy dog. But he still has it as a fist behind his ears. Find out everything about the character, keeping, and care here.
The dachshund has many names: dachshund, teckel or – very Bavarian – zamperl. By the way, this stands for “small and cute dogs”.
The dachshund is indeed small and cute. At the same time, he is also a sly old man behind his hanging ears. This dog invented the proverbial dachshund look, and it’s hard to resist. But it is always necessary!
Because dachshunds are just as well known for something else as for their look: their stubbornness and independence. However, this does not detract from their popularity. Dachshunds have a long tradition and a loyal fan community, especially in Bavaria. The dogs are part of the Bavarian cultural heritage.
But also nationwide, the courageous and sometimes somewhat megalomaniac dachshunds are among the most popular dog breeds in Germany – right after the shepherd dog. The choice of breeder is very important. Because even if the dachshund no longer has the importance of earlier times as a dog for hunting, there are still breeds that are shaped by hunting.
Non-hunters should rather pay attention to so-called beauty breeds if they do not want to deal with a pronounced hunting instinct. But even these lines are still endowed with a large portion of hunting spirit.
What does a dachshund look like?
Dachshunds can be recognized at first sight by their elongated body and short legs. The long-hanging ears are also part of the typical dachshund. Based on the size, three types of this dog can be distinguished: dachshund, a miniature dachshund, and rabbit dachshund.
All three dachshunds can also be divided into three hair types:
- Long-haired dachshund: Long, shiny coat
- Wire-haired dachshund: slightly bristly-wiry fur and a beard under the snout
- Short-haired dachshund: Smooth, lying coat
There are different color variants for all three coat types:
- Monochrome: red, yellow, or red-yellow (red-brown is acceptable but undesirable)
- Bicolor: Black or brown with rusty brown or yellow markings
- Spotted, tabby, brindle: Dark base color (black, red, or grey) with gray or beige spots
- Only for wire-haired dachshunds: light to dark boar and dry-leaved color
The breed standard does not specify the size in centimeters for dachshunds. The standard adult dachshund is instead said to have a chest circumference of 35 cm. The miniature dachshund is 30 to 35 cm and the small rabbit dachshund has a maximum of 30 cm.
How heavy is a dachshund?
Here, too, the breed standard remains vague: it only gives an upper weight limit of 9 kg for the standard dachshund. Weight between 6 and 8 kg is used as a guide for the miniature dachshund. The smallest representative, the rabbit dachshund, weighs around 4 kg.
How old does a dachshund get?
The dachshund is one of the small and therefore particularly long-lived dog breeds. The average life expectancy of a dachshund is 12 to 16 years.
What character or nature does the dachshund have?
The dachshund is a small dog, but with a lot of self-confidence. In some cases, this even borders on disrespect – at least towards large dogs.
But that’s no wonder, after all, dachshunds were bred to decide for themselves where to go and what to do when hunting. A “Will to please”, i.e. the wish to please, as in the case of a Labrador or German Shepherd, for example, is only found in exceptional cases in the Dachshund.
Despite their stubbornness, dachshunds are very even-tempered, meaning they are neither fearful nor aggressive. They are friendly towards people. When hunting, they are fully involved and show incredible endurance. Therefore, it is important for owners to start with the puppy with consistent education, so that the dog does not become independent later in the free run.
Where does the dachshund come from?
The dachshund has its roots in Germany. It was bred in this country as a hunting dog, although ownership was a privilege of the nobility for a long time. With their short legs, the dachshunds were reliable hunting companions. Their job was to follow foxes and badgers into the burrow and drive them out of the burrow in front of the hunter’s gun. Hence the name Dachshund. However, his job did not include killing the prey.
Dachshunds quickly became popular companions and family dogs. Famous lovers of the breed included Napoleon Bonaparte and Kaiser Wilhelm II. Painter Pablo Picasso and his dachshund Lump were an inseparable couple, as was artist Andy Warhol and his dachshund duo Archie and Amos.
The star of the 1972 Olympics: a dachshund
The 1972 Olympic Games in Munich made the dachshund famous all over the world from Germany: Their mascot was the colorful dachshund Waldi. Also in the 1970s, the dachshund gained dubious fame as the nodding dog on the rear shelves of German cars.
Although dachshunds rank second in the list of the most popular dog breeds – measured by the number of puppies in VDH clubs – they are not fashionable dogs. This is also because there is now a lot of competition from other breeds in the size category, such as the Jack Russell Terrier or the Maltese. Some dogs of comparably small size have a simpler character.
Dachshund: The right attitude and training
A dachshund definitely needs a consistent but loving upbringing. The independent and self-confident small dogs are not self-runners, so assertiveness and empathy are required when training them. Set clear rules and stick to them yourself, and the dachshund will learn very quickly what you expect from them.
The hunting instinct that has been cultivated represents a challenge for family life. You should definitely get this under control if you plan not only to walk your dachshund on a leash but also to allow him the necessary freedom to run. Get some exercise with a stimulation rod. The simulated hunting game suits the character of dogs of this breed especially well.
In the household, dachshunds get along well with other animals, even with cats or chickens, at least if they get used to them early enough. Ideally, dachshunds get to know as many other animals as possible when they are puppies. However, small animals will always be potential prey on walks. As the owner, you must therefore always be prepared for an unauthorized hunting trip.
Because of their physique, dachshunds are not really suitable for classic dog sports. But they love long walks or extensive hikes. They also learn tricks very quickly. A more species-appropriate activity is rummaging and sniffing – this also includes mantrailing. The sleuth can really show what she’s got. You can also try to get the dachshunds to fetch.
By the way, dachshund owners should avoid frequent climbing of stairs with their darling. In this way, you can prevent the dachshund paralysis that is typical of the breed. If there are more than a few steps, it is better to pick up the dachshund. And this applies to both puppies and adult dogs of this breed.
What care does the dachshund need?
It doesn’t matter whether they have smooth, long, or rough hair: brush your dachshund properly once a week. This brings the fur into shape and also has a pleasant massage effect.
With long-haired dachshunds, grooming the fur is a bit more complex. Here you should not forget the tail and the places behind the ears when brushing and combing. They become matted quickly.
There is one special thing you should note about wire-haired dachshunds: a dog with the characteristic, shaggy coat should be trimmed at regular intervals. This will remove loose and dead hair. Then wire-haired dachshunds do not shed excessively. Incidentally, scissors are never an option for the dachshund: This destroys the protective structure of the fur.
You should also regularly take a look at the teeth when caring for them because inflammation in the mouth is not only painful but can also affect the rest of the body.
What typical diseases does the dachshund have?
Their long life expectancy already shows that dachshunds are healthy and agile dogs with the right care. A very typical clinical picture for dachshunds is the so-called dachshund paralysis. This is a herniated disc that shows signs of paralysis due to pinched nerves.
Dog breeds with particularly short legs are particularly affected. Although these are typical for dachshunds or bassets, they are at the same time the result of a genetically determined cartilage growth disorder
How much does a dachshund cost?
The price of a puppy bred by the German Teckel Club (VDH) is between 800 and 1,500 euros. Rarer colors are usually a bit more expensive than a “normal” pig-colored dachshund.