AN INTRODUCTION TO THE DACHSHUND
ORIGIN
SOME EXPERTS THINK THAT THE DACHSHUND DATES BACK TO ANTIGUITY AND WAS DEPICTED IN EGYPTIAN RELIEFS. WHILE THAT MAY BE TRUE, IT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED THAT THE GERMANS WERE LARGELY RESPONIBLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOG WE KNOW TODAY. SOME TYPE OF FIELD SPANIEL AND TERRIER WERE LIKELY BRED TO THE SMOOTH TO PRODUCE THE LONG COAT AND THE WIRE COAT. THEIR UNIQUE SHAPE WAS DEVELOPED TO SEARCH FOR THEIR QUARRY, THE BADGER. "DACHSHUND" TRANSLATED MEANS "BADGER HOUND." HUNTERS OF THAT DAY USED THE DACHSHUND TO KEEP THE NUMBER OF BADGERS IN CHECK WHILE TODAY'S HUNTERS USE THE DACHSHUND IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS. HIS HUNTING SPIRIT AND GOOD NOSE, LOUD TONGUE AND DISTINCTIVE BUILD MAKE HIM SUITABLE FOR BELOW GROUND WORK AND FOR BEATING THE BUSH. HIS KEEN NOSE GIVES HIM AN ADVANTAGE OVER MANY OTHER BREEDS FOR TRAILING. TODAY, DACHSHUNDS CAN BE SEEN IN MANY AKC SANTIONED ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS EARTHDOG, AGILITY, TRACKING, OBEDIENCE, FIELD TRAILS AND CONFORMATION. IN ADDITION, SOME ARE INVOLVED IN PET THERAPY WORK WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED AS DRUG SNIFFING DOGS BY POLICE.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD, "THE DACHSHUND IS LOW TO THE GROUND, LONG IN BODY AND SHORT OF LEG WITH ROBUST MUSCLES AND ELASTIC, PLIABLE SKIN." THE DACHSHUND IS BRED IN TWO SIZES, WHICH ARE DEFINED BY WEIGHT. THE STANDARD DACHSHUND RANGES IN WEIGHT FROM 16-32 AND THE MINIATURE DACHSHUND WEIGHS 11 POUNDS AND UNDER. IN ADDITION, HE IS BRED IN THREE COAT VARIETIES, THE SMOOTH (SHORT HAIR), THE LONG HAIR (LONG, SILKY COAT), AND THE WIRE (A DENSE WIRY COAT). HIS SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZE MAKES HIM PARTICULARY SUITED FOR SMALL YARDS AND APARTMENT LIVING.
TEMPERAMENT
THE DACHSHUND IS CLEVER, LIVELY AND COURAGEOUS. HE IS AFFECTIONATE AND LOVING TO HIS FAMILY. THE DACHSHUND CRAVES BEING THE CENTER OF ALL FAMILY ACTIVITIES, AND HE IS NOT A DOG WELL SUITED TO BEING AND OUTSIDE PET. THE DACHSHUND IS PROTECTIVE OF HIS ENVIREONMENT AND MAY BARK WHEN SENSES POTENTIAL THREAT.
GROOMING
DACHSHUND ARE GENERALLY VERY CLEAN DOGS WITH LITTLE TO NO BODY ODOR. MINIMAL GROOMING REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THE DACHSHUND INCLUDE CLIPPING THE NAILS, CLEANING THE INSIDE OF THE EARS, BATHING WHEN NECESARY AND REMOVING TARTAR FROM THE TEETH AT LEAST ONCE YEARLY WHEN INDICATED. WIREHAIRED AND LONGHAIRED DACHSHUND MAY REQUIRE REGULAR BRUSHING TO THE COAT.
INFORMATION BY THE DACHSHUND CLUB OF AMERICA, INC.
