Loved all over the world, the dachshund is a devoted companion, an excellent guardian, and a dog that is perfect for a family. Owners praise the dachshunds for their sharp minds and good contact with people. This breed was an inspiration for such personalities as: Napoleon, Anton Pawłowicz Chekhov, Andy Warhol and Picasso.
This cute short-legged dog belongs to the oldest burrowing breed and some of the oldest hunting dogs. The dachshund first appeared in kennels about 600 years ago in Germany. About the same time, the ancestors of the dachshunds appeared in Russia. The long, slender body of the dachshund, combined with a wise and brave personality, made him a formidable opponent for small game. Regular breeding of the dachshund has been carried out in Germany since the XNUMXth century. The breeders' activities were aimed at creating a breed ideally suited to badger hunting. Hence the name of the breed "dachhund", which literally means "badger dog". Then, from the hounds, individuals with the shortest legs were selected, genetically consolidating this trait.
The breed acquired its modern appearance in 1814. Then, after crossing the short-haired dachshund with other breeds of dogs, the long-haired and wire-haired varieties were obtained. The dachshund began its transformation into a pet in the XNUMXth century. The brave pooch quickly won the hearts of people, including members of the royal family (Queen Victoria).
Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog is different.
According to the FCI standards (pattern no. 148, group IV), the dachshund is a hunting dog, subject to work trials. It comes in three different colors: it can have smooth, rough or long hair. Smooth-haired dogs are the original and still the most popular type of dachshund. Later, breeders crossed smooth dachshunds with a spaniel and a terrier, thus obtaining the other two varieties.
In principle, any color of the dachshund coat is allowed and the most common are quadrupeds with black and tan or red-brown hair. Wirehaired dachshunds have a soft undercoat that is covered with a short, thick and hard outer coat with a rough texture. They also have a prominent beard and eyebrows. Longhair Dachshunds have a smooth, shiny, often wavy coat that is longer on the ears and neck, body and behind the legs.
Dachshunds come in two sizes: standard and miniature. Standard individuals that were used for hunting weigh up to 10 kg, miniatures 4 - 6 kg. Dachshund eye color varies depending on the color and pattern of the coat. Smooth dachshunds, with a solid and two-colored coat, have dark eyes, while the eyes of motley specimens are blue. Dachshunds' short legs keep them low to the ground to track scents, while their narrow bodies, loose skin, and large chest allow them to crawl in burrows. The wide legs are perfect for digging. Even droopy ears help them to throw soil out.
The dachshund draws attention with its charming appearance, which may lead to the erroneous conclusion that it is a funny dog - a mascot. Despite their small size, dachshunds are fearless and relentless. This little dog burrowed into burrows or scared its prey out of them, and more than once fought fiercely with it. Even though modern dachshunds are more of a domestic dog, the breed has retained its pugnacity. These dogs still like to dig holes (e.g. in the backyard) and hide in blankets in the den or in the sheets on the bed.
The dachshund is an energetic and extremely alert pet. He can raise a loud alarm at the sight of strangers. The representative of this breed is considered to be a very playful dog that has the ability to draw attention to itself. However, it is important to socialize the dachshund early. Despite his reputation as being quite a stubborn and mischievous pet, he is prone to obedience training. Of course, the key to educational success is a friendly approach, patience and consistency.
The dachshund is perfect for a single adult, a family with children, and the elderly. However, owners should be patient, understanding and have a great sense of humor. When taking a dog of this breed into your roof, it is worth remembering that it does not tolerate climbing stairs. This should be made easier for him to soften jumping which can seriously damage the hips and discs of the dachshund. Therefore, it is important to take into account that your dog may need to be lifted frequently. The second issue is the need to encourage your pet to do daily activities, because obesity is a big problem for this breed. Three short walks a day may be a prescription.
All three types of dachshund shed a small amount of hair. They are considered to be a hypoallergenic breed and usually stay clean even after a long walk. Only their paws need care, especially after a vigorous digging session in the ground. The smooth-haired dachshund is very easy to care for, you only need to wipe its hair with a towel or brush it once a week. Long-haired individuals need more frequent brushing, while the Wirehaired Dachshund is the most demanding of the three. You should brush it regularly and trim your beard and eyebrows frequently. In addition, all varieties require weekly ear care, teeth and claws.
The dachshund gained great popularity in the USA, where it was imported as early as 1885. Due to its elongated and narrow structure, it was called a "hotdog" there.
The colorful dachshund named Waldi was the first official mascot of the Munich Summer Olympics in 1972. There is even a dachshund-shaped marathon route.
The first dog to be successfully cloned is a dachshund named Winnie, of which he is the perfect donor copy and a healthy dog.
Dachshunds are a long-lived and healthy dog breed, generally living between 13 and 16 years of age. One of the dachshunds, a female named Chanel, set a Guinness World Record for being the longest-lived dog. She passed away at the age of 21.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau had the Bule and Scafandrier dachshunds that no sea expedition could do without.
The dog's organism is a unique system in which many biochemical processes take place, conditioning the level of physical and intellectual development of a quadruped. The proper functioning of hormones affects the proper functioning of internal organs, the balance of the entire body and, consequently, the health and life expectancy of your pet. Unfortunately, endocrine disruptions can lead to a variety of conditions, including a complex disease such as Cushing's disease in a dog.
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