Dachshunds as Pets

The Dachshund or weiner dog as they as lovingly referred in one of the more distinctive appearing dog breeds available. This clever and lively short-legged dog knows how to win over hearts of people eveywhere.

The name Dachshund literally translates from German to mean badger dog. This is because the breed is known for its use exterminating badgers by being the right size to flush them from there burrows. The dog was also used for rabbit and fox hunting, locating wounded deer, and even to participate in boar hunts.

The first documentation of the Dachshund comes from the mention of them in a book in the early 1700's. Over time the dog has become a symbol of Germany, and this led to a decline in their popularity during World War I. The Roaring Twenties saw popularity start to make a comeback, with the height for them being a mascot named Waldi for the 1972 summer Olympics.

The general appearance of the Dachshund includes the long-bodied, short-legged, and prominent pointy nose. They also come in three recognized sizes with weight being the difference beween the types. The standard Dachshund averages sixteen to twenty-eight pounds, while the miniature usually weighs less than eleven pounds, and the karichen weighs in at seven to nine pounds.

The coat of a Dachshund can come in a variety of colors and in three different textures. The coat textures are smooth, wirehaired, and longhaired; with the smooth-coated being the most common while the wire-haired is the least common. There are many color variations in the breed with the most dominate being red and black-and-red. Other kennel club recognized colors are cream, blue, chocolate brown, fawn, brindle, piebald, and light red. The dog also comes in a solid black or solid chocolate brown, but these are not recognized variations and are disqualified from competitions.

The Dachshund breed has a very complicated personality which can make the animal a challenge to own for some people. Overall the dog is has a fun, playful personality with a great fondness for chasing tennis balls. The breed is also known for devotion and loyalty which also makes it prone for seperation anxiety. This causes the dog to whine excessively and chew on items in the home to relief stress. The Dachshund also has a tendency to dig holes in yards amd they can be wonderful watchdogs. For some individuals the stubborn tendency of the breed make them a challenge to train and if raised improperly they can become agressive and fearful.

The biggest health risk to the dog is intervertebral disk disease, this is caused by the longer than usual spine combined with a short rib cage. This condition is hereditary in nature and many breeders are working to rid the breed of this genetic problem. To avoid this disease the dog should always be held properly, they should also be encouraged not to make big jumps from furniture or stairs, and at all times they should be the optimal weight as obesity can worsen the effects.