History
Developed in Germany. Dachshund means Badger Dog. He
was bred down from a 35 lb. dog to hunt rabbits. Their body length was
developed to get down deep into tunnel-type holes to flush or capture
their prey.
General Appearance Height: 5" to 9" Miniature to Standard Weight: 10-20lbs Miniature to Standard Colors: Black and tan, or solid red (brownish), white and tan, or combo of
brown, gray, white and black.
Coat: From long and silky, to a hard coat, to a rough coat. Brushing
a couple times a week and scissoring or stripping the wirehaired variety
Health problems: Susceptible to spinal disc problems, diabetes,
urinary stones, eye or skin disorders and heart disease
Life Expectancy: Long lived breed around 15 years
Temperament
Very bold personality, similar to a terrier. Thrives on
companionship. Can be a little challenging and stubborn. Very playful
and can be reserved around strangers.
Behaviorist's Perspective
These stubborn, friendly little dogs make great watchdogs and may bark at
intruders! The don't require an enormous amount of exercise but
need daily walks. These guys tend to raise the bar on begging
for food so be diligent about controlling in between meal snacks.
An overweight Doxy puts a strain on an already compromised back.
They are comical, fun dogs and very sweet with their family. I also
recommend that one control the dog from jumping off sofas or
beds to prevent back injury. As always, I recommend training begin at 7-8 weeks
at home, but especially with these guys. Socialization needs to begin early also. They
definitely have an opinion and compliance may be challenging to obtain if you wait
to train. Some people think these dogs are challenging to housebreak.
They are good for novice owners but I don't recommend
this breed for young children. Older children, over 9 need to be taught
how to pick up or hold these dogs as not to hurt their back. If disciplined
harshly these cute dogs can snap.
