Description

The Dachshund dog is a long dog that has a stretch-out appearance. Although there are actually three types of Dachshund, they all have the same basic appearance. Their only differences are in their size and coat description. The three types are longhaired, wired-haired and shorthaired. This dog is very muscular and vigorous, much more than one would think considering their short legs. Their legs, though short, are very muscular.

The dachshund carries itself in a very proud regal way with an intelligent expression on its face. It has a long head with protruding and arched eyebrows, a long muzzle with a scissor bite and very strong teeth, and all 42 of them. Their eyes, which are oval, are either brownish black or deep red. The ears are long and hang down on their cheeks. The ears were bred into them this way to avoid them hanging down in their water and food. The sternum of the dachshund protrudes and the stomach is retracted. They usually have a very friendly look on their face.

Coat Description

The Dachshund has three different coat varieties. They are either short coated, wirehaired or long coated. The short-coated variety has glossy smooth fur. The wirehaired variety has a rougher outer coat with a softer thinner undercoat as well as eyebrow and a beard. They usually have a thicker but tapered tail. The longhaired variety has wavy hair but not curly and their longest hair is on their tails, which they carry high.

The Dachshunds may come in a variety of colors. The solid colored ones are either yellow or tan. There are also bi-colored dachshunds that can be gray, black or brown with chestnut. Some varieties are speckle streaked or piebald. Some may also have a solid background with dark stripes.

History

The Dachshund got their origin hundreds of years ago in Germany. This dog was bred and used to track badgers. Ironically, the word meaning badger is "dachs". The dachshund excelled at this sport because of their short legs, which allowed them to dig deep and get inside burrows to catch their prey. This dog is many similarities to terriers, especially when it comes to hunting. The smaller variety of dachshund was used to hunt hare and rabbits. The larger variety would try to catch smaller animals like otters and fox.

Temperament

The Dachshund is a very lively and affection dog. They have a bold personality that's very proud and forward. In spite of their friendly affectionate attitude, they can be very willful when they want something. This often shows up during training, with the dog trying to train the owner instead of the other way around. As surprising as this may seem, some believe that the longhaired Dachshund is the calmest of the three varieties, with the wirehaired being more jovial and funny. They get along well with other dogs and children. They do better, however, with older children that are better-behaved and older calmer dogs. They do have a tendency to be jealous of other dogs and may snap at them if bothered by them. They love to bark and in spite of their small size, they have an exceptional loud bark. They love to dig and need firm discipline to stop this bad habit. They are very good workers with lots of energy and stamina. They love being around their owners and interacting. They make excellent family dogs.

Health Problems

The Dachshund is a relatively healthy dog but is prone to certain health problems, one of them being problems with their spinal disc. In some cases, this can cause paralysis in the dog. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening is to prevent the dachshund from jumping high heights, which can cause damage to the spine. Other health problems that may affect the dachshund are urinary tract problems, heart disease and diabetes. It's important that the dachshund get plenty of exercise because they are prone to becoming lazy resulting in them getting overweight. This can be a very serious health problem for them because it puts extra strain on their back.

Grooming

The Dachshund dog require regular grooming in the form of brushing. The longhaired variety will need to be brushed every day to make sure their hair doesn't get tangled and matted. If you own the shorthaired variety, a weekly brushing should suffice. You will need to have the wired-haired variety trimmed once a year to prevent tangles. They don't shed a lot so regular brushing should keep shedding to a minimum. This dog requires bathing, especially if they spend a lot of time outside, but don't bathe them too often as it dries out the skin.

Their ears should be cleaned once a week with a moist cotton ball and thoroughly dried. The nails of the Dachshund should also be trimmed regularly to avoid being accidentally ripped or cracked.

Exercise

The Dachshund, just like any other dog, needs exercise. Although their high energy makes them active, they do also enjoy being lazy as well. They love eating and if the food is available, they'll keep eating, which can lead to them becoming overweight and possible obese. Becoming overweight causes a real risk to the good health of this dog.

This dog is not a large dog so it's possible for them to get their exercise indoors as well as outdoors. They enjoy going for walks and playing catch with a ball. They're not real good at running because of their short legs, but they love taking walks with their owner. The older they get, the less they're going to want to exercise on their owner so it's up to their owner to make sure they are exercised every day.

The Dachshunds participate in many dog trials and events. They enjoy participating in these sports so this is great exercise for them. One particular event they love is tracking and catching live mice that are caged. They do well in events that require a scenting ability. This also is great exercise for them.

Training

The Dachshund is not a difficult dog to train, but they do require firmness and consistency. If properly trained, they will make a great companion and family dog. They are loyal to their owners and training with them only strengthens the bond between them. The dachshund should be trained at any early age before any bad habits set in such as nuisance barking and excessive digging.

Because they believe they are the alpha, they need to be shown that they are not the boss in the family. They can become stubborn if they are not given firm discipline. Always reward their training with high praise. This dog should be socialized at a very young age before they get the idea in their head that they're the boss of every other animal in the house.

This is one dog that will turn to destructive behavior if they're bored so it's important to always give them some constructive toys. Crate training works well for housebreaking this dog.