small Breed Dogs
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Dachshund
Average Weight Miniature:  Under 11 lbs. (4.99 kg)
Average Weight Standard: 16-32 lbs. (7.26 -14.15 kg)
 Average Height: Varies with weight
Pronounced: däks-hundt
Group:  Hound
Life Span: 15 Years
Average Litter: 4
Origin: Germany

Description

 Often misspelled Dachsund or Dachshound, this small breed dog is well known as the "Hot Dog" dog.  While one official breed, there are two sizes: The miniature Dachshund and the standard sized Dachshund.  Both are very low to the ground, long in body and have relatively very short legs.

The front half of this dog is strong and cleanly muscles, the hindquarters are also strong and the pads of the feet are thick.  The elastic, pliable skin does not have excessive wrinkling.  The way in which he carries himself exudes a bold confidence. The head tapers uniformly to the nose and the dark rimmed eyes are almond shaped with what can be described as a piercing expression.

This small breed dog can have 1 of 3 different types of coats: smooth, wirehaired and longhaired. 
  • Smooth:  The fur is short and shiny with a smooth feel to the touch. The tail is tapered to a point and is well covered.
  • Wirehaired: The whole body is covered with a uniform, tight, short, rough, hard outer coat but with a finer, somewhat softer undercoat.  The distinctive facial furnishing include a bear and eyebrows.  On the ears, the hair is shorter than the body, almsot smooth. The tail is thickly haired, gradually tapering to a point. 
  • Longhaired: The sleek, glistening, often slightly wavy hair is longer under the dog's neck, on the chest, underside, ears and behind the legs which gives an elegant appearance.  The tail is carried gracefully and this is where the dog carries the greatest length in fur, making the tail similar to a flag.
Color Information

All Dachshund dogs have vary dark eyes, except for those with dappled markings. Color may gradually change as a Dachshund puppy grows.

This dog may be a solid color including red and cream, with or without shadings of dark hairs.

Bi-colored dogs include black, chocolate, wild boar, gray (blue) and fawn (Isabella), each with rich tan or cream markings.

Color Explanations

Red: This can range from a deep mahogany red to a pale golden and all shades of brownish red in between.  Red Dachshunds may be a clear red or they may have black hairs in their coats.  Some reds have black trim around their eyes and ears and also along their backs.  This darker trim often fades as the puppy gets older.  The reds should have black noses and nail color and brown eyes.

Wild Boar Color:  This is a light brown base coat and a black overlay.  The light color base shows through the nose area, around the eyes and also the underside of the body.   This is most common in wire haired Dachshunds but can appear in smooths as well.

Isabella:  Isabella and tan is a dilution (faded color) of chocolate and tan.  The main body is a silvery fawn color and the markings are a muted tan.  The eyes are usually a light grayish green and the nose pad and nail colors are pale liver colored.

Marking Information

There may be 3 types of markings: Dapple, sabling or brindle.
  • A dapple marked Dachshund has patches of lighter color mixed in with patches of the base color.  They sometimes have white on the chest.  If the dapple pattern appears across the face, one or both eyes may have blue speckles or may be entirely blue.  In order for Dappling to occur in a puppy, one of the parents must show the dapple gene.
  • There is also a rare "double dapple"  in which the dog has larger areas of white on the bodies in addition to their base color and patches / spots.  Eyes may be  blue and they may have white on their heads,  nail tips, feet and undersides.  Breeding double dapples can be dangerous as deafness, reduced eye size and blindness may occur.
  • Sable consists of a dark overlay on red dogs, the overlay hairs being double pigmented, the tip is much darker than the base color.
  • Brindle is a pattern in which there are dark stripes over the body, though sometimes they are only visible on the tan points.

Personality

This is a clever, active, persistent and fearless dog as some may be surprised, given his stature.  Dachshund dog often have very outgoing personalities. In fact, he can be courageous to the point of rashness.  Full of fun, this is an affectionate small dog who makes a wonderful family companion.  He has a good hunting spirit, as well.

Origin & History
 
This dog is known as the Teckels in many countries, including Germany where the breed originated.  As far back as the 15th to 17th centuries, illustrations showed long bodied, short legged dogs with hound type ears.  It is in the early 1600's that the name Dachshund, which means "badger dog" in German, came to denote an actual type.  At this time, there were 2 varieties, smooth and longcoat.

The wirehaired type followed much later, in the late 1800's.  This breed came to America in the 1880's and in 1935 they were added to the AKC field trials.

Health

The most common issues found are:
  • Diabetes
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Epilepsy
  • Eye disease
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Bloat
  • Invertebral disc disease

 Exercise

This small dog needs a good 20 - 40 minutes of exercise per day to him him fit.  While enjoying playtime, this is best accomplished with a steady walk.

Grooming
  • Coat care for the smooth variety is minimal - just a good brushing every week or so, a bath every 2 weeks,  nails trimmed every 6 weeks and a 5 -10 minute daily dental brushing.
  • Longhaired dogs must be groomed well at least 1 time per week, with baths, nails and dental the same as the smooth.
  • Wirehaired dogs need to have their face furnishings combed at least 1 time per week, plus occasional trimming.  The coat needs to be plucked 2 - 3 times per year.
It is important to regularly check all types for any ear buildup or excessive ear hairs.
Shedding

The smooth Dachshund can be wiped down with a damp cloth to minimize shedding. With the  longcoat, brushing on a regular basis can keep shedding to a minimum.

Care & Training

 Due to its size, especially the Miniature Dachshund, an owner must be aware of care specifically for small breed dogs. Socialization is very important to help with any Separation Anxiety and behavioral issues.     Owners - Click Here for More Detailed Information
             
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