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Interesting Dachshund Facts

Probably the most strangely shaped dog in the Hound category is the German Dachshund. The Germans developed this odd little dog to hunt badgers, where his long body and short legs helped him with the task. Consider these fascinating Dachshund facts:

The Dachshund’s defining feature is its long body and short legs. This breed comes in three varieties, including wirehaired, shorthaired and long haired, and dogs of each variety come in three different sizes. Dachshunds belong to the AKC hound group.

The German Dachshund has a long body, short legs, and a powerful jaw. The head is long and slightly convex, with eyebrows that stand out from its head, and dark eyes of black, brown, or sometimes red. He has long ears that dangle, and a tail that is held out straight behind. Most people consider his expression friendly and animated.

The American Kennel Club determines acceptable ranges for height and weight for the breed. These Dachshund facts stat that a standard size Dachshund should 14 to 18 inches long, and weigh around 20 pounds. A dwarf or miniature Dachshund should be between 12 and 14 inches long and weigh around 9 pounds. A toy should be less than 12 inches and weigh around 8 pounds. An average lifespan is 12 to 15 years.

Dachshunds are found in single color or bi-color. Single color appears in yellow or tan. Bi-color includes bright chestnut color with black, brown or gray markings. Other varieties include harlequin and piebald.

Dachshunds are lovable and loyal, but because of their headstrong nature they are difficult to teach. They are a little naughty and are very enthusiastic about digging holes in your courtyard. Some people consider the long-haired as a quiet one and the wire-haired one as the extrovert and entertainer.

One problem dachshunds face is that they have a tendency to be lazy and gain weight, adding to their other health risks. As with humans, they increase their chance of heart disease, diabetes, urinary tract infections and back problems.

The short-haired German Dachshunds require only less brushing and need to be rubbed occasionally with a grooming cloth only. The long-haired ones should be brushed daily and the wire-haired should be taken to a professional twice a year to get it tidy.