The Dachshund – The Hotdog with Legs!
Though all very similar in their overall nature, there are actually three different kinds of dachshunds: long-haired, short-haired, and wire-haired. Within each of these coat-style categories, there are also three different size possibilities.
The appearance of the dachshund is very long and muscular with short little legs. It’s head is also elongated with a convex shape, a long muzzle, arched eyebrows, a substantial jaw, and tight lips. The eyes of the dachshund are large and oval, and are typically brown-black or dark red colored. Their expression is quite friendly and full of energy. The dachshund’s ears are long and hang down past their cheeks. The sternum of the body should protrude strongly, with a moderate retraction in the abdomen area. The coat of the short-haired dachshund should be sleek, shiny, and entirely uniform. The shades of solid-colored dachshunds can be either yellow or tan. However, there are also bi-colored dachshunds which come in black, grey with chestnut areas, and brown. It is not unheard of to see dachshunds with speckle-streaked, piebald, or harlequin coat colors.
Dachshunds are extremely lively, proud, affectionate, and quite bold. These dogs can be very willful and stubborn, and their cleverness can make training very challenging. Dachshunds are very devoted to their families and they travel very well. These are dogs that like to bark very much, with a surprisingly large size to the sound that they can produce. They are compulsive diggers. Though they can be trained to be good with children, it is better to have a dachshund in a family with older children who are aware of how to be considerate to the dog.
Dachshunds are an extremely old breed, beginning in German centuries ago. They were originally bred in order to be able to go deep into badger holes and dig the pre out of their burrows. They were bred to smaller sizes as well in order to do the same thing for hunting stoat and hare.
The average lifespan of the dachshund is between twelve and fifteen years. They are quite prone to spinal disk problems that can lead to what is known as dachshund paralysis. They are also at risk for urinary tract problems, heart disease, and diabetes. It is very important to watch the weight of a dachshund because they are prone to obesity, and due to their shape, this is extremely hard on their backs.
