Dachshund
Overview, Temperament, & Facts
Dachshund, (German: “badger dog”) dog breed of hound and terrier ancestry developed in Germany to pursue badgers into their burrows. The Dachshund is a long-bodied, characteristically lively dog with a deep chest, short legs, tapering muzzle, and long ears. Usually reddish brown or black-and-tan, it is bred in two sizes—standard and miniature—and in three coat types—smooth, longhaired, and wirehaired. The standard Dachshund stands about 8 to 9 inches (20 to 23 cm) tall at the withers and weighs 16 to 32 pounds (7 to 14.5 kg). The miniature is shorter and weighs no more than 11 pounds (5 kg).
| Dachshund breed facts | |
|---|---|
| other names | Doxie, Wiener dog, Sausage dog |
| area of origin | Germany |
| breed group | hound |
| height at withers | miniature: 5–6 inches (13–15 cm); standard: 8–9 inches (20–23 cm) |
| weight | miniature: up to 11 pounds (5 kg); standard: 16–32 pounds (7–15 kg) |
| life span | 12–16 years |
| Did you know? | The word Dachshund means “badger dog” in German; the dog was originally bred to hunt that animal. According to some accounts, one of the original names for the sausage known as a hot dog was “Dachshund sausage” because of its resemblance to the long, low-slung canines. Dachshunds have been the prized pets of Andy Warhol, Queen Victoria, and Joan Crawford. Pablo Picasso was particularly fond of a Dachshund named Lump, who appears in his reinterpretations of Diego Velázquez’s Las meninas. |
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