Dog Breed Guide
Smooth Haired Dachshund
Profile
- Size
- Small - Medium
- Country of origin
- Germany
- Origin
- 17th century
- Bred for
- Hunting badger, fox and rabbit
- Height
- about 20 - 25cm (8 - 10in)
- Weight
- 7 - 14.5kg (15 - 32lb)
- Life span
- 12 - 16 years
A hunting dog with short legs, a long body and long drop ears. Dachshunds come in three coat types, smooth, wire-haired (harsh and wiry) and long-haired (long and soft), and in different sizes. The smooth is the oldest type, and colors include red, black and tan, chocolate and tan, and dapple.
Bright, curious and very brave, it barks with a deep voice like a big dog's, which seems far too big for its body. It is affectionate and cuddly with its family, but it also has a hunting dog's stubbornness and independence.
The spine that supports its long body is easily strained, so intervertebral disc disease is a concern. It is important not to let it get fat and to be careful with steps and stairs and with how you pick it up.
Good to know
The name means "badger dog" in German. The breed was created in 17th-century Germany to go down into underground setts and drive out badgers. Its short legs are for moving through the tunnels, its big chest for digging for long periods, and its loud voice for telling the hunter where it is from underground. Its sturdy tail is also said to have served as a handle for pulling it out of the burrow.
At the 1972 Munich Olympics, Waldi, a colorful character based on a Dachshund, was chosen as the first official mascot in Olympic history. As a symbol of Germany, the character stood for tenacity and agility. The marathon course is even said to have been laid out in the shape of Waldi's body.