Dachshund Club of Victoria Inc.

A Brief history of the Dachshund

Although it has never been firmly established which breed or breeds were used to develop the Dachshund, we do know though that he was developed in Austria and southern Germany in the late sixteenth century.

The German foresters needed a dog small enough to go to ground, with a good nose to find his quarry and with a loud bark and a courageous nature. In Germany they are affectionately known as Teckels.

There is no doubt the smooth and wire coated varieties were the first ones, with the long coated variety being evolved by the German nobility.  

THE SMOOTH HAIRED DACHSHUND

The smooth haired Dachshund used to be the most popular in Australia. He is well known and there are many people who do not know that there are other varieties. It is usually the Smooths one sees depicted in cartoons. His unusual makeup of long body and short legs make him a favourite with cartoonists.

This variety appeals to many people because they are so easy to keep clean and groom. There is virtually nothing to do to keep their coat in good condition. If he is healthy and properly fed then his coat will radiate his inner good health. It will have a good sheen. A weekly brush is still required if you wish to have a squeaky clean dog around you. They shed very little coat, have very little doggy odour and bathing is only required occasionally. A Dachshund is a dog that wants to be with you. The smooth variety is full of character, quick in attack and defence, intelligent but can be defiant, and faithful to their family. It was bred to hunt quarry both above and below the ground;  

THE LONG HAIRED DACHSHUND

The coat of the long haired Dachshund should be soft, straight or slightly waved and shining. It should be longer under the neck, the underparts of the body, the outer side of the ear and behind the legs. It should reach its greatest length on the tail where it should form a flag. Due to the length of coat it does require a weekly brush to keep in good condition.

This variety if full of character, quick in attack and defence, faithful when properly brought up and very obedient. All the senses are well developed. It has the reputation of being extraordinarily intelligent and easy to train. Its build and temperament fit it to hunt quarry both above and below the ground; its eagerness, keen sight and hearing and its sonorous bark make it especially suitable for tracking. In these respects it compares very favourably with any other variety. The thick soft hair protects it against thorns, enables it to endure both cold and heat and is rain-proof. The long haired Dachshund can therefore be used in many different ways by the sportsman.

THE WIRE HAIRED DACHSHUND

For sheer hardiness and independence it is hard to fault the wire haired Dachshund. They have very strong hunting qualities and are regarded as the superior hunters of the three Dachshund coat varieties.

There is only one correct coat and that is a close fitting harsh double coat showing the sheen and gloss of good health and fitness. There should be a goatee beard and pronounced eye brows. The hair on the ears should be smooth. The wire coat on the body should feel harsh to the touch. There is an undercoat and on the legs and the chest there should be a close double coat. The goatee beard and eye brows act as protectors, but they must not be so abundant as to become a hindrance by obscuring the vision.

It is a coat that requires little attention for grooming just a weekly brushing and combing.


SIZES OF DACHSHUNDS

All varieties of Dachshund are available in both Standard and Miniature sizes. The Standard weighs from 7.7-11.3kg depending on sex and variety; the Miniature ideally weights under 5 kg. The miniature variety should be a standard in miniature.