The Dachshund, dachshund or Dachshund is very easy to recognize, thanks to its elongated body and the short legs it has. His personality is friendly and caring, so you will love it if you are looking for a nice little companion.
Despite its cute appearance, the Dachshund was raised as a hunting dog, but is currently dedicated to spending time with his family. Do you want to know more about the characteristics and curiosities of the famous dachshund? We tell you everything!
Index of contents
- 1 Dachshund physical characteristics
- 1.1 How is the Dachshund’s hair?
- 2 What is the character of the dachshund or dachshund?
- 3 What care does a Dachshund need?
- 3.1 Coat care and recommended feeding
- 4 Common diseases in the Teckel breed
- 5 Teckel origin and history
- 6 How much does a Dachshund cost?
Dachshund physical characteristics
According to International Cynological Federation (FCI) standard, from its origin the Dachshund has been bred in its small, miniature, and rabbit Dachshund versions; all three have varied coats.
All Dachshund they share an elongated body in proportion to the small size of their legs. Despite this, they possess a lot of muscle and an attentive facial expression.
The head is also elongated and has a nose with very open pits. The eyes are almond shaped and transmit tenderness, the iris has different dark tones. The ears, meanwhile, are thin and long, falling to the muzzle. The Dachshund’s tail is medium in length and upturned.
- Small Dachshund Height: 37-47 cm at the withers in males and 35-45 cm in females
- Small Dachshund Weight: 7 to 14 kilos in females and males
- Dachshund Rabbit Height: 27 to 32 cm in males and 25 to 30 cm in females
- Dachshund Rabbit Weight: less than 4 kilos
- Miniature Dachshund Height: 32 to 37 cm in males and 30 to 35 cm in females
- Miniature Dachshund Weight: 4 kilos in females and males
Variable height depending on the type: Small, rabbit or mini | |
Variable weight depending on the type | |
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Short or long hair, rough and with a variety of shades |
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Friendly, curious and playful character |
Good health | |
Estimated life expectancy between 12 and 16 years |
How is the Dachshund’s hair?
The Dachshund’s coat appears in three varieties. The first is the short-haired dachshund, with a dense, soft and shiny coat. The color can be: reddish, red with black areas, deep black or chestnut with darker areas on the face, ears, inner legs, or with two fur patterns: Merle (dark background with scattered spots) or Brindle (tabby).
The other type is the hard-haired dachshund, which features curly fur or wire. It is covered by a dense double coat, although short, and accompanied by a beard on the muzzle. The colors are the same as in the smooth variety.
The third type is the long-haired dachshund, with a shiny cloak with a double layer of hair. The strands protrude from the ears and chest, in addition to being more abundant in the tail and leg muscles. The coat has the same colors as the other varieties.
What is the character of the dachshund or dachshund?
The dachshund he is a charming and adorable dog with his family, he is easily loved. It gets along well with children, the elderly, and other pets; In addition, it is an excellent companion dog for anyone.
This breed also stands out for its intelligence and persistence in tasks, it hardly gives up in a game, so they can be a stubborn dog. He is also proud, though not aggressive or hostile.
He loves activities that simulate hunting, such as searching for prizes. He is very curious, faithful and shows an alert personality.
Despite its small size, the dachshund is a barker. It is recommended to keep this in mind before adopting one of these funny animals.
What care does a Dachshund need?
The Dachshund adapts to any type of home, including small floors. However, he is happy on wide grounds where he can freely explore, sniff and entertain himself with anything. He does not like to be in the garden or patio alone, he needs to be part of family life.
Contrary to what its small size will make you think, this dog needs regular exercise, especially since it tends to be obese. The walks should complement their tours around the house, two daily walks of approximately half an hour each are recommended.
Inside the house, avoid climbing on furniture or running down the stairs, as you could easily get hurt.
Despite her sweet personality, the dachshund can be stubborn during training, so be patient. Use reward-based positive reinforcement to teach him anything you want, he learns easily.
Following trails is their thing, so you can take advantage of this to design different training days. Never punish him or raise your voice to reprimand him, as he is very sensitive to these deals.
Coat care and recommended feeding
With food you must be cautious, the Dachshund gains weight very easily. Obesity is dangerous for this breed, because it causes hernias due to the particular shape of its body.
Choose a low-fat feed and watch the calories of the prizes you give. For this, it is better to prefer natural options, such as pieces of ham, plain yogurt or some of the recommended fruits for dogs.
The nose of this breed is a blessing, but also a problem: any delicious food will catch your attention. Avoid leaving human food in areas within your reach.
The Dachshund puppy requires special food for small puppies, as it will need extra nutrients to develop normally.
Regarding the coat, the care depends on the type of coat. The short-haired dachshund requires brushing 1 or 2 times a week, while the hard-haired (wire) variety needs spaced brushing, a few times a month may suffice; On the other hand, the long-haired dachshund require brushing 2 and 3 times weekly.
All three cloaks can be kept clean with a couple of monthly baths. In the short coat, you can even perform a superficial cleaning with damp towels. The wire and long-haired variety requires frequent trimming of the beard and around the eyes to clean dirt and prevent strands from interfering with vision.
Common diseases in the Teckel breed
The Dachshund is a healthy dog with a long life expectancy. But it can present some common health problems in the breed such as:
- Spinal deformations
- Hernias
- Ear infections
- Patellar dislocation
- Visual ailments
Teckel origin and history
The origins of the dachshund or dachshund trace back to the Middle Ages in Germany, where it appeared in the wake of the Bracken dog breed. He was raised as a hunter, because the size and shape of his body, added to his powerful nose, allowed him to enter burrows to identify prey.
It was not until 1800 that the characteristics of the breed began to be officially standardized. It is considered a symbol dog of Germany, although it is currently possible to find it worldwide.
How much does a Dachshund cost?
Remember that there are thousands of dogs of all sizes, ages and breeds waiting for a home in kennels and shelters.
The price of a dachshund is highly variable based on its type and pedigree, but in Spain we can find them for between € 200 and € 1,000 , while in Mexico it is between 7,000 and 10,000 pesos.
If you have any questions about the breed or recognized breeders, you can browse the official Teckel club website in Spain.
We also recommend visiting the SOS Teckel Spain Facebook group, where in addition to being able to chat with other Teckel dog owners, you can adopt dogs that are looking for a home:
- SOS Teckel Spain Facebook page
And now that you know everything about this fabulous breed, do you want to share your life with one?