But let’s dwell in a little more detail on what types of dachshunds are. It’s not for nothing that the International Canine Federation has allocated its own separate group in the classification for dachshunds (this is the only such case).

So, There are nine types of dachshunds. The gradations are based on the type of coat: smooth-haired (the most common), long-haired, wire-haired; and by size: standard, dwarf and rabbit.

Dachshunds with different coats not only look different, but are also believed to have slightly different personalities.

1. Smooth-haired dachshunds- the most common and popular among dog breeders are dachshunds.
2. Longhaired dachshunds more friendly than other dachshunds, since in order to obtain the long-haired gene for the originally smooth-haired dachshunds, spaniels were mixed in with them, dogs that are very friendly and sociable.
3. Wire-haired dachshunds, on the contrary, are the toughest in terms of character; terriers participated in their appearance, which gave the dogs some characteristic terrier traits - somewhat increased aggressiveness, a kind of nervousness.

The size characteristics of the dog were determined by who the dachshund was supposed to hunt:

• standard dachshunds were primarily supposed to hunt badgers. This explains the original name of the breed - Dachschund, which means badger dog.
• The dwarf or, as it is also called, miniature dachshund is focused on fox hunting.
• Rabbit dachshunds hunt rabbits.

That is, everyone can choose exactly the dachshund that will be easiest for them to care for. Longhairs are very beautiful, but their coat requires more care than that of smoothhairs. Standard dachshunds are bulkier (which is important to many) than their smaller relatives, but they are also more likely to injure their backs than toy and rabbit dachshunds.

Hunting with a dachshund

Dachshunds belong to the ancient type of dogs in terms of their richness of hunting instincts and are one of the most successful human experiences in breeding an animal - a collaborator and assistant.

In dachshunds of pure hunting lines, the instinct to work is so strong that it outweighs the craving for convenience and comfort.

The dachshund has a variety of hunting talents. Its main duty is to work in a hole, but dachshunds also successfully hunted small rodents and were used as a slow-moving hound, convenient because the animal, which escapes from the chase at the speed of the pursuer, is in no hurry to run away from the dachshund as fast as it can, which makes it possible a hunter on foot to overtake him. Thanks to their keen sense of smell, dachshunds were used as bloodhounds and replaced retrievers to follow the blood trail when finding wounded animals.

Dachshunds are not afraid of water, so instead of being a pointer, they can be trained to fetch captured waterfowl. A strong instinct for protecting the territory, vigilance, excellent hearing, instant reaction, the ability to recognize danger and fearlessness allow the dachshund to be a good guard dog. That's how many “specialties” a small dog has!

When hunting burrowing animals, the dachshund is irreplaceable because of its character. She combines courage and prudence, prefers to drive the animal out of the hole rather than tear it apart, which is important when commercially hunting foxes, whose skin is valuable and can suffer in a fight with a dog that is too hot. Dachshunds are tenacious and tough to work with, but are also smart and careful enough to avoid injury and being bitten.

A good dog, trained and trained, is expensive, either in monetary terms or in terms of the time and effort of the trainer. Therefore, any hunter will prefer a dog returning unharmed from a hole to one that crawls out wounded, with serious injuries, although it has killed the animal. The hunting season is short, and you need to work, not treat an overly keen dog.

Excessive ardor and viciousness in dachshunds have always been considered a drawback. Hunters valued cautious and intelligent dogs that persistently pursued the animal, hanging on its tail and constantly vocalizing during the pursuit.

Badger hunting with a dachshund

Hunting with a dachshund for burrowing animals itself has changed little over the past 130 - 160 years. This is how they hunted in the 18th and 19th centuries. They preferred to take a fox with a dachshund. She is not as dangerous to a dog as a badger. Both then and now there were few dachshunds who took a badger. A badger is a large and very vicious animal; it is more difficult to find it in a hole and force it to come out, since badger holes are huge, with many branches, passages and “floors”.

They dig new passages and underground rooms as the old ones become unusable, become dirty or begin to crumble. Often an old badger hole turns into a " communal apartment", in which a variety of animals live - from mice to foxes. In addition to the main exit, there are always several spare ones in a badger hole, located quite far from the entrance hole. Only an experienced, strong, brave and intelligent dog can cope with a badger and drive it out before being shot.

Fox hunting with a dachshund

Fox hunting with a dachshund is easier. She prefers not to engage in a fight with the dog, but confuses him, breaking away from pursuit in a hole, or lies down, waiting out the attack. The fox has always been a more desirable prey for hunters because of the value of the skin. In addition, the abundance of foxes near human farmland threatened losses in the poultry population. The two of them went after the fox. A hunter with a dachshund always took with him an assistant armed with a shovel, a pick, special tongs, and also nets that were inserted into the holes of the hole to block all exits except one.

They hunted in rainy, windy weather, when foxes are more willing to hide in a hole. They approached the discovered hole from the windward side, without making noise. The dog had to behave very quietly, not yelp, not bark, and not give away the presence of the hunter in any way. All openings that could serve as an exit from the hole were covered with nets, weighted at the edges with bullets sewn in, so that the animal would not break through, but would get entangled in them. One hole was left open and the dog was thrown into it. The dachshund showed off and quickly examined the possible hiding places of the fox. The hunters listened attentively.

If the dog quickly returned from the hole without raising a voice, they concluded that there was no animal and went to explore the next hole. If the dog gave a voice, the hunters literally They lay down with their ears to the ground and listened carefully to how the dog worked. At the same time, the assistant began to dig a hole, getting hot and teasing the dog. The dachshund had to chase the fox in the hole, keeping up, constantly voicing, and drive the animal into a dead end, from where they dug them out together, or by persistent pursuit, pinching and barking, force the fox to jump out of the hole into a prepared mesh-purse blocking the exit.

Adult dogs were used to work underground. Experts especially noted that a good dachshund should not be too large or too small. A strong and tireless dog was preferred. If they hunted in places with loose soil, they tried to use larger and stronger dachshunds, which kept the animal at a dead end while the hunters dug them out. In areas with rocky soil, where digging is inconvenient, they preferred smaller, dexterous, vicious dachshunds, who, with persistent pursuit, forced the fox to leave the hole.

Dogs have always been preferred that do not try to engage in a fight with a fox, even if they are able to take it correctly, bite it and even pull it out of the hole, and those that, avoiding direct confrontation, bore the animal until it jumps out of the hole. The dachshund, having sat on the tail of the beast, should no longer leave the hole, even when wounded. They started hunting with dachshunds no earlier than they were one year old, although experienced burrowers knew that often a dog is ready to hunt no earlier than one and a half to two years of age.

By the end of the 19th century in European countries The area of ​​land where they hunted with hounds decreased. Therefore, the dachshund was increasingly used as a hound for a foot hunter. The dachshunds were good because they chased the animal slowly, but without driving it too far from the hunter in excitement. Thanks to their excellent lower sense of smell, they easily followed the trail, persistently followed it, and were able to give a voice if they saw an animal, that is, they walked with sight. The hunters liked that the animal was not afraid of the dachshund, let it get quite close, and walked away from the dog in no hurry, which made it possible for the hunter on foot to catch up with the animal and get close enough to shoot.

As a hound, the dachshund was used to hunt rabbits, martens, otters, ferrets, stoats, forest goats, and even wild boar. The dachshunds were distinguished by their patience; if the hunter missed the first time, they easily found a fresh trail and indicated the new location of the animal. The versatility of the dachshund lay in the fact that it was not adapted only to any strictly defined hunting conditions.

The dog followed the rabbit and the hare through the thicket and dense bushes; in the forest, it stopped the boar, barking and dodging the beast until the hunter sneaks up and shoots; chasing the otter, the dachshund went into the water; she drove martens and stoats up a tree like a husky and barked until the hunter approached. Although hunters already noted that the versatility of the dachshund came somewhat to the detriment of its basic abilities as a burrowing dog, they still willingly used it as a replacement for an entire working pack. L.P. Sabaneev noted that the dachshund “can easily be trained to perform the duties of a bloodhound and retriever, bring a dead bird from the water, look for a wounded or killed animal and bark to notify the owner.”

Nowadays they hunt with dachshunds mainly for fox, raccoon dog and badger. Badgers are hunted only where the number of this animal is sufficiently large. Hunters are required to restore excavated badger holes. In Russia, in some regions, digging holes with subsequent restoration is allowed, but in Belarus and Ukraine this method of hunting badgers is prohibited, since the badger has become a rare animal here.

The rumor is right that a dog raises a hunter. And mutual understanding between hunter and dog is created when a person respectfully and seriously recognizes his dachshund’s competence in burrow hunting. It’s not for nothing that an experienced hunter will stop a beginner: don’t bother the dog, he knows better.

The working qualities of a dachshund usually immediately change the ironic attitude towards it that often exists, and make you see something special in this brave little dog. Why is the dachshund respected and valued? Why exactly did it sink into the soul and turn many hunters into convinced “taxi drivers” who often do not change their attachment to this breed throughout their lives? They never dispute the merits of other dogs, but when asked to adopt a puppy of a different breed, they will only smile to themselves: they know that a small short-legged dog knows the secret of the art of burrow hunting.

More than once in the burrows I heard an admiring whisper: it works beautifully! Beautiful! And the hunter, with bated breath, watches all its actions, understands the ideas and techniques of his dog, sees its tactics and strategy, and at these moments he will not believe any scientist that his dog does not know how to think.

The Dachshund knows how to “think through” a situation, figure it out in his “mind”, and then find the right solution. It was this ability that was fixed in the breed. Without it, the price would be worthless in underground hunting, where the situation develops in a new way every time, and each time it is necessary to solve it in the old way - to get the animal. If we briefly formulate the main feature of the dachshund’s work, we can say: this is tactics and maneuver. As a rule, the dachshund works economically, without wasting energy, but tries to “assess” the situation and “take the initiative into its own paws,” thus making the enemy dependent on its maneuver. The dachshund, first of all, “works with his head”, intelligently, with calculation, choosing the most advantageous positions and moments for attack. The tactical art of the dachshund includes precise measurement of its own strength and the strength of the animal. Add to this a developed hunting instinct, the anger and aggressiveness of a beast dog, passion and tirelessness in pursuing the beast, and you will get the “service” characteristic of a dachshund. No wonder they say about dachshunds: these little dogs with the heart of a lion.

Strong constitution, strong stable nervous system and the character of a sanguine person - these are the starting points that determine the specifics of the dachshund’s work. An experienced dachshund, having a healthy sense of self-preservation, even in the heat of battle does not lose composure, self-control, and the ability to “analyze” its actions and the situation. In the excitement of hunting passion, in a state of extreme nervous excitement, the dachshund does not show recklessness, forcing it to rush without looking back at a stronger and larger opponent. Her tactical “calculations” do not include a direct confrontation with the beast if it can be avoided. Dachshund is the smallest hunting dog, and she has to take, to paraphrase the famous expression of the great commander, not by size, but by skill. This skill is tactics. The dachshund's tactics include achieving a result - catching an animal - with minimal losses for oneself. It is known that dachshunds are the least likely to be killed or injured while hunting. At the same time, their production rate is high.

The functionality of the dachshund for a hunter and its prey ability are based on the fact that it is always ready to engage in a short fight with the animal, but at the same time avoids serious bites from it. She uses any suitable moment to grab the animal, bend down, dodge, let go a little, and then again, seizing the moment, give a grip. This is one of the manifestations of anger.

A long body on short legs allows her to do this in the best possible way - in the corridors of the burrow the dachshund walks almost in full height without bending down, it saves her a lot of effort. For the same reasons, the dachshund can quickly chase an animal in a hole. What other dog does a hunter need? She is able to quickly drive out a fox, and suffers little from wounds, as is often the case with dogs possessing unbridled anger, who receive serious wounds after the first work in a hole. Healing wounds consumes precious time during the hunting season, and the dog’s performance is significantly reduced.

Cowardly dogs have little vitality. But the same applies to those dogs who do not know (and life experience does not teach them this) their physical capabilities, bitterly paying for their uncontrollability. The dachshund is endowed with the courage to attack, is agile in its work, and has an excellent reaction. She is a vicious dog, but she knows how to use her anger prudently. This is the skill of the dachshund.

A hunting dachshund must be energetic, have agility, persistence in work and the ability to actively attack. The trouble-free and tireless work of a dachshund is its viscosity. The instinct of these dogs, as a rule, is so developed that the dachshund forgets about everything in the world when working. Hunting consumes her entire being, it is the meaning of her life, her purpose. The dachshund “finds itself” from birth and experiences difficulties only when its hunting inclinations are not realized. This hardworking and businesslike dog requires regular work.

When a dachshund sits at home for a long time, she begins to get bored, looks for all sorts of small things to do, toils, becomes irritable, and it is clear from her that she finally wants to get down to real business. And he looks disappointedly after the owner leaving for work.

Even lactating bitches and very old “veterans” who have been through more than one serious alteration in their lifetime do not refuse to work.

The dachshund has an excellent sense of smell, allowing it to navigate the complex labyrinth of various smells. To work in a hole, a dachshund needs a clear voice, which the dog must give throughout the entire work.

The success of hunting with a dog depends on how accustomed your pet is to it. In order for a dachshund to perform its hunting duties efficiently, it must be properly raised and baited. We will look at how to do this in this article.

Education and training

The success of baiting and hunting in the future depends on the correct upbringing of a young dog. Therefore, you need to approach the process of education with all seriousness. You need to start raising a dachshund from the moment it appears in your home. Of course, it is very difficult to accustom a two-month-old dog to certain commands, but it is quite possible to instill in it some inclinations.

The first thing you must do in raising your pet is to accustom him to his nickname. The dog must know that when you say a certain word, you are addressing it specifically. The nickname should be short and sonorous so that your pet can quickly remember it.

You should also teach your dachshund to understand the intonation of your voice. If you are unhappy with something, you should raise your voice, thereby showing her that this cannot be done. Under no circumstances should you yell at the puppy yourself, allow other people to do this, and especially not physically punish her. The dachshund will begin to be afraid of people and will become difficult to train and bait.

Physical punishment is generally unacceptable. If you start beating a dog, it will no longer become a hunter. It is important to understand that a puppy will be interested in training only if it is carried out by a friend and owner, and not by a person who constantly beats him for reasons unknown to the puppy.

From the early months of life, a dog can be taught such a simple command as “search”. At first glance it is difficult, but if you start training her as a puppy, it is quite simple. At the very beginning of training, show the dog a piece of meat and place it in a visible place, then give the command “search” and release the dachshund from the leash. Over time, tasks for the dog will need to be complicated by hiding a piece of meat.

Pritivka

Training should begin when its age reaches 6 months, provided that the dachshund already knows such commands as: lie down, sit, fetch, next to, look for. Since the dachshund is a burrowing type of hunting dog, baiting must be done in burrows.

Now there are many baiting stations with artificial holes and tunnels in the form of pipes. If you brought a dachshund to such baiting stations for the first time and it does not react to the animal in any way, then the hunting instinct has not yet awakened in it and you need to wait a little longer.

In such situations, you should not force the dog to climb into the hole; you will still not get any results. The seeding process itself must be carried out in stages. At the very beginning, small rodents are used, and only then badgers and foxes. This is done so that your pet gains courage against a large animal.

By throwing an immature and unsure dachshund directly at a fox, you risk that the latter may give a harsh rebuff, and the dachshund, remembering the negative experience, will in the future avoid meeting this wild predator with all its might.

Traiting a dachshund to a fox must begin with a fox cub. The little fox is placed in a pipe and closed with a gate on both sides. After this, the dog is brought to the hole and allowed to sniff and examine the animal. When the dachshund smells it, it should start barking at it. If this happens, the dog is released from the leash and given the command to “take.” After running through the pipe, the dachshund stumbles upon an obstacle that separates it from the victim.

After a few minutes, the barrier opens and the dog, as a rule, rushes at its prey. After which, she and the little fox are taken out through the upper gate. If the baiting was successful, then it needs to be repeated several more times. If the dog does not dare to attack the victim, then the baiting procedure is recommended to be carried out after a few days.

Training a dachshund on an adult fox is carried out only after the successful completion of training on a fox cub. I would like to note that in the process of training an adult fox, a situation may arise that the dachshund will not risk attacking the first time. This only means that your dog is not ready yet. In this case, there is no need to repeat the procedure several times, as the dog may simply get tired of it. The best solution in this situation would be to wait 2-3 days.

It is important to understand that the main goal of baiting a dachshund is to develop in it courage and anger towards a wild animal, so if for some reason the dog is not yet ready to attack the animal, you should not try to force it to do this.

And if you are just planning to buy a puppy, then perhaps an optional entry will help you.

The Dachshund is a hunting dog breed originally from Germany. This is one of the oldest and most popular burrowing dogs. But dachshunds have found use not only as hunting dogs, but also as companion dogs.

Long-haired dachshunds.

Dogs with short legs have been known to people since ancient times, but they did not exist as a separate breed. Short legs interfered with fast running, so such animals did not find use. But the situation has changed to XVI century. At that time, large tracts of forests in Europe began to disappear and driven hunting for big game remained accessible only to the richest nobles. Middle-class and poor people paid attention to smaller and more sedentary prey - foxes, badgers, rabbits. Hounds were used to hunt them, but all these animals live in burrows in which they escape persecution. Most hounds, due to their large size, could not penetrate into holes, which is where small, short-legged dogs came in handy. In Germany, the number of small-landed nobles was especially large, so it was there that a group of burrow dogs was formed. The first dachshunds descended from the Bracque hound breed, with further selection the short legs were strengthened and the dachshunds acquired their modern appearance. It should be said that from the very beginning the dachshund population was somewhat heterogeneous, so several types of dachshunds were formed on its basis. Based on size, there are standard, dwarf and rabbit dachshunds, each of these types can be short-haired, long-haired or coarse-haired, so there are 9 varieties of the breed in total. Standard and smooth-haired dachshunds are more common than their wire-haired and small-haired types.

Smooth-haired dachshund.

The Dachshund is a squat, short-legged, elongated, but muscular and flexible dog with a high head. The size of dachshunds is determined not by the height at the withers, but by the volume of the chest: for a standard dachshund - more than 35 cm (weight up to 9 kg), for a dwarf dachshund - 30-35 cm, for a rabbit dachshund - up to 30 cm. In the last two types, chest volume is not measured before 15 months of age.

The head is long, with a flat skull with a barely defined transition from the forehead to the muzzle. The muzzle is long, wide, tapering towards the nose, but not pointed. The lips are dry, close-fitting, the opening of the mouth reaches the level of the eyes. Scissor bite. The eyes are of medium size, oval in shape, widely spaced, shiny, with an intelligent and energetic expression. The iris of the eye is brown. The ears are set high, flat, hanging, with rounded ends. The ears should not be pointed, narrow or folded. The neck is set high, moderately long and muscular. The withers are well defined. The chest is voluminous, long and deep, with the breastbone protruding forward. Belly with slight rise. The back is straight or slightly sloping, strong, muscular, with an elongated loin. The tail is straight, slightly curved towards the end, it should continue the line of the back, the dachshund carries it lowered. The forelimbs are muscular and lean, the wrists are located closer to each other than the shoulder joints, so the paws appear crooked when viewed from the front. The hind limbs are muscular, parallel to each other. The toes are gathered into a ball, the claws are short, there is a dewclaw on the paws, but in dachshunds it is not removed. The color is dark red, black and tan, merle, brindle, the nose is preferably black, in dogs of brown color it can be brown.

Wire-haired dachshund.

The wool should be:

• in short-haired dachshunds - short, thick, shiny, close-fitting;
• in wire-haired dachshunds - hard, close-fitting, short on the ears, a pronounced beard and mustache on the muzzle, bushy eyebrows;
• in long-haired dachshunds - smooth, shiny, close to the body, on the throat, ears, belly, hind legs and the underside of the tail is long and hangs down.

The character of dachshunds is very lively, energetic, but balanced without cowardice or malice. Dachshunds are very smart, curious, and when hunting they show themselves as passionate, viscous (tireless) pursuers. They have a well-developed sense of smell, they can work like hounds, chasing prey along the trail, but more often they are taken to a hole with an animal driven by hounds, in the hole the dachshund shows anger towards the animal, persistence and courage. She drags the captured animal to the surface. Dachshunds are more adapted to life in the city than other hunting dogs, but when keeping them, you need to take into account the characteristics of this breed.

Who should not own a dachshund:

• for those who have little time - dachshunds are accustomed to close cooperation with people and other dogs, so they do not tolerate loneliness well. Families whose members are all absent for more than 5-6 hours at a time should not own a dachshund;
• adherents of strict discipline - dachshunds are playful, active and curious, which means they will not leave anything unattended in the house. If you leave dogs alone for a long time, they will entertain themselves, not necessarily that you will like the result of this entertainment;
• lovers of cleanliness - dachshunds do not require special care, but due to their short paws, their coat can get dirty in rainy weather (especially long-haired dogs), and as hunting dogs, some dachshunds have a tendency to fall out in excrement on the street. You can avoid these troubles by proper upbringing from childhood and by washing your paws after returning from a walk;
• nervous people - dachshunds are naturally vocal; if you are annoyed by the barking and fussing of the dog at your feet, then you should turn your attention to another breed.

Dachshunds are not afraid of cold weather, but vests help protect their coats from the elements.

But besides the disadvantages, dachshunds also have advantages.

Who should get a dachshund:

• people with an active lifestyle - dachshunds represent a unique combination of small size with mobility and tirelessness, therefore they are ideal for those who like long walks, they will gladly take part in children's games, and will fill the life of a lonely person with energy;
• residents of small-sized apartments - despite their body length, dachshunds are generally compact, they are easy to carry in your arms or transport in transport;
• For hunters, the hunting purpose of dachshunds is by no means their least advantage. This breed is still considered one of the best burrowing dogs, but for good results, dachshunds must undergo training (training).

In general, dachshunds are unpretentious, hardy, and adapt well to different conditions, and their intelligence, liveliness and subtle understanding of the owner’s feelings made them very popular. Nowadays, dachshunds are found in many countries of the world; representatives of the intelligentsia love to keep them; dachshunds were the favorites of Napoleon and the German Emperor Wilhelm II. But future owners should not forget about the physiological characteristics of the breed - diseases of the spine. This problem arose relatively recently. The fact is that on a flat surface, dachshunds move easily and freely, but in the vertical plane (when climbing uphill, jumping) their spine experiences an excessive load. Previously, dachshunds were used for hunting and there was no need for them to make movements unusual for them; nowadays, dachshunds often get injured when jumping from the sofa or moving up the stairs. To protect your pet’s health, you need to pick up your dachshund when walking up stairs or getting into vehicles, do not allow it to jump, and do not teach dogs to stand upright.

Dachshund (Dachshund) is a dog that belongs to the category of hunting breeds popular among dog breeders in our country. Based on the size of an adult animal, the breed classification includes a division into standard and miniature, as well as rabbit dachshunds. Depending on the length of the dachshund's coat, there are smooth-haired, long-haired and wire-haired types. The average dachshund varies between 12-15 years, and largely depends on the conditions of detention and compliance with the feeding diet.

Origin story

The Dachshund breed has a very ancient history origin. The first images of a dachshund can be seen even on papyri from ancient egypt, whose age is more than two thousand years. Egypt is considered to be the historical homeland of the dachshund, and the ancestors of the modern purebred dog were short hounds.

Initially, dachshund breeding was based solely on the personal preferences and taste preferences of the breeders, but already in 1870 this approach to the breed was replaced by the breeding of dogs according to certain breed standards. The breed entered the territory of our country only in the mid-thirties of the 18th century.

Dachshund exterior

The modern breed can be represented by nine varieties that differ in appearance. Only three main types of dachshunds have received the greatest popularity and demand among breeders and amateur dog breeders in our country.

Classic version, characterized by a sense of high self-esteem and characterized by the following breed standards:

• girth in the chest area – no more than 35 cm;
• The maximum weight of an adult animal is no more than nine kilograms.

This is interesting! This is the most common variety, successfully combining excellent external characteristics and unpretentiousness in maintenance.

The average size of a dwarf or miniature dachshund is almost half the size of the classic variety. The rabbit dachshund is distinguished by high mental abilities, good nature, curiosity and playfulness. In accordance with the established FCI standards, the breed of this species has the following weight and height parameters:

• The maximum weight of an adult animal is in the range of 4.0-6.0 kg.

This is interesting! The dwarf or miniature variety is most suitable for keeping in small living spaces and communal apartments.

This species is not very common among domestic breeders and dog breeders. The rabbit dachshund is characterized as a dog with incredible courage and bravery. The pet of this breed is very smart and friendly, but can be very jealous of other pets and even small children. The breed standards of the variety are represented by the following parameters:

• girth in the chest area – no more than 30-35 cm;
• The maximum weight of an adult animal is in the range of 3.5-4.0 kg.

This is interesting! A rabbit dachshund will become a devoted and faithful friend, but to get a well-mannered dog of this breed, you need to train the puppy almost constantly.

Dachshund coat type and color

In accordance with the classification scale of FCI standards, features appearance coats allow us to distinguish several types of Dachshund dogs.

The animal has fairly short and thick hair with a pronounced shine, which fits well to the body. The wool is dense and harsh. Bald patches are completely absent. Smooth-haired dachshunds can be found in one or two colors, as well as merle or brindle.

An animal of this type has hard and fairly thick hair on all parts of the body except the muzzle, as well as the brow ridges and the ear area. The coat lies close to the body and is characterized by the presence of a pronounced undercoat.. The wire-haired dachshund has a distinctive “beard” on its face. The eyebrows are bushy, and the ears have relatively short and almost smooth hair. The color can be solid, merle, brindle, murugi or wolf.

A dog of this type has a smooth coat with a pronounced shine that fits quite tightly to the body. Longer hair is present in the throat area and on the lower body. In the parotid space, the hair noticeably extends beyond the lower edges and forms a fringe. A special feature is the presence of feathering on the back of the limbs and on the lower part of the tail. The color of the long-haired dachshund can be solid, merle and brindle.

Character of the breed

The Dachshund is a very intelligent and loyal breed, characterized by playfulness, spontaneity and mobility, so the dog needs to be provided with daily, fairly long walks and systematic standardized exercise. The breed is great with water and enjoys swimming. A special complex of dachshund training should be carried out at training areas and stations. If there is no need to develop hunting skills in your dog, then you can get by with a general training course.

The dachshund is small in size, which makes it possible to keep this breed even in small apartments and limited living spaces. The short-haired dachshund requires less grooming. Such a dog should be washed only when necessary, and regular coat care consists of wiping with a damp terry towel, followed by combing with a special brush.

The long-haired dachshund requires more careful grooming. Such a pet needs to be brushed daily with a brush with natural bristles. It is recommended to comb while walking. This type of dachshund needs to be bathed somewhat more often than the smooth-haired variety. It is imperative to use special shampoo-conditioners that reduce the risk of tangles and tangling of the coat. The wire-haired dachshund needs trimming twice a year, which consists of thoroughly removing all old and dead hair.

Walks should be regular and of sufficient duration. If the weather is too frosty, then the walking time should be shortened. The short-haired dachshund does not tolerate low temperatures, so during winter walks The animal must be dressed in warm overalls and special shoes.

Dachshund diet

In feeding mode, the dachshund does not require a special approach. The main condition of this breed is a balanced diet, which helps prevent diseases such as excess weight, spinal overload, hormonal disorders and problems with the cardiovascular system.

Important! Remember that it is better to underfeed a dachshund than to overfeed it. It is strictly forbidden to feed your dog, regardless of age, raw pork, chocolate, sugar, baked goods, or boiled tubular bones. It is prohibited to supplement food with sausage, frankfurters, ham, butter and sour cream, smoked meats and any spices.

Feeding an adult dog

A domestic dog aged one year should be fed twice a day. When calculating daily norm You need to be guided by the fact that for every kilogram of the animal’s weight there should be approximately 35-45 g of feed. The third part of the daily diet should be represented by meat. It is best to use boiled turkey and chopped lean beef.

• rice, buckwheat and oatmeal;
• boiled and raw vegetables, including carrots, pumpkin and zucchini;
• fruits and chopped herbs.

When feeding natural products, you need to supplement the diet weekly with boiled chicken or raw quail eggs. Ready-to-use feed can be either dry or wet. You need to select such food based on the age and activity levels of your pet.

Feeding a dachshund puppy

A dog under three months of age should be fed every four hours, approximately four to five times a day. A dachshund between three and eight months old can be fed three times a day. Food is given to the puppy immediately before the walk, which is due to the physiological characteristics of the dog.

The basis of the diet of puppies under four months of age should be fresh goat or cow milk. From six months onwards, the diet is enriched with buckwheat and oatmeal with the addition of chopped meat, as well as fresh and boiled vegetables. Small dachshund puppies are given dry food pre-soaked in water. From the age of five months, you can gradually accustom the animal to unsoaked food. In conditions completely natural feeding It is advisable to use the Gellacan-Baby supplement, using half the amount indicated on the package. High-quality dry “Hills” and “Ekanuba” are very suitable. From the age of one year the dog is switched to an adult diet.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

Along with any other breeds, the dachshund not only has a large number of advantages, but is also not without some pronounced disadvantages.

The main advantages of the Dachshund breed include:

• quite miniature sizes;
• motor activity and playfulness;
• presence of security and hunting qualities;
• absence of hydrophobia.

The disadvantages of the dachshund are tendency to diseases associated with the vertebral region and insufficient cold resistance. An improperly raised dog, as a rule, has a wayward and disobedient character, and is also often jealous of its owner towards other household inhabitants and pets.

Short-legged, with a squat build and an elongated but fairly compact body, the dachshund is well known to many amateur dog breeders under the name “badger dog.” The breed is very popular in our country due to its fairly fast learning ability, and with proper upbringing it is characterized by the absence of unmotivated aggression.

When buying a dachshund puppy, you need to pay attention to the following criteria for choosing the right pet:

• If the dog is not shown at the exhibition unplanned, then it is recommended to give preference to “pet-class” puppies. Such an animal may have some minor disadvantages that prohibit its use in breeding. The cost of such a puppy is much lower, and averages 9-12 thousand rubles;
• Bunny or Miniature Dachshund puppies are intended to be raised for show purposes. Such an animal is distinguished not only by its excellent exterior, but also must have a certain temperament. Overly active and excitable dogs are difficult to control, so pre-show preparation can take a lot of time, money and effort. An overly calm and phlegmatic dog looks too lethargic in the ring. That is why it is best to purchase an animal of this class with the help of an experienced dog handler, and the price of a puppy in this case often exceeds 20-30 thousand rubles.

It is important to remember that even from a very promising puppy, you can get a titled dog or a champion pet only with full compliance with the maintenance regime and competent, timely upbringing.