I have been described by the legendary H. L. Mencken as “half a dog high and a dog and a half long,” but my small and drop-eared breed is strong enough to take on a badger. In fact, I have been bred to do so and this is how I got my name. I come in three varieties of coat, smooth (short-haired), wirehaired and long-haired.
Likewise, there are miniature dachshunds (11 pounds or less) and standard dachshunds (between 16 and 32 pounds). If my weight is between 11 and 16 pounds, I am known as a Tweenie. A third variety of dachshund is known as Kaninchenteckel in Germany, which is based on a chest measurement that is taken when I am 15 months old.
A Little Information About The Dachshund Coat
The coat of the smooth dachshund is short and very shiny. Generally, the single- colored smooth dachshunds come in red or green colors, probably with some black hair. On the other hand, the smooth dachshunds who are of two colors are generally black, wild boar, chocolate or Isabella with cream or tan markings. Dapple dachshunds have dapple pattern coats, along with light and dark-colored areas which are distributed evenly. The result is that neither the light nor the dark-colored area dominates. No white hair or some white hair can be accepted on the chest in the case of Dapple dachshunds. The other color patterns in which I may come are brindle, where there are dark stripes present on my body, and sable.
Wirehaired Dachshund Coat
In the case of wirehaired dachshunds, the coat is significantly different from that of smooth ones. Wirehaired dachshunds have short, thick and hard hair present on the topcoat along with a softer undercoat. The hair of the hard topcoat can be found on every part of the body except for the eyebrows, jaw, and ears. All the colors in which the smooth dachshund comes, are also accepted in the wirehaired variety, but the most common color, in this case, is wild boar.
Long-haired Dachshund Coat
The hair of the long-haired dachshund is glistening and slightly wavy, giving them an elegant look. This variety also comes in smooth dachshunds. Generally, light-colored dachshunds have light hazel, light gray, blue or green eyes instead of the different shades of brown. This variety can also have eyes of two different colors in some rare cases. For example, they can have eyes with double dapple coloration, where the dachshund has one brown and one blue eye.
Our breed needs very little maintenance and we shed, but not excessively. Likewise, unless we roll around into something that smells bad, we don’t need to be bathed often. We are also free of dog odor. Smooth dachshunds can simply be wiped with a damp cloth between baths in order to keep clean. If my owner lives in a place that is cold in winter, a smooth dachshund will require a sweater particularly when he is taken out.
Wirehaired dachshunds need regular brushing. They will also need to have their coats stripped three to four times a year so that they may look their best. The breeder from whom you purchased your wirehaired dachshund can help show you how it needs to be done.
Long-haired dachshunds also need regular brushing to prevent matted spots from forming. They may also require more frequent bathing compared to smooth dachshunds. My owner must blow-dry me afterward so that my coat looks good.
Useful Tips
For all my varieties, my owner should attend to my droopy ears as they can be the breeding ground for bacteria, fungus, and mites. It is a good idea to moisten a cotton ball with a good ear cleaner as recommended by your veterinarian and my ears and should be wiped out every week. However, you should not go any deeper than the first knuckle on your finger. Do not put a cotton swab in my ears. Among the other needs related to my grooming, dental hygiene and nail care are included. My nails should be trimmed once or twice a month. If my owner can hear my nails clicking on the floor, it means that they are too long. It is a good idea to introduce me to nail trimming at an early age because the experience will be less stressful then.
My teeth should also be brushed two or three times a week, or even daily. This helps remove bacteria and tartar. Start early when the puppy is young so he will get used to it. During grooming, check for rashes, sores or other signs of infection like inflammation, redness or tenderness of the skin, in the ears, eyes, mouth and nose, and on my feet. My ears should smell good, and there should not be too much wax or gunk present. My eyes should also be clean. There should be no redness or any discharge. I need to be carefully examined at least once every week as this will help discover any developing health problems at an early stage.
Dachshund Coat Types
A dachshund’s coat is considered one of the breed’s most impressive features. We are hypoallergenic on account of low shedding and low dander production. My coat comes in three different types.
Short-haired Or Smooth
This coat can be described as the original type. In this case, the coat is short and neat, and smoothly contoured to my body. There are additional characteristics, like the leathery-looking ears and the long hair bristles present on my undercarriage.
Long-haired
Researchers theorize that the original dachshund was crossbred with a spaniel in order to produce a new version of a badger hunters, one that was weather resistant. In this case, the hair is generally straight or slightly wavy. It is also longer around the ears, behind the legs, undercarriage and around the neck. Long-haired dachshunds are not considered hypoallergenic.
Wire-haired
The third variety is wire-haired. It is believed that this third sub-breed was created by crossing a short-haired dachshund with a wirehaired terrier in order to get better protection while hunting. The main feature of this variety is a dense and short, somewhat rough outer coat. Their undercoat is also a little softer. Like terriers, they also have long facial hair. They possess hypoallergenic properties, and they require very little maintenance.
Different Coat Patterns
Since I have a lot of variation in my DNA, my coat comes in a wide range of colors, and different patterns as well.
Dapple
Dapples are characterized by a merle pattern. The light and dark patches of hair are in contrast with each other throughout my coat. In some cases, dark or light fur will be the more dominant color.
Sable
This pattern generally manifests as an overlay of the dark-tipped hair of a red coat.
Brindle
The brindle pattern characterized by dark stripes that are distributed throughout my body.
We Are Loved In All Varieties
Regardless of my size, I am always a delightful addition to the family. Probably due to this reason, I have been ranked near the top when it comes to the list of the most popular dogs since the 1950s. My cute appearance has inspired several affectionate nicknames, including sausage dog, hot dog, wiener dog, doxie, or in Germany, Dachsels on Teckels.
I have remained a favorite subject of toymakers and cartoonists for a long time. However, my cute appearance was developed for much more practical and serious reasons. My short legs allow me to dig and move through the tunnels to corner and even fight badgers and other animals. My large chest provides me with the “heart” that is required for such fights (as well as the lung capacity). We are very brave, and sometimes, we can also be somewhat stubborn. I have an independent spirit, particularly when hunting.
My playful nature comes out when I am at home. I love to remain close to my owners. On account of my intelligence, I have my own ideas regarding what the rules are when it comes to playtime. However, these rules may not be the same as the ones intended by my owners. I am generally known for being very lively. I also enjoy chasing other small animals, birds or toys.
My eyes are very soulful and I have complex facial expressions. My lungs are large for the dog of my size, and I have a loud, deep bark that sounds like it is coming from a much larger dog. I do like to bark so if you have neighbors, they might become annoyed by my antics. Often I have a close bond with a single person. I may even become jealous if I don’t have my owner’s full attention. Furthermore, if I’m not properly socialized and trained, I may even become snappy.
Other Details On My Coat
Smooth dachshunds are the most popular. Our coats are very short and shiny, and we require very little grooming. However, I may need a sweater in winter, especially if I live in an area with cold weather. My common colors are red, black, cream, black, and tan, black, and cream, blue and tan, chocolate and tan and Isabella. We may also have patterns on our coat like brindle, dapple, piebald and sable.
Long-haired dachshunds have very sleek and somewhat wavy hair. They can be of the same colors as smooth dachshunds. However, I need to be brushed every day so that matting is prevented, particularly around the ears and the elbows. Some say that long-haired dachshunds have a more docile nature, compared to the smooth or wirehaired variety.
Wirehaired dachshunds have a thick, wiry graft and short coat. They also have a beard and bushy eyebrows. They don’t require a sweater in winter, but they must be brushed regularly. Wirehaired dachshunds are found in coat colors similar to smooth dachshunds. However, the most popular colors of this variety are wild boar, and different shades of red and black and tan.
Conclusion
Often, we are considered a symbol of Germany. As a result of this association, we lost popularity during the World Wars. However, our appeal was too strong to resist and we quickly made a comeback in popularity. In fact, a dachshund was selected as the first official mascot for the summer Olympics in 1972.
We are a good choice for people living in apartments, and also for people without backyards. On account of our small size and the ease of our care, we are very popular in urban areas. Generally, we are active and we like to go on walks. Our owners should not allow us to become too fat and they should also not allow us to injure our back by jumping from the furniture. Our owners should make sure to support our backs when they hold us. As a result of our long back, we are particularly susceptible to a slipped or ruptured disc, which may even result in partial or full paralysis.
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