This is a common question. Originally, dachshunds were bred for hunting ferocious badgers, rabbits, and other underground animals. Our tenacity is one trait that aids us in hunting. As such, we have been bred to do a lot of digging and burrowing so our large chest supports our ample lung capacity. Like other small dogs with large lung capacity, we have high oxygen production, which gives us extra endurance for hunting and digging for our prey. Our long, sturdy tails, paddle-shaped paws, and long noses also help us be great underground hunters.
Our long, barrel-shaped chests contain a mechanism that powers our deep, loud bark. It is a widely-known fact that we love to bark. Our deep bark makes us sound as if the bark is coming from a much larger dog. This is particularly helpful when we are hunting as we can more easily alert our master. Even though we have been bred to be fierce hunters, today’s dachshunds are considered excellent family companions. In particular, our small size makes us great apartment dogs.
Our breast bones are also very prominent. On either side, there appears to be a depression or a dimple. To make room for our heart and lungs, our ribs are well-sprung, full and oval. Our chest should also be oval and it should be wide enough for our heart and lungs to have room for development, but not so wide as to not to fit into the small oval area presented by the ribs.
As a lot of emphasis is placed on our prominent breast bone. In fact, many dachshund lovers seem to be obsessed with this feature, perhaps because a great chest is a symbol of a great dachshund. Sadly, the lack of this feature is considered a serious defect. The feature is truly a requirement of our breed. Not only does our large chest help us perform our task of hunting underground, it also makes us look good while doing it.
Our shoulder blades are long and broad and well laid. Additionally, our shoulders possess a lot of angles, which creates a beautiful space where they merge into each other from either side. This is a major point of consideration when deciding on a puppy that can be kept as a show prospect.
Many dachshunds have shorter shoulder blades and some of them appear to be a little straighter than they should be. If that is the case, a decision to show him needs to be made after seeing him move. The shoulder blades and upper arms need to work together for the purpose of making a dog move effortlessly.
In the same way, our upper arm should move freely and be capable of performing easily, which should give us more than a little bounce for free, ground-covering movement.
Finally, our neck should be well arched and it should flow into our shoulder blades and withers. Our head should be a little off-center and appear fairly close to a right angle.
Conclusion
All of our body parts have a specific purpose in what they do for our bodies; naturally, our large chest plays a significant role in our physicality; most importantly, it makes us good hunters as we were originally bred to be.
