The authentic origin of the Dachshund as a breed can be traced to Germany during the years 1550-1850 when German foresters, gamekeepers and sportsmen first recognized the dogs' specialty: To go underground and fearlessly fight badgers which weighed anywhere from 25 to 40 pounds. The German word for badger is "dachs" and "hund" means "dog" in English. Dachshunds have subsequently been used to flush and retrieve game, including birds.

The dachshund first appeared in the United States between 1879 and 1885.

Breed Description
Dachshunds come in two sizes: Miniature and standard. There are also 3 coat types and a multitude of colors and patterns.

The American Kennel Club recognizes a miniature dachshund as weighing 11 lbs and under at 12 months of age and older. The weight of standard-sized dachshund is usually between 16 and 32 lbs.

Dachshunds require a moderate-sized yard in which to exercise and  weekly brushing for a smooth coat. Longhaired dogs may require occasional trimming. See additional information on our Dachshunds Healthcare page.

The dachshund is known for its bold and lively temperament; they also make good family dogs because of their friendly and loyal traits. Dachshunds also make good watchdogs and are known to bark when strangers come to the door. They can be scrappy with other (especially larger) dogs. They can also be independent and have a mind of their own, requiring strict and consistent obedience training and housebreaking. See additional information on our Dog Care page.

The average lifespan of dachshunds is 12 years, though their long bodies and relatively short legs do raise back/spine problems.

What Color Is My Dachshund?
Because there are more colors and patterns in the Dachshund breed than most any other breed of canine, it can be very difficult for a novice owner or breeder to determine the correct color and pattern labels for registry purposes. Even for experienced breeders correctly identifying a puppy can be extremely difficult. Once a dog's color is incorrectly labeled,  it becomes extremely difficult for future breeders to accurately diagram the genetics in order to produce the colors and patterns they hope to produce.

For this reason (if your plan is to breed puppies) it is considered a good idea to research the colors, patterns and genetics of the Dachshund breed before you select a color and pattern for your puppies. But keep in mind that different breeders label dogs differently and different registries accept different colors as "standard". While all breeders should have a set way to do things many simply do not understand genetics and its role in identifying colors and patterns. There are also different breed clubs (DCI, AKC for example) that have their own definition of what is breed "standard."

For complete and detailed information about colors/patterns/coats and breed standards, visit our Breed Standards page.

Where Did That Look Come From?
Your dog has long, skinny legs with fly away folded ears you say? Well, there is only one person at fault and that is the breeder who bred your puppy.  All of those traits are dominant and would have been apparent in the parents of your puppy if your breeder had cared to notice.  A knowledgeable, ethical, caring breeder would never breed and continue to reproduce a dog with those traits.

What Will My Puppies Look Like?
It is important to know which traits are easily reproduced and which traits take a little more time, effort and knowledge on your part to reproduce.

Dominant traits require only 1 parent to give the gene to the offspring to reproduce.  Recessive traits require 1 gene from each parent to reproduce.  Dominant genes are worn on the outside like a coat of armor and are easily seen and recognized.  Recessive genes are hidden traits that require either knowledge of the bloodline as to what is there or breeding by trial and error to see what is produced.

Breeding a poor quality Multiple Dominant Trait Dachshund is unforgivable since you are aware you will be reproducing those undesirable traits.  Recessive traits can remain hidden for generations and only surface when you mate the animal with a like-gene animal and the offspring gets one of those like-genes from each parent.  Recessive traits are much harder to work with and identify, but once identified should be removed from your breeding program or bred with the proper animals to discourage any undesirable trait offspring in the future.

Picking A Puppy- how the genetics of behavior can help you choose the best one for you
Susan Thorpe-Vargas Ph.D. 

However, if you are like most people, very little thought went into the process of selecting your new puppy. The majority of us are most often swayed by the looks of that adorable bundle of fur with little or no regard for what that puppy might eventually grow up to be as an adult. If the puppy is a purebred, you have a reasonable expectation of what the adult dog will look like, but do you really have any idea what to anticipate in the way of temperament and behavior?  Unless you have thoroughly researched a breed this can come as a rude and often unpleasant surprise and is frequently the reason why so many dogs wind up at a shelter after outgrowing that cute puppy stage. Too often dogs meant to become strictly companion animals have had their basic instincts repressed and this comes out in displaced behaviors. Herding dogs like the Border Collie that herd children instead of sheep, sled dogs that pull on the lead and are difficult to train, over protective Rottweilers that are deemed aggressive are all dogs that are dumped at shelters. How do we prevent this from happening? With a little bit of effort it is possible to find a suitable dog that will 'fit' with your lifestyle and your personality. How is that you ask?

There is a genetic component to behavior. This does not mean there are genes for specific behaviors, only that genes code for the assembly and regulation of proteins that vary with their environment.  It is these proteins which will provide the building blocks used in the construction of the neural networks of the brain and from which these behaviors will eventually originate. Recent advances in genetics that depend on new techniques such as recombinant DNA and linkage analysis have now been used for studies in behavior genetics. What they have discovered is that complexes of genes exist or quantitative trait loci (QTL) that influence behavior (or other traits) that can be precisely located on chromosomes. Knowing their location, researchers are able to follow how these gene groups are inherited. ^[1]  What this means for the future is hard to say, although the dog cloning project at Texas A & M University should be able to shed some insight on how much of a role genetics plays in behavior.

Suffice it to say that different breeds do have different temperaments- so how can we use this information to select the best dog for you?  Say you are a sedentary person and like nothing better than to curl up on the couch with your pup-well a Border Collie would drive you insane, but a Newfoundland would suit you perfectly. Not to say the Newfy doesn't need exercise, but they definitely have the 'couch potato' mentality.  Compare a Golden Retriever puppy and a Blue-Heeler pup.  If given the same stimulus-say throwing a ball for them to retrieve, most often it is the retriever pup that will chase the ball, while the heeler pup will chase the other dog and bite its heels. When frightened, beagles freeze and terriers run around frantically. ^[2]  Why is that? German Shepherds and Airedales, when raised under similar non-stimulating conditions were both detrimentally affected, but the German shepherd showed a greater tendency for fear-based aggression.^[3]  How to explain this? Since all canid brains are constructed along the same basic design there must be genetic explanation. What are those 'hard wired' differences between breeds and did selection for the physical appearance of a dog influence the genetic basis of its behavior or was it selection for its behavioral characteristics that influenced its appearance?

Nature vs. Nurture

Before discussing that aspect of behavior it would be logical for us to first look at the role environment plays in moderating instincts and what part of a behavior is due to training and learning. All animals have innate species-specific behavior patterns. Even human babies when lightly touched on the cheek will turn towards that touch and seek to nurse and most of us have noticed the circling behavior of a dog preparing to lie down. When a mother bird sees the gaping mouth of her young it triggers a fixed action pattern (maternal feeding behavior) and she feeds her young. These are all examples of genetically determined programs. However, as the size and complexity of the cerebral cortex of the brain increase, experience and learning become more important factors for determining behavior. For example, innate behaviors used for finding food, such as hunting are more dependent on learning then sexual and reproductive behavior. This makes sense as some flexibility is needed when hunting as both the prey and the environment can change.

It is known that raising young animals in a sterile environment without sensory stimulation will have an effect on the development of the nervous system. Environmental deprivation will cause an animal to become hyperactive and excitable as an adult and unfortunately, the effects seem to be fairly permanent. The lack of sensory input makes the brain hypersensitive to stimulation.  This is a common problem in dogs raised without proper socialization. On the other hand, stressing or handling the pregnant female will also produce nervous and excitable offspring. When choosing a puppy of any breed, look for a responsible breeder who will hand raise the litter and provide a calm and stress-free environment for their bitch.  Make sure that you also check the pedigree for the degree of inbreeding practiced. Inbreeding is the term used for breeding close relatives and often has a deleterious effect on temperament and health.