Smooth-haired dachshunds: breed characteristics and content recommendations

Smooth-haired, or as it is also called short-haired, the dachshund refers to hunting dogs. Her specific qualities are easy to notice even if she lives at home. Insight, dexterity and the ability to quickly learn commands allow her to successfully adapt to any conditions. Today, many people start dachshunds not for hunting, but simply in order to find a faithful four-legged friend, because the nature of dachshunds is quite friendly. They like to play with both adults and children, they become great companions for them.

Burrowing dogs have been known to man for a long time. They were taken with them on a hunt, so that they would search, pursue, pull out of holes and help a person to catch prey. The help of these dogs was simply invaluable in human food production. In historical finds, you can find images of dachshunds dating back to the 16th century.

This breed is considered German in origin. According to one version, dachshunds appeared in the process of mixing Pinschers and French bassets, but there is another, according to which the dachshund appeared as a result of a mutation of hunting dogs. Since driven hunting has always been an expensive pleasure, it was predominantly carried out by noble people, but normal hunting was quite accessible to the lower classes: simple burghers gladly brought these excellent hunters and took them with them to the forest.

The first standard of this breed was officially established in 1888, and today the standard for dachshunds from 2001 is in force.As a result of export, this breed has become in demand in other countries, while at home it has retained popularity and is second only to the German Shepherd in this regard.

To date, 3 types of smooth-haired dachshunds are distinguished: standard, miniature and rabbit. The latter was bred for the production of rabbits, since their holes are small in size, only small dogs can penetrate into them.

The head of a dachshund smooth-haired has an elongated shape, which tapers smoothly to the tip of the nose. The nose is black or brown, depending on the color of the animal, the jaws are quite powerful. Brown eyes, slightly slanting. Drop ears reach almost the level of the nose.

The body is long, but powerful, with a prominent developed chest, the back is flat, the lower back is slightly protruding. The abdomen is taut, the body is slightly slanted to the tail. The front legs are stronger and larger than the hind legs. The tail gradually tapers toward the tip, usually in a horizontal position.

The colors of smooth-haired dachshunds can be different.

• One color - from yellow to red. Deer or sable color, which involves interspersing hairs with a dark tip;
• Two-tone - black, brown, gray with light areas. The color is tan, harlequin, marble, where the main color is white, red or other light shades with dark spots.

At the withers, the growth of males varies from 22 to 27 cm, in females - from 20 to 25 cm. In dwarf individuals, this parameter is in the range of 16-21 cm in males and 14-19 cm in females, in a rabbit species 12-15 cm and 10-13 cm respectively.

Dachshunds are not just energetic and playful dogs, they show a peculiar sense of humor. For all its modest dimensions, the dachshund considers itself a powerful beast, and if someone tries to doubt it, she can show her teeth.

These animals are particularly sensitive to smells and hear subtle sounds. Because of this, they can actively sniff passers-by. If the owner has not yet managed to teach the dog to behave correctly, then it is worth walking on a leash. Sometimes a dachshund may seem naughty, all because of its habit of making decisions independently. When the dog agrees with the opinion of the person, then he immediately executes the command, otherwise the owner has to insist on his own.

When it comes to stalking, this breed is very reckless. Even a high fence will not become an obstacle for her - the dog will simply dig and run on. So that the animal does not rush at people or animals that interest it, it is necessary from a puppy's age to teach it to execute commands.

It is customary to feed an adult dachshund twice a day, that is, in the morning and in the evening, at the same time, as a rule, after a walk. Cups for food and water are best placed so that they are in the area of ​​the shoulder line of the dog. Every day she drinks about 1.5 liters of water. New products are introduced into the puppy's diet gradually and one at a time. In case of digestive problems or allergies, this will help establish its source.

It is recommended that dachshunds have foods with proteins, fats and proteins on the table. The meat or offal is either given raw or boiled for up to 10 minutes, and you can use the calculation: 15-20 grams per 1 kilogram of the dog’s weight. Keep in mind that if the dog ate a bone with meat, then you should not feed it anymore. This food is digested for a long time, and the digestive system of the animal will work for a long time, so the portion of the next day should be slightly reduced.

Experts recommend give Dachshunds products with calcium and vitamins more often, You can check the dosages and types of drugs at the veterinarian. It is also good to introduce fermented milk products, eggs, fruits, vegetables and lean meats in the dog’s menu: beef, veal, poultry, horse meat, and a little lamb is allowed. Sometimes a dog can be treated with boiled sea fish, having previously pulled large bones from it.

In order for your pet’s hair to always shine, you don’t need to carefully look after it, just brush it with a hard pile weekly. There are special mittens that massage and comb the dog’s fur coat perfectly. The furminator helps to get rid of the falling hairs well. During molting, the dog intensively loses the undercoat, then the animal needs to be combed out daily.

For hunting breeds, the state of health is important. Particular attention is paid to the teeth of the pet. Both regular brushing and special food help to get rid of plaque - these are bones from pet stores. Dry food can partially cope with this task. If any of the teeth is damaged, then it needs to be cured.

Care for the claws of the animal should be regular. Haircut is done every 2 weeks, also, if necessary, it is necessary to file chips. Eyes and ears are cleaned when contaminated. Walking on the street is recommended as much as possible - this is in favor of the dachshund both to strengthen physical health and to develop sociability. If possible, go out with her in the morning after sleep, 20 minutes after all feedings, and at night. The number of walks should be at least 3 per day, the recommended duration is from 20 minutes to half an hour.

Do not let the puppy stand on its hind legs if it wants to stand in a column. This is harmful to its fragile spine and can lead to deformation. Active games with jumps, especially from above, are also contraindicated. Stroking a small dog on the head, do not smooth your ears too much so that they do not lose their beautiful shape and do not sag.

Dachshunds are at risk for diseases of the spine. They may develop hernias that require treatment, and without veterinary intervention, the animal can become seriously ill. To avoid damage to the back, do not let the beast jump from a height, do not allow strong shocks. Steep steps can also harm the health of the dog’s back, so if there is no elevator in the house, then it’s better to take it for a walk and bring it back in your arms.

Parenting tips

• The dachshund’s desire to make decisions independently is not just her quirk, but a developed reflex. While burrowing, these dogs always had to think about where to go and where to look for the beast. It is undesirable to apply physical punishment in case of disobedience, because these dogs also have a heightened sense of dignity and can be very offended by you. Instead, it is better to use the method of ignoring, that is, temporarily stop paying attention to the pet, thereby expressing their dissatisfaction.
• When the animal is trained, unconditioned reflexes are used in combination with mechanical action and refreshments. Teams should sound confident, without unnecessary words and emotionally colored intonations. After successful execution, the animal is given a treat. For example, the command “Lie” is given, then pressure on the body follows, after which food is given. Do not give the dog two commands at once, this will confuse her and slow down her training.
• When the baby just appeared in your house, he can whine at night from longing for his dog family. Out of pity, do not put it in your bed, otherwise then the animal will be difficult to wean from this habit.
• To train a dog to cope with the need on the street as early as possible, without delaying the swaddling period. Of course, at first you can go to the diaper for a puppy, but the later you begin to retrain him to endure to the street, the more difficult this process will be.
• From a puppy's age, a baby must learn to eat at certain hours in the same place. Running around the house with food is a lot of fun, but this behavior needs to be stopped immediately. You also need to make sure that the dog does not throw food around the bowl.
• The animal must see the leader in you, which means that you can’t do without rigor in communicating with him. Only then will the dachshund fulfill your commands and will not cause chaos in the house.
• Training a dachshund should be preceded by establishing contact with the owner. In addition, she must respond to her nickname. This suggests that she understands when she is being contacted and is ready to give a response. Now you can accustom your dog to your place and begin to master the simplest commands. All this should happen soon after the puppy was in a new family.
• Some owners of dachshunds are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as puppy bites. In order to stop this behavior, in case of a bite, roll up the newspaper and gently slap the dog on the nose or croup with it, giving the command "Fu!" If this does not help, then you can put your bitten hand into a fist and push it further into the mouth, and take the puppy by the scruff with your other hand, shake it and give the same command, “Fu!”. Although some experts argue that you can’t raise taxes for scruff.

Dachshunds are smart, playful and pretty dogs that are able to give a lot of positive emotions to the household. They are loved for accuracy, poise, ability to show patience and friendliness. A lack of character can only be called their natural cunning. Regularly walk the animal and give feasible physical activity so that it does not start digging digs right in your apartment, and also monitor the health of its back.

See how to keep smooth-haired dachshunds in the next video.