All About Dachshunds

A dog is a friend of man. This expression is known to everyone from early childhood, and it is truly correct. As well as the fact that the nature of the animal is often very similar to the nature of the owner, even if they themselves do not notice it. This is because when choosing a pet, people pay special attention to both the first contact with the dog and the preliminary study of the breed.

Let us consider in more detail all the information about such a breed of dogs as dachshunds, and get acquainted with the origin and basic characteristics of the species, as well as all the features of the upbringing and maintenance of this animal.

The dog of the Dachshund breed is very unusual, because it is quite dexterous with its small size and short legs. And before getting a puppy, everyone will want to know not only his pedigree, but also the history of the origin of the breed as a whole.

The time frame for the origin of this species has not yet been determined, since according to some sources, the dachshund is considered one of the oldest hunting burrows of dogs.

The modern breed - the way it is to this day, began to form back in the distant 16th century, in the south of Germany. In those days, dogs of this breed were called very original - "badger warrior" or "crawling for a badger." This was due to the fact that during hunting the animal deftly penetrated holes and pursued its prey, bringing it to the owner.

By the end of the XVIII century, the breed became so popular and famous that dogs began to be bred not only in Germany but also in other countries. Hunters all over the world wanted to get a four-legged pet, which would be not only a faithful friend, but also a reliable like-minded person in hunting.

After some time, the animal began to be bred for decorative purposes - as pets. Due to such widespread distribution, in 1870 the breed standard was established and adopted, which was later confirmed in 2001 by the International Kennel Federation. It was believed that in comparison with other dogs, the breed of dachshund is not so popular, but, despite this, in 1900 a society of dachshund lovers was even founded. This society had Russian roots and specialized in organizing exhibitions and keeping pedigree books of this breed.

Sure, the breed has a very interesting history of origin, but this is not enough to make a complete impression of this animal. In order to fully understand all the features of a pet, it is necessary to study how it looks, and the characteristics of the breed, and even standard colors and sizes, as well as deviations from standards.

Externally, the dog looks somewhat unusual: has a long, oblong body shape, short legs and a thick tail at the base, but a thin tail at the end. In addition, dachshunds are famous for their strong skeleton and physique, and thanks to such a powerful skeleton, the dog stands firmly on its feet and moves smartly, despite the small size of its paws.

The dachshund has a well-developed nose, massive muzzle and jaws that can be widely opened. Lips tightly close, closing the jaw, which is perfectly developed, filled with strong rather big teeth and steadily closes. The eyes of the dachshund are small and oval in shape, as well as brown, black-brown and reddish. High-set ears with front edges adjacent to the cheekbones.

The dachshund has a rather high and strong neck, a slight bulge on the nape and a tight-fitting skin in the throat. Standard representatives of the breed are large and are more likely to be classified as medium-sized, rather than small. The average weight of an adult dachshund is 9 kilograms, while miniature animals weigh from 2 to 5.5 kilograms per minute.

The growth of the average rate reaches 28 centimeters, and the breast volume - 36. The parameters of a small animal of this breed are much less, about 5-10 centimeters.

The nature of the animal also plays an important role, especially since animals of each breed have their own characteristics. For example, friendliness is characteristic of dachshunds, and in a calm comfortable environment it will not show aggression.

The dog’s good instinct allows it to easily grasp the presence of the animal at a fairly large distance, and it either begins to pursue it, or gives a signal to the owner. The dachshund can cope independently with badgers, raccoons, and sometimes even foxes. It can bring a shot duck, and also inform the owner that there is a boar or even a big brown bear nearby.In addition to all the positive qualities that have already been described, the fees are very loyal, therefore they will follow the owner to the last and protect him.

There are also negative aspects in the nature of the dachshund regarding its courage. The fact is that often the courage of a dachshund is excessive, and at the peak of the manifestation of his emotions, the pet may not calculate its strength and start a fight with another animal, which will be several times larger and stronger than the dachshund.

That is why owners of dogs of this breed need to pay special attention to education, directing all emotions in a peaceful direction and helping the animal to splash them out as part of the training process. The host’s disrespectful attitude, screaming and beating can leave a serious imprint on the character of the dachshund. These animals are famous for their high pride and pride, so any rough treatment in their direction can cause a painful reaction, and even melancholy. When communicating with a dachshund, it is necessary to clearly separate the line of rudeness and educational rigor.

Dogs of this breed, with proper upbringing, will become excellent companions and family members. They will not only share their love between all adults, but will also be best friends and advocates for children.

It is worth mentioning another feature of this animal - a sonorous and rather loud voice. This feature can cause irritation to neighbors, because dachshunds are very fond of not just barking for no reason, but sometimes even howling. Therefore, you need to make sure that the dog has toys and good leisure time that will not let her get bored and make noise out of the blue.

Undoubtedly, any breed of dog has its pros and cons, but it is not worthwhile to make an opinion on the breed as a whole, because, in addition to general characteristics, each animal has a number of individual characteristics.

In this case, we will consider the general positive and negative sides of the representatives of this breed.

Among the pluses, the following points are noted.

• The dog understands the owner perfectly. Thanks to a high level of intellectual abilities, the animal is well trained, understands commands and captures the intonation of the voice.
• Dachshunds have a high degree of stamina. They are very energetic, able to walk, run, jump for a long time, and are happy to engage in outdoor games. Walking with them is recommended twice a day, which will benefit the owner himself.
• Although it seems to some that the dachshund is quite absurd and ridiculous, it still belongs to the most beautiful representatives of the hunting breeds. In addition to catching burrows, the dachshund can hunt in the water, as dogs of this breed swim very well.
• The dog of this breed is very sociable and funny, thanks to which it quickly captivates others and wins the love of the owners.
• In addition to being a good hunter and a loyal companion, the dachshund also acts as a great guard. On the Internet you can find many stories telling about how a small dog saved his master from angry predators.
• Such dogs are famous for their charisma and artistry. For dainty, the dachshund will suit you whole performance.

Along with the pros, there are a few minuses.

• Due to the long spine, the dog can have considerable health problems, and in order to avoid them, you will have to regularly load the animal and tire it with physical exercises.
• The ears of the dog must be carefully looked after, because of their unusual structure, they are susceptible to the frequent occurrence of various kinds of diseases.
• Dachshunds are prone to overweight and even obesity. That is why it is necessary to monitor the dog’s nutrition and carefully draw up its diet.
• Hunting instincts will not go unnoticed even in a city apartment. Dachshunds are very fond of digging the ground, and at home they can switch to flooring or furniture.
• On the street during a walk, dachshunds can bark at other dogs, thereby provoking conflicts.
• With improper upbringing, an animal can become not just aggressive, but even dangerous.

The life expectancy of a dachshund is 14-16 years. And although by human standards this is quite a bit, all the same dogs of this breed are classified as centenarians. Often the life span of an animal depends on the state of health, nutrition, training and other factors. We’ll take a closer look at the most popular factors that negatively affect the life of a dachshund.

• Excessive feeding with inappropriate food, fatty or spicy foods, and other prohibited foods. This not only causes obesity in the animal, but also seriously disrupts the digestive tract.
• Jumping from a great height can damage the limbs of a dachshund, which subsequently affects the duration of its life.
• If climbing up stairs is useful for joints, then you need to lower the animal down on your hands, because with an independent descent, the dachshund just risks making joint problems.
• Frequent and untreated inflammation of the ears can cause a decrease in life expectancy.
• You can prevent or get ahead of the disease with the help of prevention. To do this, you need to study the weaknesses of your pet's body and act accordingly. It will also be useful to choose the right vitamin complex.
• It was previously mentioned that a dog can spoil things. It is worth saying that in the process of playing with your things, the dachshund can tear them up and absorb inedible particles. This, in turn, affects the health of the pet and negatively affects the duration of life.
• The sex of the dog also affects life expectancy. During hormonal surges, males may have problems with the genital system, and in the absence of the necessary treatment, the situation can become very deplorable, even fatal.
• However, if you decide on castration or sterilization, you will need to be puzzled by the issue of changing the diet, because improper nutrition after these operations can adversely affect the life expectancy of your pet.

Many are accustomed to the standard look of smooth-haired dachshunds, and any other species of breed cause surprise in people. But you should know that animals of this breed differ in size, color and texture of the coat.

In size, dachshunds are divided into large, dwarf and royal, which are also called rabbit. The standard height of a large dachshund can reach 30 cm at the withers, the minimum chest circumference is 35 cm, and the weight reaches 9-10 kilograms.

Dwarf dachshund has a more modest size. The circumference of her breast varies between 30-35 cm, while the height of the withers is only 15-20 cm. The weight of a healthy animal can be in the range of 4-5.5 kilograms.

The rabbit or royal dachshund is the smallest of all species. The weight of this dog will be no more than 4 kilograms. The height of the animal is 15 cm, and the volume of the chest should not be more than 30 cm.

The most common species are red and brown dachshunds. Usually they have the same color in color, but sometimes two-colored animals come across, for example, with a white breast, specks on the face and legs. Chocolate dachshund looks very beautiful. The hue of her coat resembles delicate milk chocolate in color.This tone of the fur coat gives the animal a more noble appearance, and with proper care, the coat shines, attracting enthusiastic looks.

The so-called tiger dachshund does not resemble a tiger at all. The name of this color is similar to a dangerous predator only in that the spots on the body of the animal are placed in strips, but they are not pronounced, but rather scattered. Colors with this color are most often light brown and dark chocolate.

Spotted dachshund is also called marble. And all because of the peculiarities of its color, which resembles the color scheme and texture of the stone. Such a dog looks very beautiful and unusual. Most often, a combination of black, gray-white and brown colors is found in marble.

As for the coat, then this breed is divided into several varieties.

• Smooth haired dachshunds - the most common and most unpretentious in care. The smooth short hair of the animal is well cleaned, does not get confused and does not require combing. The only important nuance of this type is sensitive skin, requiring careful care. In addition, the smooth-haired dachshund is hypoallergenic and practically does not shed.

• Wire haired dachshunds look very interesting and unusual. The hair of an animal can have a length of up to 2 centimeters, while it will be stiff, and in some places even prickly. Caring for such a coat is a little more difficult, it needs to be combed and washed regularly as necessary. But such a coat has an advantage - it protects the body of the animal from damage and bites of small animals.

• Long haired dachshunds - grace and grace itself. Long, soft, flowing wool spreads over the body, forming a neat, even and shiny coat. Care for long hair is more difficult, because it needs to be thoroughly combed and untangled, daily cleaned of dust and dirt, to ensure that no particles of plants remain in the wool. If necessary, such a cover can be trimmed and cut.

Each animal needs proper care and organization of the necessary conditions. Dachshund is not an exception, on the contrary, in its maintenance it is necessary to take into account many important nuances.

For example, in the period from 1 to 2 months of a puppy's life, it is necessary to carry out the first treatment for parasites in his life, as well as to be puzzled by vaccinations. This must be done before you begin to take the dog out to the street, since it is important to protect it from all possible infections and diseases.

If the animal will live in an apartment, it is necessary to start accustoming it to the toilet from small months. Until you go outside, the toilet can indicate a special tray or a simple disposable absorbent diaper. It is necessary to show the baby a place where he can relieve himself, and gradually he will get used to it. In a similar way, it will be necessary to act after going out.

In order for the pet to be comfortable, it is necessary to protect it from severe stresses. Of course, it is impossible to foresee all the factors on the street, but to ensure a calm atmosphere at home is the responsibility of each owner. Otherwise, the dog may become nervous and aggressive.

You will need to regularly carry out hygiene procedures: cut nails, care for your ears and wash your paws. Let us consider in more detail how to do this correctly.

• To care for your ears, you can use a slightly damp cotton pad and cotton buds. There are also special wipes for caring for animals. The ear space must be wiped and cleaned of dirt gently and without pressure, so as not to injure the animal.

• To cut the claws of the dog, you need to get special nippers, it is strictly forbidden to use ordinary home scissors. Do not cut the claws too deep, as there is a risk of vascular damage. Only the overgrown ends should be cut, after which they will need to be carefully filed and ironed out all the bumps.

• It is often impossible to wash the animal, since even from the most expensive means in a dachshund allergies can begin. But with rare washing, you need to organize everything correctly. It is necessary to adjust the temperature of the water (it should be moderately warm), lay a towel or a special mat on the bottom of the bathtub so that the dog does not slip and fall, and during washing, make sure that the water does not get into the ears.

• Despite the fact that it is not possible to wash the dog completely too often, it is necessary to clean the paws after each walk. This can be done using washing or special napkins.

• Longhaired species of this breed need regular combing, as the formation of mats can cause the dog great discomfort.

• It is necessary to monitor the condition of the teeth and periodically contact the veterinary clinic for cleaning the oral cavity.

If your dog likes to pick up food or other items on the street, it is important to ensure that it does not have such an opportunity. To do this, use a collar with a leash or a muzzle. A muzzle can also be useful when going to the veterinarian so that the animal does not injure others from fear and stress.

During walks, you need to make sure that the animal does not get wet in cold weather and does not freeze. To do this, it is recommended to acquire overalls. Best of all, if there are two of them: a lightweight version of waterproof fabric for rainy weather, an insulated jumpsuit with fleece or faux fur for the cold winter.

In order for the animal to feel comfortable in your house, you need to arrange for it a personal sleeping place. It can be a cozy house or just a litter. It is necessary to place a sleeping place for the animal so that the dog can observe the rest of the space, but at the same time it is not in a draft.

As for the animal’s health, you need to be extremely careful, because even improper training can injure the dachshund - with excessive and incorrect loads, the animal can damage the intervertebral discs, which in the future will lead to paralysis.

It is no secret that proper nutrition is the key to the health of not only humans, but also dogs. Especially the dogs. The digestive system of these animals is designed in such a way that many harmful delicacies allowed to humans will be deadly for the body of dachshund.

If you want to accustom your animal to natural nutrition, you should better research this topic carefully, since it has many important nuances. First of all, let's determine the list of allowed products:

• low-fat meats: chicken breast, veal, turkey breast, horse meat and some parts of lamb;
• offal;
• some varieties of fish;
• buckwheat, hercules and rice;
• among vegetables, it is most preferable to eat carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, apples and zucchini;
• eggs, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, yogurt and low-fat varieties of cheese.

The greatest attention should be paid to the nutrition of the dog in the first few months of its life, and especially during the period of weaning the puppy from the mother. It is then that the animal is completely transferred to an independent diet, which should be not only tasty, but also balanced, nutritious and healthy.

Puppies eat food often, but in small portions, and it is best that each meal is different from the previous one. Consider, for example, a one-day menu for a dachshund puppy from 3 to 7 months of age.

Menu:

• 8:00 - cottage cheese with the addition of a small amount of vegetable oil;
• 12:00 - yogurt or fermented baked milk;
• 15:00 - buckwheat porridge, cooked on a broth with meat and carrots, you can also add a little vegetable oil to the porridge;
• 19:00 - sea fish with rice and boiled pumpkin, you can supplement the meal with a small piece of apple;
• 22: 00 - boiled hercules with kefir, herbs and a drop of vegetable oil.

With age, the dog begins to eat less, but the portion for one meal increases significantly. Adult dachshunds are fed twice a day, while ensuring that the dog has constant access to a bowl of clean water.

As for the diet itself, it is usually cereal with meat and vegetables. Daily snacks in the form of eggs or dairy products are allowed: cottage cheese, fermented baked milk and yogurt. In addition, special minerals and nutrients must be added to the food of both the puppy and the adult animal, which will ensure the normal functioning of the body.

In addition to the allowed products and dietary rules, each owner should know that dogs of absolutely any breed are strictly forbidden to use:

• chocolate and sugar-containing sweets, since sugar is not absorbed in the body and harms internal organs;
• pork, as this meat is too fat for dogs and is rather difficult to digest, causing an upset stomach;
• smoked meat and sausages;
• spicy, fried, fatty and salty foods;
• various spices, as well as garlic and onions in any form.

Of course, natural nutrition has its advantages, but cooking for a varied diet still requires a certain amount of time, which not everyone can afford. In this regard, dry and wet prepared feeds greatly simplify the life of dog owners, most of which are not only tasty, but also very useful, because they have a certain balance and vitamins.

Do not pay attention to low-grade feed, which contains many harmful substances. So you save money not on the cost of feed, but on the health of your pet. Most preferred are premium and super premium feeds and low cholesterol formulations.

Among premium feeds, dachshund owners give preference to such brands as ProPlan, Royal Canin, Probalance, Advance, Brit Premium, Hill »s. Although these feeds do not consist of the purest meat, they still contain meat offal, which is many times more useful than various flavors contained in cheaper feeds.

Super premium feeds are better and more suitable for feeding. In addition to the fact that the composition of the feed contains exclusively natural meat, it also includes many useful trace elements. The most popular manufacturers are Brit Care, Pronature Original, 1st Choice, Josera, Fitmin, Monge, Duke`s Farm.

The best option for feeding your pet is feed from the holistic category. They are not only healthy, but also tasty as well as nutritious. In addition to a large amount of meat, the composition also contains berries, vegetables, fruits, the right carbohydrates and fiber.The most famous representatives: Orijen, Savarra, Canidae, Grandorf, Now Fresh, Acana.

Many people, having started a fee, involuntarily start thinking about the commercial side of its maintenance - raising puppies for sale. Some just want to get some more pets. The reasons for all are different, but there is one problem: the correct reproduction of the animal, care during pregnancy and subsequent care for puppies.

Reproduction of dogs is possible only during estrus in females, while males are almost always ready for this process, with the exception of disease states. The dog’s estrus lasts about three weeks and almost all this time they have been paying increased attention to males.

The estrus is accompanied by secretions, which may have a specific smell, therefore, in the home environment, in order to maintain cleanliness in the room, special diapers can be put on the dog. If you are not going to breed your dog, you should take care of its safety during this period and get special panties for walking, which will not prevent the animal from fulfilling its needs, but will not allow the male to make a mating.

During pregnancy, it is important to provide the dog with everything necessary. The dachshund can have an increased appetite and some anxiety due to a change in hormonal levels. In addition to increasing the portions, it is also worth adding special vitamins and minerals to the food that support the physical condition of the puppy dog ​​and help the formation of healthy future puppies.

It is very important not to miss the prenatal period and the birth itself. Often there are times when the owners miss the term of childbirth, and the dog for some reason can not be born on its own, and then the puppies die inside of it. If the time has come, but nothing happens, you need to urgently seek medical help. If you had to take birth with a dog yourself, you must do this very carefully.

Puppies are born in biological shells, from which the dachshund is able to free them themselves. She independently gnaws the umbilical cord and frees the airways of babies from mucus. After the completion of these processes, she can begin the first feeding of puppies, pushing them with her nose to the nipples. Newborn puppies do not need any special care, because the dachshund itself fully provides them with everything necessary. In the postpartum period, you need to carefully monitor the nutrition and condition of the dog itself, as well as how it feeds its babies.

Puppies can be weighed to determine if they are developing well and if they have enough maternal nutrition. At the age of about 3-4 weeks, puppies will need to be treated for internal parasites.

Having started a dachshund, everyone wants to give her an original and unusual nickname. You should not invent a complex and long name, as it will be difficult for the dog to remember it and get used to it, and it may happen that it will not respond to it. Usually dogs are called nicknames, consisting of two, maximum three syllables. Some even call their pets human names. Basically, the nickname depends on the owner’s imagination, but there are cases when the nickname is selected for any particular appearance or character of the pet.

For example, a red-haired mischievous dog can be called Ginger, and a sullen kid who loves to bark will get the nickname Grumbler. In addition, options such as Chernysh, Veselchak or Tikhonya, Kashtanka or Kashtan, Fluffy or Fluffy are common, and the wire-haired dachshund can even get the nickname Hedgehog. The spotted baby will be called simply - Spotted.

Among other nicknames that are not related to the habits and appearance of the pet, for boys, the most common names are Richie, Charlie, Rocky, Tosha, Mickey, Santa, Marx, Max. Unfortunately, nicknames such as Ball and Friend are rarely used in our time, but they certainly also occur. Among the nicknames for girls, such as Oliva, Bun, Bela, Lexi, Lessi, Zhulya, Jusi, Fox and many others sound very original and fervent.

Among the feedback from the owners, it is very difficult to find negative ones, since almost everyone is engaged in raising their pets. The owners note the sharp mind of the animal, and dexterity, and quick wit. And many are even surprised at the ability of the dachshund and its constant desire to hunt for something, as well as increased attention to detail and detail.

Negative reviews can only be found from people who have not experienced close interaction with dogs of this breed and met with an animal that may have been under stress, protecting its owner or offspring.

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