| Dachshunds originated in Germany and are known | | | | pounds." |
| to have existed as far back as the 16th century. | | | | There are three varieties to the coat that a |
| Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers, wild boar | | | | Dachshund is bred with: |
| and other types of small animals. In German, | | | | - Smooth |
| Dachs means badger and Hund means dog, | | | | - Wire-haired |
| showing the emphasis the breeding pattern had | | | | - Long-haired |
| on the hunting of the badger. | | | | The Dachshund is known for its huge variance in |
| Dachshunds have a fearless kind of attitude about | | | | patterns and colours of coat - an explanation of |
| them handed down from their ancestry of | | | | which could be a lengthy discussion on its own. |
| hunting. The original breed was quite large | | | | The two most common colours - popularized by |
| compared to the CKC/AKC standards of today, | | | | modern day TV and books are the red(most |
| averaging 30 to 40 pounds. Eventually this size | | | | popular) and the black and tan. |
| was branched off into smaller categories for | | | | Dachshunds have enjoyed immense popularity |
| individual hunting of smaller prey such as a fox or | | | | over the years resulting in both the good and bad |
| rabbit. | | | | that comes with this. The only time that |
| Dachshunds are unique in that they were used to | | | | Dachshunds have fell into a lack of popularity was |
| actually hunt their prey under ground, following it | | | | during World War I, when the Dachshund was |
| into its hole - killing and retrieving it for their | | | | used as a symbol of the Germans in Allied |
| reward. | | | | propaganda material. |
| Today you will find two sizes of Dachshunds, the | | | | Overall the Dachshund is a clever courageous dog |
| miniature and the standard. According to the | | | | that has added to humanities existence in |
| Canadian Kennel Club and American Kennel Club | | | | uncountable ways. They have a unique personality |
| "miniatures are not a separate classification but | | | | that leans towards fierce loyalty and fearless |
| compete in a class division for "11 pounds and | | | | friendliness, often leaving dogs of larger stature |
| under at 12 months of age and older." Weight of | | | | taken aback. |
| the standard size is usually between 16 and 32 | | | | |