A Brief History of the Dachshund Dog Breed

The Dachshund dates back to the 15th century.Badgers but, they where very good at hunting
The Germans actually developed this breed tofox, rabbit, and tracking wounded deer. They
help control the badger population. The Germanswhere also used in packs during hunting.
where looking for a dog breed that was strongOnce the breed became popular in Britain the
enough to fight badgers. Since badgers lived inBritish changed the dog a little. The breed became
burrows in the ground, they needed a dog slenderlonger, the dog weighed more, and the legs
enough to fit down the badger's burrow. Whatactually got shorter. This was a fairly big change
they came up with was the Dachshund.considering originally there where two types, the
The name Dachshund came from putting twoMiniature that weighed less than 11 lbs and the
words together. The word dachs means "badger"Standard that weighed 18-20 lbs. At this point the
and the word hund means "dog" thus, the nameGerman Teckel breeders felt that the English
Dachshund. Germans also refer to this breed ascaused the breed to be incapable of doing the
the "Teckel" which in old German meanswork it was breed for.
Dachshund.In WWI the breed dwindled in numbers in Britain
Many people think that the French Braque (smallas the British took a dislike to anything German,
pointer-type) and the Pinscher where usedthis was also true in the United States.
together to develop the smooth-haired Teckel.The breed appeared in the U.S. in the early 19th
During the French revolution many nobles wherecentury. German immigrants brought their dogs
forced to flee France into Germany taking theirover with them. The breed became very popular
favorite hunting dogs with them. At this point thein the U.S. In 1885 the American Kennel Club
German Teckel and the French Bassets wherebegan to register Dachshunds and in 1895 the
crossed and the result became the DachsbrackleDachshund Club of America was organized. In
if it had longer legs and the Dachshund if it had1935 Dachshunds where added to the AKC Field
short legs, short ears, and a painted muzzle.Trials and the breed has been going strong ever
The Dachshund developed into a great huntingsince.
dog. They where not only proficient at hunting