Today we will look at 10 interesting facts
about Dachshunds you need to know!
Dachshunds, often affectionately known as
Doxies or Weiner dogs, are most famous for Their adorable and quite funny shape. But these long bodies and short legs were Intended for more than simply making
humans fall in love with them. Although they may not look it, Dachshunds were
carefully bred to be ferocious hunters. They Were employed on the trail to scramble down
badger and rabbit holes to flush out prey.
They are still used as hunting dogs,
but most modern dachshunds are just as Happy with daily playtime and lazing
around the home with their humans.
The Dachshund is undoubtedly one the most
unmistakable dogs that are easy to spot And even more effortless to love. They are an interesting breed that is Fiercely loyal and make for wonderful pets. So let's get onto the facts about these dogs that Will surely leave you amazed!
Fact number 1: They have been around for a long time!
This breed actually first appeared in the Early 1500s, but it wasn't until about 100 years
later that they earned the name "Dachshund." The original German dachshunds were bigger than
the modern variety, weighing between 31 to 40 lb, And initially came in both straight-legged
and crook-legged varieties, with the modern Dachshund being descended from the latter. What's more, Doxies were one of the first 14 Breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. The
Dachshund took its place on the registry in 1885, Just one year after the organization's founding. These fierce little dogs descend from the Pinscher And the miniature French Pointer.
They have certainly inherited Their looks and big personality too!
Moreover, while Dachshund's "Weiner dog" Look is iconic, breeders created them for
a particular function over many years. They favored those with narrow, low-slung bodies
for navigating through small holes and floppy ears To protect their ear canals from dirt and bugs. Although it looks like they have weirdly long Bodies, they're reasonably proportionate in size
to other small hounds, being only a little longer; It is their very short legs and rib
cage that give them such an odd shape. Even the curved tail of the Dachshund has
deliberately been bred into the dog. It Has a dual purpose: to be seen more easily
in long grass and to help haul the dog out If it becomes stuck in a burrow. So it seems
that humans have had a heavy hand in shaping This breed for over 400 years!
Fact number 2: They have a range of looks!
The Dachshund has many distinct kinds of coat
styles and coloring, and they are all equally Adorable. Doxies can have smooth, wire-haired,
or long-haired coats. Once upon a time, All Dachshunds used to have smooth coats,
and this variety is still the most popular. We think that breeders likely crossed smooth
Dachshunds with other dog breeds to produce the
Other coat varieties. The smooth-haired
Dachshunds are silky short-furred pups, Whereas the wire-haired Dachshunds have more
bristly and shaggy-looking coats. Meanwhile, Long-haired Dachshunds are precisely what
they sound like: long, smooth-haired dogs. The list of standard coat colors
the AKC recognizes is also huge and Includes various combinations of black,
brown, cream, and tan, as well as a red, Fawn, and the unusually named Wheaton and Wild
boar. That's a lot of different looks for one Little dog! Which is your favorite?
Fact number 3: One size doesn't fit all!
Doxies are all pretty petite, but they do
come in 2 sizes: miniature and standard. The American Kennel Club considers Dachshunds
of 11 pounds or under as miniature, Whereas those weighing between 16 to 32 pounds
are regarded as standard. The standard version Of the Dachshund was the original breed descended
from the crooked-legged hunting hounds we learned About earlier, and the miniature varieties didn't
come about until later on. Both are popular, With one being more suited to an indoor urban
lifestyle while the other fits in well with more Active households. Regardless of size, weiner dogs
rank among the top 10 most popular breeds in 76 of 190 major US cities surveyed by the AKC.
Fact number 4: They go by many names!
As you may have already realized, the Dachshund
seems to have more aliases than any spy. They're Known by a variety of names, including badger
dogs, sausage dogs, weiner dogs, and Doxies.
The original name dachshund is
actually made of two German words: Dachs, meaning badger, and hund, meaning dog.
In Germany, dachshunds are also widely called Dackel; however, there are hunters that refer
to them as teckel. This causes some to think That it's a different breed of dog entirely.
Yet, in reality, dackel and teckel are just Two different words for the same lovable pup!
One of the reasons for these many names is that The popularity of this breed declined during
the War since they were used as anti-Germany Propaganda. Posters emblazoned with the
Dachshund's image would proclaim, "We love dogs, But not this one," and propaganda literature would
liken the German Kaiser to a rabid Dachshund. While this wasn't a good look for the docile
Doxie, their popularity would once again soar In the years that followed the War. To counteract negative connotations, The AKC tried rebranding Dachshunds as "badger
dogs," and even as "liberty pups." Since those Names never really stuck, we are not sure how well
it worked, but by any name, we are glad they are Still around. ===
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Fact number 5: The food was named after them!
Although it may seem counterintuitive, It is thought that the deli food name 'hot
dog' was coined because of the iconic looks Of the Dachshund. Remember, this is an
old breed, older than the food concept. As the story goes, hot dogs were initially called
"Hot Dachshunds," but a sports cartoonist named "Tad" Dorgan had a hard time spelling it. So Tad nicknamed the food "hot dogs," And it stuck.
Weirdly enough, Things have come full circle, and now Dachshunds
are often called wiener dogs because of their Long bodies that resemble hotdogs! So perhaps there should be a new saying: 'What came first, the Dachshund
or the Hot Dog?''
Fact number 6: They have a history in sport!
The official mascot for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games was a colorful stylized Dachshund named
Waldi, created by the German designer Otl Aicher. Waldi was based on a real long-haired Dachshund
named Cherie von Birkenhof and was created to Represent the attributes described as required
for athletes — resistance, tenacity, and agility.
This was actually the first time the Olympics had
a mascot, and the Olympic officials even went so Far as to plot that year's marathon
route in the shape of a Dachshund.
What's more, Waldi-related items were sold
worldwide. The Doxie mascot was available as a Plush toy and plastic toy; it appeared on buttons,
posters, stickers, and as a pin. Additionally, The overall bill for the 1972 games was $750
million, which was more than three times the Amount Mexico spent on the 1968 games. This
resulted in some unofficial posters of Waldi Appearing, depicting the mascot using
the Olympic Tower as a Fire Hydrant.
Moreover, Dachshund races started in Australia
in the 1970s and have since spread worldwide. The Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals have been
going on every year in Southern California Since 1995. It's not a very serious sport,
since Dachshunds were never meant to be Racing dogs, but it sure is fun to watch. Fact number 7: They were born to be hunters!
As you now know, the word Dachshund means "badger
dog" in German, and the breed is true to its name. The tiny but mighty standard Dachshund
was notoriously good at catching badgers Burrowed in their holes. This breed's short
legs help keep them low to the ground, Allowing them to track scents, and their narrow
bodies enable them to crawl into burrows looking For prey. Despite their small size, Dachshunds
are very brave and fierce. Yet badgers aren't The only animals Doxies are good at hunting. Over
the years, they were bred in different varieties In order to hunt different kinds of prey. They
have also been known to track wounded deer, Flush out foxes, and even take on wild boar
and wolverines! Even the miniature Doxie's Small size doesn't stop them from catching small
game like rabbits and squirrels.
Fact number 8: They're really
good at the sport Earthdog!
The Dachshund's specially shaped body and talent
for digging make them pros in the earthdog world. If you're unfamiliar with earthdog, it's
essentially a sport where dogs run through Man-made holes dug in the ground to mark a scent.
These tests gauge how good a hunter your dog Really is. They're non-competitive and every dog
is judged individually on their ability to seek And locate rats underground. But fear not, rodent
lovers: In these tests, the rats are safely caged And are never harmed! Dachshunds are clearly well
suited to this task. They are naturals at earthdog And are one of the most common dogs to be used in
these competitions; after all, it's what they were Bred them to do! ===
What's your favorite fact about Dachshunds? Let us know in the comments and share your Thoughts with other enthusiasts!
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Fact number 9: They're a favorite of the famous!
As we mentioned, this is an old breed, And that means they've been popular with a lot
of people throughout history. The breed garnered So much favor in early 19th century Europe
after Queen Victoria expressed them as her Favorite breed. To quote the queen, "Nothing
will turn a man's home into a castle more Quickly and effectively than a Dachshund."
Additionally, the current Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II also has a particular fondness
for dachshunds and has kept many throughout Her life. Her 80th birthday, celebrated in 2020,
was marked by posing with one of her favorites, Lilia, on the grounds of Fredensborg Castle.
Other famous and celebrity owners of this Breed include the artists Andy Warhol and
Pablo Picasso. Actors Jack Black and Josh Duhamel. Musician Adele, and Presidents Grover
Cleavland and briefly John F. Kennedy before he Realized he was allergic to them. With company
like that, it is impossible to deny just how Well-loved these dogs are! Fact number 10: They can live forever?
Well not exactly. Let us explain: Dachshunds do
typically live 13-to-16 years which is longer Than most dog breeds on average. In fact,
two of the 23 dogs to hold the Guinness World Record for the oldest living dog have
been Dachshunds. As impressive as that is, There's another thing to consider. The
first British dog to be ever successfully Cloned was a Dachshund named Winnie. Winnie's owner entered a contest to win the Chance to have her dog cloned—a procedure
that would usually cost over $60,000. Scientists from South Korea then took a skin
sample from Winnie and created Mini-Winnie. Her owner says Mini-Winnie looks precisely like
Winnie looked when she was a puppy. Mini-Winnie Is healthy and is expected to live a long life.
The original Winnie is over 12 years old now, But because her clone is genetically
the same dog, theoretically, if they Were cloned every decade or so, they could
be considered to be biologically immortal. Obviously, they can't really be regarded as
the same dog, just like how identical twins
Are not the same person. There will always
be other factors affecting personality, Looks, behavior, and temperament. But it is comforting to know that Even old neutered or spayed dogs have a
chance of having a long-lasting legacy. Dachshunds are clearly a fascinating breed
and one we think is well worth learning more About!
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