Here are some fun and fascinating facts about the Dachshunds that will surely surprise a lot of people!
Dachshund is a German breed and its name is also of German origin. These canines received this distinctive name because of the task they were being used for at the time. These canines were used for hunting purposes and they were very good at hunting small animals like fox, rabbits and especially badgers and that is why they were named Dachshund as the term ‘Dachs’ translates to ‘badger’ and the word ‘Hund’ means ‘dog’ in German, hence the name Dachshund literally translates to Badger Dog.
Everybody admires the liveliness and quirkiness of a Dachshund. This breed is immensely popular all over the world and is adored by almost everyone. Currently, Dachshunds are placed at #13 spot in the AKC’s list of most popular dog breeds that contains a whopping 190 distinct canine breeds.
Dachshunds are found in various forms and if we consider just their coats, then they are available in three different forms which are Smooth-coated (short-haired), Wirehaired and Longhaired. Originally, these dogs were only found in a smooth-coat but breeders began to cross them with other breeds and as a result, two new coat types in this breed were formed.
Officially, Dachshunds come in two different sizes which are Standard and Miniature. The Standard Dachshunds can weigh up to 15 Kilograms and are around 8-11 inches tall. The miniatures, on the other hand, weigh less than 5 Kilograms and are only 5-7 inches tall.
Their unique structure, which comprises their tiny legs and their long and slim body, really helped these canines a lot on their hunting expeditions. They were mostly used for hunting small animals like rabbits and badgers and such kind of animals usually reside in small underground dens. So, with the help of their compact and distinctive body structure, Dachshunds were able to easily enter these animals’ dens and thus were heavily used by the hunters to hunt these specific animals.
Dachshunds are believed to be originated in the 16th century in Germany. They are considered to be the result of breeding between various breeds like the French Basset Hounds, the Spaniels, the Pinschers, and even the wirehaired Schnauzers. They were specifically created to hunt badgers and foxes and very soon they became pretty famous among the hunting community in Germany.
Because Dachshunds originated in Germany, they were heavily used in the anti-German propaganda during World War I. And, due to this, their popularity in America also took a huge dive. So, to protect these canines from unnecessary hate, the AKC tried to rename this breed as “Badger Dogs” and as “Liberty Pups.”
Although these canines are not known for their speed, there is a competition known as Wienerschnitzel Weiner Nationals that takes place every year (since 1995) and in it, hundreds of Dachshunds compete with each other in a Racing format. This all started with some minor Dachshund race competitions that took place in Australia in the 1970s, but it soon spread to other parts of the world.
In 1972, the Olympic officials decided to have a mascot for the Munich Olympic Games. As this was the first time that the Olympics were going to have a Mascot, the officials wanted someone special to represent that year’s Olympic Games. And hence, they chose a Dachshund as their Mascot because of its undying courage and pure heart. They named their Mascot Dachshund as Waldi.
These canines are known for their courage and bravery. They make pretty awesome watchdogs and never hesitate to protect their owners in case of any possible danger or harm. Their guarding instincts are also on point and they are also able to effectively alert their owners if they sense any intruder or trespasser.
Winnie, the Dachshund became the first canine to be cloned in Britain. In a competition that gave the chance of dog cloning to people, Winnie’s owner decided to enter her pooch who was 12 at the time. After winning the competition, the scientist from Korea, with the help of a skin sample, created a clone of Winnie, who was named as Mini-Winnie. The cloned pooch looked exactly like Mini and is now living a healthy and prosperous life with her owner.
Many people still believe in the opposite of this fact, but this is true that Hot-Dogs were named after these quirky looking canines. Hot Dogs were originally called as Dachshund Sausages because of the resemblance that this food item shared with the popular German canine’s body. This name was later changed to Hot Dog probably because people were finding it hard to spell “Dachshund.”
Usually, these dogs have an average lifespan of 12-16 years, but in many cases, they can easily reach to their late teens. A dachshund named Chanel also held the record for the oldest living dog in 2009 when she was 21. After she passed away, another Dachshund (he was actually a cross between a Dachshund and a Terrier) named Otto took over that title and held it until 2010. Otto was 20 when he died.