Why are Dachshunds called teddy bear dogs?
The Dachshund is a hound-type dog breed with short legs and long body. It has very small size and that’s why its appearance reminds us of a stuffed teddy bear. It is categorized as a teddy bear dog along with many other small-sized dogs.
History
Some experts theorize that the roots of dachshund dogs come from ancient times in Egypt. They have found engravings of dogs from those times which look similar to Dachshunds. In their more recent history we know that Dachshunds were created by German breeders and come from terriers and English, French and German hounds. The purpose of this breeding was for the hunting of badgers by following their scent.
Dachshunds have been ingratiated royally through the years, with royal families in most parts of Europe inviting them in as their pets. And rightly so, we think.
The ancestors of these dogs which lived in Germany were larger than today’s Dachshunds with weight that varied between 30 and 40lb (14 and 18kg). They were used for flushing out badgers, but they also hunted rabbits, deer and foxes.
The double-dapple dachshunds have come to the U.S.A. around the 1880s. There are divided opinions about which dogs were crossed for this breeding and we can’t tell for sure. Watch this video for more wonderful Dachshund information.
Coat and Colors
The coat of the Dachshunds can be wire-haired, long-haired or smooth-coated. The coat of the long-haired dachshund is silky and they have short featherings on their ears and legs. The wire-haired Dachshunds are most common in Germany.
Dachshunds may be found in many colors and patterns. If their coat is just the one color it is usually cream or red or it may have a tinge of tan in it. They have many patterns such as brindle, sable, dapple and piebald and a range of colors may be found woven through the patterns. The most common colors are red, tan and black. Tan pointed dogs have light markings over their tail, ears, eyes and paws.
Temperament
Dachshunds are known as playful dogs, but they can be stubborn. Since they are hunting dogs they usually chase toys, birds and small animals. They are a real challenge when it comes to training. They can be aggressive towards other dogs and to strangers but they are really intelligent. Some may like to bark a lot, while others may not bark at all. Their bark can be really loud, but this can be treated with proper training.
Dachshunds are loyal and devoted to their owners and people they love. They are prone to whining if they feel alone and will do so until they find someone to keep them company. When they are stressed they like to chew objects. They also like to burrow things when they are bored.
#dachshund TweetsSize
Dachshunds can be seen in three sizes: kaninchen, miniature and standard. The kaninchen is not an official size. Most of the dogs are either miniature or standard size. When standard dachshunds are fully grown they usually weigh between 7.3 and 15kg (16lb and 32 lb). The kanninchen weighs between 3.6 and 5 kg (8lb and 11lb) and would be considered a teddy bear dachshund.
Average age
The average life expectancy for a Dachshund is 12.7 years.
What’s so unique about them?
They are playfully referred to as dogs with the height of a half-dog and the length of a dog and a half. They are very recognizable and are featured in many movies and cartoons. They can be aggressive sometimes, but only to strangers. They are lively, clever and courageous.
