Smooth-haired dachshunds: breed characteristics and recommendations for keeping

Smooth-haired, or as it is also called short-haired, dachshund refers to hunting dogs. Her specific qualities are easy to notice even if she lives at home. Insight, dexterity and the ability to quickly learn commands allow her to successfully adapt to any conditions. Today many people start dachshunds not for hunting, but simply in order to find a faithful four-legged friend, because the character of dachshunds is quite friendly. They love to play with both adults and children and become wonderful companions for them.

Burrowing dogs have been known to man for a long time. They were taken with them on a hunt, so that they would look for, pursue, pull out of their holes and help a person catch prey. The help of these dogs was simply invaluable in the production of food by humans. In historical finds, you can find images of dachshunds dating back to the 16th century.

This breed is considered to be of German origin. According to one version, dachshunds appeared in the process of mixing Pinschers and French Bassets, but there is another, according to which the dachshund appeared as a result of a mutation of hunting dogs. Since driven hunting has always been an expensive pleasure, it was mainly noble people who were fond of it, but burrowing hunting was quite accessible to the lower classes: simple burghers gladly took these excellent hunters and took them with them into the forest.

The first standard for this breed was officially established in 1888, and today the standard for dachshunds from 2001 is in force. As a result of export, this breed has become in demand in other countries, while at home it has retained its popularity and is second only to the German Shepherd in this respect.

Today, there are 3 types of smooth-haired dachshunds: standard, miniature and rabbit. The latter was bred for the extraction of rabbits, since their holes are small in size, only small dogs can enter them.

The head of a smooth-haired dachshund has an elongated shape that gradually tapers towards the tip of the nose. The nose is colored black or brown, depending on the color of the animal, the jaws are quite powerful. The eyes are brown, slightly slanted. The drooping ears reach almost to the level of the nose.

The body is long, but powerful, with a protruding developed chest, the back is straight, the loin is slightly protruding. The belly is tucked up, the body is slightly sloping towards the tail. The front legs are stronger and larger than the hind legs. The tail tapers smoothly towards the tip and is usually in a horizontal position.

Smooth-haired dachshunds may vary in color.

• Monochromatic - from yellow to red. Deer or sable color, which implies interspersed hairs with a dark tip;
• Bicolor - black, brown, gray with light areas. The color is tan, harlequin, marble, where the main color is white, red or other light shades with dark spots.

At the withers, the growth of males ranges from 22 to 27 cm, in females - from 20 to 25 cm.In dwarf individuals, this parameter is in the range of 16-21 cm in males and 14-19 cm in females, in the rabbit variety 12-15 cm and 10-13 cm, respectively.

Dachshunds are not just energetic and playful dogs, they show a peculiar sense of humor. For all its modest dimensions, the dachshund considers itself a powerful beast and if someone tries to doubt it, it can show its teeth.

These animals are especially sensitive to smells and hear subtle sounds. Because of this, they can actively sniff passers-by. If the owner has not yet managed to teach the dog to behave correctly, then it is worth walking it on a leash. Sometimes the dachshund can seem naughty, all due to its habit of making decisions on its own. When a dog agrees with the opinion of a person, then it immediately follows the command, otherwise the owner has to insist on his own.

When it comes to stalking, this breed is very reckless. Even a high fence will not become an obstacle for her - the dog will simply make a tunnel and run on. So that the animal does not rush at the people or animals that interest her, you need to teach her to follow commands from puppyhood.

It is customary to feed an adult dachshund twice a day, that is, in the morning and in the evening, at the same time, usually after a walk. Cups for food and water are best placed so that they are in the area of ​​the dog's shoulder line. She drinks about 1.5 liters of water every day. New foods are introduced into the puppy's diet gradually and one at a time. In the case of digestive problems or allergies, this will help identify the source.

It is recommended that the dachshund have foods with proteins, fats and proteins on the table. Meat or offal is either given raw, or boiled for up to 10 minutes, while you can use the calculation: 15-20 grams per 1 kilogram of the dog's weight. Please be aware that if the dog ate a bone with meat, then it is not worth feeding him more that day. This food is digested for a long time, and the digestive system of the animal will work for a long time, so the portion of the next day should be slightly reduced.

Experts recommend give dachshunds more often foods with calcium and vitamins, you can check the dosages and types of drugs with your veterinarian. Also in the dog's menu it is good to introduce fermented milk products, eggs, fruits, vegetables and meat of low-fat varieties: beef, veal, poultry, horse meat, and a little lamb is allowed. Sometimes the dog can be treated to boiled sea fish, after removing large bones from it.

In order for your pet's fur to always shine, you do not need to painstakingly care for it, it is enough to brush it weekly with a hard-bristled brush. There are also special gloves that do massage and perfectly comb the dog's fur coat. Furminator helps to get rid of falling hairs well. During the molting period, the dog intensively loses the undercoat, then the animal needs to be combed out daily.

For hunting breeds, health is important. Particular attention is paid to the pet's teeth. Both regular brushing and special food - bones from pet stores - help to get rid of plaque. Dry food can partially cope with this task. If any of the teeth is damaged, then it needs to be cured.

Care of the animal's claws should be regular. A haircut is done every 2 weeks, and chips need to be filed as needed. The eyes and ears are cleansed when dirty. Walking outside is recommended as much as possible - this benefits the dachshund both for strengthening physical health and for developing communication skills. If possible, go out with her in the morning after sleep, 20 minutes after all feedings, and at night. The number of walks should be at least 3 per day, the recommended duration is from 20 minutes to half an hour.

Do not let the puppy stand on its hind legs if it wants to stand in a column. This is harmful to his fragile spine and can lead to deformity. Also, active games with jumps, especially from a height, are contraindicated. When stroking a small dog on the head, do not flatten the ears too much so that they do not lose their beautiful shape and do not sag.

Dachshunds are at risk for spinal diseases. They may develop hernias that require treatment, and without veterinary intervention, the animal may become seriously ill. To avoid injuries to the back, do not let the animal jump from a height, do not allow strong shocks. Steep steps can also harm the health of the dog's back, so if there is no elevator in the house, then it is better to take it out for a walk and bring it back in your arms.

Parenting tips

• The dachshund's desire to make decisions on his own is not just her quirk, but a developed reflex.Being in burrows, these dogs always had to think about where to go and where to look for the animal. It is undesirable to use physical punishment in case of disobedience, because these dogs also have a heightened sense of their own dignity and can take a lot of offense at you. Instead, it is better to use the ignore method, that is, for a while, stop paying attention to the pet, thereby expressing your displeasure.
• When an animal is trained, unconditioned reflexes are used in combination with mechanical stimulation and treats. Commands should sound confident, without unnecessary words and emotionally charged intonations. After successful completion, the animal is given a treat. For example, the command "Lie down" is given, then pressure on the body follows, after which food is given. Do not give your dog two commands at a time, this will confuse it and slow down the training.
• When a baby first arrives at your home, he may whine at night from longing for his dog family. You shouldn't put it in your bed out of pity, otherwise it will be difficult to wean the animal from this habit later.
• You need to train your dog to relieve himself on the street as early as possible, without delaying the diaper period. Of course, the first time the puppy can go to the diaper, but the later you start retraining him to endure before the street, the more difficult this process will be.
• The kid must learn to eat at certain times in the same place from puppyhood. Running around the house with food is fun, but you need to stop it right away. You also need to make sure that the dog does not throw food around the bowl.
• The animal should see you as a leader, which means that you cannot do without strictness in dealing with him. Only then will the dachshund follow your commands and will not wreak havoc in the house.
• The training of the dachshund should be preceded by establishing contact with the owner. In addition, she must respond to her nickname. This suggests that she understands when she is being spoken to and is ready to respond. Now you can train the dog to its place and start mastering the simplest commands. All this should happen soon after the puppy is in a new family.
• Some dachshund owners are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as puppy bites. To stop this behavior, in case of a bite, roll up the newspaper and lightly slap the dog on the nose or rump, giving the command "Fu!" If this does not help, then you can fold the bitten hand into a fist and push it further into the mouth, and with the other hand grab the puppy by the scruff of the neck, shake it and give the same command “Fu!”. Although some experts argue that you cannot lift dachshunds by the scruff of the neck.

Dachshunds are intelligent, playful and cute dogs that are able to give household members a lot of positive emotions. They are loved for their neatness, poise, the ability to show patience and friendliness. A lack of character can only be called their natural cunning. Walk the animal regularly and exercise feasible physical activity so that she does not start digging tunnels right in your apartment, and also monitor the health of her back.

For information on how to keep smooth-haired dachshunds, see the next video.