Facts about Dachshund
- 09
Dachshunds are prone to intervertebral disc disease, with roughly 25 percent of the breed experiencing spinal disc problems due to their elongated backs.
- 08
A dachshund's sense of smell is approximately 125 million times more sensitive than humans, making them exceptionally effective at tracking prey underground.
- 07
The breed's short legs result from achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism that causes disproportionate limb shortening while maintaining normal body length.
- 06
Long ears in dachshunds serve a functional purpose, sweeping scent particles toward their nose while hunting in underground burrows to track prey more effectively.
- 05
Miniature dachshunds were bred down to approximately 8 pounds to hunt rabbits through their underground warrens during the 19th century.
- 04
In 1881, the first dachshund club was established in Germany, standardizing breed characteristics and cementing the dog's status as a recognized sporting breed.
- 03
Two dachshund varieties, the Kaninchenteckel and standard dachshund, weigh 8 pounds and 16-32 pounds respectively, bred for hunting different sized prey.
- 02
Dachshunds' spines contain 19 vertebrae, four more than most dog breeds, enabling their characteristic elongated flexibility for navigating badger burrows.
- 01
Originally bred in 15th century Germany, dachshunds were developed to hunt badgers, with their name literally meaning badger dog in German.