More About This Breed
The Dachshund, affectionately called the Wiener Dog, Sausage Dog, and Doxie, is a small German scenthound with short legs and an elongated body first bred to hunt tunneling animals like rabbits or foxes. Hunters even used packs of Dachshunds to trail wild boar, which might be surprising considering the reputation for how dangerous wild boar can be. But certainly, this shows that the Dachshund has a sense of courage to outmatch their size. Any Doxie owner knows this to be true! As legendary literary critic and humorous journalist H. L. Mencken said, “Half a dog high and a dog and a half long,” but Dachshunds are enough to take on a badger. That’s how they got their name (Dachs meaning badger; Hund meaning dog).
Regarding temperament, Dachshunds are devoted, playful, stubborn, willful, active, and vivacious. Expect these little dogs to be the stars of the party. They also form strong bonds with certain individuals, even in a multi-person household. Because of their origins as hunting dogs, Dachshunds are prone to barking. If you’re an apartment dweller or particularly sensitive to sound, this breed may not fit your lifestyle needs best. Of course, you can spend a bit of time working on training to teach your Dachshund to quiet down when necessary. These smart little dogs are very food-motivated, so training with a high-reward treat should help.