Fun Dachshund Facts For Kids

The dachshund (pronounced 'daks-hund') was developed in Germany to be a hunting dog, specifically to hunt badgers. The name dachshund is made up of two words, 'Dach' which means 'badger' and 'hund' which means 'dog', literally translating to badger dog because of what they were bred for. Their loose skin, big chest, and short legs were ideal for digging. This enabled them to enter tunnels and fight badgers. Even their flap down ears aid burrowing by keeping debris and dirt out.

Breeding has resulted in this dog breed being available in two sizes: standard and miniature. In 1885, dachshunds were brought to the U.S. and recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Their popularity however, only increased in the 1930s and 1940s. Their narrow, long build has earned them the name of sausage dog or wiener dog.

Today, dachshunds are popular as pets in Europe, Great Britain, United States, and other parts of the world. As per the American Kennel Club, the dachshund was ranked the 12th most popular dog breed in the United States in 2018.    

Read on to know more facts about dachshunds. For more interesting animal facts, you can check out our articles on the Valley Bulldog and the American Bulldog Pitbull mix.  

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What type of animal is a dachshund?

The dachshund is a dog breed that was bred to hunt as early as the 17th century in Germany.  

What class of animal does a dachshund belong to?

The dachshund belongs to the class Mammalia of the animal kingdom. It belongs to the Canidae family and the Canis genus. Its scientific name is Canis lupus.  

How many dachshunds are there in the world?

There are no accurate estimates of the number of dachshunds in the world. The American Kennel Club however, did recognize the breed in 1885 and the Dachshund Club of America is responsible for advancing the interests of this breed. There are also many local dachshund clubs in New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Chicago, and Portland. These dog clubs are meant to safeguard the interests of this breed.

Where does a dachshund live?

Although several dachshunds are still bred for hunting purposes especially in Germany, most dachshunds today live as pets in homes. Many can also be found in shelters or at the facilities that breed them.  

What is a dachshund's habitat?

Originally, dachshunds inhabited Germany and these small dogs were used to dig burrows and hunt badgers, rabbits, and other small animals. Today, the habitat of dachshund dogs consists of the home in which they live. These dogs will do well with apartment dwellers and even those living in urban areas, but a few considerations need to be made with this dog breed. For starters, a place that has a yard , mud, or other surface that they can dig is great. Burrowing is common in the breed due to their history so letting them put these instincts into action is a good idea.

A dachshund is a scent hound and is likely to do digging in your yard if you have one so keep it fenced and keep an eye on your dachshund dog to make sure your landscaping doesn't get messed up. Dachshunds also have sensitive backs that are prone to injury so they shouldn't be made to jump too much to get onto surfaces. Checking the steps in the house and having a ramp that will allow them to reach these places without jumping will help keep their back protected. Dachshunds also don't do well in the cold so make sure to keep them warm when temperatures are low.

Who do dachshunds live with?

Dachshunds live with people in homes. These dogs are affectionate, playful, and loyal, but they can get snappy if they get irritated. If they're a pet in a home with kids around, training is necessary to socialize them. They tend to do better when they're raised with a child rather than when a kid is introduced into the family later. It is important to teach kids how to interact with these dogs properly. Special care must be taken to ensure that the back of dachshunds is not handled roughly even during play.

Because of their high prey drive, these dogs won't be a good pet for homes that have smaller animals like hamsters, rabbits, or guinea pigs. Dachshunds get along well with other dachshunds, but will still try to emerge as the 'leader' or 'top dog' in a household with more than one pet.  

How long does a dachshund live?

The average lifespan of dachshunds is 12-16 years.

How do they reproduce?

Being mammals, dachshunds reproduce through the process of mating. A female can experience estrus (be in heat) as early as six months of age. Once she is impregnated through mating, the gestation period lasts for 63-65 days (9 weeks). Average litter size of dachshunds is 4-8 pups. Dachshund puppies can be weaned off the mother dachshund's milk after eight weeks post birth.    

What is their conservation status?

Dachshunds are among the dog breeds that are of Least Concern when it comes to their conservation status. This dog breed has become extremely popular all over the world, with the American Kennel Club ranking the dog breed to be the 12th most popular dog breed in the United States in 2018.  

What do dachshunds look like?

Dachshunds are short and stout dogs. Dachshunds are known for their long back and hunting instincts. They come in two sizes: standard and miniature and have three coat varieties: smooth dachshunds, wire haired dachshund, and long haired dachshund. Smooth coated dachshunds have a short, smooth coat in several colors: red, black, cream, merle, sable, and the brindle dachshund. When the smooth coat is solid or bicolor, the eyes of dachshunds are usually dark. For dapple dachshund colors, eyes are partially or wholly blue in color.

A smooth undercoat that has a thick, hard top coat is seen in wire haired dachshunds. Their chin and eyebrows are also prominent. Wirehaired breeds are mainly seen in the colors brown with blonde highlights, shades of red, and black and tan.

The dachshund long hair has smooth, shiny, and wavy hair that tends to be longer in the region of the ears, neck, behind the legs, and the body. The coat types on this dog are the same as that of the smooth dachshunds and wirehaired dachshunds.    

How cute are they?

Dachshunds are extremely cute, but don't let their small size fool you. They were bred to be hunters and are still quite tough and brave.  

How do they communicate?

Like other dogs, dachshunds communicate by barking. A pet dachshund dog will tend to bark a lot because of their territorial nature. They also wag their tails when they are happy and tuck their tails between their legs when they feel scared or are threatened. If they show you their teeth, it's meant to be a warning and you should back off or seek the help of a trainer if it happens often.

How big is a dachshund?

Dachshunds are short dogs. The standard pet dachshund would be 8-9 inches (20-23 cm) tall while a miniature dachshund would be 5-6 inches tall. In terms of length, these long back dog breeds measure between 55-64 cm (21.5-25 in).    

How fast can a dachshund run?

Dachshund dogs have a high energy level and can run fast at 15–20 mph (31 kph). Their short legs however, make it difficult for them to run far, so you can't sprint with these dogs.  

How much does a dachshund weigh?

The weight of a dachshund differs based on the size dachshunds are. The standard dog breeds weigh between 16-32 lb (7.3 - 14.5 kg) while the mini dachshund typically weighs 11 lb or less.

What are their male and female names of the species?

Like other dog breeds, a male dachshund is called a dog or stud if he is used for breeding while a female is called a bitch.

What would you call a baby dachshund?

The baby of a dachshund dog is called a dachshund puppy.

What do they eat?

Packaged dog food with high protein content is great for dachshunds as it provides all the nutrients your dog will need to maintain optimum health. You should avoid foods with high fat content. Some healthy snacks that can complement their diet include carrots, green beans, watermelon, bananas, pumpkin, and broccoli.  

Are they hypoallergenic?

No, dachshunds are not hypoallergenic dogs.

Would they make a good pet?

Dachshunds make great pets and are good family dogs. The typical dachshund temperament is friendly, loyal, and goofy. They love to cuddle and are happy to snuggle with you on the couch or bed. They can however, be irritable and reactive due to their high prey drive and hunting instincts. Their territorial nature also makes them bark a lot and suspicious of strangers. While supervision is required when they're around kids, their small size and high energy level makes them a great pet in a house.

They require at least two walks of moderate distance every day to stay fit and support their long back. It is imperative that they are not allowed to become obese as this could result in serious health complications. Dachshunds are extremely intelligent and tend to be stubborn which makes training them difficult. They do however, respond well to reward-based and obedience training rather than harsh methods or punishment. You will have to be patient and maintain consistency to see results, but starting from the time they are pups will make it easier for you.  

Grooming them is also easy as they don't shed a lot. You need to trim their nails every month though.    

Did you know...

They were called badger dogs in the U.S. during World War II so that they would not be ostracized by people connecting them to Germany.

Dachshunds are prone to certain health issues like intervertebral disc disease, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, acanthosis nigricans, and gastric dilatation volvulus.    

How to pronounce dachshund

The right pronunciation for these hunting dogs is 'daks-hund'.

What were dachshunds bred for?

As far back as the 17th century in Germany, dachshunds were bred to be hunting dogs, especially to hunt badgers, rabbits, and other small animals in underground lairs.  While the standard dachshund would typically hunt wild boar and badgers, the dachshund miniature would hunt foxes and hares.  

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including Dogue De Bordeaux, or Japanese chin.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our dachshund coloring pages.