Dachshund Breed Origin
The country of Dachshunds origin is Germany in the late 15th century. At first, in the early times of their existence, these short long-body dogs literally had a different look from a modern day Dachshund dog. They were usually looking more like miniature basset hounds or even terrier-like bulldogs. Their lower bodies were covered with a coarse, short hair that covered their entire lower half.Through the centuries, the Dachshund breed has been used as a hunting dog. In the later part of the 1800's, many dachshunds may have been used as dog handlers. Because they are very energetic, these dogs would spend most of their time running after small game. Their coat was naturally curly and dense, making it ideal for catching small animals.
Though the standard design of these dogs is flat-coat, there are many dachshunds whose coats have been matured to the point they no longer resemble the curly look of their ancestors.Because they have a longer body than the average dog, these dogs were originally bred to hunt in packs. They are highly intelligent and eager to please, making them excellent family dogs. These traits are still present in today's German Dachshunds, but their genetic history has changed. Today's German dachshunds are bred to be obedient, gentle with children and extremely eager to please. Because of this, the American Kennel Club classifies the dachshund as a toy breed, instead of a standard breed.
