Dwarf dachshund dog

History of origin

Dachshund is one of the most ancient hunting breeds. It is hard to imagine, but long-bodied, short-legged dogs were used to hunt burrowing game already several thousand years ago in ancient Egypt. And until recently, dachshunds hunted exclusively such a fairly large beast as a badger and a fox. However, among the objects of hunting there were also smaller game, for example, rabbits. And for their prey, the standard dachshund was in no way suitable, because it was too large for small rabbit holes.

That is why dachshunds began to cross with toy terriers and pinschers. However, the descendants of thin-boned terriers have proven themselves poorly, so the breeders abandoned this practice and decided to simply select the smallest dogs among the standard ones. So gradually a miniature copy of the dachshund appeared, which was ideal for hunting rabbits.

Today, these cute “sausages” have won the hearts of millions of people around the world and are one of the most popular both hunting and decorative dogs.

Breed description

The dwarf dachshund is a reduced copy of the standard one, differing from it practically only in size. While for an ordinary dachshund the height at the withers is about 25 cm, for a dwarf dachshund 21 cm is the ceiling, and the chest volume usually does not exceed 30 cm. Weight – 3 – 4 kg. In general, the growth of a dwarf dachshund is equal to half the length of the body. The body should be neither too thick nor thin, like a weasel. Paws are short and slightly curved, thick. The tail is set low, as a rule lowered or raised, never thrown over the back. The muzzle is elongated, the ears are set low, long, the eyes are rather large, the look is intelligent and attentive. Despite the stretched format and short legs, the dachshund should look muscular and athletic, without friability. Her voice is surprisingly low for her size.

The coat comes in three types: short and smooth, long and silky, and rough and harsh. The following colors are allowed: solid red, black and tan, brown and tan, harlequin and boar for wirehaired dachshunds. There are also exotic colors: cream, black, gray, white and harlequin, but they are not standard.

Photos

Character

Don’t be fooled by the small size of the pygmy dachshund. The spirit of a real fighter lives in this small body. An absolutely fearless dachshund, if necessary, will not hesitate to rush into battle from opponents that will be much larger than her. But this does not mean that the dachshund will bully everyone he meets, no. She’s too smart for that.

These dogs are completely self-sufficient and know exactly what to do, so that a person is perceived more as a friend, family member, but not someone in charge.

The Dwarf Dachshund is a dog with a sense of humor. She always knows how to play a prank on you, and she will smile at her own joke. In general, the facial expressions of these “sausages” are no less developed than in humans.

Although pygmy dachshunds are mostly raised as family friends these days, they have very strong hunting instincts, so be prepared for your pet to dig your entire garden in search of rabbit holes.

Care and maintenance

The dwarf dachshund has gained popularity also because it is very easy to care for. It takes up little space, eats little, except that it needs active walks, and the long-haired variety needs combing. If for some reason you could not walk with your dog, he may well go to the tray, but then you should at least play with him so that the dachshund can waste the accumulated energy. After all, despite the funny look, these are strong and hardy dogs that need physical activity.

Watch carefully that your dachshund does not overeat – obesity can make it disabled over time. It is also important to avoid jumping. The fact is that the stretched format creates a load on the spine, and jumping can lead to displacement of the vertebrae and hernias, which in turn often ends in big problems with the musculoskeletal system and even paralysis. Be sure to make sure that the dog does not stand on its hind legs, and very carefully pick it up.

Education and training

The fact that a dwarf dachshund is most often a family friend does not mean that it does not need to be educated. Of course, from childhood, the dachshund must understand the rules of behavior in the house and on the street. Do not beg for food from the owners, do not try to climb onto the bed (which is also very harmful for his back), etc. It should also be remembered that dachshunds often tend to show aggression towards strangers, so it is necessary to socialize a puppy from an early age – to give him communicate more with other people and animals, reinforcing this communication with positive emotions.

Another unpleasant habit that dachshunds need to wean from is picking up leftovers on the street and loving carrion. It is the dachshunds who, most often, having found some dead rat on the street, like to roll out in it and bring this intractable “aroma” into the house.

Dachshunds also have a tendency to go about their business without permission, so when you let your pet off the leash, carefully monitor it.

Health and disease

The dwarf dachshund, being a smaller copy of the standard one, has the same set of problems. And in the first place, of course, all kinds of injuries of the spine and musculoskeletal system. Intervertebral hernias, displacement of the intervertebral discs, pinching of the nerves, as well as problems with the joints are not uncommon. To prevent this from happening, protect your dachshund from jumping.

They also have a tendency to obesity, so in no case do not overfeed the dog, because excess weight will immediately create additional stress on the spine.

Otherwise, dwarf dachshunds are a fairly healthy and long-lived breed, with which, if properly maintained, you will not have any problems.

Word to the breeder

Tatyana Ponomareva, breeder of miniature rabbit dachshunds “Colored Stars” (Moscow) so succinctly and succinctly said about this breed: “For me, they are not dogs, but the best of the best, understanding, infinitely loving, equal to me.”

And Vyacheslav Smirnov, breeder of the kennel “Ya dachshund” (Vologda) clarifies: “There are 9 types of dachshunds:

• standard;
• miniature;
• rabbit.

And also differ in wool:

• smooth-haired;
• long-haired;
• wirehaired.

Now about the character.

Dachshunds do not like loneliness, so they will not let their owner get bored either. Very friendly dog, loves to be the center of attention. Suitable for ownership in absolutely any family, but let’s not forget what was said earlier.

It’s just that a dachshund is not suitable for a family as a gift for children, the breed of dogs requires care and attention.”

She also shared her impressions with Healthy Food Near Me breeder Elena Sakara from St. Petersburg: “Those who wish to take a dachshund would very much like to say that even the rabbit version of this breed is a serious dog that requires education and a thoughtful approach to living together. Having brought into the house a small plush lump, full of charm, causing nothing but tenderness, you need to remember that after a year without a firm upbringing, you can get a little terrorist who dismantles the house for parts and bites family members, and the teeth of the dachshund are very impressive, despite the modest dog size.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about the content of dwarf dachshunds with zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.