Anna has a passion for keeping pets healthy and happy. She grew up with a Great Pyrenees as a family dog. Currently and currently has an orange tabby. She worked at a dog grooming and bathing salon where she learnt more about canine behavior and bathing. She lives in Wisconsin, in the United States. When she is not writing, she helps her partner run their small business, knitting, and enjoying local parks.
You may recognize a dachshund’s unique shape and feisty personality. However, do you know about the unique and long history of this breed? Get to know your favorite breed better with our list of five interesting dachshund facts!
Their natural instincts make dachshunds energetic and curious explorers. It’s their loyal and fun personalities which have made them a popular standard breed for centuries. Currently, they are the 12th most popular breed out of 197 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Learn more about the wiener dog below!
Fascinating Dachshund Facts
1. They Have A Long History
Historians have found records of dachshund-like hunting dogs in Germany from as early as the 1400s. German dog breeders developed what we recognize as the breed standard in the 1600s. Additionally, archaeologists have recently discovered mummified, dachshund-like dogs in Ancient Egyptian burial urns.
2. Their Name Translates To Badger Dog
Dachshund means “badger dog” in German. However, it’s not just a cute nickname. These dogs were bred specifically to hunt badgers. Their long body shapes and short legs make them perfect diggers. Breeders made sure a dachshund’s loud bark resonated from under the ground in badger dens.
3. They Didn’t Just Hunt Badgers
Over the centuries, German dog breeders created a miniature-sized dachshund. These mini dachshunds hunted hares, rabbits, and foxes. German hunters also used packs of standard-sized dachshunds to hunt wild boar.
4. A Dachshund Was The First Olympics Mascot
The task of designing the first official summer Olympic mascot went to German graphic designer Otl Aicher. Along with other logos for the 1972 games in Munich, Aicher created a rainbow-colored dachshund named Waldi. Waldi was supposed to represent athletic qualities like tenacity, agility, and resistance. The designers of the marathon route for the games used Waldi’s shape as inspiration.
5. They Have Three Different Coat Types
German dachshund breeders also developed three different coat types for dachshunds. As a result, different hair types became favored for different tasks. Long-haired dachshunds were great at working in cold weather conditions. Wire-haired dachshunds worked in bushes and difficult shrubbery. Finally, the popular smooth-haired dachshunds require the least grooming and hair care.
Anna has a passion for keeping pets healthy and happy. She grew up with a Great Pyrenees as a family dog. Currently and currently has an orange tabby. She worked at a dog grooming and bathing salon where she learnt more about canine behavior and bathing. She lives in Wisconsin, in the United States. When she is not writing, she helps her partner run their small business, knitting, and enjoying local parks.
