The German word ‘dachs’ means ‘badger’, ‘hund’ means ‘hound’, which was the task they were originally bred for. There is some evidence that these dogs may have their origin in Ancient Egypt, but it was German breeders who developed the line we know today by mixing different European hounds and terriers.

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There is some dispute about the timeline, with certain experts saying that this occurred as early as the 15th Century and others believing it didn’t happen until the early part of the 18th. Whatever the truth, by the Victorian times, they were a popular dog to own, particularly in well-to-do circles.

 

While their initial use was for hunting, over the years, the dog has been associated with many different parts of society. In political and media circles, the breed was routinely used as a satiric representation of the German nation during the world wars and in America, the dogs are routinely part of annual dachshund racing events across many states.

 

They became better known as family dogs in the 1950s and seem to have been particularly popular with numerous artists, including Picasso, Andy Warhol and David Hockney.

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Dachshunds are lively and bright dogs with a fair degree of intelligence. They usually fit in well with a family and are generally good with a variety of pets- though they often become more protective in the presence of other dogs.

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They are keen to watch dogs and tend to bark a lot when people approach their territory. Despite their size, like any dog, they do require a good walk at least once a day. Similar to their close cousins, the terrier, dachshunds like a good dig, whether that’s out in the garden or when you’re on a walk, so you need to keep more of an eye on them than you think. They can also be stubborn at times and can take a little longer to train than some other dog breeds.

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Between the different types of Dachshunds, there’s some variation in behaviour. Wirehair breeds tend to be livelier, while short hair ones prefer attaching themselves to a single owner and will often appear aloof to strangers. Long-haired Dachshunds are less temperamental and have a sweeter personality.