Pets

The Dachshund is a short-legged, elongated member of the hound family. Their name is German and literally means 'badger dog' (der Dachs - badger; der Hund - dog). The breed was bred to scent, chase, hunt, and kill badgers and other hole-dwelling animals. They are commonly known as ?sausage dogs?

Appearance
A full-sized Dachshund averages 12 to 24 lb (5 to 10 kg), while the Miniature variety typically weighs less than 12 lb (5 kg). Modern Dachshunds are characterized by their crooked legs, loose skin and barrel-like chest, attributes that were deliberately added to increase their ability to burrow into tight spaces. They come in three coat varieties:

• Smooth
• Longhaired
• Wirehaired

The Wirehaired variety is generally shorter in spine length than the other two.

Temperament
Dachshunds are loyal, playful fun dogs, known for their propensity to chase small animals and birds. Coat type is often considered to be associated with characteristic temperaments; the long-haired variety, for instance, is considered to be less excitable than the other types because it was cross-bred with the Spaniel to obtain its characteristic long coat. Some who own long-haired Dachshunds might disagree with this statement, however. Because of the breed's characteristic barrel-like chest, the dachshund's lungs are unusually large, making for a sonorous bark.

Health
The breed is known to have spinal problems, due in part to an extremely long spinal column and short rib cage. The risk of injury can be worsened by obesity, which places greater strain on the vertebrae so do not overfeed or reward with food. In order to prevent injury, it is recommended that Dachshunds be discouraged from jumping and taking stairs. It has become increasingly apparent that the occurrence and severity of these problems is largely hereditary, and responsible breeders are working to eliminate this characteristic in the breed.

Dachshund Racing
This sport originated in a 1993 Miller Lite television commercial that listed odd possibilities for sports and has grown immensely in popularity since. It was featured in a half-time show for the San Francisco 49ers.

While some compare the sport to that of English and later American Greyhound racing, others see it having the likelihood of harming the breed from strain placed on its long spinal column.