1. Dachshunds make great watch dogs
This breed is notorious for being hyper alert. A dachshund will unleash a gale of barking to let you know when a stranger is at the door or walking by on the sidewalk.
In fact, a 2008 study in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science ranked the diminutive dachshund as the most aggressive of all breeds.
2. The AKC recognizes two varieties of dachshund
The American Kennel Club classifies and shows dachshunds in two separate types: Standard dachshunds and miniature dachshunds.
Beyond this official division, dachshunds come in a variety of coat types (smooth, long, wire) and colors.
3. The dachshund breed was created to hunt badgers
We all love the wiener dog’s amusing and unique body shape, but the breed wasn’t designed that way just to maximize cuteness.
Originally bred to hunt badgers, these hounds are shaped to allow easy access in and out of badger setts. The named “dachshund” is German for “badger dog.”
4. Dachshunds are the smallest dog breed used for hunting
Dachshunds are not as tiny as Chihuahuas or Yorkshire terriers, but those other breeds were never meant for more than companionship. Dachshunds, who excel at hunting small game, are the smallest hounds. Don’t let the Doxie’s cuteness allow you to underestimate how scrappy it is. The American Kennel Club’s breed standard even includes this tough-as-nails note: “Inasmuch as the dachshund is a hunting dog, scars from honorable wounds shall not be considered a fault.”
5. A dachshund was used as the mascot for the 1972 Olympics in Munich
German graphic designer Otl Aicher designed Waldi the dachshund as the mascot for the 1972 Summer Games. In this photo, Waldi is displayed in a special 2008 Olympic exhibition in the German Sports and Olympic Museum in Cologne, Germany.
6. Dachshunds are the 10th most popular dog breed in America
According to the AKC’s registration statistics, the dachshund currently is the 10th most popular dog breed in the United States. That position remains the same from the previous year, but it represent a popularity drop from seventh in 2008 and fifth in 2003.
7. Dachshunds have inspired the work of famous visual artists
Andy Warhol was a great fan of dachshunds, although at first he adopted one only because it was what his boyfriend wanted. But Warhol fell in the love with the breed. He often was seen in public with his dog, Archie, until he got a second dachshund, Amos, to keep Archie company.
Pablo Picasso also was a dog fanatic, and owned several breeds. His favorite was Lump, a dachshund, whose story is told in the book, “Picasso and Lump: A Dachshund’s Odyssey.”
