fbpx

KidsKonnect

Dachshund Facts & Worksheets

Friendly and spirited, Dachshunds, Canis lupus familiaris, are scent hound dogs famous for their long-backed bodies and short legs.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Science /Animals /Mammals /Dachshund Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Dachshund Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Friendly and spirited, Dachshunds, Canis lupus familiaris, are scent hound dogs famous for their long-backed bodies and short legs. Also known as Wiener dogs, Dachshunds are brave and independent hunters with an endearing nature that has captured the hearts of the public.

See the fact file below for more information on the Dachshund or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Dachshund worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY AND ORIGIN

  • Originating in Germany 600 years ago, the name Dachshund translates to “badger dog”, from dachs which means “badger”and hund from “hound or dog”. Although Dachshund is a German word, in Germany, these dogs are also called Dacket or Teckel.
  • Photographs of dogs that look like Dachshunds were found and were believed to be dated during the 15th century, and some records from the 16th century mentioned the terms “earth dog”, “badger creeper”, and “dachsel”.
  • Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers and boars weighed 30 to 25 pounds, while those used to trail on den animals, such as foxes and deers, weighed 16 to 22 pounds. Smaller 12-pound Dachshunds preyed on hares and weasels. The smallest of the breed, 5-pound Dachshunds, were used to chase cottontail rabbits.
  • During the 18th and 19th centuries, German foresters developed the Teckel into courageous and elongated canines that could dig burrows and hunt badgers.
  • The Smooths were the earliest type – a mix between the Braques, a small French pointing breed, and the Pinscher, a small terrier-type dog for hunting rodents. Basset hounds were also a prospect for the Dachshund’s development.
  • Long-haired Dachshunds may have been a cross of different spaniels, wirehairs, and terriers.
  • In the 19th century, the breed’s standard was formed, registered in the 1840 Deutscher Hund-Stammbuch (German Hound Stud Book), and listed over 50 Dachshunds. These guidelines were further established by the Deutscher Teckelklub (German Dachshund Club) in 1888.
  • These dogs started being bred more as pets than as hunters, especially in Great Britain. Dachshunds became the imperial courts’ favorite, including Queen Victoria who had a strong affection of the breed.
  • Because of this, their stature was slowly reduced by 10 pounds. Years later, a smaller version was bred – the miniature Dachshund.
  • In 1885, Dachshunds were first brought to the United States and 11 of these were registered in the American Kennel Club (AKC). The first on the list is a Dachshund named Dash. Ten years later, the Dachshund Club of America was founded.
  • In the early years of the 1900s, these elongated dogs rose to popularity.
  • In 1913 and 1914, Dachshunds were one of the ten most popular dog breeds in the Westminster Kennel Club Show.
  • In 1915, German breeders classified Dachshunds into three types based on their coats: K for Kurzhaar (Smooth), R for Rauhhaar (Wire-haired), and Z for Zwerg (Miniature).
  • The breed declined in demand in the United States and England during World War I, since they were the national symbol of Germany.
  • Owners were named as traitors and their dogs were stoned.
  • In the 1950s, these dogs reclaimed their spot in the United States. They served as family dogs; however, they were considered as hunting dogs in some regions of Europe, especially in France.

APPEARANCE AND CLASSIFICATION

  • A typical Dachshund is long-bodied, muscular, and short-legged, with large, paddle-shaped front paws which are perfect for digging burrows. Their skin is elastic and flexible, without too much wrinkles.
  • They have medium-sized, almond-shaped, dark eyes, with ears of average length near the top of the head, and a slightly bent muzzle.
  • Their necks are long and muscular, without a dewlap (excess skin), with deep chests for better lung capacity, and long, sturdy tails, which would serve as “handles” for the hunters to pull them out from the burrows.
  • The American Kennel Club (AKC) only accepts one size classification – the standard Dachshund, weighing 16 to 32 pounds; however, the United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes two sizes: standard (up to 25 pounds) and miniature (11 pounds or less).
  • Dachshund owners and breed enthusiasts added another size classification. “Tweenies” are Dachshunds between 11 and 16 pounds.
  • The Fédération Cynologique classifies this dog into two primary sizes: standard (Normal gross teckel) and miniature. The latter is further divided into two based on their size at 15 months: dwarf (Zwergteckel) and rabbit (kaninchen).
  • The United Canine Association also recognizes a smaller size, the toy Dachshund, which weighs 8 pounds or less.
  • Dachshunds are classified based on their coats: short-haired (smooth), long-haired, and wire-haired.
  • Short-haired or smooth. The standard type of Dachshund coat, which is soft, shiny, and neat, and requires less grooming. Their ears are often described as “leathery looking”, with longer fur on their underbellies.
  • Long-haired. Researchers assume that these type might have been a cross between the short-haired Dachshunds and Spaniels, in order to produce a more weather resistant breed. Their fur is either straight or wavy, and is usually longer around the ears, neck, underbelly, and behind the legs. Although long-haired, they are not hypoallergenic.
  • They require frequent brushing and grooming to maintain their coats.
  • Wire-haired. Some believe they are crossbreeds of a short-haired Dachshund and a wire-haired terrier. They have medium-length, dense, coarse, and slightly wavy outercoats, with long facial hair and soft undercoats.
  • Dachshunds come in a variety of colors and patterns. Short-haired and long-haired Dachshunds usually have single-colors, such as cream, and red, with some black hairs scattered throughout. Two-tone Dachshunds appear as black and cream, black and tan, blue and cream, blue and tan, chocolate and tan, chocolate and cream, fawn and cream, and fawn and tan. Wire-haired Dachshunds commonly have a wild boar coat.
  • Their coats come in three standard patterns: brindle (dark stripes), dapple (mixture of dark and light pattern), and sable (dark-tipped on a red coat). There are also three non-standard patterns: brindle piebald (brindle coat with distinct white patches), double dapple (more with patches), and piebald (covered in white patches).

PERSONALITY

  • Dachshunds love to play, but since they were originally bred to hunt, they can be a little stubborn sometimes. They enjoy running after small animals, birds, and tennis balls. Their owners should be patient enough when training them since Dachshunds are difficult to housebreak.
  • They are known to be courageous breeds with a loud bark, despite their size. Just like any small hunting dog, they will, in no doubt, provoke other dogs. Dachshunds can be aggressive to visitors too, but are loyal and affectionate to their owners. Occasionally, they experience separation anxiety when left alone and might chew objects to de-stress.
  • According to the AkC, “the Dachshund is clever, lively, and courageous to the point of rashness, persevering in above and below ground work, with all the senses well-developed. Any display of shyness is a serious fault.”
  • Since they are usually aggressive, they may not be the best pets for younger children, unless they are well-trained.
  • Their personalities also vary depending on their coat type. Since wire-haired Dachshunds have terrior roots, they can be impish troublemakers. Most of the time, long hairs are silent and composed, while short-haired types are somewhere in between.

HEALTH

  • Dachshunds are generally healthy, and can be expected to live 12 to 16 years, as long as they are handled with care and kept on a good diet.
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). Dachshunds usually experience back problems, and may be caused by genetics or wrong body movement. Owners should observe if their wieners are unable to raise their rear legs, are paralyzed, and experience loss of bowel and bladder control.
  • Epilepsy. Dachshunds are prone to epileptic seizures, caused by heredity or brought by a fall or a hard blow to the head.
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). An eye condition that may lead to blindness.
  • Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV). Also known as bloat or torsion, Dachshunds are one of the targets of this life-threatening condition. GDV happens when the stomach is full of gas or air and then twists (torsion), making the dog unable to vomit or release the excess air in the stomach, which then leads to a drop in the blood pressure and the breed goes into a shock.
  • Cushing’s Disease. Also referred to as hyperadrenocorticism, this is the result of too much production of the cortisol hormone in the body, caused by an imbalance in the pituitary gland or in the adrenal gland.
    Canine Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Diabetes is rarely seen in Dachshunds, especially if they are overweight.
  • Deafness. This is uncommon to the breed, but double dapple Dachshunds may be affected with this condition.

CARE

  • They enjoy taking walks or playing outdoors with other dogs. Two half-mile walks a day, about ten minutes each, is enough to maintain their daily exercise.
  • It is best if owners allow their Dachshunds to live indoors since they might injure their backs if placed outside or in a kennel.
  • Long-haired and wire-haired Dachshunds should be brushed regularly to prevent mats. Short hairs are low-maintenance – they can be wiped with a damp cloth between baths to keep them clean.

Dachshund Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Dachshund across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Dachshund worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the friendly and spirited, Dachshunds, Canis lupus familiaris, which are scent hound dogs famous for their long-backed bodies and short legs. Also known as Wiener dogs, Dachshunds are brave and independent hunters with an endearing nature that has captured the hearts of the public.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Dachshund Facts
  • Badger Dogs
  • Dachshund Anatomy
  • Wiener Dog Facts
  • Growing Up Dachs
  • Colors and Patterns
  • Standard vs Miniature
  • Coat-type Bookmarks
  • German Dogs
  • I Want One
  • Owner’s Duties

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Dachshund Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 25, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources