Long haired dachshund

Although the long haired dachshund is calmer and more balanced than his two cousins ​​(rough-haired and shorthair-haired dachshunds), he has the considerable temperament and needs a lot of movement.

Nature

The long-haired dachshund is friendly, gentle and cheerful. Strongly attached to the owner and is sometimes jealous of him. He is not feeling lonely, so he should not be left without the company for most of the day. Representatives of this breed are great friends of older children. You have to supervise games with toddlers, because the four-legged ones endure rough treatment badly.

The alert and perceptive dachshunds are quite a guardian, but they are limited only to loudly shouting something suspicious. They are usually dogs who trusting people and even quickly make friends with strangers.

The dachshunds function perfectly in the company of a second dog – preferably the same breed, but they get used to every calm quadruped. Alien brethren usually treat friendships and do not start fights, although large animals may cause them anxiety. Their relations with other pets are good.

The long-haired dachshund is calmer and more balanced than his two cousins, but he is not inferior to courage, independence and independence. He has a high temperament, is active and needs a lot of movement. Although the hunting instinct in this variety is the weakest, it can make itself felt at any time, so it’s better to lead a dog on a leash in the city.

Most long-haired dachshunds can be easily referenced in the open, if we take the time to learn obedience. However, there are dogs that forget about the whole world when they feel the call of nature, so when walking around the city it is worth using a few meters long lines.

Dogs of this breed like to dig pits in the ground – we can try to control their passion or reconcile with the fact that we will not enjoy the manicured garden for a long time.

Skills

Dachshunds are the smallest hunting dogs. They have an excellent sense of smell, they are mobile, durable and persistent. The elongated body and short limbs allow them to work in burrows and thick thickets. They are used to hunt foxes, wild rabbits, badgers. Long-haired dachshunds, due to the type of coat, are less useful for dredging, but they work well as trophies, scavengers, sandwiches, and even dogs retrieving from the water.

All varieties of dachshunds are subject to work trials – field trials and competitions (dredging, tracking and rushing) are organized for them. The third degree diploma in competitions is an additional condition for obtaining the title of international beauty champion (CIB).

Dachshund racing is very popular in the United States. Some quadrupeds practice agility, but their construction makes it not a sport especially recommended for this breed. Currently, most of the long-haired dachshunds are mainly companion dogs.

Long haired dachshund. Training and education

Long haired dachshund is a smart and intelligent animal. Although, like all representatives of this group, it has quite an independent nature, due to the admixture of blood of spaniels it is more susceptible to training and is more willing to follow instructions. He will easily learn basic commands if we motivate him properly, and because most dachshunds are great foodies, so you can use this feature while learning.

Dogs of this breed have a strong character, so from a puppy, you need to consistently raise them and not allow them everything. The toddler should gradually become accustomed to new situations and sounds, he should meet people of different ages, kinsmen and other animals. Dog nursery school classes are also recommended.

We bring the dachshund in a solid ordinary collar and on a long leash – leather or from tape. Automatic lanyards are not recommended for puppies, because they make the dog acquire an onerous pulling habit or braces because they can deform the shoulder girdle and chest.

When it comes to feeding, narrow, high bowls are the most convenient, because the ears do not get dirty when eating and drinking. Representatives of this breed like to sleep in covered booths, although most of them eventually choose the owner’s bed.

Who is this race for?

Long-haired dachshund does not require much experience, but the owner should lead an active lifestyle and devote a lot of time to the pet. He must also be consistent and firm, because this small dog can subordinate a man if he is allowed to.

Long haired dachshund. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• can be overly noisy
• likes to dig pits in the ground

Advantages

• friendly and gentle
• gets along well with children
• learns quickly
• alert and perceptive
• tolerates brethren and other pets
• long-lived
• inexpensive to maintain
• easy to care for

Long haired dachshund. Health

Long-haired dachshunds are long-lived and rather resistant dogs. They usually tolerate both high and low temperatures well. In summer, they must have permanent access to water and a shaded place to rest. Chill and snow do not bother them if they have a lot of movement during walks and do not spend most of the day in heavily heated rooms.

Only individuals of the rabbit variety tend to be more sensitive, so in winter we put on clothes for them, and smear pads with a greasy cream.

The dachshund has the most problems with the spine. There are dogs suffering from discopathy, which is promoted by obesity, jumping and going down the stairs. With this disease, partial or complete paresis of the hind limbs occurs.

Occasionally eye problems: progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataract. In the homeland of the breed, ophthalmological examinations are mandatory, in Poland they are not required, but many breeders carry them out, so it is worth choosing puppies after healthy parents.

Feeding

Dachshunds have an excellent appetite, and because overweight is the cause of many health problems, they should not be overfed. It is best to give them ready-made high-quality food adapted to their lifestyle (specialized food for this breed is available). It should contain easily digestible and easily digestible protein and a small amount of fat.

We must supplement the meals we prepare ourselves with calcium, vitamin and mineral preparations as recommended by the vet. Periodically, supplements containing unsaturated fatty acids, biotin and zinc, special animal oils, evening primrose oil or small amounts of ground linseed can be used. They improve the condition of the skin and coat and strengthen the body’s protection.

It is worth adding specificity supporting the reconstruction of articular cartilage (with glucosamine and chondroitin). Growers also recommend jelly from chicken feet or calf shanks.

Care

The intensity of molting of a long-haired dachshund depends largely on its gender. Males usually lose their coat once a year in autumn and this does not significantly affect their appearance. In bitches molting is associated with the sexual cycle – some before the liquid almost completely lose the longest hair.

The coat of a dog of this breed is not prone to tangling – only on the ears and under them it can feel. It is enough to comb the pet once every few days with an ordinary, medium-thick metal comb. You can also use a hard bristle brush to give your coat a nicer look.

In some representatives of the breed (especially sterilized) undercoats sometimes cover the topcoat. Then you need a trim treatment that you can do yourself (using a furminator and finishing trimmer for paw care) or in a dog salon.

If necessary, we dachshund bathe in shampoos for long-haired dogs, e.g. with the addition of mink or almond oil. You can use cosmetics highlighting the red or black coat color. Finally, we use a balm or conditioner appropriate for the type of hair. After bathing, dry the hair with a dryer set to medium temperature.

Regularly trim your nails, cut hair between the pads, check your ears (long and hanging ones are exposed to infections) and remove tartar if necessary.

Dachshunds do not require special preparation for the exhibition. Depending on the condition and structure of the coat, we bathe it a few days earlier or the day before the show inappropriate cosmetics. Scissors cut the hair between the fingers, and give the paws an oval shape. Sometimes you have to pluck out single sticking hair on your head.

We present a dachshund on a ring matched to the color. He should be accustomed to showing his teeth and standing calmly on the table, where judges judge small dogs.

Accessories

Long-haired dachshund will be taken by balls of appropriate size, cotton cords (they should not be stretched during the teeth change period), rubber or plush mascots or natural teethers. It is worth getting your pet used to the transport cage.

Long haired dachshund. History

According to some theories, short-legged dogs with an elongated torso were already known in ancient Egypt. The researchers’ attention was drawn to a drawing from the time of Pharaoh Sezostris III (XII Dynasty, circa 1991-1786 BC), which was found in the tomb of an Egyptian dignitary. He depicted a small dog with a long body and large standing ears. During excavations, mummified remains of such animals were also found. However, cynologists believe that apart from their slight physical similarity, these ancient quadrupeds have nothing to do with modern dachshunds.

Typical for dachshunds, short-leggedness is also characteristic of many other breeds and comes from a genetic mutation called achondroplasia, which consists in inhibiting the growth of long limb bones with simultaneous normal development of flat bones (skull or pelvis). The mutated gene is passed down from generation to generation, and the dogs that inherit it do not show other anomalies.

The most probable theory suggests that dachshunds may be related to several breeds of German hounds called Dachsbracke. The word “bracke” was used to describe different varieties of hunting dogs used for tracking and chasing, and “dachs” means “badger” and refers not only to the type of game that dachshunds initially hunted, but also to their physical resemblance to this predator. In the veins of short-legged animals blood may also flow from blood stream and pinscher.

Not far from Cannstatt in Germany, the remains of dachshund-like quadrupeds were found from the time of Roman conquest. The first mention of them is found in the family laws of May-9th century AD – we are talking about a fine for killing a hunting dog underground. In turn, the oldest known woodcut depicting hunting with dachshunds can be found in the hunting treaty of 1561, whose author is the French nobleman Jacques du Fouilloux.

For the first time, dachshunds were shown at an exhibition in Berlin in 1878, and a year later at the congress of German cynologists the first model was approved. In 1880, a pedigree book was created in Germany, in which over 300 representatives of the breed were placed. In 1888, Deutscher Teckelklub (German Dachshund Club) was founded.

In 1895, dachshunds were divided according to the type of hair into short -haired, long-haired and  coarse-haired, and due to their heavy, medium and light type. Currently, the terms standard, miniature and rabbit are used, and the division criterion is the chest circumference (the measurement is made by an authorized cynological judge when the animal is more than 15 months old).

The long-haired dachshund was founded in the mid-nineteenth century, probably from the intersection of the short-haired variety with English or German spaniels. His systematic breeding began in Germany before World War I. Stropp v. Fuchsenstein, whose owner was August Kessler, was considered the best dog of his time.

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Long-haired dachshund – group IV FCI, section 1, reference number 148

• Country of origin:  Germany
• Size:  standard: weight 6.5-9 kg (not more than 9.9 kg), chest circumference over 35 cm; miniature: weight approx. 4 kg, chest circumference 30-35 cm; rabbit: weight up to 3.5 kg, chest circumference not more than 30 cm
• Coat: straight, shiny with an undercoat, close-fitting; extended on the neck and lower abdomen, dangling on the ears, on the limbs forms an equal length feather, and on the tail a full banner
• Color:  plain: various shades of red – from light to mahogany (pure or with black coating), slight white markings on the chest are acceptable but undesirable; two-colored – deep black or brown (chocolate) color with reddish tan, white markings on the chest are undesirable, but small spots do not disqualify the dog; marbled – on a darker background (black or chocolate) there are irregular gray or beige spots (large patches are undesirable)
• Maturity:  1.5 years – 2 years
• Lifespan: 14-16 years
• Weather resistance: high

Interesting facts

There are as many as nine varieties of dachshunds, because standard, miniature and rabbit dachshunds are distinguished in all hair types (short-haired, rough-haired and long-haired).

The trained eye of the breeder is able to see if the puppy promises to be a rabbit or a miniature. This can be seen in the size, bone structure and chest.