9781422279342

Physical characteristics The Dachshund is a small dog, with an elongated body that is close to the ground. He has short legs and big paws. His front legs are particularly powerful, because these were developed for dig- ging. The line of the body ends with a tail that is carried with a slight upward curve—a way for hunters to spot their dogs when they were working in thick undergrowth or were halfway down a hole. The Dachshund has a most striking head, and he typically car- ries it in a way that speaks to his boldness and defiance. The strong head is framed by drop ears, while the eyes convey keenness and intelligence. The Dachshund comes in two sizes: standard and miniature. The varieties are identical in every respect except size—the miniature is simply a smaller, more refined version. In dog shows held under FCI rules (Fédération Cynologique Internationale is the governing body for dog shows in 86 countries around the world, including

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