9781422279342

Chapter 1 Introducing the Dachshund T he Dachshund is a breed like no other, with his “wiener dog” conformation and his temperament—a remarkable combina- tion of fearless hunter and faithful companion. Plus, there are two sizes and three coat types to choose from, and a huge variety of colors and patterns. When you first look at a Dachshund, you might think a dog of this shape and size could never be a working dog. But you would be quite wrong. The Dachshund is designed to go down a hole and dig, and when you look at him, that makes sense. His role was to locate and flush out badgers; as well as needing an outstanding sense of smell to find them, he also needed great courage to dig them out. Although there are still Dachshunds who track and hunt, the breed has also become one of the most popular companion dogs. The Dachshund is highly adaptable, and his bold, outgoing temper- ament means he can suit a variety of owners with many different lifestyles.

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