The name means "badger dog" in German, and at home the breed is usually called Teckel or Dackel. It comes in three coats (smooth, long and wire) and three sizes (standard, miniature and rabbit, called Kaninchen in German). It is bold, loud and stubborn for its size, and its long back is its main health weak point: the same gene change that gives the breed its short legs is tied to disc disease of the spine.
Quick facts
Related breedAkita1600 to 1931 · Japan- Country of origin
- Germany
- Period of development
- About 1600 to 1888 (project data, medium confidence); standard fixed in the 1800s
- Type
- Scent hound (FCI Group 4, Dachshunds; FCI standard no. 148; AKC Hound Group; UK Kennel Club recognised)
- Other names
- Teckel, Dackel, Sausage Dog, Wiener Dog
- Varieties
- Three coats: smooth, long, wire. Three sizes under the FCI: standard, miniature, rabbit (Kaninchen)
- Height
- Roughly 20 to 27 cm at the withers in most standards; standards mostly measure chest girth and weight, not height
- Weight
- Standard up to about 9 kg; miniature up to about 4 kg; rabbit about 3.5 kg or less (FCI standard, adults)
- Coat
- Smooth and short, long and silky, or harsh wire with beard and eyebrows
- Life span
- Project data: 12 to 16 years
- DNA family
- Scent Hound family (Parker et al. 2017, strong support)
- Descendant breed in project data
- Alpine Dachsbracke
Name and origin
Related breedBorder Terrier1700 to 1920 · United KingdomGerman Dachs means "badger" and Hund means "dog", so Dachshund is literally "badger dog". English borrowed the word in the late 1800s. In Germany the breed is called Dackel or Teckel, and the German breed clubs use Teckel. Nicknames in English are "sausage dog" and "wiener dog", both about the shape. "Kaninchen" is the German word for rabbit: the smallest FCI size is named after the quarry it was meant to follow.
People used dogs to hunt badgers in Europe long before the Dachshund existed as a recognised breed. Short-legged dogs suit the work because a badger lives in an underground sett, and a dog must go in after it, hold it in place and bark so the hunter can dig down. Project data dates the breed's development from about 1600, and histories agree the type took form in German-speaking lands between the late 1600s and the 1700s, when foresters and hunters began to breed it consistently.
A common view, repeated in breed histories, is that the Dachshund came from German foot hounds such as the Dachsbracke (a short-legged scent hound), crossed with terrier and pinscher types. Treat the exact crosses as likely but not proven. No genetic study has traced them step by step.
History
Same eraCatahoula Leopard Dog1700 to 1979 · United StatesThree coats
Smooth coats came first. Breed histories say the smooth Dachshund then gave rise to the other two coats:
- Smooth. The original coat. Short, glossy and close.
- Long-haired. Said to come from crossing smooth Dachshunds with spaniel types and the German Stoeberhund, a type of bird dog.
- Wire-haired. Wire-coated Dachshunds are mentioned as early as 1797. Most modern wires were developed near the end of the 1800s using smooth Dachshunds with the German Wire-haired Pinscher and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, according to reference histories.
By the early 1800s all three coats were recorded. Wire is reported as the most common coat in Germany but the least common in the United States.
From forest to show ring
A German breed club, the Deutscher Teckelklub, was founded in 1888 (project data gives 1888 as the end of the main development period). The breed reached English-speaking show rings in the late 1800s, and the AKC registered its first Dachshunds in the 1880s.
The Dachshund later became a national symbol of Germany. Waldi, a rainbow-coloured Dachshund, was the mascot of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
Kennel club recognition
| Body | Status |
|---|---|
| FCI | Definitive, standard no. 148, Group 4 (Dachshunds), country of origin Germany |
| AKC | Recognised, Hound Group |
| UK Kennel Club | Recognised (the UK lists several coat and size varieties) |
Group 4 is a Dachshund-only group in the FCI system, which shows how distinct the breed is from the other hounds.
Relatives and DNA
Same familyDalmatian1700 to 1890 · CroatiaThe project knowledge base lists no recorded parent breeds, no DNA-linked breeds and no sister breeds for the Dachshund. One descendant is recorded:
- Alpine Dachsbracke. An Austrian short-legged scent hound. Project data lists the Dachshund as its parent breed.
The Dachsbracke itself is a likely ancestor type of the Dachshund (see Name and origin), so the two breeds are probably cousins in both directions. Records here do not settle which way the blood ran.
What does DNA say?
A 2017 study by Parker and colleagues (Cell Reports) analysed 1,346 dogs from 161 breeds and sorted them into 23 supported clades (families). The Dachshund sits in the Scent Hound family with strong support, alongside other hunting hounds such as the Beagle and the Basset Hound. That fits the breed's job: it follows a scent trail and then goes below ground. The project's shared-haplotype table holds no entries for the Dachshund, so there is no table of closest relatives here.
Descend from it · 1
- Alpine DachsbrackeAustria
The breed standard
Looks relatedGerman Pinscher1700 to 1884 · GermanyA breed standard is the written ideal a kennel club judges against. Dachshund standards differ from most breeds because they set size by body measurements and weight more than by height.
| Club | Group or status | How size is set |
|---|---|---|
| FCI | Group 4, Dachshunds (no. 148) | Chest circumference at 15 months, with weight as a guide |
| AKC | Hound Group | Miniature is a weight class, not over about 5 kg |
| UK KC | Recognised, several varieties | Standard and miniature varieties listed by weight |
Varieties in the standard: sizes
The FCI measures chest circumference at 15 months, with weight as a guide, not height. That matters because a long-bodied dog with short legs can look the same height at any size. The sizes in the FCI standard are roughly:
| Size | Chest girth | Weight (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | More than 35 cm | Up to 9 kg |
| Miniature | 30 to 35 cm | Up to 4 kg |
| Rabbit (Kaninchen) | Up to 30 cm | About 3.5 kg or less |
Kennel clubs outside the FCI use their own limits, so ask which standard a breeder follows. The same words (miniature, rabbit) can mean different things in different countries. Miniature and rabbit sizes were bred to follow smaller quarry such as rabbits. In practice, size is set by parents, and a puppy's adult size is only a guess until growth finishes.
Varieties in the standard: coats
- Smooth-haired Dachshund. Short, dense, shiny coat. Easy to care for. Colours include red, black and tan, chocolate and tan, cream, and dapple () and brindle patterns, depending on the club.
- Long-haired Dachshund. Soft, straight or slightly wavy hair, with feathering on ears, chest, belly and legs. Needs regular brushing, especially behind the ears.
- Wire-haired Dachshund. Harsh, tight outer coat with a soft undercoat, plus a beard, bushy eyebrows and neat ears. Wire coats are usually stripped by hand a few times a year, and shed little.
Build, head and colour
A Dachshund has a long, muscular body on short, strong legs, with a deep chest, a long head with a tapered muzzle, dark oval eyes and long, rounded ears that hang close to the head. The tail is carried in line with the back. The body shape was chosen for the job: a deep chest holds big lungs for work underground, and the strong forelegs dig.
Dapple (merle) patterning comes from a SINE insertion in the SILV gene (Clark et al. 2006). Two copies (double dapple) are linked to eye problems and deafness, and responsible clubs advise against dapple to dapple matings.
Temperament
Related breedGreat Dane1600 to 1880 · GermanyDachshunds are bold, curious and lively dogs with a big-dog bark. Breed clubs and the AKC describe them as clever, brave and stubborn. Many are loyal to one or two people and reserved with strangers. Some are digging, barking and chasing fans, which is not a flaw but a leftover of the job. A long-haired Dachshund is often described as a little calmer than a wire, and a wire as clownish and bold, but these differences come from breed-club descriptions, not controlled studies, and individuals vary widely.
What this means at home:
- Barking. Bred to bark underground so a hunter could find them. Many Dachshunds are loud and alert.
- Digging. Natural for an earth dog. Give a sandpit or a dig box.
- Stubbornness. Hound independence. Short, reward-based sessions work better than repetition.
- Prey drive. Small animals, including pets, can set a Dachshund off. Many chase when they catch a scent and may ignore recall.
- Separation. Often attached to their people, and some bark or chew when left alone.
- Children. Fine with calm, gentle children who know to support the back when lifting. Not suited to very rough handling, because of the spine.
- Exercise. A healthy adult usually does well with 30 to 60 minutes of walking a day, plus play and scent games. Avoid regular jumping off sofas and stairs, and avoid excess weight.
Health
Related breedGreater Swiss Mountain Dog1700 to 1909 · SwitzerlandDachshunds are among the longer-lived dogs, with project data giving 12 to 16 years, and most live active lives. The breed does carry a well-documented spinal risk. This section covers what breeders screen for and what owners can do to protect the back.
Back disease (IVDD)
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD, also called intervertebral disc extrusion, IVDE) happens when the cushioning discs between the vertebrae harden or burst and press on the spinal cord. Signs range from pain and a hunched back to weak hind legs and paralysis. Severe cases need emergency surgery.
Key studies on how often this happens:
- Packer and colleagues (Royal Veterinary College, 2016). The "Dachs-Life 2015" owner survey (2,031 Dachshunds, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology) estimated that about 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 Dachshunds (19 to 24 percent) show clinical signs of IVDD in their lifetime, and that the breed's relative risk was about 10 to 12 times that of other breeds.
- Other estimates. Published lifetime figures for the breed vary widely, depending on the study design (clinic records, owner surveys, imaging of healthy young dogs). Read any single number with care.
- Body shape. Royal Veterinary College work led by Packer found that relatively longer-backed dogs were at higher risk: in miniature Dachshunds, the chance of disc herniation rose sharply as the back-length to height ratio increased. Shorter, more moderate-backed dogs fared better in the data.
What owners are advised to do (BVA, breed clubs and vet-school guidance in general terms): keep the dog lean, use ramps or steps for furniture, support the chest and hindquarters when lifting, avoid repeated stair use, and get any sudden back pain or leg weakness to a vet at once. Quick treatment improves the chance of recovery.
Why are Dachshunds short-legged? The FGF4 retrogene story
Short legs in dogs are caused by "retrogenes", extra copies of the gene FGF4 inserted at a new place in the DNA. Retrogenes form when a gene's messenger RNA is copied back into DNA and inserted elsewhere in the genome. Two of them matter:
- The chromosome 18 retrogene (CDPA). Parker and colleagues (Science, 2009) linked an expressed FGF4 retrogene to breed-defining short legs (chondrodysplasia) across many breeds, including the Dachshund, Corgi and Basset Hound.
- The chromosome 12 retrogene (CDDY). Brown and colleagues (PNAS, 2017) showed that a second FGF4 retrogene, on chromosome 12, is responsible for chondrodystrophy: early degeneration and calcification of the spinal discs. In their data it was strongly tied to IVDD risk, with an odds ratio above 50 for disc disease in the dogs studied. It is nearly universal in Dachshunds.
In plain words, the same change that shaped the Dachshund for burrow work is also what makes discs age early. That is why the breed's back risk is a built-in trait, not a sign of poor care. It also means the problem cannot be fixed by diet or exercise alone, and a genetic test cannot yet "clear" most Dachshunds. Researchers at several veterinary schools continue to study how the retrogene changes disc cells, and whether breeding choices can reduce its effect.
The Dachshund Breed Council (UK) and the Dachshund Club of America promote health schemes and research, including DNA and imaging studies of young Dachshunds for disc calcification, which is one marker of risk.
Conditions at a glance
| Condition | What it is | How common | What helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back disease (IVDD) | Discs between the vertebrae harden or burst and press on the spinal cord | About 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 in the Dachs-Life 2015 survey (Packer et al. 2016); about 10 to 12 times the risk of other breeds | Lean weight, ramps and steps, supporting the back when lifting, prompt vet care for back pain; breed council screening schemes |
| Obesity | Extra weight loads the spine and joints | Dachshunds gain weight easily (breed clubs and vet groups) | Measured meals, regular walks, a lean body shape |
| Dental disease | Long narrow jaw, crowded teeth | General small-breed risk | Brush teeth, yearly check |
| Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) | Inherited eye disease; the cord1 form is a known Dachshund variant (miniature long-haired in particular) | Uncommon; tied to specific lines | DNA test of breeding dogs |
| Dapple eye and hearing problems | Double dapple pups can be deaf or have eye defects | Only in double dapple pups (Clark et al. 2006) | Never mate dapple to dapple |
| Lafora disease | Inherited epilepsy in miniature wire-haired Dachshunds | Rare | DNA test of breeding dogs (gene identified by Lee et al. 2005) |
| Hip and knee issues | Patella and other joint problems | General small-breed risk | Lean weight, vet checks |
Information here is general. Ask a vet about your own dog.
Ticks and fleasTicks and fleas on dogs: how to check, remove and prevent themTicks and fleas on dogs: how to tell them apart, check your dog, remove a tick safely, break the flea life cycle and prevent both.
GuidesPractical guidesBehaviour, training, health and adoptionRelated breedGreater Swiss Mountain Dog1700 to 1909 · SwitzerlandLiving with a Dachshund
Related breedMiniature Pinscher1600 to 1895 · Germany| Area | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise | Medium | 30 to 60 minutes of walking a day, plus play and scent games |
| Training | Fair | Clever but stubborn; short reward-based sessions work best, and recall can be poor |
| Grooming | Varies | Smooth: easy. Long: regular brushing. Wire: hand stripping a few times a year |
| Shedding | Medium | Smooth and long coats shed moderately; wire sheds little |
| Barking | High | Bred to bark underground; many are loud and alert |
| Time alone | Fair | Attached to their people; some bark or chew when alone |
| Children | Fair | Fine with calm children who support the back; not for rough handling |
| Other dogs | Varies | Not covered in the sources checked |
| Cats and small pets | Poor | Hunting prey drive; small animals can set a Dachshund off |
| Flat living | Good | A flat or small house works if exercise needs are met; stairs need ramps or carrying |
| Heat and cold | Varies | Not covered in the sources checked |
| First-time owner | Fair | Small and adaptable, but stubborn and needs back care |
A great fit if you:
- want a small dog with a big personality
- enjoy short walks and scent games
- are happy to carry or help your dog up and down stairs
- can keep your dog lean and live with barking and some stubbornness
Think twice if you:
- want an easy-to-train, off-lead dog
- have many stairs and cannot offer ramps
- are away all day
- have very young children who handle dogs roughly
- keep small pets, or would be shaken by the cost and stress of back surgery
Before you get one
- Ask the breeder which size standard they follow (FCI chest girth or weight class).
- Ask whether the parents are lean, moderate-backed dogs; longer backs carried more disc risk in the RVC data.
- Ask about the breed council's health schemes and any disc calcification imaging of the parents.
- For miniature long-haired and wire lines, ask for PRA (cord1) and Lafora DNA test results.
- Never buy dapple to dapple litters.
- Breed rescues exist for adult Dachshunds. Expect barking, digging and a need for ramps from day one.
Similar breeds to consider
- Basset Hound: short-legged scent hound sharing the short-leg gene change, larger and calmer.
- Beagle: scent hound in the same DNA family, longer-legged and sturdier.
- Alpine Dachsbracke: Austrian short-legged scent hound, a Dachshund descendant.
GuidesPractical guidesBehaviour, training, health and adoptionThinking of adopting?How to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescueHow to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue: the process, costs in general terms, choosing a dog, the first weeks and what if it does not work out.Related breedMiniature Pinscher1600 to 1895 · GermanyFun facts
Related breedMountain Cur1700 to 1957 · United States- The word Dachshund in English dates from the late 1800s, but Germans call the breed Teckel or Dackel.
- Wire-coated Dachshunds are mentioned as early as 1797.
- Waldi, a Dachshund, was the mascot of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
- The breed's short legs and its back disease share the same family of gene changes (FGF4 retrogenes).
Frequently asked questions
How long do Dachshunds live?
Project data gives 12 to 16 years. Keeping a Dachshund lean and protecting its back helps it live well.
What is the temperament of a Dachshund?
Bold, curious, loyal and stubborn, with a loud bark. Many bond closely with one or two people.
How big do Dachshunds get?
Standard up to about 9 kg, miniature up to about 4 kg and rabbit about 3.5 kg or less under the FCI. Other clubs use different limits.
What are the types of Dachshund?
Three coats (smooth, long, wire) and three FCI sizes (standard, miniature, rabbit). A miniature wire-haired and a standard smooth are the same breed.
Do Dachshunds have back problems?
Many do. Packer and colleagues estimated about 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 show IVDD signs in their lifetime, with a relative risk 10 to 12 times that of other breeds.
Why do Dachshunds have short legs?
Because of FGF4 retrogenes, extra copies of a growth gene (Parker et al. 2009; Brown et al. 2017).
Do Dachshunds shed?
Smooth and long coats shed moderately. Wire coats shed little but need hand stripping.
Read next
Sources (16)
- American Kennel Club, Dachshund breed page and breed history.
- Brown E.A. et al., "FGF4 retrogene on CFA12 is responsible for chondrodystrophy and intervertebral disc disease in dogs", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2017.
- Clark L.A. et al., "Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2006.
- Fédération Cynologique Internationale, Dachshund, standard no. 148.
- Fogle B., The New Encyclopedia of the Dog, 2009 (project source fogle2009).
- Lee P. et al., on the canine Lafora disease gene in miniature wire-haired Dachshunds, 2005.
- Online Etymology Dictionary, "dachshund".
- Packer R.M.A. et al., "Dachs-Life 2015: an investigation of IVDD in Dachshunds", Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, 2016.
- Packer R.M.A. et al., Royal Veterinary College studies of body conformation and risk of intervertebral disc extrusion in Dachshunds.
- Parker H.G. et al., "An expressed fgf4 retrogene is associated with breed-defining chondrodysplasia in domestic dogs", Science, 2009.
- Parker H.G. et al., "Genomic analyses reveal the influence of geographic origin, migration, and hybridization on modern dog breed development", Cell Reports, 2017.
- The Kennel Club (UK), Dachshund breed information pages.
- Dachshund Breed Council (UK), research and health information on IVDD.
- Hancock D., Dachshund and Teckel archive articles, David Hancock on Dogs.
- Wikipedia, "Dachshund" (used for summaries, checked against the other sources listed).
- Project knowledge base, breed record and Parker 2017 clade assignment (this site).