While the Dachshund cannot claim the ancient lineage of other breeds, there is agreement among enthusiasts that the Dachshund is one of a kind.
With it’s unique outline, two sizes and broad array of coat color and patterns, the Dachshund is also one of a very few multi-purpose hunting breeds that can do it all - go to ground, track, flush game and retrieve.
But where did the Dachshund come from?
The word ‘Dachshund’ was initially a general term to describe any number of dogs that were used to hunt vermin above and below ground in Germany and elsewhere across Europe. Etchings from the late 1500s depict images of dogs referred to as ‘badger dogs’, but in no way do these resemble the Dachshunds of today.