Long-haired dachshund

Breed history:

It is of old German origin and was formed at the middle of the 16th century through the crossbreeding between the short-haired Dachshund and long-haired German pointers. It is considered the most beautiful variety of Dachshund in Germany. Its fur is similar to that the of the Irish Setter.

Description:

The only difference between the Long-haired Dachshund and the short-haired Dachshund is the fur. This variety has soft, long, slightly wavy hair, longer on the neck, abdomen and ears and especially on the upper part of the legs and on the tail where it forms visible fringes. The fur is chestnut-coloured, reddish-brown, or black and brown.

Personality:

The long hair variety is more gentle than the short hair variety. This dog is intelligent, lively, skillful, obedient, very brave, with a strong sense of smell, it is active, perseverant, curious and sometimes dominant. This dog is so attached to its family that the family is the most important thing in its life. It is quite reserved with strangers. It must be socialized with children and with other dogs or other household animals from an early age, otherwise, when it grows up, its hunting instincts will turn playtime with another animal (especially the cat) into a hunt. Some specimens may have an overly brave, careless attitude towards larger dogs.

Grooming:

This dog's fur should be brushed and combed when needed, in order not to get tangled. One should cut the excess hair between the footpads and should keep the claws short. Most of these dogs have a tendency towards eating more than they need, becoming obese. The ideal weight for them is 6,5-7 kg but they could weigh up to 14 kg. An obese dog is a sick dog. Because of the very long spine they can have problems with their intervertebral discs. They should not be allowed to climb stairs, to jump on a chair or to become obese. It is recommended to use a mini harness instead of a dog collar to protect the spine.

Living conditions:

It is a dog that easily adapts to the offered living conditions - indoors or outdoors. The miniature variety is ideal for an apartment, on condition it has daily exercise. It needs socialization and training.

Training:

The long hair variety is slightly easier to train than the short hair variety, due to its more gentle character. The training is recommended to be made by a person with experience. Because it is an independent dog, the training must be done with patience, to be well-balanced and consistent. The dog needs movement and long walks to stay in shape.

Usefulness:

It is an excellent small den animal hunter and even of larger animals (foxes, boars). It is perseverant in chasing its prey being able to resist 48 hours looking for it. It is a good watchdog and a devoted companion. It is also used by the police to track.