Monday, September 30, 2013

A Beginners Guide To Red Dachshunds

By Marla Mills


One breed of dog that is recognized by many people are the distinctive sausage shaped red dachshunds. Some people have called them a dog and a half because of their shape which makes them longer than most breeds. Combine that with a loyal and friendly attitude toward their owner and it can be seen why this is a popular pet.

The term dachshund is German for badger dog which was what they were originally raised to hunt. The first noted appearance of this type of dog was in the 18th century after generations of selective breeding. From that point the breed was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s until it has become a part of many households.

The dog itself has two notable sizes of miniature and standard with other terms such as toy used by some groups and organizations. The miniature is around 5 to 7 inches in height and weighs about 12 pounds. The standard version is 8 to 11 inches in height with a weight that varies from 16 to 32 pounds.

The other aspect that sets the various breed apart is the different types of coats that they wear. They can be short haired, long haired or wire haired depending on their background. Many are more familiar with the short haired version that has the very close cropped fur. Some may be aware of the long hair variety which has a fine and long coat. And in Europe the wire haired variety which has a coat similar to a terrier is popular.

This breed is protective of its owner or the family and generally has a friendly disposition to anyone as long as it is not teased. They do have a stubborn streak and have to be lead by the owner or they could develop some problem behaviors. It is important to spend time with the animal and set up your control and rules to have a peaceful time in the future.

Note that this breed may not get along well with other animals so see how well they get along with your other pets. In addition since they do not like to be teased it may not be the best pet if you have really young children. They also have a habit of digging which depending on where you live could be a concern. All of these concerns though can be taken care of if you spend time with the animal and provide the proper training.

One point to stress though with this animal is daily play and exercise to keep up its health. These dogs were raised to be active hunters so a slow paced inactive lifestyle can be harmful in the long run. Daily activity and play can keep the weight off the animal and prevent various health problems that inactive animals can develop. Be careful of any activity that repeatedly stresses its back though since that is a weak spot with many of these dogs.

Red dachshunds with their distinctive appearance and attributes have found a home in many a household. They are loving pets that with the right care can live up to fifteen years and provide hours of companionship. As long as you can provide loving, but firm guidance they are excellent pets.




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