The Dachshund breed, in which the wire-haired variety of Dachshund is found, is popularly known as 'sausage dog'. Another of its official names is Dachshund, as it comes from Germany. Although it is a dog that has been dedicated to hunting, the truth is that today it is one of the companion dogs of the people.
We are going to know all the Wire-haired Dachshund details, which is one of the varieties of this breed. It shares characteristics with the rest of the breed but is distinguished by its coat. This dog is a great animal to live with in families, since it is cheerful, lively and intelligent.
History of the Dachshund
El Dachshund is a breed that originated in Germany, where the first proper club of the breed appeared in 1888. Previously, the breed had already been seen in England, although its registration and standard had not been formalized. The breed was highly prized by European monarchies for its peculiar physical characteristics and character.
Currently this dog is really popular, not only in Europe, but also in the United States. They are hardly used in hunting and are highly appreciated for beauty pageants. In addition, they are one of the best companion dogs that you can have.
Physical characteristics of the dog
The Dachshund has some physical characteristics that are really peculiar. Stands out for have a very long body but not very tall, this length being disproportionate compared to its short legs. This is a genetic mutation that some dogs have and called bassetism, in which the limbs do not develop and the body develops normally.
The head of the dog is elongated, with a long snout. Their ears are large and long, a bit erect and round-edged. Their chests are wide for how small the dog is and they have a long, thin tail. It must be said that there may be two sizes in the breed, the standard, which weighs between 9 and 11 kilos, and the miniature, which weighs between 4 and 6 kilos.
The Wirehaired Dachshund is another variant of the breed, since it can be divided by size, but also by the coat it has. Without a doubt the best known is the short-haired Dachshund, which is the most popular. But there is also a Dachshund with long straight hair and the Dachshund with wire hair, which is the one we are talking about today. They all belong to the same race and share genetics and many of their characteristics, but they can be distinguished by all these variants. These coat varieties We can also see them in other breeds, such as the Portuguese Podenco.
The Wire-haired Dachshund has a mix of undercoat and outer coat of fur. The outer layer stands out for having wire-like hair, which is hard hair. In the area of the ears or eyebrows it only has hard fur. In addition, it stands out for having a beard on its muzzle that we will normally have to trim and take care of, as it stains when eating and drinking daily. Dachshunds that have long or hard hair are the ones that give a little more work in terms of their coat.
Dog character
One of the things that stand out the most in the Wirehaired Dachshund, as well as in the other variants of the breed, is the great character they have. They are very sociable, cheerful and energetic dogs, which can spend a lot of time playing. They are also brave and curious dogs, something that can lead to trouble if they don't measure their bravery.
This dog is perfect to live with older people, with whom they will enjoy, or also with children, with whom they will play daily. It is the ideal dog to have in a flat and also to have in a house. The wire-haired variety has a thicker coat than the short-haired variety, so it holds up better outside, but none of them should sleep outside the home anyway.
One of the downsides of the Dachshund may be that it is a dog that turns out to be quite stubborn. That is, they are intelligent and understand the orders, but if we have not trained them correctly they will have their own criteria when it comes to following them. That is why it is important to start with positive training from when they are very young, using the clicker for this. In this way they will learn to obey in a positive way and will put aside that tendency to be stubborn that characterizes the breed.
Wire-haired Dachshund care
This dog, with its long coat and hard hair, needs some care. Must brush it more often than if I had short hair. Also, we may need to trim your beards, because they will stain easily and give you an untidy look. It is necessary to use special brushes for hard hair.
As soon as When exercising, it should be moderate. They need to play and walk but they are not high-level athletes, since their short legs do not allow them to do sports such as jogging with them. That is why they are ideal for all types of people. Because of its size, even children can walk their Dachshund. It is important that they expend their energy, because this animal is defined as quite barking. If we leave him at home and he feels bored or anxious, he can spend a lot of time barking.
Dachshund health
In this breed it is necessary to highlight the problems that can get to suffer in the spine because of how long it is. This disproportion means that you can easily injure or damage your vertebral discs. These damages can occur when carrying blows, so it is essential to be careful with the dog when playing with him or taking him to play sports.
Other diseases that these dogs can suffer due to their genetics is epilepsy or Hypothyroidism. Either way, periodic check-ups at the vet will be essential.
Why have a Dachshund
The Wire-haired Dachshund and its other variants are a prized and very popular dog. Have a small size, making it easy to live with at home. In addition, it is a playful dog with great patience for children and the elderly. It is ideal to enjoy an animal that will keep us company on a daily basis, making us happy every moment. It does not need great care or sports sessions, so it is a valid breed for anyone. Did you like the wire-haired Dachshund?