Published Jan 16th, 2007
By Renée
Tags:
Small Dog Breeds,
The Versus Theory
Product Reviews
Dachshunds are divided into two size groups—standard and miniature. And within each group, they are then divided into three coat varieties—smooth-haired, long-haired, and wire-haired.
The original Dachshunds were standard size with smooth coat. Towards the end of 19th century smaller Dachshunds were developed which are now called Miniature Dachshunds. Prior to the popularity of miniature Dachshund, around 16th century, it’s believed that smooth-haired Dachshunds were crossed with Spaniels and Irish Setters to produce long-haired Dachshunds. As for the wire-haired Dachshunds, they were created around late 19th century by crossing smooth coat Dachshunds with German wired-haired Pinschers and Dandi Dinmont Terrier.
Smooth-haired Dachshund vs. Long-haired Dachshund vs. Wire-haired Dachshund
| Breed |
Dachshund Smooth-Haired |
Dachshund Long-Haired |
Dachshund Wire-Haired |
| Country of Origin |
Germany |
Germany |
Germany |
| AKC / KC Groups |
Hound / Hound |
Hound / Hound |
Hound / Hound |
| Original Function |
tracker of badgers, rabbits, wild boar, and foxes |
tracker of badgers, rabbits, wild boar, and foxes |
tracker of badgers, rabbits, wild boar, and foxes |
Physical Appearance
| Coat Color |
reddish brown, black and tan, chocolate brown |
reddish brown, black and tan, chestnut |
wild boar and tan, gray and tan, fawn and tan, occasional red or chocolate can be seen |
| Coat Type |
smooth |
long |
wire |
| Head |
long and tapering with strong jaw, perceptible stop, and fine slightly arche muzzle |
long and tapering with strong jaw, perceptible stop, and fine slightly arche muzzle |
long and tapering with strong jaw, perceptible stop, and fine slightly arche muzzle |
| Eyes |
oval, obliquely set |
oval, obliquely set |
oval, obliquely set |
| Ears |
set high and back, broad and rounded |
set high and back, broad and rounded |
set high and back, broad and rounded |
| Body |
long back, slight dip at the shoulders and rise over the loin |
long back, slight dip at the shoulders and rise over the loin |
long back, slight dip at the shoulders and rise over the loin |
| Tail |
set high as continuation of the topline |
set high as continuation of the topline |
set high as continuation of the topline |
| Height (miniature) |
5 – 6 inches |
5 – 6 inches |
5 – 6 inches |
| Height (standard) |
8 – 9 inches |
8 – 9 inches |
8 – 9 inches |
| Weight (miniature) |
under 11 lbs |
under 11 lbs |
under 11 lbs |
| Weight (standard) |
16 – 32 lbs |
16 – 32 lbs |
16 – 32 lbs |
Temperament, Needs, and Learning
| Overall Temperament |
bold, lively, curious |
lively, playful, vigilant, but slightly more calm, reserved and less terrier-like |
brave, dominant, has a mind of its own, more terrier-like, but affectionate, engergetic sporty temperament |
| Exercise |
plenty of exercise to keep fit, occasional free roam is good for its hunting instincts |
a long walk a good enough |
plenty of exercise to keep fit, occasional free roam is good for its hunting instincts |
| Grooming |
very minimum care |
minimum care, weekly brushing to prevent matting and occasional clipping of excess hair growth between the pads of the feet |
needs to have its coat plucked at least twice a year, hair on the top of the head should be kept short, and trim excess hair between the pads of the feet |
| Ideal Home Environment |
apartment or small home |
apartment or small home |
apartment or small home |
| Ideal Owner |
patient, firm |
patient, firm |
patient, firm |
| Intelligence / Ranking |
moderate / no.49 |
moderate / no.49 |
moderate / no.49 |
| Trainability |
low, very determined to have their way |
low, but slightly easier to train compare to the other two |
low, very determined to have their way |
Behavior
| Excitability |
moderately high |
moderate |
moderately high |
| Playfulness |
high |
high |
high |
| Demand for Affection |
moderate |
moderate |
moderate |
| Watchdog Barking |
very high |
very high |
very high |
| Protection |
low |
low but higher than smooth-haired |
slightly more protection among the three |
| Dominance Over Owner |
moderately low |
moderately low |
moderately low |
| Good With Dogs |
moderate |
moderate |
moderate |
| Good With Pets |
moderately low |
moderately low |
moderately low |
| Good With Children |
moderate, may snap at strange children |
moderate, may snap at strange children |
moderate, may snap at strange children |
| Good With Strangers |
low acceptance |
low acceptance |
low acceptance |
Health
| Life Span |
12 – 14 years |
12 – 14 years |
12 – 14 years |
| Major Aliments |
intervertebral disk disease |
intervertebral disk disease |
intervertebral disk disease |
| Minor Aliments |
kerato- conjunctivitis sicca |
kerato- conjunctivitis sicca |
kerato- conjunctivitis sicca |
| Special note |
prone to obesity, those with double dapple tend to have visual and hearing problems |
prone to obesity, those with double dapple tend to have visual and hearing problems |
prone to obesity, those with double dapple tend to have visual and hearing problems |
| Recommended Food |
beef, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, greens |
beef, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, greens |
beef, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, greens |
Download a free copy of Dachshunds: Smooth-haired vs. Long-haired vs. Wire-haired Chart.
Source on Intelligence Ranking:
The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions, and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions
Page 192 to 193
Mar 30th 2010
2:15 AM
I rescued a wire-haired dachshund/terrier mix 4 years ago when he was approximately 1 to 1 1/2 years old. He had been terribly abused by men and so was afraid of all men. He no longer is afraid of men but still doesn’t like my husband of 50 years. That could be because my husband doesn’t like dogs in the house. Why have a dog if it can’t be cuddled?
My questions for those who may be able to help me are:(Thanks in advance for the help!)
How do I get him to be more accepting of brushing? He no longer runs away but looks as if I’m torturing him.
What is coat plucking?
My granddogs and great great dog are buddies that play and have so much fun with my Rascal BUT they piddle and poop in the house sometimes and now Rascal does if I leave for a moderate length of time…2-3 hours. HELP! How do I teach him to stop that? I have little control over the over dogs when they come, and even though I let them out hourly they still like to mark their territory.