Friday, September 27, 2013

Red Dachshunds Are A Real Hot Dog

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.

Although they are now often happy house dogs the breed was originally raised to be a hunting dog. Selective breeding in 18th century Germany of terriers and other types of dogs created a breed that could hunt burrowing animals such a rabbits or badgers. From that point on the breed became popular and was brought over to the United States around 1900.

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 major way to classify the breed is with the size of the animal which is divided into Standard and miniature. The standard is between sixteen and thirty two pound and stands eight to eleven inches tall. While the miniature is around twelve pounds and five to seven inches at the shoulder. Other groups may use other sizes with different terms such as toy, rabbit or tweenie in regards to the size of the animal.

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.

These animals may also have problems with unfamiliar individuals or animals because of their hunting nature. They often have burrowing or chasing instincts in full gear which requires that they be watched in open spaces or on a leash so they do not go after the first squirrel that crosses their path. Because of their strong bonding they may also be a bit aloof or aggressive toward strangers when first meeting them.

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 are the pet of choice for many households and families. Learn a bit about the animal before you bring one back to your home. Then provide the proper guidance and boundaries and you will have a faithful friend for many years.




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