The Dachshund , livre ebook

This book is dedicated to Dachshund fanciers past, present, and future. It is they who have developed the Dachshund as we know it today, they who now strive daily to mold our present Dachshunds and they in the future who will hold the destiny of the Dachshund in their hands. May they do so with love, devotion, and dedication to this wonderful breed.
Howell Book House
Hungry Minds, Inc.
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New york, NY 10022
Copyright 2000 Ann Gordon
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.
ISBN 1-58245-158-3
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Cover and book design by George J. McKeon

Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. A P ROFILE OF THE D ACHSHUND -I S IT THE R IGHT B REED FOR Y OU ?
A Dog of Many Designs Great (and Not-So-Great) Dachshund Traits
2. A B RIEF H ISTORY OF THE D ACHSHUND
European Hunting Hound The Dachshund in the United States The Beginnings of the Longhair From Whence the Wirehair? The Rise of the Miniature The Meaning of a Breed s History
3. T HE O FFICIAL B REED S TANDARD WITH I NTERPRETATION
Official Standard of the Dachshund
4. F INDING THE R IGHT D ACHSHUND -P UPPY , A DULT , OR R ESCUE
Your Responsibilities as a Dog Owner Doing Your Dachshund Homework Finding a Good Dachshund Breeder The Search for the Perfect Puppy Puppy Paperwork Bringing an Adult Dachshund into Your Home Dachshund Rescue Your New Life with Your Dachshund
5. T HE C ARE AND T RAINING OF Y OUR D ACHSHUND
Your New Dachshund Shopping Spree A Pup s Own Place in the House The Early Days with Your Dachshund Housetraining Your Dachshund Socializing Your Puppy Training Your Dachshund Feeding Your Dachshund Outside Time and Exercise Is Important for Dogs Traveling with Your Dachshund
6. G ROOMING Y OUR D ACHSHUND
Brushing Bathing Coat Care Nail Trimming
7. K EEPING Y OUR D ACHSHUND H EALTHY AND H APPY
Choosing a Veterinarian The First Visit to the Veterinarian Immunizations Infectious Diseases Internal Parasites External Parasites Allergies Keeping Ears Healthy Basic Eye Care Dental Care for Your Dachshund Health Concerns for Dachshund Owners Your Dachshund s Routine Health Exam Identifying an Emergency Spaying or Neutering Your Dachshund Putting Your Dog s Health in Perspective
8. S HOWING Y OUR D ACHSHUND
The Different Types of Shows The Purpose of a Dog Show The Structure of the Competition Becoming a Part of the Dog Show Scene In the Show Ring with Your Dachshund Junior Showmanship A Show Dog Career
9. O BEDIENCE T RIALS , P ERFORMANCE A CTIVITIES , AND O THER F UN T HINGS
Obedience Trials Tracking Field Trials Earthdog Tests Agility Trials Canine Good Citizen Program Dachshunds as Therapy Dogs The Dual Ring Dog
10. HEADLINERS
Headliners in Conformation-Longhaired Dachshunds Headliners in Conformation-Smooth Dachshunds Headliners in Conformation-Wirehaired Dachshunds Headliners in Field Trials Headliners in Obedience
11. T O B REED OR N OT TO B REED -W HAT Y OU S HOULD K NOW A BOUT B REEDING
An Overpopulation of Dogs Common Reasons Given for Breeding Becoming a Serious Breeder How Dachshunds Are Bred Pregnancy and Puppies Responsibilities of a Stud Dog Owner Breeding and Artificial Insemination The Positive Side of Being a Breeder
12. S PECIAL C ARE FOR THE O LDER D OG
The Long-Lived Dachshund Understanding Your Dog s Age Signs of Aging Keeping Your Older Dachshund Active Behavioral Changes in Older Dogs Regular Veterinary Appointments Your Relationship with Your Aging Friend When It s Time to Say Good-bye
13. T HE D ACHSHUND C LUB OF A MERICA
The Purpose of the DCA Membership Regionalization Program DCA Supports Medical Research Dachshund Rescue Breeder Referral Dachshund Racing DCA Newsletter DCA Education Brochure Program The DCA Web Site Dachshund Club of America Special Trophies and Awards Dachshund Club of America National Specialty The DCA Centennial Celebration
Epilogue
A PPENDIX A Resources
A PPENDIX B Dachshund Club of America s Code of Ethics
A PPENDIX C Titles a Dachshund Can Earn
A PPENDIX D National Specialty Winners
Bibliography
Index
Foreword
What fun to be asked to write the foreword for this book. Ann Gordon and I have been friends (and show competitors) since a time I dare not reveal-but combined it s about half a century! In our discussions about this book, we were like old neighbors chatting over the back fence.
Needless to say, we love Dachshunds! And between raising our children and feeding, whelping, and mopping up after puppies, we ve accumulated a few ideas as to both. But this book is on Dachshunds-and believe me that when every puppy left for its new home, it was like relinquishing a child.
We showed our dogs extensively as well, and that s an art in itself. Dachshunds are not necessarily enthusiastic beauties in the show ring unless they decide it s a game they enjoy.
My first Dachshund, Leisel Pumpernickle (natch), came from Yorkville, a neighborhood in New York City. Her legs were askew and she was in no man s land as to her size. I d never known a Dachshund when I got Leisel, and neither had my husband. In fact, he says he still wonders why Leisel came into our lives-it was chance, I guess.
Leisel had a great heart, a sense of loyalty, and a very puckish sense of humor. She missed being a field champ by one point and was a wonderful obedience dog, but she never got beyond her kindergarten stage of a C.D. Her interpretation of the highest level of training was that of a comedienne: Mangle all the exercises to get a laugh.
She had another side that came out in a very public way. Once we were on a TV set, ready to show her obedience skills on one of those early morning farm shows so popular in Pennsylvania. The show s signature was a bunch of clucking leghorns bobbing and cackling across the stage. In a flash, Leisel bolted into their midst. The set became an explosion of hens, feathers, squawks, and human shrieks. The TV viewers must have seen what looked like a pillow fight-and that must have woken them up at 4:30 am!
Leisel also once resolutely tried to swim the Charles River from Boston to Cambridge. Being smart (Dachshunds are), she finally turned around before I had to get municipal services to rescue her.
Most people don t know that Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers, hence the name Badger Hound. In fact, for its size, the Dachshund is the world s toughest fighting machine. The Dachshund standard states that these dogs are courageous to the point of rashness. They do have a Terrier instinct, although they look comical, and innocent enough. Do not be misled!
Dachshunds are incredibly smart but have many convoluted ideas on how to display their intelligence. They learn quickly but then put their genius to work circumventing what they ve learned. Not all of this is sweetness and light, however, and Dachshunds often have their owners jumping through hoops. It is always necessary to try to prevail and keep the upper hand. When I owned quite a number of dogs, I d say at the end of many a day, Whew, made it.
Of course, Dachshunds are very affectionate, and loyal as well. They are selective to whom they give their hearts, and they tend to be a bit less gregarious than some other breeds. They are suspicious of strangers and are great watchdogs. Despite their avid hunting instincts, they need their creature comforts. There is never enough warmth from your body heat or comforters and never enough food.
Finally, as an artist, I appreciate them when they play. They are undulating seals and have never ceased to amaze, entertain, and bolster me through rough periods. Their eyes tell it all: the most intensive, inquiring, and nonjudgmental look of love.
P EGGY W ESTPHAL
Acknowledgments
This book is the culmination of many months of tireless labor and could not have been written without the help and contributions of many, many people. A letter was sent and phone calls were made to more than 100 members of the Dachshund Club of America (DCA) and others to explain the project and request photographs that could be used in the book. Many people also were asked to provide information in their areas of expertise or on the numerous kinds of activities in which Dachshund fanciers participate. The response from everyone was most gratifying. The fact that there were so many people so willing to help only confirmed what I have always known: Dachshund people are some of the finest people that one could ever hope to meet.
I wish that I could name every person who made a contribution to this project, but of course, that is not possible. I ll start with Peggy Westphal, who graciously agreed to write the foreword and to provide one of her original Dachshund drawings. I d also like to thank Dan Burke, DVM, who provided a great deal of information for the chapter on health issues, especially on some of the most up-to-date practices in veterinary medicine. I must mention that I had the pleasure of meeting Danny, as I call him, years ago, when he was in his early teens showing his Longhaired Dachshund. I have watched him mature into a fine young man and become a veterinarian who has a successful practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He still breeds and shows Longhaired Dachshunds.
Information on field trials and training for field trials was provided by Carrie Hamilton and David and Trudy Kawami. Much information from an article written by Gordon Heldebrant on Earthdog tests was used in the discussion of this event.
Linda Sullivan was an inva