Are Dachshund Puppies Proper For your Family

Unknown to many, Dachshund puppies were originally trained as hunters. That's how they got their name. Their name is German and it means badger dog. They came about their name because they were used to hunt badgers. They are one of the only breeds that hunt underground (in holes) and above ground. While the ones we see today are long and skinny, the original breed was larger. They were sometimes up to 40 or 60 pounds larger than the modern ones.What is little known about Dachshund puppies is that they were trained to not only find what they hunted but to kill it as well. This is why when you give an animal something to chew on they will attempt to shake it to death. This is especially true of squeaky toys. They will continue tearing and shaking the toy until it no longer squeaks.
      As small as they are, most people do not think of these dogs as killers.According to the AKC, American Kennel Club, these are the official breed of specialized hunters. Their bodies are designed to hunt above ground and down in the tunnels where badgers and other animals such as rabbits may hide. They are extremely well built for their job. As in the bark. For an animal so small they have a rather loud and deep bark. This is great for the hunters that are following them. The loud bark can be heard from underground. Interestingly enough the Dachshund puppies and their straight tails allow the hunters the ability to grab on and pull them out of any hole they lodge themselves into.So when did their size change When Dachshund puppies began being bred to become pets instead of hunting dogs.
     This started sometime in the 1800's. They were bred in Europe as well as the United States. During the 19th and 20th century, the United States citizens developed a bit of a fascination for this breed. They were popular as children's toys and as ceramic figurines. This fascination took a nose dive when the German's used the image in their war time propaganda. They are currently on the top ten most loved breeds list put out by the AKC. The "wiener dog" or "hot dog" version with red fur that most people think of today is not a true breed. In truth, the original has been quite lost and there are multiple breeds out there.