The dachshund or dachshund, also known as the "sausage dog", is a very peculiar breed of dog due to its elongated body and short legs. Although there are several hypotheses about its origin, the most accepted today is the one that proposes a German origin. This breed, which appeared more than 300 years ago, was used to hunt rabbits, badgers and other animals that hid in burrows, since they are very intelligent, ingenious dogs with a good sense of smell. In addition, the fact of having such short limbs and, therefore, a short stature, offers the advantage of better tracking, since the snout is very close to the ground.
Although dachshunds have a similar morphology, they can be differentiated from one another based on their size, type of hair and colouring. Thus, there are several types of dachshunds If you want to know what they are, don't hesitate to read this article on our site.
Types of dachshunds according to their size
These dogs are usually small in size, since they rarely exceed 10 kilograms and the 40 centimeters long. However, there are some differences between some dachshunds depending on their weight and body length.
Dachshund kaninchen
It is the smallest specimen of all, as it does not exceed 20 centimeters in body length nor4 kilograms of weight. It is also known as "dachshund for hunting rabbits", since in the past they were used for this activity, taking advantage of their agility and dynamism.
Miniature or Dwarf Dachshund
This is somewhat larger than the kaninchen dachshund, however, it is still very small, since they do not measure more than 30 centimeters. In addition, they usually weigh between 5 and 7 kilograms Formerly they were used to hunt animals injured in the wild, such as some foxes.
Standard dachshund
It is the largest known type of dachshund , since there have been cases in which it has exceeded 9 kilograms of weight , and can weigh up to 14 kilograms or more. The length of their body reaches 40-50 centimeters and, in previous years, they were used to hunt larger animals, such as wild boar.
And if you are thinking of adopting a dog for your home, we encourage you to read this other article about small dogs that are ideal for children.
Types of dachshunds according to their hair
Depending on the length of the coat and its hardness, the dachshund can also be classified into three main groups: the wire-haired dachshund, the short-haired dachshund or the long-haired dachshund.
Wire-haired dachshund
This variety arose from the fact of hunting among bushes and plants with thorns, so this type of fur developed protective modeThey have two coats mixed with each other, the outer one being rougher and denser, which gives the coat a hard look.
Long-haired Dachshund
It also has two layers of hair, the outermost being soft, shiny and long. However, in some parts of the body, this fur is longer. This is the case of the neck area, the lower part of the tail, the ears and the posterior region of the limbs.
Short-haired Dachshund
It is characterized by its coat close to the body, very soft, smooth and, at the same time, very strong. Some hypotheses support that these specimens were the first to appear, since most dachshunds had these characteristics in ancient times, the remaining two groups being very unusual.
Types of dachshunds according to their coloration
There can be a great variety of shades in the dachshund's coat, since on many occasions there are color combinations reddish, yellowish, brown or blackHowever, these are some of the most well-known types that occur in dachshunds:
Unicolor dachshund
It is the simplest specimen, since its coat can vary from a yellowish tone to a dark red tone, with some more hairs dark.
Bicolor dachshund
It is characterized by a dark background with brown-black tones on which there are some spots that can vary from yellowish to fiery red tones.
Harlequin or Brindle Dachshund
The background is usually some dark color, such as reddish brown or black. On this you can distinguish lighter spots with white, gray or beige tones usually. Even so, there are many varieties and combinations, sometimes giving darker spots.
Dry Leaf Dachshund
Its name comes from the fact that the color of its fur is reminiscent of a dry leaf, since it presents brown and black tones with gradients throughout the body.
Wild Boar Dachshund
This specimen, which is usually wire-haired at the same time, may present a coloration grayish or black, although sometimes they can be a little lighter. In this way, many dachshunds with a more whitish, reddish or light brown hue are known.
Now that you know what types of dachshunds exist, you may also be interested in other articles on this breed of dog, such as: Most common diseases of dachshunds and Names of male and female dachshunds.