Canis lupus familiaris
Dachshund
Featured photodachshund.jpgThe Dachshund is a German short-legged badger-dog (Dachs + Hund) developed for underground sett work. The Dachshund (German Dachs 'badger' + Hund 'dog') was developed in 15th- and 16th-century Germany to enter the underground setts of European badgers.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Hound
- Origin country
- Germany
- Origin period
- 15th-16th century (modern type 19th century)
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Red, Black and Tan, Chocolate and Tan, Cream, Dapple, Brindle
- Average lifespan
- 12-16 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1885 · FCI 1955 · UKC 1948 · Group 4 — Dachshunds (single-breed group)
Origin
The breed name is German for 'badger dog' (Dachs = badger, Hund = dog). German foresters used short-legged hounds to enter the underground setts of European badgers from at least the 15th century, with the earliest unambiguous illustrations of the modern body shape appearing in the 16th century. The modern Dachshund type was fixed in the 19th century by selecting the most extreme short-legged, long-bodied dogs from the local Bracken hound landrace; the Deutscher Teckelklub was founded in 1888 and maintains continuous custodianship of the breed.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1885, the United Kennel Club followed in 1948, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 148) in 1955. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 4 — Dachshunds (single-breed group).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards recognize three coat varieties (smooth, longhaired, wirehaired) and two size classes (Standard and Miniature; the FCI adds a Rabbit-size Kaninchenteckel measured by chest girth rather than weight). The body is long and low-slung, with short, well-muscled legs, a long muzzle, and large semi-pendant ears. Recognized colours include red (every shade), black-and-tan, chocolate-and-tan, cream, dapple, and brindle.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-04
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-04
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the Dachshund's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Dachshund in the Hound Group. The Hound Group gathers breeds developed for the hunt, broadly split into scent hounds (Bloodhound, Beagle, Coonhounds) and sight hounds (Greyhound, Whippet, Borzoi). The breed's foundation working role was as a German short-legged badger-dog (Dachs + Hund) developed for underground sett work.
When was the Dachshund officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1885; the United Kennel Club followed in 1948; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 148) in 1955.
What is the average lifespan of a Dachshund?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Dachshund's average lifespan in the 12-16 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
