The Dachshund was bred several hundreds years ago as a hunting dog, their long low shape enabled them to follow creatures into underground burrows. It is suspected that they share a common ancestry with the Basset Hound. Dachshund history traces all the way back to the Ancient Egyptians, with mummified dogs found buried with their owners. However, they are more recently historically linked to England and the 1700's with Queen Victoria.The Dachshund's unique appearance has made them popular as pets. They are easy to train and you should understand that it is in their nature to bark and dig. They are usually no taller than 14 inches, and come in three varieties (the Toy Dachshund, Miniature Dachshund and Standard Dachshund). Unique among this dog is that they have over 40 teeth in their mouth making their mouths like small razor farms. They come in both short and long haired breed versions, both exhibiting traditional dachshund stature being low to the ground and elongated bodies. They are prone to spinal and disc problems, and care should be taken to ensure the dog does not jump from couches or places that are high off the ground relative to their height. Several cases of paralysis of dachshunds are reported each year from jumping less than 2 feet off the ground.
This is a cheerful yet independent breed, and they have a tendency to bond strongly to one person. Dachshunds are extremely intelligent and will take well to training as long as their independent nature it taken into consideration. They are great and fun puppies with a lot of energy, but care should be taken when raising dachshund puppies around children. Also, special care should be taken that they are not allowed to become overweight as it will put undue stress on their spine. It's always sweet to feed your puppy, but if you feed them too much you are setting them up for a world of health issues. If you are careful with what you feed them and where you place them in your home, your Dachshund dog can live up to 16 years.