Dachshund: German Short-Legged Hound

The Dachshund is a German dog breed in the hound group. It is known for a short-legged, long-bodied shape and may have a smooth, wire, or long coat. The recorded height is 5. The breed is also called Dackel or Teckel.

What the Dachshund is

The Dachshund is a dog from Germany and belongs to the hound type. Its defining outline is short legs with a long body.

You may also see this breed called the Dackel or Teckel.

Getting to know the breed

Start with its German origin and hound classification. The breed can have smooth, wire-haired, or long-haired coat types, with several colors.

For a wider look at its place of origin, see dog breeds from Germany.

Notable features

The Dachshund has a clear, distinctive body shape: short legs and a long body.

Its three coat forms—smooth, wire-haired, and long-haired—give prospective owners more than one coat style to consider.

Points to weigh

The Dachshund’s short-legged, long-bodied build is a defining trait, so it may not suit someone looking for a different body type.

It is a German hound breed. Readers seeking a breed from another country or group should compare other options.

Size recorded

The listed height for the Dachshund is 5. No weight or lifespan figure is provided here.

Who may want another breed

Look elsewhere if you do not want a short-legged, long-bodied dog or prefer a breed outside the hound type. Browse dog breeds to compare other kinds.

Our view

Choose the Dachshund if its German hound heritage, compact legs, long body, and available coat types fit what you are seeking.

Pass it by when those physical traits or its country of origin do not match your plans.

What stands out

German origin gives the breed a clear place in the country’s dog history.
Hound type identifies its broad breed group.
Smooth, wire-haired, and long-haired coats offer different coat styles.
Short legs and a long body create a distinctive outline.

Worth knowing

Its short-legged, long-bodied shape will not suit every preference.
It may not fit readers seeking a breed from outside Germany.
Those wanting a non-hound dog should compare other groups.

Suits

People seeking a German hound-type dog
Owners choosing among three coat forms
Readers drawn to a short-legged, long-bodied build

Think twice if

You prefer a breed with a different body shape.
You want a breed from another country or outside the hound type.

In short

The Dachshund is a German hound-type dog with a short-legged, long-bodied form. Smooth, wire-haired, and long-haired coats are all part of the breed, and the recorded height is 5. Its identity is straightforward: a dog tied to Germany and the hound group, with coat choices that change its appearance. Consider it when those traits appeal to you. If you want another build, origin, or breed group, compare other dogs before deciding.

Questions

Where does the Dachshund come from?

The Dachshund originated in Germany.

What type of dog is a Dachshund?

It is a dog of hound type.

What other names does the Dachshund have?

The breed is also known as the Dackel or Teckel.

What coat types can a Dachshund have?

A Dachshund may be smooth-haired, wire-haired, or long-haired, in various colors.

How tall is a Dachshund?

The recorded height is 5.

What does a Dachshund look like?

It is a short-legged, long-bodied dog.

More dog breeds from Germany

Photo credits9 photographs on this page

dachshund — Ellen Levy Finch · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Affenpinscher — Ingunn Axelsen · CC BY 3.0 · file page
Deutsche Bracke — Rumo · CC BY-SA 2.0 · file page
Dobermann — Fran Hogan · CC BY 2.5 · file page
Eurasier — Ekta · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
German Longhaired Pointer — Ottilie Stüwe · Public domain · file page
German Pinscher — Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
German Shepherd — Erick Drumss Hernández · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
German Shorthaired Pointer — Bonnie van den Born · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page

Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under the licence each one names. How Animalso credits photographs.