blog dachshund doxies

10 Strange Facts About Dachshunds

by Chris Boraas October 01, 2015

As all doxie owners know, the dachshund is a pretty incredible breed. They are scent hound dog breeds once bred to hunt tunneling animals like badgers and rabbits. Packs of dachshunds were even used to train wild boar! Of course, that was in 17th century Germany, where they were first bred.

These days, dachshunds are known for their versatility and for making excellent family companions. And while about 1 in 5 dachshunds will suffer from IVDD or other back problems, with proper small dog back support, they can live normal, happy lives.

But there are plenty of interesting things about dachshunds people don’t know. Test your doxie trivia with these facts:

1. Dachshunds actually come in three sizes! The miniature dachshund is usually around 11 pounds, which the larger sized dachshunds weigh around 32 pounds. In Germany, they also come in a third “middle” size.

2. The dachshund was the first Olympic mascot. Waldie was the mascot for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

3. Dachshunds are Queen Victoria’s favorite dog. She once said “Nothing will turn a man’s home into a castle more quickly and effectively than a dachshund.” She’s one of the reasons that this breed is so popular in Britain.

4. Dachshunds are still considered hunting dogs in France and some other parts of Europe.

5. Mini dachshunds were bred smaller so that they could better fit into rabbit holes.

6. Dachshunds are very popular now, but that wasn’t the case during World War I. Unfortunately for the doxie, the breed was used to depict Germany in a lot of wartime propaganda pieces in the USA and England.

7. They may be small in stature, but dachshunds are extremely tenacious. They will often rule the roost at your home, even if your family has bigger or more “alpha” dogs. This is because they were bred to be hunters and not backing down is ingrained in them.

8. One of the last canines to hold the Guinness World Record for oldest living dox was a doxie named Chanel who lived to be 21. This breed is known for their long lifespan, so be ready to love and care for your pup for years to come.

9. The hot dog was named after the dachshund. In fact, hot dogs were originally called dachshund dogs.

10. If you need a watch dog, get a doxie. They have great hearing, an excellent sense of smell and a loud bark. Plus, they’re known for being extremely loyal.