Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Wiener Dogs: The Ultimate Guide
Most of us have seen a dog with long bodies and big puppy eyes, and even this type does exist. It is scientific fact the breed is named Dachshund. Which is why it is also called the wiener dogs. The uniquely shaped wiener dog is one of the most favored breeds in the world.
Once bred for persecution and hunting, these tiny canines are now adored as much for their massive attitude as they are famous all over the world. But what really makes these dogs special? In this article, we shall look at all the things that you would want to know about wiener dogs, beginning with a fascinating history and characteristics to how they can be maintained as pets.
History and Origin of the Wiener Dog
The history of the dachshund dates back to 17th century Germany. ‘Dachshund’ is German for ‘badger dog.’ They were used in the pursuit of smaller games like badgers because they were long-bodied and very brave. The wiener dog was originally a hunting dog, meant for digging into dens, chasing its prey and bringing it back, or so the history suggests.
They were small and long in shape with short legs, great for tunneling into territories of badgers, rabbits, and other small creatures. The meaning of each part of the name also gives what the breed was used for; “Dachshund” comes from the German words “Dach,” which means badger, and “Hund,” which means dog.
Nevertheless, these dogs were not only good hunters but were also lovely companions, notably across Europe and the USA. It was the wiener dog which became a cultural phenomenon in the early to mid-20th century and its typical shape and loving character made it stand out, featuring in numerous movies, advertisements and internet memes.
Characteristics and Features of the Wiener Dog
The first thing that is likely to come to your mind is their long body with short legs and that’s exactly the point. Their shape is unique; in fact, it is part of what makes them so unique. Here are some of their most distinct features:
Body of Wiener Dog
The Dachshund has an elongated body and deep chest and arms, with a barrel-like body structure. This body shape is designed for burrowing; they can change their center of gravity and get into a quite tight spot.
Legs of wiener Dog
he stout, short legs are responsible for supporting the long torso of the dachshund. Even if their legs are somewhat disproportionate, such a body structure helps them have the necessary power and swiftness that would be needed while hunting.
Coats of wiener Dog
Three coats are existent in Dachshunds: smooth, long-haired, and wire-haired. The smooth variety has a coat that is shiny; the long-haired coat is absolutely silky flow; wire haired has a thick, tough coat that is wrinkled and is more difficult to manage.
Size of Wiener Dog
Crossing the steps of the loft these small Vienna dogs, approach height about 15 cm and weight which ranges about 8-11 pounds being a predominantly adult doxie. May be small in physical proportion but are fierce, exuberant, and ferocious almost petulantly.Crossing the above parameters of size and weight these dogs seem to make up handles of top character, aggressive and quite persistent.
The Wiener dog is a very brave and curious creature, forever loyal who never think oneself small. However, not uncommonly these creatures are very brave, attack at times like big dogs, while protecting their territory or in pursuit of anything that is of their interest.
Temperament and Personality
Dachshunds may look small but they have fallen out of the right side of the bed. They are amusing at times and independent, too, which makes them challenging to whip into shape for novices. They are wonderful pets that love their owners to bits but can be reserved around new people unless they are introduced to new people and experiences as puppies. If this is done, they are social, are happy and playful.
Optimistic and Brash:
Badgers were bred to run into the ground, so what is a timber wolf to a hotdog pup? They will start barking at anything that seems out of place and can charge headlong and are not afraid of anything that is big and man made.
Smart yet Terrible:
Dachshunds are leisured breed endowed with wisdom. However, stubbornness always wins. It takes a lot of patience and patience to teach this breed. The logic of positive reinforcement works well; however, it may take a couple of time before they even budge.
Affectionate:
Wiener dogs aren’t fond of excessive dependency, on the other hand, they are warmhearted and very connected with their families. They enjoy cuddling and tend to curl up beside their human owner.
These vigorous and playful dogs are cherished with children. However, they need owners that understand their needs and what they require of them. Even though this toy dog is similar to the small puppies, it still grows and requires daily workout and more mental activity. Shifts like scratching and chewing may occur in this case.
Wiener Dogs Care
Although there is no significant difference between a wiener dog and any other breed of dog, there are some factors fairly unique to their breed. For instance, grooming, feeding, exercise and other aspects that deal with general health care of the dog require the following considerations:
Exercise Needs:
Even though dachshunds are a small breed, they are compact and busy. They need to be walked once a day and be played with to also remain sane. They are strong which means they can be great at parts. Especially when they are hunting down something, they will become distracted and go fetch tiny objects or small musketeers.
Grooming of Wiener Dog :
The grooming of the dog breeds may vary on the type of coat the dachshund has. Since smooth coated dachshunds rarely need to be brushed out, they fall into the low grooming category. The other varieties require more frequent grooming especially the long haired which should be brushed once a week to avoid tangling and matting.
Diet of Wiener Dog :
Like all other breeds, it is important to make sure that Dachshunds receive a wholesome and nutritious diet. While their size plays an important role in this, it also means that controlling the portion sizes is quite important to avoid obesity. This breed, though, is also prone to weight gain, which may lead to back issues–hence, their weight is a point of great concern.
Health Considerations for Wiener Dogs
Dachshunds are often regarded as a healthy dog breed, but some significant health concerns may afflict them owing to their peculiar physicality.
Allergies: Skin allergy and food allergies are not as rare as one may think; in fact, Dachshunds do suffer from these types of allergies as well. Affected dogs are prone to scratching, skin rashes or skin inflammation, watery eyes, frequent sneezing, and self-licking. Vomiting, diarrhea, and repetitive ear infections can be present in such dogs as well.
Diabetes : in many dog breeds including dachshund diabetes is common, Dachshunds however can be afflicted more often. Dogs with diabetes have trouble utilizing sugars in their bodies and can face other complications too. Other symptoms include excessive urination, uncharacteristic weight loss and increased appetite are also the common after effects of diabetes.
Dental disease: Many dogs face dental disease due to several ailments. However, an estimated 80% of them develop this disease on or before their second birthday, Dachshunds included. The natural teeth and gum cleaning activities performed by the dogs help in the prevention of losing teeth or suffering serious health consequences such as a degree of kidney, liver, heart, or joint damage.
Seizures: Low blood sugar, exposure to toxins, tumors, strokes, or dysfunctional organs are just some of the factors contributing to the cause of seizures. Certain uncontrolled inherited genetic factors can also contribute to making your pooch susceptible to seizures. In fact, there are some cases where seizures are termed “idiopathic”, which means that they occur for no reason at all. It has been declared that a larger proportion of Dachshunds than some other types of dogs are afflicted by idiopathic seizures.
Vision problems :Dachshund dogs could be found to have a higher propensity towards other eye associated diseases as glaucoma, cataract or dry eye respectively. These conditions that have been described earlier on could potentially render your dog blind. With the appropriate medical intervention, The signs and symptoms can be alleviated, preserved and maintained on the dog’s vision.
Deafness: In several cases, the Dachshund is at a higher risk of suffering from deafness. So, having the deafness assessed is critical for that specific breed. This is true particularly for double-dapple Dachshunds since the pigmentation genes act in conjunction with the deafness genes as congenital traits.
Joint conditions : Other diseases due to genetic predisposition that the Dachshunds can be affected by include the elbow and the hip joint dysplasia. For dogs with dysplasia, there is a high likelihood of developing osteoarthritis due to abnormal joint formation. The presence of arthritis puts, pain, mobility impairments and eventually lameness. Timely intervention is usually effective, but if it is followed with appropriate management, you can help your dog remain calm and unaffected.
Endocrine disorders: Some of their breeds are prone to hypothyroidism and other endocrine disorders. Hypothyroidism occurs when your dog’s thyroid is underactive and produces less than the required hormones. Such dogs are likely to gain weight, tend to be low on energy, and even present changes to your dog’s coat or skin.
Another disease that falls under this category is hyperadrenocorticism which is also termed as Cushing’s syndrome. This condition develops in the event that your dog’s adrenal gland overproduces cortisol, a hormone which deals with stress levels. This condition develops insidiously, and its earlier stages are usually not easily identifiable. Cushing’s disease includes the following signs and/or symptoms:
- Too much thirst & frequent urination
- Excessive eating
- Dullness or little energy
- Fragile skin
- Bald patches
- Weight increase or Abdominal distention, bigger belly
In which colors available in Weiner dog
Cream
Black
Red
Chocolate
Blue
Fawn
FAQs
Conclusion :
While they are the lowest breed of dogs in height many people call them wiener dogs because of their size and devilish attitude. Throughout history, these fierce dog breeds have been known for being brave hunters and fierce companions. Such as every other pooch these little predators do require some activities and health care throughout their lifespan but their companionship is defunct.
Even people that tend to ignore dogs fall in love with the wiener dogs because of their playful appearance and purposing attitude. So, if you are ready for rambunctious little partner a crisp Dachshund may be the pick for you.
