Imagine the perfect Dachshund.
That is how breed standards the world over invite you to picture this dog: a hunting hound first and a companion second, even after two centuries by the fireside. A scar earned in honourable work below ground is never counted against a Dachshund in the show ring – it is simply evidence of a job well done.
General appearance
Low to the ground, long in body and short of leg, the Dachshund is nonetheless robustly muscular, with skin that is elastic and pliable but never excessively wrinkled. Nothing about a good Dachshund looks crippled, awkward or cramped in movement – he is well balanced, carries his head with bold, confident bearing, and wears an intelligent, alert expression. His hunting spirit, keen nose, loud voice and distinctive build all suit him equally to work below ground and to beating through the bush.
Size, proportion and substance
The breed is bred and shown in two sizes: standard and miniature. A miniature is not a separate classification of its own, but competes in a class division for dogs of 5 kg and under at 12 months and older – which is exactly the size we breed at Bilkau. A standard Dachshund usually weighs between 7 and 14 kg.
Head
Viewed from above or from the side, the head tapers uniformly toward the nose. The eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped and dark-rimmed, giving an energetic, pleasant expression, and should be very dark in colour – wall eyes are a serious fault, except in dapples. The ears sit near the top of the head, of moderate length and rounded, with the forward edge just touching the cheek so that they frame the face. The skull is slightly arched and slopes gradually, with little stop, into a finely formed, slightly arched muzzle. The lips are tightly stretched, the nostrils well open, and the powerful canine teeth meet in a scissors bite – an even bite is considered only a minor fault.
Neck
Long, muscular and clean-cut, without dewlap, the neck is slightly arched at the nape and flows gracefully into the shoulders.
Trunk
Long and fully muscled, the back should lie in the straightest possible line, in profile, between the withers and the short, very slightly arched loin. A body that hangs loosely between the shoulders is considered a serious fault. The abdomen is slightly drawn up.
Forequarters
Strong, deep, long and cleanly muscled for underground work, with a breastbone that is strongly prominent and dimpled on either side. Viewed from the front, the thorax is oval and extends to the mid-point of the forearm, with well-sprung ribs that allow the heart and lungs to develop fully. The shoulder blades are long, broad, well laid back and firmly placed, with the upper arm ideally the same length as the shoulder blade and set at right angles to it. The forearm is short and curves slightly inward, forming the correct "wraparound front" – knuckling over is a disqualifying fault. The front paws are full, tight and compact, with well-arched toes and thick pads, and may turn a trifle outward.
Hindquarters
Strong and cleanly muscled, with the pelvis, thigh, second thigh and rear pastern ideally all the same length, forming a series of right angles. The legs turn neither in nor out, and the rear pasterns are short, strong and, viewed from behind, upright and parallel. The hind paws are smaller than the front and point straight ahead. The croup is long, rounded and full, and the tail is set in continuation of the spine, without kinks or a pronounced curve, and is never carried too gaily.
Gait
The gait should be fluid and smooth, with the forelegs reaching well forward in unison with the drive of the hind legs. The feet travel parallel to the line of motion, with no swinging out or crossing over. Above all, a Dachshund needs agility, freedom of movement and real endurance.
Temperament
Clever, lively and courageous to the point of rashness, the Dachshund perseveres both above and below ground, with all its senses well developed. Any display of shyness is considered a serious fault – this is not a timid dog.
The three coat varieties
The Dachshund is bred in three coats – smooth, wire-haired and long-haired – and in two sizes, and every coat variety must conform to the same general standard above.
The long-haired Dachshund
This is the variety we breed at Bilkau.
The coat should be sleek, glistening and often slightly wavy, growing longer under the neck and on the fore-chest, along the underside of the body, on the ears and behind the legs, for a wonderfully elegant appearance. Short hair on the ear is undesirable, and so is too profuse a coat that masks the dog's true type, an equally long coat over the whole body, a curly coat, or a pronounced parting along the back. The tail is carried gracefully in a continuation of the spine, with the hair reaching its greatest length here to form a handsome flag. Colour, nose and nails follow the same standard as the smooth Dachshund.