What is Dachshund?
[[File:Dachshund oliver 461x652.jpg|thumb|A dachshund]] {{commons}} The '''dachshund''' is a [[list of dog breeds|breed]] of [[dog]]. It is usually [[short]] (small in height), but long from front to back and with short legs. “Dachshund” is a German word that is used in English, and it means “badger dog.” (In German, dachshunds are called ''Dackel'' or ''Teckel''.) The breed was developed to [[scent|use its sense of smell to find]], [[chase]], and [[hunting|hunt]] [[badger]]s and other animals that live in holes. A dachshund has a long, narrow body, so it is sometimes called a ''wiener dog'', ''hot dog'', or ''sausage dog''. Some owners believe that using such terms is disrespectful, and may take offense. == Appearance (looks) == [[File:MiniDachshund1 wb.jpg|thumb|left|Black-and-tan miniature dachshund, smooth coat]] Today, dachshunds have crooked legs, loose skin, and a barrel-like chest. Over time, breeders selected dogs so that those features would appear in puppies. That way, dachshunds could do a better job of burrowing into tight spaces. Another feature is a long tail. They’re moderately muscular, with a strong breast bone that is easily identifiable. Dachshund’s tail should digress harmoniously down their spine and not dragging the floor when at rest.https://dachshundbreedcouncil.wordpress.com/uk-breed-standard/ The [[coat (dog)|coat]] or [[fur]] of a dachshund comes in three kinds – smooth or short-haired, long-haired, and wire-haired. The wire-haired dachshund usually is shorter front to back than the other two. === Size === A fully-grown dachshund weighs between 16 and 28&nbsp;lb. (7 to 12.7&nbsp;kg), while the miniature dachshund may weigh less than 11&nbsp;lb. (5&nbsp;kg). The writer [[H. L. Mencken]] said that “A dachshund is a half-dog high and a dog-and-a-half long.” === Coat and color === [[File:GusDachshund.jpg|alt=A Red Smooth Dachshund.|thumb|A red Dachshund.]] Dachshund fur comes in many colors. The colors that are most common are red (a brown color that looks a little reddish) and bl