Meet Rutter!
Rutter is delightful little Dachshund! Keep reading below for more information about Dachshunds!
History
Dachshund is actually a German word meaning “Badger Dog” which explains a lot about the history of this cute breed. The origin of these dogs date back some 600 years ago when they live d in now present day Germany. Dachshunds were bred to have long and low bodies, perfect for digging into badger holes and scaring the badgers away. Dachshunds are also known for having very loud barks, which was ideal for their companions to be able to locate the Dachshunds while they were underground. There are actually 3 different kinds of hair that a Dachshund can have- smooth, wire, or long. Wirehaired Dachshunds were bred to be able to run through thorns while hunting the badgers, and longhaired Dachshunds were designed for hunting in colder locations.
During World War I, Dachshunds were seen as a symbol of Germany as they were frequently used in German propaganda and Kaiser Wilhelm II owned many Dachshunds. As a result, the popularity of Dachshunds in America steadily decreased until the AKC tried to rebrand the breed by calling them “Liberty Pups.” Their tactic certainly worked because today the Dachshund is the 13th most popular breed according to the AKC.
Care
There are two sizes of Dachshunds- standard and mini.
Standard:
| Height | 8-9 inches |
| Weight | 16-32 pounds |
| Life Expectancy | 12-16 years |
Mini:
| Height | 5-6 inches |
| Weight | Less than 11 pounds |
| Life Expectancy | 12-16 years |
Regardless of whether you have a standard or mini Dachshund, it is extremely important that your Dachshund is not overweight. Obesity puts lots of stress onto the Dachshund’s long back which can ultimately lead to herniated discs. All Dachshunds require minimal grooming, but of course the longhaired Dachshund requires slightly more frequent brushing.
It is also extremely important that Dachshunds get enough exercise so they can build up muscles to support their long backs. The recommended amount of exercise is two moderate length walks each day. Also make sure to never let your Dachshund jump from high elevations such as stairs or furniture as it is easy for them to ignore their short legs. As long as you keep your Dachshund healthy, expect to have a long term companion since they have one of the longest life expectancy’s of any breed!
Famous Dachshunds
There are many of famous Dachshunds including Picasso’s Lump, Wayne Gretzky’s Clyde, and Andy Warhol’s Archie and Amos. However, one particularly famous Dachshund is Waldi because he helped inspire countless others to love Dachshunds as well. In 1972, Waldi was the first ever Olympic Mascot!
That year, the Olympics were held in Munich and the advertisements with Waldi were everywhere! The Olympic officials loved Waldi and Dachshunds so much in fact that they designed that year’s marathon route to be in the shape of a Dachshund!
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I didn’t know that the Daschund was the mascot for those Olympics!
Not quite sure how I ended up on the PSU campus dog blog but glad I did. And Rutter is super cute.
Chris from https://www.oodlelife.com
I had no idea that Daschunds were used for digging into badger holes and scaring away badgers!
Growing up, my family had a little Daschund named Remi; no wonder she liked to dig!
Parker from https://thepawesomepost.com
Rutter the Dachshund is absolutely adorable! 😍 Those short legs and long body make for one charming pup. Elijah from website: https://metawoofs.com