THE DACHSHUND. 



BY WILLIAM LOEFFLEK. 



origin of the Dachshund is in doubt, our best 

 authorities disagreeing as to the beginning of the 

 breed. Some writers claim that he came from 

 Spain, while the fact that no Dachshunds exist there, which 

 can be traced back to Spanish origin, places this statement 

 in doubt. Other authorities claim the Dachshund to be 

 the oldest breed known, as carvings have been discovered 

 on Egyptian monuments resembling the Dachshund of the 

 present day. I lean more to the theory that the Dachs- 

 hund originated in France, as the Basset Hound is known 

 to be of French origin, and the two breeds have many 

 characteristics in common. There undoubtedly exists a 

 close relationship between the two breeds, as the contour 

 of the fore legs and paws in both breeds is identical. 



It has been proven that during the invasion by the 

 French armies, in the seventeenth century, the Basset 

 Hound was first seen in Germany, while previous to that 

 time we have no positive proof that the Dachshund 

 existed there. We may therefore reasonably suppose 

 that by inbreeding of the Basset Hound in Germany, 

 since that period, the size of the breed has been reduced, 

 thereby better adapting the dog for the purposes required 

 of him in that country, but that by judicious breeding, cer- 

 tain traits and qualities have since been developed which 

 have established the Dachshund in his present form. 



Suppose a Hound set upon short legs, say from four to 

 six inches high, with a long-stretched body, and you have 

 the outlines of the Dachshund's appearance in brief. At 

 the first glance you see that he is intended for underground 

 work, nearly all his muscular power being developed in 



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