THE DACHSHUND. 223 



The Dachshund is full of faults, but his great excel- 

 lences, his unparalleled courage and endurance, stand so 

 high to his credit that all deficiencies are overlooked, and 

 the breed kept up by the most judicious breeding. It is 

 the pride of European sportsmen to own courageous speci- 

 mens of the Dachshund, and as long as the fox follows his 

 instinct to destroy game the Dachshund will be bred and 

 used to check his ravages. 



Never leave any furs within reach of the Dachshund, 

 for he will tear them to pieces, or at least damage them to 

 a great extent. The tiger-robe in your parlors, or the fine 

 seal-jackets of the ladies of the house, are in as great 

 danger from being torn up as the raw coon-skin which is 

 nailed to a tree to dry. 



In Europe, especially in Germany, the Dachshund is 

 principally used in assisting to destroy the natural enemy 

 of all game, the fox. Being about the same height as the 

 fox, he can follow him into his haunts; and possessing the 

 strongest muscular development and unparalleled courage, 

 he will fight his foe underground and chase him out of his 

 burrow, where he becomes an easy victim for the hunter, 

 who is stationed near the entrances. A fox generally 

 has more than one outlet to his burrow, and a practical 

 hunter uses a dog for each outlet. The brave little dogs 

 enter at once, and give tongue when assured that Rey- 

 nard is at home. The fox thus attacked can not escape 

 their sharp teeth, and no matter how bravely he defends 

 his life, he can not resist such a fierce attack, and is bound 

 to run for his life or be exterminated, and often pulled 

 above ground. 



When a single dog undertakes the difficult task of driv- 

 ing out the fox, he will certainly find an equally brave foe; 

 and many dogs lose their lives in this way. A hunter 

 who loves his dog will not send him alone against a fox. 



Equally as much as for driving foxes out of their burrows, 

 the Dachshund is used for hunting the badger. This ani- 

 mal does not try to save his life by flight, as the fox does, 

 .but will stand his ground, and will fight the battle with 



