CHAPTER XXIII 

 THE DACHSHUND 



BEWICK says that the Kibble-hound of his day was a cross between 

 the old English Hound and the Beagle, which would give a low 

 hound, but not a swift one ; indeed, lowness and swiftness are 

 incompatible. Whether the Dachshund is a Kibble-hound, or even 

 what a Kibble-hound exactly was, is not very clear, for kennel 

 terms vary greatly in meaning in course of time. 



The word Dachshund means " badger dog," and not " hound," 

 as that term is used by our hunting men. He has, however, not- 

 withstanding his use as a Terrier, many of the properties of the 

 hound, and varietally should be classed with them ; indeed, our 

 own native Terriers are classed with the hounds by Caius, although 

 many of our existing varieties are of very different type from hounds. 

 The term " Kibble-hound " may have been applied to such as 

 were short and crooked in the leg, as if broken, and, in that 

 sense, the Dachshund, the Basset, and some of our Dandie Din- 

 mont Terriers, may be called Kibble-hounds. 



During the last few years Dachshunds have immensely increased 

 in numbers. It is, however, doubtful whether as regards quality 

 and character the dog has progressed with equal steps. In fact, the 

 Dachshund is becoming more and more a fashionable pet than 

 a workman a quality with which the breed was associated when it 

 was first introduced in this country. 



The following was contributed to the First Edition of this work 

 by " Vert," whose large experience of Dachshunds entitles his 

 opinions on the breed to be considered authoritative : 



" So much has been said and written on this breed of dogs 

 during the few years that they have had a place in the prize 

 schedules of our shows, that in treating the subject we shall 

 endeavour to unsay some of the nonsense that has from time to 

 time been put forth by some of those journals whose pages are 

 opened to the discussion of canine matters, in one of which a 

 certain amusing correspondent, in a playful moment, tells his readers 



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