236 BRITISH DOGS 



frequently disputed between what may be termed Hound and Terrier 

 type, and in this respect we find one of the causes of the fallacy 

 which the name Dachshund begets influencing judgment in the 

 wrong direction. The Dachshund never was a Terrier in the sense 

 that we understand it of a dog for going to ground. True, well- 

 trained ones trained, that is, for this particular work will go to 

 ground and tackle fox or badger in its earth ; but the Dachshund, 

 as a working dog, is and must be regarded in the light of a diminutive 

 hound, working slowly, but steadily, by scent mostly, and driving 

 game or vermin to the gun. 



There are few dogs more sure or persistent upon a cold trail or 

 scent ; they will follow and find wounded fur and feather where 

 smarter breeds, such as a Spaniel or a Terrier, will over-run the 

 quarry and remain at fault ; they will also, when worked in company, 

 follow, worry, and bring to gun or to bay far superior quarry to dogs 

 of their own weight and size of Terrier breed. 



It will therefore be seen that to promote and thoroughly bring 

 out the working capabilities of the Dachshund, it is, to say the least, 

 unwise to attempt to enter them upon the same lines as one would 

 commence the education of young Terriers. It is precisely for this 

 reason that so many failures to make good working Dachshunds 

 have resulted. 



For a portion of its work a Dachshund requires to be entered 

 upon the same lines as the small Beagles Beagles, that is, of about 

 i4.in., not the oversized ones, neither Beagle, Harrier, nor Hound, 

 of 1 7 in. to even igin., whose size and speed are too great for one 

 style of work and insufficient for the other. Coupled with this form 

 of work, the Dachshund Acquires entering also to that portion of a 

 sporting Terrier's work that embraces the search by scent for fur or 

 vermin, the driving of them to gun, net, or earth, but not the actual 

 going to earth. When Dachshunds are required to go to earth after 

 fox or badger, whether to tackle the quarry and hold it at bay till it 

 is dug out, or to drive it from its burrow, a specific form of training is 

 required upon the same lines as the low-legged Scottish Terriers 

 are entered for work amongst the cairns and rocky grounds of our 

 northern province where foxes are shot and caught, but not hunted 

 with hounds. 



Slow seek, sure find, is the maxim that must guide the hand that 

 seeks to train Dachshunds to the work of which they are capable and 

 at which they are adepts. They cannot at their best replace any of 

 our Terrier breeds at the work at which they in their turn are facile 

 princeps, but they can be brought to such a state of serviceable 

 training in the directions which have been mentioned as will freely 

 prove their utility and value as an addition to our list of sporting 

 dogs. The great point is that they must receive a special course of 

 training suited to their peculiarities of form and nature and with a 



