THE DACTI-'^riU^TD. 87 



together. They do not frii^^htcn their game so much as the larger 

 hounds, and, when frequently used, they will learn to stay when 

 arrived at the line of the shooters, not by obedience to their mas- 

 ter, but because they are intelligent enough as to see that it is quite 

 useless to run longer after the game. 



For tracking wounded deer or a roebuck a dachshund may be 

 used when no bloodhound is to be had ; but they must be accus- 

 tomed to collar and line for this purpose, and then they are rather 

 troublesome to lead in rough ground or coverts. They retrieve 

 better by running free or slipped, but must carry a bell, for they 

 arc apt to keep silence when they find their game dead ; and, be- 

 ginniug to lick at the wound where the ball has gone' into' the 

 body, they will slowly advance to tearing and to eating their prey. 



Dachshunds are very headstrong and difficult to keep under 

 comma-nd ; and, as they are at the same time very sensitive to 

 chastisement, it is next to impossible to force them to do anything 

 against their will. Many good badger dogs have been made cow- 

 ards for their whole life by one severe whipping. They must be 

 taken as they are— with all their faults, as well as their virtues. 

 When treated always kindly, the dachshund is verj^ faithful to his 

 master, and not only a useful, but a most amusing dog — a very 

 humorist among the canine family. In spite of his small frame, 

 he has always an air of consequence and independence about him ; 

 but, at the same time, he is very inquisitive, and always ready to 

 interfere with things with which he has no concern. He seems to 

 have an antipathy to large dogs, and, if they object to be domi- 

 neered over, the dachshund will certainly quarrel with them. 

 When his blood is up, he will care neither for blows nor fox 

 wounds, and is often bitten dreadfully in such encounters. There- 

 fore dachshunds should not be kept in kennels with larger dogs. 

 When kept in houses and accustomed to children, they will make 

 good pets, for they are clean, intelligent, and watchful, without 

 being noisy, though often snappish with strangers. First in- 

 troduced into the United States about twelve years ago, they 

 are now becoming quite numerous. 



