THE DACHSHUND, OE GEEMAN BADGEE DOG. 155 



Before I conclude my writing I may mention shortly some particulars about 

 breeding, disposition, and employment of the badger dog. 



I have seldom found bitches whelping more than four or five pups ; they are 

 born with straight forelegs only the paws turn outside somewhat more than in 

 other dogs. This would lead to the old theory of " hereditary rachitis " in dachs- 

 hunds; and I have offered already a number of hopeful puppies for osteological 

 researches in this direction, but without any noticeable success. Dachshunds are 

 not much subject to distemper if kept in a dry, warm, and clean place. When they 

 are full grown say when twelve or eighteen months old they will mostly be ready 

 for business, when once seeing an old dog doing his work underground. By 

 frequent exercise with rats, foxes, &c., their education will be completed sooner ; 

 but they should not be used to badgers before having reached their second year and 

 their full development. When going to the burrows the dogs should not be allowed 

 to tire themselves out during the walk, but should be carried in a basket in a wheel- 

 barrow, or taken in the box of the dogcart when driving. Young dogs should 

 always be taken up as soon as they show an indisposition to go to ground, or return 

 too often from the earths. Many old dogs have the habit of coming out when they 

 have received a first blow from the badger or fox. Some people say, " He comes to 

 show his wound " ; but the dog only wants to have a glance round above to see if all 

 is right there, and, if so, he will go in again without being asked. There are many 

 badger dogs that will kill their fox under ground, and drag the dead body out to 

 the surface if possible ; but I remember only two dachshunds who had the strength 

 and the will to " draw " an old badger from its den, and this was only managed 

 when they had the good fortune to seize the unlucky badger from behind in the 

 haunches, the channel at the same time being neither too narrow nor too steep. 

 I have already said that this is not at all the task of our dachshund, who has only 

 to hunt and to attack his game till it quits the den or stands at bay. For bolting a 

 fox (spregen) one small game dachshund will be sufficient when the shooters (for 

 the fox is shot in Germany) have been posted cautiously and noiselessly ; but, in 

 digging out a badger or fox, one small dog will seldom be able to resist his enemy 

 at the moment when the drain is opened, and the badger or fox is frightened by the 

 daylight. Therefore, at least one large dog, or two small ones, should be used for 

 this purpose. Dogs which are used often to hunt coverts are seldom persevering earth 

 dogs ; besides, they are accustomed to give tongue as soon as they come upon the 

 track, which is the worst an earth dog can do (weidelaut). On the contrary, we find 

 often good earth dogs hunting quite silent above ground till they get sight of the game. 



In hunting above ground the dachshund follows more the track than the 

 general scent (witierung) of the game ; therefore he follows rather' slowly, but 

 surely, and with the nose pretty close to the ground. His noise in barking is very 

 loud, far sounding, and of surprising depth for a dog of so small a frame ; but, in 

 giving tongue while hunting, he pours forth from time to time short, shrill notes, 

 which are quickened as the scent gets hotter, and, at sight of the game the notes 

 are often resolved into an indescribable scream, as if the dog were being punished 

 in a most cruel manner. 



