156 THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



Though not a pack hound, the dachshund will soon learn to run in couples; 

 and two or three of these couples, when acquainted with one another, or forming a 

 little family, will hunt pretty well together. They do not frighten 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 master, 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 (schweisshund) is to be had ; but they must be accustomed 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 are apt to keep silence when they find their game dead ; and 

 beginning to lick at the wound where the ball has gone into the body, they will 

 slowly advance to tearing and to eating their prey. 



No dog is so sensitive to rain and wet ground as the dachshund. They will 

 often steal away from the coverts on a wet day, and sneak homewards. 



Dachshunds are very headstrong and difficult to keep under command ; 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 cowards 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 very faithful to his master, and not only a useful, but a most 

 amusing dog a very humourist 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 domineered over, the dachshund will certainly quarrel with them. 

 When his blood is up he will care neither for blows or for wounds, and is often 

 bitten dreadfully in such encounters. Therefore 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. 



The names which are given to dachshunds in Northern Germany are usually 

 the 'same old-fashioned ones, indicating chiefly their employment or their quarrel- 

 some disposition. For instance : Names for dogs Bergmann (miner), Erdmann 

 (earth-man), Judas, Krup-in (creep-in !),.Kuhlmann (pit-man, miner), Waldmann 

 (forester), Zanker (quarreller) ; for bitches, Bergine, Erdine, Hertha, Valda 

 Waldine, Zang (tongs, nippers). 



In England the earth dog is already represented by the various terriers, andj 

 with respect to the great difference between English field sports and German 

 " Jagerei," I doubt if the dachshund will ever become so useful and favourite a 

 sporting dog in England as he has for centuries been in Germany. Foxes and their 

 cubs are sacred personages in most English districts, badgers are comparatively 

 rare, and the destruction of vermin is generally left to the gamekeepers. Therefore 

 I believe that dachshunds will be kept and bred in England chiefly for hunting 



