THE DACHSHUND. 85 



Fig. 16. PAIR OF DACHSHUNDS. 



THE DACHSHUND, OR GERMAN BADGER DOG. 



The Dachshund is perhaps one of the most ancient forms of the 

 domesticated dog. The fact is that he has for centuries repre- 

 sented an isolated class between the hound and the terrier, with- 

 out being more nearly connected with the one than the other. His 

 obstinate, independent character, and his incapacity to be trained 

 or broken to anything beyond his inborn, game-like disposition, 

 are quite unrivalled among all other races of the dog. Regarding 

 his frame, he differs from the hound, not only by his crooked fore 

 legs and small size, but by the most refined modification of all 

 parts of his body, according to. his chief task to work under- 

 ground. It is not possible to imagine a more favorable frame for 

 an " earth dog " than the real dachshund type. Some of our high- 

 bred dachshunds are near perfection, according to German points ; 

 they do not want much improvement, but propagation, for they 

 are seldom met with even in northern Germany. 



The desire for " hound-like type " in dachshunds would never 

 have originated if the natural vocation of this breed (underground 

 work) had not been overlooked. The consequence of this errone- 

 ous idea will be that well-bred dachshunds will be regarded as a 

 " terrier cross," and that it will be next to impossible for many dog 

 fanciers to get a clear idea of the real type of the dachshund. 



