Dachshund

The dog breed that will make anyone passing by have an ear-to-ear smile. With its long body, short legs, barrel chest, and intellectual-looking facial expressions, the Dachshund will instantly put you in a great mood. These pups make great family dogs and are nothing short of entertaining. They are very playful and their fun mood is contagious.

AKA the ‘Wiener” or “Sausage” dog, this pup has been among the most popular breeds since the 1950s. They were originally bred in Germany and illustrations of dogs that strongly resemble the Dachshund date back to the 16th century. Their almost cartoonish physical traits are not random. These dogs are expert scent hounds that were bred to hunt badgers, rabbits, and other tunneling animals.

Their long body and short legs make them the perfect candidate for digging and entering narrow passages. They were even sometimes used by hunters to track down wild boar. Today these pups are typically bred to be companions, however, you will still notice their hunting instincts come out, whether it be their love to dig or their desire to chase small animals. These dogs typically weigh between 16-32 pounds and are super intelligent. They can be stubborn sometimes, but through persistent training, the Dachshund can learn just about any trick. This breed tends to have very good instincts, especially about people, and is often used as a therapy dog. They are good-natured dogs and like to show affection to those closest to them.

The Wiener dogs’ popularity does not come without reason, they are extremely fun and loving. This pup usually gets very close with one family member in specific, and they can potentially become very protective if they see this person giving attention to other dogs or people. They might look small, but their wide chest and big lungs produce a powerful bark, and they will not be afraid to stand their ground against just about anyone. When someone hears their bark from a distance, they will expect it to be coming from a very large dog, it is often humorous when they see that the source of the bark came from a small Wiener dog!

Instagram Photo Permission: @charlee_and_sailor