dog breed dotson

although you might think it means wiener dog,dachshund is actually german for "badger dog." these cute little dogs with the long bodiesand short legs were originally bred in germany in the 1600s to root badgers out of theirburrows and kill them, which shows you how fierce and courageous these little guys canbe. the akc recognizes three varieties of dachshunds,or doxies, all of which belong to the hound group: shorthaired, longhaired and wirehaired.they also come in standard size, which stands between 8 and 11 inches at the shoulder, andminiature, which is shorter than 8 inches. their long backs make them prone to spinalproblems. because of this, it's important that your doxie maintains a healthy weightto avoid extra back strain.

depending on the type of coat, a dachshundmay require regular brushing, and they need moderate exercise to stay healthy. otherwise,doxies are loveable, playful and adaptable dogs who do well in a variety of environmentsand make great family pets.