Just got some of this food for Jack the Dachshund. Hope he likes it. We will let you know soon if its great. Looks like some good stuff.

Eukanuba Dachshund is specifically made to nourish a Dachshund’s overall health including their healthy back and immune system. This food naturally provides high levels of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate to support healthy joints and mobility, powerful antioxidants such as Vitamin E to help support the immune system and L-Carnitine, to help maintain a healthy weight. Feeding Eukanuba Dachshund will help your dog be as healthy, vibrant and active as your Dachshund was bred to be.

• JointFlex: Natural sources of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate to help maintain healthy joint and bone structure
• Antioxidants: Made with antioxidants such as Vitamin E to support your dog’s immune system
• Chicken is the #1 Ingredient: Real chicken as the #1 ingredient provides an excellent source of protein
• Wholesome Grains: Made with highly digestible barley and grain sorghum to help maintain healthy blood sugar and energy levels
• No Unnecessary Extras: No fillers, artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors added
• Natural Fish Oil: Natural fish oil provides Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. These nutrients also help support the immune system and nervous system
• DentaDefense®: Crunchy kibbles with a coating of micro-crystals scrub your dog’s teeth with every bite, reducing plaque and tartar buildup that can lead to bad breath

If you want a funny looking dog that makes a great traveling companion, than the dachshunds may be for you!

This breed which originated in Germany was originally used to hunt badgers. His long body strong jaws and short legs make him a perfect candidate for charging into holes to retrieve small animals. Today, however, toxins are mainly used as pets where they prove to be courageous, loyal and sometimes comedic.

Dachshunds actually come in a large variety. There are three different types of coats, the shorthaired, the long-haired, and the wire haired. In addition there are three sizes which all three coat types come in. The standard size ranges from 14 to 18 inches and can weigh up to 20 pounds. The dwarf or miniature size ranges up to 14 inches and can weigh up to 9 pounds. There was also a toy size, which is not highly recognized but being bred today, and this size goes up to 12 inches and 8 pounds. Along with the different coat types and sizes they also come in many colors. Toxins can be a single color or by colored and can also come in a harlequin or piebald. The solid colored dachshunds can be yellow or can. Bi colored dark sense are usually a chestnut color and have black gray or brown markings. So if you are thinking about adopting a dachshund you have a lot to choose from!

The dachshund is a muscular dog with short legs and a long body, he has a long head and ears that droop down past his skull. he has a strong chest and strong draws. The eyes are oval in shape and dark in color and can be black, brown or dark red. His tail is in line with the back and carried straight up.

As part of their nature dachshunds can be a bit willful and stubborn and this can make them rather difficult to train. They also can be clownish and mischievous and are prolific diggers so if you let one out in your yard you’ll have to watch for holes! They usually get along with other pets but they can tend to be a bit protective and probably are not a good match for a family with young children. Some say the long-haired dachshund is the calmest of the three coat types and the wire haired as more of a clown. Dachshunds are said to be great travelers, so if you travel a lot and like to take your dog, the dachshund maybe a good choice.

Dachshunds can make good apartment dogs as they are active inside and don’t necessarily need a yard. However, this is not mean that they don’t need any exercise. Dachshunds are quite active and love to be walked and, despite their small legs, can keep up with you quite easily. You will have to take care to watch her dachshunds in crowded areas, however, since these little dogs can easily be stepped on.

One of the biggest health issues with dachshunds Is that they can easily become lazy and overweight. This can exacerbate troubles that they have with spinal discs. For this reason it is important not to overfeed your dachshund and he should also be discouraged from jumping as this can damage his spine as well. Other health issues include diabetes, urinary tract problem, and heart disease.

Dachshunds do not shed excessively and are fairly easy to groom. The long haired type will need weekly brushing and wire haired should also be taken in for a professional trim twice a year.

The dachshund and can make an affectionate and loyal pet and with proper vet care can live up to 15 years.

Dachshunds, like all modern breeds of dog we are used to seeing today, were initially bred for a specific task. Breeders and breed enthusiasts work with breeds to bring out desirable traits that will benefit their breed’s respective duties and skills, and to quell those that are undesirable or non-beneficial. The Dachshund in particular was bred to hunt small mammals on the ground and in burrows, which becomes obvious when taking into consideration their size and body structure.

Dachshund clubs in America and worldwide support something called Earth Dog Trials, sponsored by the AKC. These trials have been very popular with terrier enthusiasts for years. The trials cover various tasks that are similar to agility trials, but are more natural and based on instincts the dogs are born with, such as navigating labyrinth-like burrows to uncover a caged rodent. Dachshunds excel at these trials and have even been banned from certain Terrier Association trials because they beat out their terrier competition so easily.

The Dachshund Club of America once hosted a “Wiener Dog Race” for nothing more than a gag. These races pitted Dachshunds against each other on a track not unlike Greyhound races, and was intended as funny piece of entertainment. However, since this first race, the act of racing Dachshunds actually caught on and began to spread.

Concerned with the terrible fate of racing dogs like Greyhounds, such as abandonment after their prime, confined housing, a lack of socialization, or just general poor quality of life, the Dachshund Club of America has since renounced the act of Dachshund Racing and strongly discourages any owner from participating in it.

Dachshund enthusiasts support Earth Dog Trials in lieu of the Dachshund Races because it accentuates the Dachshund’s natural instincts and skills, whereas racing does not. Dedicated breeders and enthusiasts alike are concerned that with the success and rise of Dachshund racing, new breeders will work to breed the dogs for speed instead of what they are born to do, which can damage desirable traits in the breed.

True Dachshund enthusiasts are devoted to preserving the breed and the skills at which the Dachshund already excels. Earth Dog Trials, along with being more ethically operated than dog races, are a wonderful way to exercise your Dachshund’s talents and intellect, as opposed to placing undue stress on a dog performing an activity he or she was not bred to perform.

The AKC first recognized the Dachshund nearly a century ago. The dog has been well adopted by North American culture and it is consistently ranked as one of the top five registered breeds. The Dachshund is a member of the hound family and easily recognized by its small size, long body, tiny legs and a pointed face.

The Dachshund has a long and interesting history. In the 15th Century, it was widely used to flush out other wild animals like the badger. Over the years, it became known that this dog had attributes of being friendly and devoted. Soon it became an adopted animal and widely became a pet in many European households. The dog is frequently entered in the competitive trials and shows both in North American and Europe.

The Dachshund makes a great pet and is suited for most families. Despite its size, it is very adventurous and bold. While it prefers the indoors as a pet, it also as an instinct for the outdoors and loves to dig and sniff. When outdoors, the dog does tend to have an independent character- it does have a habit of wandering off- but will always return. The chief reason the Dachshund makes a good pet is its temperament. It is a faithful dog and loves children. However, one does have to be careful when introducing small children which are unknown to the household. While not mean, the dog is quite protective of the family.

The dog also has a great awareness of strangers and does bark a lot. Despite its size, it does make a great watch dog and will instantly become aroused in the presence of strangers.

Upkeep and Maintenance

The Dachshund is an active dog and requires a far amount of exercise. While it does make a great apartment dog, it also prefers to be outdoors. Unlike the large dogs, the dachshund prefers to go for long walks on a leash. Over the decades it has been noticed that this breed of dogs is extremely intelligent. Thus, many owners love to teach this dog tricks and groom it for shows and trials.

The one minor negative of the Dachshund is its temperament and stubbornness. It does have a short attention span due to its increased energy. Sometimes it can be stubborn and simply refuses to listen. However, like most dogs, proper training makes the Dachshund a wonderful pet dog. Once acquired as a puppy, this dog will remain faithful forever and become a part of the family.

Like all dogs, some care of the dog is required to make it look nice. Grooming is only done once or twice a week. If you take the dog outdoors, then perhaps a bath once a week would not be a bad idea either.

Health Information

As a pet, the Dachshund can live for up to 12 and 14 years. Unlike many other dogs, the dog is relatively free of medical problems, except for one. Because of its long back, it is prone to problems of the spine or disc. Other rare concerns which do develop include diabetes, Cushing’s disease, deafness, seizures and joint problems. Some dog experts recommend that after the age of 6, the eyes should be regularly checked. If the Dachshund is exercised regularly and fed appropriately, obesity should not be of a concern.

Dachshund (pronounced DAK sund) originated in Germany, during the 18th and 19th centuries, to hunt badgers. In fact, Dachshund means, ‘badger dog’ in German. Their unique size and shape made them the perfect hunting dog. Their small legs allowed them to burrow into the ground and their narrow bodies made it easy for them to capture prey. There are three varieties of Dachshund, Standard, which reaches an average height of 14-18 inches and average weight of 20 pounds; Dwarf, with an average height up to 14 inches and weight of 9 pounds; and rabbit, reaching an average height of only 12 inches and weight up to 8 pounds. Dachshund coats also come in three varieties, shorthaired, wire-haired and longhaired.
The shorthaired and wire-haired Dachshunds require little care while the longhaired Dachshund does require more brushing. The coats come in a wide variety of colors as well. Bred for their fearlessness and boldness during the hunt, many Dachshunds display these characteristics. Described as curious and mischievous, they are not always easy to train and can sometimes be stubborn. Due to this personality trait, they are not always the best family pet, and should be watched carefully when around young children. Dachshunds are better with older children who can understand how to approach dogs carefully.
Dachshunds are temperamental and can be easily irritable. They do fairly well with other pets, but have been known to be jealous. Dachshunds are very active dogs that have a lot of stamina and will chase prey for a surprisingly long period of time. They can be rash when chasing prey and therefore caution should be exercised if the Dachshund is allowed to run off leash. In spite of their high energy levels, Dachshunds do well in all living situations, as long as they are exercised at least once a day. Dachshunds are prone to health problems, due largely to their unique shape.
In spite of their high energy levels, they can easily become overweight, so it is important not to overfeed them. Dachshunds usually have the most trouble with their spinal column because of the length of the spinal column and the shortness of the rib cage. Obesity will worsen the problem, as it will create more strain on the back. Most Dachshunds should be discouraged from jumping and climbing stairs in order to lessen the risk of injury. Dachshunds are also prone to heart troubles, diabetes, and urinary tract diseases.
There is a website that has great information on Dachshunds and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright © 2006
You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.