Whenever we think about hunting dogs, we visualize big-sized dogs like Golden retriever, English springer spaniel, Pointer dogs, etc., most of the time.
Have you ever thought of dachshunds as hunger dogs? Well, dachshunds are small size dogs, but they are superb hunters.
Though they have a funny appearance, they are brave and versatile hunters. They have other nicknames like wiener dog or sausage dog, doxie, weenie dog, etc. In Germany, some people call them Dackel or Teckel.
Dachshunds are German breed dogs. Their name also originated from the German word “Dachs” (means badger) and “Hund” (means dog).
The name represents that these are “badger dogs”. That means they were bred for hunting. In this article, you will get to know what animals dachshunds can hunt.
What can dachshunds hunt?
Dachshunds mainly hunt badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals. They can hunt kingfishers, puffins, woodchucks, etc. Comparatively, small-sized dachshunds can hunt rabbits, pheasants, mice, and short birds. Dachshunds are also famous for hunting prairie dogs in the Western United States.
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Long-bodied and short-legged dachshunds are mainly two types; standard sized and miniature. Miniatures hunt mostly smaller-sized animals. Generally, fast-moving short animals attract them the most. Once they catch the target animal, dachshunds become fierce.
They might be playful and obedient at home. Once they are outside, their hunter characteristics come out. They have natural digging intuition. While hunting, you will see them digging or burrowing for target animals. They have natural prey drive also.
What are dachshunds bred to hunt?
Initially, dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers. Even their name “Dachshund” means “badger dog”. But over the time, they became great and versatile hunters. Despite their size, they can hunt even bigger size animals than themselves.
Here are a list of animals dachshunds are bred to hunt:
- Badgers
- Foxes
- Pheasants
- Rabbits
- Kingfishers
- Puffins
- Opossum
- Mice
- Short birds
- Armadillos
- Ferrets
- Deer
- Other burrow dwelling animals
Dachshunds are available in different variants. They are bred to hunt different types of animals. So, they have the natural intuition to track various types of prey. Even they can chase animals around your yard.
Do dachshunds have a high prey drive?
Dachshunds have a strong prey drive. They are breed hunter dogs. That makes them more naturally instinctive to hunt. Whenever dachshunds see a fast-moving and active animal, they start chasing it.
Usually, you will see them as peaceful and lovable at home with cats and other dogs. But on the outside, their fierce and brave intuition to hunt comes out. They have the natural ability to get the scent of other animals. This ability makes them scent-hound.
Dachshunds are bred to have self-confidence and aggressive to hunt. Their prey drive is so quick and strong that squeak toys get attacked sometimes. Even small animals in your yards might be target animals of dachshunds.
Are dachshunds good for hunting?
Dachshunds are hunting dogs. They have a natural instinct to chase and hunt for animals like rabbits, mice, pheasants, short birds, etc. Even hunters take dachshunds to hunt for their high prey drive.
Dachshunds provide some excellent hunting qualities. They use their sensing ability by the scent and movement of target animals. While hunting badger or burrow-dwelling animals, they dig the ground or enlarge the hole of badgers.
Dachshunds are good for hunting for their following qualities:
Strong smelling ability:
Dachshunds have the advantage of scenting animals from a distant place. They help the hunter finding the prey.
The ability of tracking movement:
Dachshunds can track fast running and active animal movement. Whenever they sense any moving animal, they immediately chase them.
Digging nature:
Dachshunds have an intuition for digging to catch underground animals. While badger hunting, they dig badger’s hole larger and bring them out.
High prey drive:
Dachshunds have a great prey drive. It comes out from their natural intuition. Whenever they see their prey, they are ready to chase and run after it.
Low center of gravity:
Dachshunds are perfect for hunting in mountains and sloppy areas because they have a low center of gravity.
Lungs capacity:
Dachshunds have a larger lung capacity that allows them to chase and hunt for a longer time. When they enter into a burrow of an animal, they can hold their breath for a longer time. They can hunt into the hole until they catch the animal.
Blood Tracking:
Dachshunds can smell brood from a mile away. For this quality, people in the USA use them for tracking wounded deer.
Louder Bark:
Their louder barks help the hunter to track the target animals.
Are miniature dachshunds good hunting dogs?
Miniature dachshunds are eminent hunters for hunting small-sized animals. Miniature dachshunds are shorter variants of standard dachshunds. They are bred to hunt rabbits, kingfishers, mice, short birds, and other small-sized animals.
Initially, the standard-sized dachshunds were famous. Later, the miniature version came along. The miniature dachshund’s weight is typically less than 11lbs. Despite their small size, they have the same quality as the standard-sized dachshunds.
Miniature dachshunds might not hunt bigger-sized animals as standard-sized dachshunds. Still, they also have the natural intuition for digging and bring out underground animals. Though they have a cute appearance for their size, they can be great hunters.
Are dachshunds still used for hunting?
Yes, dachshunds are still used for hunting. Many dogs are bred to hunt over time. Among them, dachshunds are one of the most popular hunting dogs.
In the past, dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers. Now they have many variants of dachshunds that can hunt various types of animals. In Europe, people still use them for hunting and tracking. They help the hunters to track animals.
In the USA, a few people use dachshunds to track and hunt. Dachshunds are very intelligent and ready to dig for underground animals. That helps the hunter to find animals in burrows. That’s why they are still suitable for hunting.
Most people own dachshunds for their house and treat them as a family dog. But the instinct to hunt is still vibrant in them. For this reason, some people still use them for hunting.
What two dogs make a dachshund?
Dachshund is a breed of two different kinds of dogs. Germany first produced this type of dog for badger hunting in the 17th century. The original dachshund was the crossbreed of two dogs; a French pointer small dog, The Braque, and a small terrier dog, the Pinscher.
Germany produced three varieties of dachshunds at different times. The French pointer and Pinscher breed were produced first. Later, many variants of dachshunds were produced. For example, three types of dachshund coats are available. Every coat has different features that help for hunting.
Dachshund breeding was mainly for hunting purposes. For effective hunting, researchers added different quality breeds. These make dachshunds more courageous to hunt over the time.
Dachshunds are very loyal and long-living dogs. They have an amusing and affectionate appearance that will fill your heart for them.
Though they are hunter dogs, they are very protective of the family members. Sometimes, they are tough to train, but they are entertaining also.
Dachshunds can hunt a lot of short animals, sometimes bigger than their sizes. They still preserve their hunting quality while going outside. Moreover, dachshunds need regular exercise and socializing. If you own a dachshund, you will feel their instinct and enjoy also.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can dachshunds have blue eyes?