And the long-haired dachshund was developed through selective breeding of longer smooth coat dachshunds. Wirehaired dachshunds were introduced by breeding smooth coats with rough-coated terriers. The smooth coat is thought to be the original, with potential pointer, terrier, bloodhound, and basset hound ancestry. As the breed became more of a companion animal and less of a hunting dog, other breeds were blended into the line to create new coat types. Everything, from the prominent breastbone (“the prow”) to the underside of the ribcage (the keel), to their large teeth, was purposely bred into the original dachshunds.īreeders took that purposefulness one step further in the 19th century when Germany’s rabbit population spiked, creating the miniature dachshund. And their bark – surprisingly loud for their size – alerted hunters to their locations underground. Their bravery and intelligence allowed them to fight the badgers independently. They relied on their incredible sense of smell, a trait carried down from their hound dog ancestors, to sniff out their prey. To fight the badger, which is a ground-burrowing animal, doxies needed long, low bodies with short, powerful legs for digging. The look of the dapple dachshund is no accident. In fact, dachshund means “badger dog” in German, and the breed was essential in keeping the growing population of nocturnal carnivores at bay. The dapple dachshund, like its unspotted counterparts, had an important job in 18th century Germany – hunting badgers. But you can make life a little less stressful by putting dog ramps and steps in for the places your doxie likes to get to most. The long body of the dapple dachshund puts enormous strain on the spine. While you may have a perfectly healthy doxie, free from cancer or heart problems, you can expect your pup to eventually have mobility issues as they age. Many of the above conditions are lifelong issues that require constant care, medication, or even surgery. Which can cause lethargy, coughing, and loss of appetite. The most common heart problem for the dapple dachshund is patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. The most common of these are mast cell tumors, skin cancer, and especially squamous cell carcinoma. Dachshunds, including dapple dachshunds, are particularly prone to developing certain cancers and tumors, though usually not until later in life. (dislocated knee caps), and osteogenesis imperfecta, an inherited disease that can cause fragile bones and teeth. This genetic mutation can lead to problems with the back and spine, like intervertebral disc disease (IVD), patellar luxation Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. ![]() The small stature of the dapple dachshund is due to a canine form of achondroplasia, or dwarfism. Dachshunds are particularly susceptible due to their unique genetics. In humans, diabetes mellitus (DM) can present as Type I or Type II, but only Type I is found in dogs. Which can lead to obesity if left untreated, and Cushing’s disease, which produces excess thirst, urination, and hair loss can occur in dapple dachshunds of any age. Thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism Trusted Source Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary school. ![]() In addition to a prevalence for blindness, dapple dachshunds can also suffer from cataracts, cherry eye, corneal ulcers, and progressive retinal atrophy Trusted Source PubMed Central Archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. These double merle pups are often born deaf, blind, and in some severe cases, without eyes at all. You’ll also want to beware the “double dapple dachshund,” which occurs when the merle gene comes from both parents. The merle gene responsible for the dapple pattern has higher instances of deafness, blindness, sunlight sensitivity, and higher rates of skin cancer. Unfortunately, the dapple dachshund is prone to several serious health problems due, in part, to the fact that their coat is caused by a genetic mutation.
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