Teckel, Dachshund, Dachs, Basset, “little wiener” and all kinds of other names, that is how we call this friendly dog in Brazil and around the world. In English the official name is Dachshund and the official FCI - Fédération Cynologique Internationale nomenclature is Teckel.

The Dachshund is a small and compact dog, with short legs and an elongated body. His abilities are two-some, an eminent hunter of badgers, foxes and hares, and at the same time an excellent companion dog.

Dachshund come in three different coat types: short, long and wire; and in three different sizes: standard, miniature and “rabbit”, the smallest of all three. Under the FCI system these little dogs belong to their own group, the 4th! Also under FCI rules, each variety is considered a separate breed. Therefore inbreeding of Dachshund of different sizes or coats is highly undesirable.

As coats and sizes vary, so does the temperament. Without being unfair, one can say that the long coated variety is the most docile, the wire haired the most persistent and the short haired the most determined. The long haired Dachshund is also considered to be slightly more careful in the home environment, as well as more peaceful. Added to the beautiful fringes of his coat, the long haired is a very special and beautiful companion.

In general the Dachshund is a very healthy dog and rarely gets sick. However, due to the elongated body, they can sometimes be prone to spinal injuries, so owners should not encourage their dogs to climb stairs in excess or to jump on and off high surfaces. When carrying their dog, humans should avoid raising them by the forelegs. The right way to lift them is to hold them horizontally, holding them on one’s forearm, so the entire back of the dog is supported. A Dachshund’s greatest enemy is overweight. The breed needs to be given a balanced nutrition in the right quantity as well as proper daily exercises with no strong impact to the spine.