The American Dachshund

The American Dachshund shows some differences compared to Dachshunds from Germany. We will show you these and discuss the characteristics and features in this article.

What is an American Dachshund?

An "American Dachshund" is a term that refers to a variant of the Dachshund (Dachshund) that was bred in the United States . Dachshunds themselves originated in Germany and were bred as hunting dogs, particularly for hunting badgers. They are characterized by their long bodies and short legs.

However, there is no official dog breed specifically recognized as the "American Dachshund." Rather, the term might refer to a slight variation in appearance or breeding standards used in the United States for this breed, for example in terms of size , coat type , or temperament .

What is the weight of American Dachshunds?

The size and weight of "American Dachshunds" depends, as with dachshunds in general, on the breeding line . In the USA, there are mainly two recognized sizes for dachshunds, which are based on the German standards:

1. Standard Dachshund:

• Weight: Typically between 7 and 14 kg (16–32 pounds)
• Chest circumference: About 35cm or more

1. Miniature Dachshund (Miniature Dachshund):

• Weight: Typically up to 5 kg (11 pounds)
• Chest circumference: under 35cm

In the USA, unlike in Germany, there is no distinction between miniature and miniature dachshunds. Instead, the distinction is mainly between standard and miniature dachshunds. The difference is therefore mainly in size and weight. In the USA, the classification is based on weight , unlike in Germany, it is based on chest circumference .

When is an American Dachshund fully grown?

An American Dachshund, like other Dachshunds, is usually considered fully grown at 12 to 18 months of age . The exact growth phase can vary depending on size and individual dog:

• Miniature Dachshunds: They often reach their full size a little earlier, at around 12 months of age.
• Standard Dachshunds: These usually take a little longer, usually around 18 months, to fully grow.

While most dachshunds reach their maximum size and height by the age of one, their muscles and body mass can continue to develop until 18 months.

What colors do American Dachshunds have?

As with the German Dachshund, there are also three coat types in the USA:

Short-haired Dachshund (Smooth-Coated):

• Smooth, short coat that requires less grooming

Longhaired Dachshund (Longhaired):

• Long, silky coat that requires regular grooming

Wirehaired Dachshund :

• Rough, wiry coat with a dense undercoat that requires regular trimming

American Dachshunds come in a variety of colors and patterns. Here are the most common color variations:

Solid color:

• Red (light to dark)
• Cream (pale yellow to golden)

Two-tone:

• Black and Tan (black body, brown markings)
• Chocolate and Tan (dark brown body, brown markings)
• Blue and Tan (rare; grey-blue body, brown markings)
• Isabella (purple) and Tan (light brown/beige body, brown markings)

Spotted (Dapple/Merle):

• Black-silver (black base colour with silver-grey spots)
• Chocolate silver (brown base colour with silver spots)
• Blue-silver (blue-grey base colour with silver spots)

More patterns:

• Bristly-haired (black or brown hair mixed in the coat)
• Brindle (striped pattern on light fur)
• Piebald (white base color with colored spots)

Rarer colors:

• Wild boar colours (mixture of black, grey and brown hair)
• Chocolate cream (brown base colour with cream markings)

The variety of colors and patterns give the American Dachshund a unique look, with many breeders specializing in certain combinations. Some breeds are not allowed in Germany, such as the so-called Dapple Tiger Dachshund.

American Tiger Dachshund

The American Tiger Dachshund , often called the "Dapple Dachshund", is distinguished from other dachshunds by a striking coat pattern caused by the merle gene . This gene results in an uneven distribution of color pigments in the coat , resulting in a piebald or marbled pattern . The tiger pattern is particularly popular in the United States, which is why the term "American Tiger Dachshund" is often used to describe this particular color type.

What are the characteristics of the Piebald Dachshund?

A Piebald Dachshund is a Dachshund with a particular coat pattern caused by the so-called Piebald gene (S gene). This gene results in white patches on the dog's body that are distributed in a specific way across the coat.

Coat pattern: The piebald pattern is characterized by large, white patches on the body. Piebald Dachshunds do not have any marbled or speckled areas.

Genetics: The piebald pattern is caused by the piebald gene, which is a different gene than the merle gene, which is responsible for the merle pattern (Tiger Dachshunds).

What is the difference between the American Dachshund and the European Dachshund?

The American and European Dachshunds differ mainly in breeding standards, size and partly in appearance. The most important differences at a glance:

The American Dachshund shows some differences from the European Dachshund, but still has the basic character traits of an original Dachshund.

Character traits of the American Dachshund

American Dachshunds, like all Dachshunds, have specific character traits that make them special. Here are their essential Character traits summarized:

• Brave and fearless: Despite their small size, dachshunds have a strong, courageous character.
• Stubborn and independent: They are known for their stubbornness and tend to impose their own will.
• Playful and lively: They have a lot of energy and love to play, especially retrieving and chasing.
• Hunting instinct: Originally bred as hunting dogs, they often retain a strong hunting instinct and enjoy digging.
• Loyal companions: Dachshunds are very affectionate and love their family. They build a close bond with their owners.
• Alert and protective: They are good watchdogs and bark at suspicious noises or strangers.
• Sociable, but cautious with strangers: They are friendly to people they know, but may be initially reserved towards strangers.

Their lovable but sometimes stubborn personality makes dachshunds unique animals.