dachshund, breed of small, short-legged hound developed in Germany over hundreds of years. It stands from 5 to 9 in. (13-23 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 5 to 20 lb (2-9 kg). There are six varieties of dachshund: the smooth-haired, with a short, glossy coat; the long-haired, with a soft and silky coat; the wire-haired, with a short, harsh coat; and miniatures of each of these types. The color may be black or chocolate marked with tan, or various shades of solid red. Originally bred to hunt badgers, the dachshund was later used on a wide variety of small ground game. The 12-lb (5-kg) miniature variety was perfected to hunt hares. Today the dachshund is raised primarily as a house pet. See dog.

Dog breed of hound and terrier ancestry developed in Germany to pursue badgers (German, Dachs) into their burrows. It is a long-bodied, lively dog with a deep chest, short legs, tapering muzzle, and long ears. Usually reddish brown, or black and tan, it is bred in two sizes (standard and miniature) and in three coat types (smooth, long, and wiry). The standard dachshund stands about 7–10 in. (18–25 cm) high and weighs 16–32 lbs (7–14.5 kg); the miniature is shorter and weighs less than 9 lbs (4 kg).

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