Vintage Dachshund Photos

The Dachshund derives from badger hunting dogs. The old-style dog had longer legs.

Bronze, sometime between 1835 - 1860

And shorter ears.

Woodcut 1879

Victorians were the first to keep hunting dogs, including Dachshunds, as house pets, much to the annoyance of sportsmen.  By the late 1880s, doxies gained popularity in the UK as both show and pet dogs, upsetting a whole lot of Germans who continued to breed the dog primarily for hunting.

O mein Gott! Sie müssen scherzen! Wann beendet es überhaupt?

Victorians started a new craze which continues to this day:  Any breed, no matter what size or purpose, can become a house dog, although in my humble and experienced opinion, some are better at it than others.

c. 1900

One British author wrote in 1879, "The dachshund is really a sporting dog, but every one who knows the winning affectionate dog knows that he is excellently well adapted for being the companion of the gentler sex."  

Photo late 1800s
What Doxies do after a hard day's work badgering badgers.

The thing is though, Victorian breeders modified working dogs, aesthetically or behaviorally or both, to adapt to their new role as  house pets.  The old type doxie was larger, with longer legs, and must have been more than a bit of a handful to keep in a Victorian parlor, especially due to the breeds resistance to house breaking, which hasn't changed all that much.

Eventually the companion type Dachshund was bred to be smaller.

About 1915

Doctor Barkman with her sister's favorite dog, Duchess.

1957