Dachshund Health That Matters

Our commitment, passion and love for our girls and for the breed is super strong and we take health screening very seriously.

We use the Company Laboklin for all our diagnostic testing who give us the results we need in a matter of weeks.

We also use our own Veterinarian centre for IVDD screening X-rays which are then sent off to neurology specialist for grading 

 Our breeding checklist for our girls is something we will not budge on and each box must be ticked off before we consider breeding.

Our most current genetics and health screening checklist is as follows: 

(As of June 2024)

1. Cord1 PRA Clear.
2. Does not possess dilution genes to produce non breed standard colours i.e. Isabella/blue etc.
3. Smooth coats do not carry long coat genes.
4. No possibility of producing double dapples.
5. IDC low/none calcified disc grading matings to achieve the lowest risk of the litter being affected by IVDD.

As a breed the Dachshund is generally healthy with a life expectancy of around 15 years

but can be prone:

1. Back problems, namely Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) which affects the back.
2. The eye disease Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). 

General Appearance 

Moderately long in proportion to height, with no exaggeration. Compact, well-muscled body, with enough ground clearance, not less than one quarter of the height at the withers, to allow free movement. Height at the withers should be half the length of the body, measured from breastbone to the rear of thigh. Bold, defiant carriage of head and intelligent expression.

Characteristics

Intelligent, lively, courageous to the point of rashness and obedient. Especially suited to going to ground because of low build, very strong forequarters and forelegs. Long, strong jaw, and immense power of bite and hold. Excellent nose, persevering hunter and tracker. Essential that functional build, size and proportions ensure working ability.

Temperament 

Faithful, versatile and good tempered.

Head & Skull

Long, appearing conical when seen from above; viewed from the side, tapering uniformly to tip of nose. Skull only slightly arched. Neither too broad nor too narrow, sloping gradually without prominent stop into slightly arched muzzle. Length from tip of nose to eyes equal to length from eyes to occiput. In Wire haired, particularly, ridges over eyes strongly prominent, giving appearance of slightly broader skull. Lips closely fitting, neatly covering lower jaw.

Eyes 

Medium size, almond-shaped, set obliquely. Dark except in chocolates, where they can be lighter. In dapples one or both ‘wall’ eyes permissible.

Ears

Set high, and not too far forward. Broad, of moderate length, and well rounded (not pointed or folded). Forward edge touching cheek. Mobile, and when at attention back of ear directed forward and outward.

Mouth

Teeth strongly developed, powerful canine teeth fitting closely. Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Complete dentition important.

Neck

Long, muscular, clean with no dewlap, slightly arched, running in graceful lines into shoulders, carried proudly forward.

Forequarters

Shoulder blades long, broad, and placed firmly and obliquely (45 degrees to the horizontal) upon robust rib cage. Upper arm the same length as shoulder blade, set at 90 degrees to it, very strong, and covered with hard, supple muscles. Upper arm lies close to ribs, but able to move freely. Forearm short and strong in bone, inclining inwards, forming a slight crook which fits neatly around the chest. When seen in profile, forearm moderately straight, must not bend forward or knuckle over, which indicates unsoundness. Correctly placed foreleg should cover the lowest point of the keel, with ground clearance never less than one quarter of the height at the withers.

Body 

Moderately long and full muscled. Sloping shoulders, back reasonably level, blending harmoniously between withers and slightly arched loin. Withers and quarters of approximately the same height. Loin short and strong. Breast bone strong, and so prominent that a depression appears on either side of it in front. When viewed from front, thorax full and oval; when viewed from the side or above, full volumed, so allowing by its ample capacity complete development of heart and lungs. Ribs extending well back with good length of sternum. Underline gradually merging into line of abdomen. Body sufficiently clear of ground to allow free movement.

Hindquarters

Rump full, broad and strong, pliant muscles. Croup long, full, robustly muscled, only slightly sloping towards tail. Pelvis strong, set obliquely and not too short. Upper thigh set at right angles to pelvis, strong and of good length. Lower thigh short, set at right angles to upper thigh and well-muscled. Viewed from the rear, hind legs straight and parallel, neither close nor wide apart.

Feet

Front feet full, broad, deep, close knit, straight or very slightly turned out. Hindfeet smaller and narrower. Toes close together, with a decided arch to each toe, strong regularly placed nails, thick and firm pads. Dog must stand true, i.e. equally on all parts of the foot.

Tail

Continues line of spine, but slightly curved, without kink or twist, not carried above the topline, or touching ground when at rest.

Gait/Movement

Should be free and flowing. Stride should be long, with the drive coming from the hindquarters when viewed from the side. Viewed from in front or behind, the legs and feet should move parallel to each other with the distance apart being the width of the shoulder and hip joints respectively.

Coat

Smooth Haired: Dense, short and smooth. Hair on underside of tail coarse in texture. Skin loose and supple, but fitting closely all over without dewlap and little or no wrinkle.

Colour

The following colours are permitted in all six varieties:

• Red – which may be interspersed with black hairs.
• Black or Chocolate – each with tan markings (as clear as possible) over eyes, on sides of muzzle, under jaw and down chest, on lower part of legs and feet, below the tail and about one third of underside of tail.
• Dapple pattern – (lighter coloured areas on a darker base, where neither the light nor the dark colour should predominate) is permitted in any of the colours listed as acceptable, with the exception of brindle.

The following colours are acceptable only in the varieties specified:

Miniature Smooth-haired and Miniature Long-haired:

• Cream (fawn), interspersed black hairs are permissible.
• Black/chocolate and cream – where the cream is as clear as possible and is distributed in the same locations as the tan marking listed above.

Smooth-haired, Miniature Smooth-haired and Miniature Long-haired:  

• Brindle – black hairs forming stripes on any of the colours listed above.

Wire-haired and Miniature Wire-haired:

• Wild Boar of any shade, or Chocolate Wild Boar with tan markings as clear as possible in the same locations as the tan markings listed above

Nose and nails black in all colours except chocolate/tan and chocolate dapple where they are brown.     

In all colours no white permissible, save for a small patch on chest which is permitted but not desirable. 

Double Dapple (where varying amounts of white occur all over the body in addition to the dapple pattern) is unacceptable.

Dilute colours isabella and blue are unacceptable.

All other colours or patterns including piebald and tricolour are highly undesirable.

Size

Miniature ideal weight; 4.5 kgs (10 lbs). Desired maximum weight 5 kgs (11 lbs). Exhibits which appear thin and undernourished should be severely penalised.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points, including desired body condition, should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog as well as its ability to perform its traditional work.