The History and Origins of the Dachshund

The Dachshund’s signature long body and stubby legs aren’t just adorable — they’re the product of more than 600 years of careful, deliberate breeding for one specific job: hunting badgers in their burrows.

Behind that quirky silhouette lies one of the most fascinating breed histories in the dog world. From medieval German forests to the royal courts of Queen Victoria, from the trenches of World War I (when Doxies were briefly renamed “liberty hounds”) to the 1972 Munich Olympics — the Dachshund has been at the center of culture, politics, and the human-canine bond for centuries.

Whether you’re a Doxie owner curious about your dog’s roots or just love a good origin story, this guide covers everything you need to know about Dachshund history: their ancestry, original purpose, evolution, role in two world wars, and rise to one of the most beloved breeds in the world today.

Dachshund History at a Glance

Before we dive deep, here’s a quick snapshot of the breed’s journey:

Era	What Happened
15th century	Earliest references to “badger dogs” in Germany
1700	First written description of a dog resembling the modern Dachshund
18th century	German foresters begin breeding the type consistently for badger hunting
1800s	Miniature Dachshund developed for rabbit hunting
1840	Dachshunds introduced to the U.K., embraced by Queen Victoria
1881	The Dachshund Club is founded in England
1885	The American Kennel Club officially recognizes the breed
1895	The Dachshund Club of America is founded
WWI & WWII	Dachshunds renamed “liberty hounds” in the U.S. due to anti-German sentiment
1972	Waldi the Dachshund becomes the first official Olympic mascot in Munich
Today	Dachshunds are among the AKC’s top 10 most popular breeds

What Does “Dachshund” Mean?

The name says it all. “Dachshund” is a German compound word built from two parts:

• Dachs — meaning “badger”
• Hund — meaning “dog” or “hound”

Put together: badger dog. The name doesn’t describe what the dog looks like — it describes what the dog was bred to do. Interestingly, in modern Germany, Dachshunds are more commonly called Dackel or Teckel (especially among hunters). The English name “Dachshund” feels old-fashioned to native German speakers.

Ancestry: What Are Dachshunds Descended From?

The Dachshund wasn’t a single dog that evolved over time — it was deliberately engineered by German hunters who carefully crossed several existing breeds to produce a dog with very specific working traits. According to the American Kennel Club, Dachshund ancestry likely includes:

• German Bracke (a bloodhound-type) — for tracking ability and a powerful nose
• Bloodhounds and Basset Hounds — possibly contributing the keen scenting ability and short-legged silhouette
• German Shorthaired Pointer — for hunting versatility
• Pinscher breeds — for tenacity and boldness
• Various terriers (added later) — for grit, especially in the wirehaired variety
• Spaniels — possibly contributing to the longhaired variety

The exact mix is debated — even the Dachshund Club of America notes that several theories exist. But what’s clear is that hunters wanted: a scent hound’s nose, a terrier’s courage, and a body small enough to follow prey underground. The Dachshund is the elegant solution to that brief.

Related post: What Were Dachshunds Bred For?

When Did Dachshunds Originate?

This is one of the more debated questions in canine history. According to the historical record, references to “badger dogs” appear as early as the 15th century in Germany — but those early dogs likely didn’t resemble today’s Dachshund.

The Dachshund Club of America places the breed’s clearer beginnings in the late 1600s, when written descriptions match the modern dog more closely. By the 18th century, German foresters and hunters were breeding the type consistently and intentionally, establishing what we’d recognize today as the Dachshund.

The breed’s hunting style is just as distinctive as its body. Dachshunds were trained to:

• Track prey with their powerful nose, often along scent trails miles long
• Dig and chase the animal into its underground burrow
• Engage the badger directly — sometimes a fight to the death
• Bark loudly so hunters could locate them underground
• Be pulled out of tunnels by their tails when stuck

Dachshunds were so versatile that packs were even used to hunt wild boar and wolverines — animals far larger and more dangerous than the dogs themselves. This is the origin of the famously fearless Dachshund attitude that still confuses owners today.

What Did the Original Dachshund Look Like?

If you traveled back to 18th-century Germany, you’d recognize today’s Doxie in the original Dachshund — but only just. The early dogs were noticeably larger and more rugged than the modern breed.

Trait	Original Dachshund	Modern Standard Dachshund
Weight	31–40 lbs	16–32 lbs
Build	Heavily muscled, rugged	Lighter, more refined
Leg type	Two varieties — straight-legged and crook-legged	Crook-legged only (the modern descendant)
Head	Heavier “houndy” head	More refined, tapered head
Skin	Loose, thick — protective in burrows	Looser than most breeds, less than original

Several physical features were intentionally bred in for very practical reasons:

• Floppy ears — kept dirt and debris out of the ear canal during burrowing
• Curved tail — gave hunters a “handle” to pull stuck dogs out of tunnels, and made dogs visible above tall grass
• Loose, tough skin — protected against badger bites and tunnel scrapes
• Deep chest — provided lung capacity for stamina
• Loud bark — let hunters locate their dogs underground
• Strong jaw and large teeth — necessary for combat with the formidable badger
• Bridge bone above the eyes — protection during head-on confrontations

Related post: Why Are Dachshunds So Long?

What Breeds Make Up a Dachshund?

The three Dachshund coat types — smooth, longhaired, and wirehaired — each have their own development story.

The Smooth-Haired Dachshund

The smooth coat is the oldest and original Dachshund variety — the dog all other Dachshund types descend from. Its exact ancestry is debated, but theories include:

• A blend of German Shorthaired Pointer, Pinscher, and Bracke (a bloodhound-type)
• Crossing the short Bruno Jura Hound with a Pinscher
• Crossing a miniature French Pointer with a Pinscher
• Descent from the 18th-century St. Hubert Hound or Basset Hounds (for the scenting ability and silhouette)

What we know for certain: the smooth Dachshund served as the genetic base for both other coat types.

The Longhaired Dachshund

There are two main theories about how the longhaired variety came to be:

1. Selective breeding — German breeders may have noticed that some smooth-coated Dachshunds occasionally produced puppies with longer hair, then deliberately bred for the trait.
2. Spaniel cross-breeding — others believe smooth Dachshunds were crossed with various spaniel breeds, contributing both the silky coat and the slightly gentler temperament longhaired Dachshunds are known for.

The first written descriptions of the longhaired variety appear in the early 1800s, with portraits of all three coat types documented by 1836.

The Wirehaired Dachshund

The wirehaired Dachshund is the newest of the three varieties, developed in the late 19th century. Hunters wanted a Dachshund whose coat could withstand thorns, brambles, and harsh weather — and the solution was to cross smooth Dachshunds with various wirehaired terriers and pinschers, including:

• Schnauzer
• Dandie Dinmont Terrier
• German Wirehaired Pointer
• Scottish Terrier

That terrier ancestry is why wirehaired Dachshunds today are often described as more outgoing, mischievous, and “clownish” than their smooth or longhaired cousins. As the AKC notes, wirehaired Dachshunds tend to have softer expressions and more terrier-like temperaments — a clue to their crossbred history.

How the Miniature Dachshund Was Developed

The Standard Dachshund came first — but in the 1800s, Germany experienced a dramatic boom in its rabbit population. Hunters needed a smaller version of the Dachshund that could chase rabbits and other small animals into their narrower burrows.

Breeders responded by selectively breeding the smallest Dachshunds together, creating what we now call the Miniature Dachshund (under 11 pounds in U.S. standards). In Germany, an even smaller variety called the Kaninchen (“rabbit dog”) was developed for the tightest of burrows — under 7.7 pounds.

Today, the AKC recognizes only Standard and Miniature, while the FCI (the European federation) recognizes all three sizes. There’s also an unofficial in-between size sometimes called a “tweenie” — a Dachshund too big to be a Miniature but too small to be a Standard.

Royal Favorites: Queen Victoria and the European Courts

The Dachshund’s transformation from German hunting dog to international companion happened largely through European royalty.

In 1840, Dachshunds were introduced to the United Kingdom — and Queen Victoria fell instantly in love with them. Her Dachshund “Dashy” was reportedly a constant companion, and Prince Albert hunted woodcock with the breed. As any 19th-century social trend spreader, Queen Victoria’s preferences sent Dachshund popularity soaring across Britain and beyond.

Other royal Dachshund enthusiasts included:

• Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor, who owned a pair named Wadl and Hexl
• Queen Elizabeth II, who famously crossed her corgis with a Dachshund to create a “dorgi”

The Dachshund Club was founded in England in 1881 — seven years before its German counterpart — formalizing the breed standard internationally.

The Dachshund Comes to America

The Dachshund made its way to the United States in the late 1800s, with the American Kennel Club officially recognizing the breed in 1885. Ten years later, in 1895, the Dachshund Club of America was founded.

The breed quickly captured American hearts thanks to its compact size, lively personality, and undeniable charm. By the early 20th century, Dachshunds were a regular sight in American households — until two world wars threatened to change that.

Dachshunds in World War I & II

The most painful chapter in Dachshund history came during the World Wars. Because of the breed’s strong association with Germany, Dachshunds became targets of anti-German hostility in Britain and the United States.

World War I (1914–1918)

During WWI, Dachshunds were used heavily in German political cartoons mocking the country — making the breed a stand-in for Germany itself. As anti-German sentiment surged in Allied countries, Dachshunds suffered:

• Owners faced public hostility for walking their dogs
• Some Dachshunds were attacked or killed in the streets
• German breeders abandoned breeding programs to stop association with the German regime
• Many American owners began calling the breed “liberty hounds” — and the AKC reportedly used “badger dog” — to deflect prejudice

One devastating account from the period describes a German breeder who, after repeated attacks, walked into his kennel and shot every one of his Dachshunds rather than see them suffer further.

World War II (1939–1945)

The stigma returned during WWII, though to a lesser degree than the first war. By this point, Dachshunds had been integrated into the American social fabric for decades, and the public was less inclined to abandon their beloved pets. Still, the “liberty hound” name occasionally resurfaced, and breeders again faced reduced demand.

Despite these dark chapters, the Dachshund’s popularity rebounded after each war — proving that, ultimately, a good dog wins out over politics.

Waldi: The 1972 Munich Olympics Mascot

Perhaps the most heartwarming moment in modern Dachshund history came in 1972, when the breed was chosen as the official mascot of the Munich Summer Olympics. The colorful, striped little Dachshund was named Waldi — and he holds a notable distinction: he was the first official mascot in the history of the modern Olympic Games.

Waldi was selected to represent the host city’s love of the breed and embody traits Olympic athletes share with Dachshunds: tenacity, agility, and resilience. After the controversies of the World Wars, Waldi marked Germany’s symbolic reclaiming of its national breed — and reintroduced the world to the Dachshund as a friendly, joyful mascot of unity rather than political division.

Famous Dachshund Owners Through History

The Dachshund’s charm has captivated some of history’s most notable figures. Famous Doxie owners include:

• Queen Victoria and the British royal family
• Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany
• Pablo Picasso, who often included his Dachshund “Lump” in his artwork
• Andy Warhol, who owned two famous Dachshunds named Archie and Amos
• David Hockney, the British painter, whose Dachshunds appear in numerous works
• Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, Hollywood’s golden-age power couple
• William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper magnate
• E.B. White, the author of Charlotte’s Web, who wrote hilariously about training his Dachshund Fred
• Adele, the singer, who owns a Dachshund named Louie
• John Wayne, who owned several Dachshunds throughout his life

The breed has also inspired countless cultural references — from Pixar’s Toy Story Slinky Dog to the long line of “wiener dog” jokes in pop culture. Even the term “hot dog” reportedly evolved from the original “Dachshund sausage” that German immigrants sold at American baseball games in the late 1800s.

The Dachshund Today

Today, the Dachshund stands as one of the most beloved breeds in the world. According to AKC registration statistics, Dachshunds consistently rank in the top 10 most popular breeds in the United States. They’re the most popular dog in 76 of 190 major U.S. cities, and they remain hugely popular in their home country of Germany — where they’re still affectionately called “Dackel” or “Teckel.”

Modern Dachshunds are mostly companion dogs, but the breed’s hunting heritage hasn’t disappeared. In Germany, dedicated jagdliche Leistungszucht (“hunting-related performance breeding”) kennels still produce working Dachshunds for tracking and burrow hunting, complete with formal hunting performance tests.

Most Dachshunds you’ll meet, however, have traded badger burrows for couch cushions. They’ve kept the bold personality, loud bark, prey drive, and stubborn streak — but channel it now toward squirrels, mailmen, and convincing you to share your dinner.

Related post: Are Dachshunds Hunting Dogs?

Frequently Asked Questions About Dachshund History

Where do Dachshunds originally come from?

Dachshunds originated in Germany, where they were developed by foresters and hunters to track and pursue badgers underground. The breed’s name literally means “badger dog” in German.

How old is the Dachshund breed?

References to badger dogs in Germany date back to the 15th century, but the modern Dachshund as we know it took shape in the late 1600s and was being consistently bred by the 18th century. By any measure, the breed is at least 300–600 years old.

What were Dachshunds bred to hunt?

Originally badgers, but Dachshunds were also used for hunting rabbits, foxes, and tracking wounded deer. In packs, they were even used to hunt larger prey like wild boar.

Why were Dachshunds called “liberty hounds”?

During World War I, anti-German sentiment in the U.S. and U.K. led to public hostility toward the breed. Many owners renamed their dogs “liberty hounds” (or sometimes “badger dogs”) to avoid persecution and protect their pets.

What is a Teckel?

Teckel is a German term for the Dachshund, especially used among hunters and to describe working Dachshunds bred specifically for hunting performance. In Germany, the most common everyday name is “Dackel.”

What was the first Olympic mascot?

The first official mascot in modern Olympic history was Waldi the Dachshund, designed for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.

Did Queen Victoria really love Dachshunds?

Yes. Queen Victoria was a devoted Dachshund fan after the breed was introduced to England in 1840. Her enthusiasm helped popularize Dachshunds across the United Kingdom, and the British royal family’s love of the breed continued for generations.

When was the Dachshund recognized in America?

The American Kennel Club officially recognized the Dachshund in 1885. The Dachshund Club of America was founded ten years later, in 1895.

Are modern Dachshunds different from the original ones?

Yes. Original Dachshunds were significantly larger (31–40 lbs vs. today’s 16–32 lbs), more heavily muscled, and bred in two leg varieties (straight and crook-legged). The modern Dachshund descends from the crook-legged type and has been refined toward a slightly more elegant build over centuries.

Final Thoughts: A Legacy That Lives On in Every Modern Doxie

When you look at your Dachshund chasing a squirrel through the backyard or fearlessly barking at a much larger dog, you’re seeing something extraordinary: centuries of careful German breeding still alive in the dog at your feet.

Every quirk has a reason. The deep bark that startles you in the middle of the night was bred to help hunters locate dogs underground. The stubborn refusal to come when called comes from a dog whose job was independent decision-making in dangerous burrows. The fearlessness in front of bigger dogs comes from ancestors who fought badgers, foxes, and even wild boar.

The Dachshund’s history is also a beautiful reminder that great dogs transcend politics. Despite being scapegoated during two world wars, despite being mocked for their unusual silhouette, and despite never being a “fashionable” breed in the show-dog sense, Dachshunds have endured and thrived because of one simple fact: they make wonderful companions.

So next time someone calls your Doxie a “wiener dog” — gently remind them that they’re looking at the descendant of one of Europe’s most accomplished hunting breeds. A small, brave, opinionated little dog with 600 years of history packed into that long, low body.

Disclaimer: Historical accounts of breed development can vary among sources. This article draws on the most widely accepted history as documented by the American Kennel Club, the Dachshund Club of America, and other recognized breed authorities.