As you might know, Doxins are famous for their long body and short legs. They almost appear comical because of these unusual features, but they still manage to snatch the hearts of many pet owners and settle on the 12th spot of the American Kennel Club (AKC) popularity ranking.
If you are a Doxin dog fancier, you’ll be greatly delighted by the facts I’m going to share in this guide. This breed has more to offer aside from its unique physical features, and we are going to talk about that as we go along.
Without further ado, here are the top 11 awesome facts about the Doxin dog!
1. Dachshunds Go by Many Names
Many consider Doxins as a great companion pet; that’s why they earned a lot of nicknames or aliases. Here are they:
Wiener-Dog
Dachshund
Dashie
Dachel
Teckel
Dachsels
Doxin Dog
Doxen
Doxen Dog
Doxie
Doxie Dog
Doxhund
Hot Dog
Sausage Dog
In the United States, they are more popularly known as Dachshunds. But this name isn’t actually an English word.
The word Dachshund is originally a combination of two German words: Dach which means badger and hund which means dog. I know you can put two and two together, so there’s that.
Another important thing to note is that in Germany, they are now more often called Teckels than Dachshunds. However, you’ll still come across breeders who call them by their nicknames, and that is already expected.
There is no right or wrong name to address this dog. Just use the term you’re more comfortable with or make another nickname if you want. The canine world isn’t that strict when it comes to this matter.
2. They Were Primarily Bred to Hunt Badgers
Doxies are extremely brave and fierce because they are bred to be badger dogs 300 years ago. By this, I mean that their short legs and long bodies were really developed to hunt into burrows and track scents on the ground.
It also seems that they aren’t aware of their non-imposing size. They take on 15-pound animals without hesitation and they are merciless no matter what type of prey they are hunting.
Here’s an actual video of Doxins entering dens of their prey and actually using their skills in scent tracking:
Dachshunds hunting<a href="https://youtu.be/ydiVaWNHCEg" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FydiVaWNHCEg%2F0.jpg" alt="Dachshunds hunting" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
3. They Come in Many Color Varieties
As is with picking clothes or food, we are swayed by pets who come in a multitude of colors. Doxies don’t disappoint in this field because data from the AKC reports 15 color varieties of this dog. 12 of which are standard and allowed to join in conformation shows.
Here are all of their 15 colors:
Black and cream
Black and tan
Blue and cream
Blue and tan
Chocolate and cream
Chocolate and tan
Cream
Fawn (Isabella) and cream
Fawn (Isabella) and tan
Red
Wheaten
Wild boar
Black (non-standard)
Chocolate (non-standard)
Fawn (non-standard)
Aside from these shades, they may also exhibit certain markings like brindle, dapple, sable, brindle piebald, double dapple, and piebald.
RECOMMENDED READING: Male vs. Female Dachshund: Which Is Better?
4. The Very First Olympic Mascot Was a Doxen
Would you believe that these dogs are once the face of the Olympics? You better do because in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, Dachshunds served as an inspiration for the mascot named Waldi.
They were chosen during the Christmas party of the game’s committee in 1969. Those who attended the celebration were given crayons and clays to create the mascot they want to represent the Olympics.
Since Dachshunds are quite a colorful breed and they are also very athletic, most of the party-goers decided to pick them over other interesting animals. It is also pretty obvious that they will be chosen since they are a pride of Germany.
Otl Aicher was the one who created Waldi after the committee finalized their decision. He modeled the mascot to a long-haired Doxen Dog named Cherie von Birkenhof.
The colors he used were the primary shades of the Olympic rings, but he skipped black and red since those colors had some political associations at that time. This is how it turned out:
Photo from @gary_hustwit (IG)
Apart from serving as a mascot, the marathon route for that year was plotted following the shape of a Dachshund. Now, tell me if these dogs aren’t awesome!
5. Nazis Believe They Were Able to Train a Dachshund to Talk
Uh-oh. You’re thinking I’m making this up, don’t you? In my defense, there are several accounts that prove Nazis believe that they trained their Doxins how to communicate the way humans do.
I know this sounds weird (because I’m weirded out, too), but during World War I, Nazi scientists publicized that the dogs in their possession were successfully taught how to read, speak, and spell. They even claim that these dogs can communicate telepathically.
One good example of this curious incident was when a Dachshund named Kurwenal was said to speak through a canine telegraph. The dog associated different bark numbers with different letters and he had his very own biographer.
Sounds bonkers to me, but oh well. This just adds to the colorful history of the Dachshund breed.
6. Hot Dogs Were Named After This Puppy
Many would argue that Doxen Dogs got their Hot Dog and Sausage Dog nickname from the food of the same names. I feel the need to correct this because I think this is a matter of great importance for their population. I’m dead serious, trust me.
Doxies used to be the favorite companion pets of German butchers. It is believed that since what they are selling is of the same shape as the dog, they initially called hot dogs as Dachshund sausages.
As time passed, this changed to hot dog and the very first record of this term being used was on Yale Record in 1895.
7. Doxens Underwent Rebranding During WWI
This dog breed went through difficult times. And it’s nothing like getting lost in the park kind of difficult. They underwent rebranding for a certain period because they used to be frowned upon by many Americans.
This is because they were used in British humorous propaganda portraying their country of origin which is Germany.
To help the Dachshund regain popularity in the U.S., the AKC temporarily changed their name into “Badger Dog.” They were also addressed as “Liberty Pups” by some people.
Unfortunately, this rebranding done by the AKC did not change the contempt against the breed. Their wartime image remained because the German emperor loved them very much. In fact, he even owned five of them.
8. The First Dog to Be Cloned in Britain Is a Dachshund
Apparently, cloning dogs is a thing in some countries. And the first-ever breed to be cloned in Britain is none other than the Doxens.
According to the Daily Mail, a Doxen owner named Rebecca Smith won a certain competition which reduced the 60,000 costs of cloning to zero. Her dog’s name is Winnie, and the cloned Doxen’s name is Mini-Winnie.
Initially, scientists gathered a skin sample from Winnie and proceeded to manufacture a genetically identical embryo in Korea. Afterwhich, Mini-Winnie was born and flown to Britain after five months.
The resemblance between Winnie and her clone is very much apparent even though they are 12 years apart. When put side by side, you’ll notice that they have the same markings and form. However, you’ll also see that the adult Mini has put on weight and her hair is already graying.
9. Doxin Dog Races Exist All Over the World
Despite being short-legged, Doxens actually have their own race. This originated in Australia during the 1970s and eventually spread in other parts of the world in the succeeding decades.
One of the most known Doxen races is the Wienerschnitzel Weiner Nationals. This has been yearly staged in Southern California since the year 1995.
I need to clarify, though, that this is not a serious sport because Doxens aren’t really racing dogs. Most people just find these races enjoyable because of the Dachshund’s build.
Here are other Dachshund races you should check out if you are interested in joining your dog:
Most of these races are organized to earn funds for dog shelters and rescues. That’s why if you decide to have your dog participate, you are also helping other pups too.
10. Two Purebred Doxies and a Mix Used to Be the World’s Oldest Dog
Do you think Doxies are done surprising you? Nuh-uh.
Two Doxens were once the world’s oldest dog according to the Guinness World Record. Aside from the two purebreds, a Dachshund cross also held the title for some time.
Doxie dogs usually live for 12 to 15 years, but to everyone’s surprise, a purebred Dachshund named Chanel lived up to 21 years and held the oldest dog title in 2009. She died due to natural causes, so she no longer reached her 22nd birthday.
In the succeeding year, a cross between a Doxen Dog and a Terrier named Otto grabbed Chanel’s spot and he lived for 20 years. Unfortunately, he didn’t reach the former’s age because he was euthanized due to cancer.
In the year 2013, another purebred Doxie named Scolly lived for 20 years and he was also recognized by the GWR. It is not clear what caused his death, but he surely made his owners proud before passing.
The long lives of these Dachshunds are mainly attributed by their owners to regular veterinary check-ups and a healthy diet.
Want your Dachshund to be the fourth on the list? Then, make sure you know how to take care of their basic needs and regularly bring them to the vet. Easy-peasy!
RECOMMENDED READING: Papshund (Papillon & Dachshund Mix): Info, Pictures, And More
11. Doxies Are a Favorite of Artists and Celebrities
Doxens are incredibly popular (you must have realized this by now). They are a recurring subject of David Hockney who used to own two Doxies named Stanley and Boodgie. 45 of Hockney’s paintings portray this dog and he also featured them in his book.
Speaking of books, Gary Larson also dedicated one to these pooches entitled Wiener Dog Art. The book consists of classic art pieces all over the world and Doxens were added for comedic effect.
Other famous artists that fell in love with this breed are Andy Warhol and Picasso. Warhol used to bring his Doxen Dog with him during interviews, and if he didn’t want to answer a question asked, he made the dog answer for him.
Meanwhile, Picasso became a fan of this breed after he saw Lump, David Douglas Duncan‘s Doxie Dog. Duncan brought Lump in one of their meetings and it seems like both Picasso and the Dachshund were entranced by each other.
Lump stayed in Picasso’s mansion in Cannes for six years since he did not get along well with Duncan’s Afghan Hound.
He was photographed a lot of times by her former owner enjoying his stay in the mansion as well as the companion of Picasso. Duncan later published a book containing the pictures of the two entitled Picasso and Lump: A Dachshund’s Odyssey.
Aside from all these artists, many celebrities are also obsessed with this dog. Some of them are Adele, Doris Day, David Hasselhoff, Clint Eastwood, Audrey Hepburn, and John Wayne.
Final Thoughts: Should You Get a Doxin Dog?
Doxin dogs are quite an interesting breed since they have a very rich history. These dogs have been a part of British propaganda during World War I. Imagine that! What’s more, their unique appearance makes them an excellent pet to flaunt around.
If I did not convince you to get a Doxen through this article, I suggest you browse my other blogs because I made sure to feature every exciting thing you need to know about them. You can also benefit from reading those if you are already a Doxie Dog owner.
I hope you had fun reading this as much as I enjoyed writing all the Doxin facts above. Until the next one!
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