[6] The name dachshund is of German origin, and means 'badger dog', from Dachs ('badger') and Hund ('dog, hound').

[7][8] Although Dachshund is a German word, in modern Germany, the dogs are more commonly known by the short name Dackel.

[12] Many dachshunds, especially the wire-haired subtype, may exhibit behavior and appearance similar to the terrier group of dogs.

Patterns such as dapple (merle), sable, brindle and piebald also can occur on any of the base colors.

Dachshunds in the same litter may be born in different coat colors depending on the genetic makeup of the parents.

Piebald is now a recognized color in the Dachshund Club of America (DCA) breed standard.

I would rather train a striped zebra to balance an Indian club than induce a dachshund to heed my slightest command.

[21] A Japanese study found the Miniature Dachshund to have higher rates of refusing to move whilst on a walk, barking at outside noises whilst inside, barking at strangers visiting their home, separation anxiety, inappropriate elimination (faecal and urinary incontinence), hesitancy to approach unknown humans and canines, and aggression towards family members, highlighting the breed's stubbornness and aggression.

[32] According to the American Kennel Club's breed standards, "the dachshund is clever, lively and courageous to the point of rashness, persevering in above and below ground work, with all the senses well-developed.

[36] The risk of injury may be worsened by obesity, jumping, rough handling, or intense exercise, which place greater strain on the vertebrae.

In addition, studies have shown that development of calcified discs is highly heritable in the breed.

A minimally invasive procedure called "percutaneous laser disk ablation" has been developed at the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Hospital.

[42] Originally, the procedure[43] was used in clinical trials[43] only on dachshunds that had suffered previous back incidents.

Since dachshunds are prone to back issues, the goal is to expand this treatment to dogs in a normal population.

[47] In some double dapples, there are varying degrees of vision and hearing loss, including reduced or absent eyes.

[48] Not all double dapples have problems with their eyes and/or ears, which may include degrees of hearing loss, full deafness, malformed ears, congenital eye defects, reduced or absent eyes, partial or full blindness, or varying degrees of both vision and hearing problems; but heightened problems can occur owing to the genetic process in which two dapple genes cross, particularly in certain breeding lines.

[49] When occurring genetically within the eyes or ears, this white mutation can be detrimental to development, causing hearing or vision problems.

Other dachshund health problems include hereditary epilepsy,[50] granulomatous meningoencephalitis, dental issues, Cushing's syndrome, thyroid[50] and autoimmune problems,[51] various allergies[52] and atopies, and various eye conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy,[50] corneal ulcers, nonulcerative corneal disease, sudden acquired retinal degeneration, and cherry eye.

Dachshunds are also 2.5 times more likely than other breeds of dogs to develop patent ductus arteriosus, a congenital heart defect.

Since the occurrence and severity of these health problems is largely hereditary, breeders are working to eliminate these.

A study in Japan found the Miniature Dachshund to have lower rates of glaucoma than other breeds.

[55] A 2018 study in Japan of pet cemetery data put the Miniature Dachshund life expectancy at 13.9 years compared to 13.7 overall and 15.1 for crossbreeds.

[citation needed] Double-dapple dachshunds, which are prone to eye disease, blindness, or hearing problems, are generally believed to have been introduced to the United States between 1879 and 1885.

One theory is that smooth dachshunds would occasionally produce puppies which had slightly longer hair than their parents.

[70] The stigma of the association was revived to a lesser extent during World War II, though it was comparatively short-lived.

Kaiser Wilhelm II and German field marshal Erwin Rommel were known for keeping dachshunds.

Another favorite sport is earthdog trials, in which dachshunds enter tunnels with dead ends and obstacles attempting to locate either an artificial bait or live but caged (and thus protected) rats.

[76] There are organized local dachshund clubs in most major American cities, including New York, New Orleans, Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago.