The dachshund is a long-bodied, short-legged dog with hanging ears, a slightly arched muzzle, and a tapering tail. The breed is recognized in two sizes: miniature, under 4.5 kg (10 lb), and standard, up to about 11 kg (25 lb). Heights range from 13 to 23 cm (5 to 9 in) at the shoulder. Three coat types exist: longhaired, shorthaired, and wirehaired. Coat colors and patterns vary from dark solids to light and dappled.
The dachshund was developed in Germany several hundred years ago to hunt badger and other animals that retreated into underground burrows; dachshund means "badger dog" in German. The breed's long, low-slung body enabled it to follow small game into a burrow and either keep it at bay or drive it out.
