Weighing of Miniature Dachshunds 02-Feb-09
The General Committee of the Kennel Club has considered the stance taken by the Dachshund Breed Council with regard to the weighing of Miniature Dachshunds at shows i.e. that ‘judges who refuse to weigh Miniature Dachshunds may have their names removed from the Breed Council (and UK Clubs’) Judging Lists and will not be offered appointments at any Breed Club shows.’
Having considered this matter, the Committee is of the opinion that those judges who refuse to weigh Miniature Dachshunds are being penalised by the Breed Council for so doing. The impact on new judges is thought to be particularly important in that, by placing a barrier to those who refuse to weigh being offered appointments to judge at breed club open shows, progression is effectively being blocked. It was the Committee’s view that any judges choosing not to weigh, as is their privilege under the new Regulations, should be supported by the Kennel Club.
Being mindful that the Kennel Club has, for potential welfare reasons, taken a line against weighing and has discontinued the practice at its own show Crufts, and in view of its focus on health and welfare issues, the Committee did not agree with the expressed attitude of the Dachshund Breed Council. It suggested that if the Breed Council persisted in taking such a stance certain consequences would follow:
- it would no longer consider any necessity for a prospective judge of Miniature Dachshunds to have undertaken an appointment at a breed club open show and
- it would not seek Breed Council opinion for any future nominations to judge the breed at Kennel Club Challenge Certificate level.
Though it has been agreed by the General Committee that no outright ban on weighing should be imposed meantime, its decision to allow the weighing of Miniature Dachshunds to continue at the discretion of the judge and the show concerned, will continue to be kept under strict review by the Kennel Club.
In the meantime it should be noted that, in line with previous Kennel Club announcements, both the judge and the show society concerned must be in agreement on whether or not weighing takes place and each is therefore responsible for arriving at this decision. The Kennel Club has made its position clear on this subject, in deciding that at its own show Crufts judges will not weigh Miniature Dachshunds,.
It has also been suggested that to avoid any potential allegations regarding the health and welfare of Miniature Dachshunds, water bowls should be placed in the Miniature Dachshund rings at shows. It is hoped that the Dachshund Breed Council and show societies will give their wholehearted support to this suggestion.
Colours vary tremendously; the standard states that all colours are allowed, although white is permitted only in a small patch on the chest, and even this is not desirable. In dapples, white is allowed, but it must be even all over. The Smooth varieties have dense, short coats, while the Longs show a soft texture with straight or slightly wavy hairs. The Wires should have short, straight, harsh hair with a dense undercoat, with bearded chin and bushy eyebrows. All in all, a marvellous selection of attractive and sporting dogs.
The Dachshund is a fairly long and low dog, but still compact, and with enough length of leg to move freely as befits his purpose in life entering badger sets or rabbit warrens. Such a task requires tremendous courage and extremely powerful jaws, a point that is obvious when one compares the muzzle length with that of many larger breeds. The feet are permitted to incline slightly outwards to enable the hound to dig freely, but this must not be exaggerated. The forearm is permitted to incline slightly outward to enable the dog to dig freely, but this must not be exaggerated to such an extent that the legs become bowed inward. The length of the back and the character of the discs between the vertebrae of the spine have a tendency to allow a weakening in the area, and it is therefore important that the loin should be short and strong, and that individuals should not be allowed to become obese. The breed’s ability to eat anything placed in front of it should never be pandered to.
Temperamentally, all six varieties are very good at giving a good account of themselves as guards of property, and their relatively low stature should never give anyone the idea that they will be easy meat for the criminally inclined. With their families and friends they make wonderful companions, but firmness is needed in their early training as they can be notably independent.
Germany is the breed’s home country, where sizes are separated not by weight but by chest circumference, the divisions being based on what size of hole they could enter when going to hunt.
Dachshund Back Disorder IVDD
Some Dachshunds are prone to back disorder IVDD.
Recent research suggests SOME back issues are genetic so
check your breeders history on this before buying a dog
from them. There has been a great deal of work done in
Denmark on this issue unfortunately it's still very much
in the early stages in the UK currently. As things
currently stand we feel it is best to ensure our own
dogs all have good strong boning and thus strong backs
with a normal natural slight curve (they require a
slight curve for strength and health) as are those we
use to breed with. We also try to breed for long rib
cages to try and help ensure stronger backs.
The problem occurs when the inner jelly protrudes or
herniates through the fibrous layer into the vertebral
canal and presses on the spinal cord. This compression
may be slight or severe and this will depend on the
amount of protrusion into the canal.
Type I
intervertebral disk disease usually occurs in
dogs with short thick legs such as dachshunds. Although
short legs are normal for this breeds it is basically
the result of abnormal development of cartilage. The
disks in these dogs become more like cartilage than
fibrous tissue, this increases the risk of rupture into
the vertebral canal. This can occur in these dogs at a
fairly young age 3-6 years and sometimes younger and can
occur at several sites in the back, causing considerable
pain.
Type II
intervertebral disk disease often only partial
protrusion not complete rupture and mostly seen in dogs
that do not have the short thick legs and are larger
breeds. Usually appears in older dogs 6-10 years and
develops more slowly and is less severe than Type 1.
Type III
intervertebral disk disease this is a fairly
rare, type of disc rupture and is most damaging and
traumatic. The disc material herniates severally and may
actually enter the spinal cord, so causing severe
damage. This may result in some areas of the cord dying.
The damage may be so severe that the only humane option
is euthanasia.
Signs of canine back problems or disk disease
- Type 1
usually starts quite quickly and is usually severe
depending on the amount of pressure on the spinal cord,
there may be pain in the region of the neck, weakness or
paralysis in some or all the limbs. Pain is the main
sign of this disease and may be steady or occasional,
sudden movement causes excruciating pain.
Type 11
intervertebral disk
disease
- usually develops much more slowly over several months,
with pain, weakness or paralysis in some or all of the
limbs.
Treatment
IVDD
can result in permanent paralysis and incontinence if
not treated.
Medical treatment of this disease consists of anti
inflammatory medication and strict rest (in a cage)
toileting your dog on a lead. Surgery is a possibility
in serious cases to relieve the pressure on the spinal
cord, recovery after surgery ranges from fair to good
depending on certain factors. Other options are
hydrotherapy, massage, acupuncture, herbal homeopathic
treatments, and to assist if paralysed a dog wheelchair.
It is critical to seek veterinarian help immediately, if
you think your dog has a back problem, your vet will
discuss with you the treatment options available in your
dogs particular case.
EPILESPY IN MINIATURE DACHSHUNDS
Epilepsy means repeated seizures
due to abnormal activity in the brain. It is caused by
an abnormality in the brain itself. If seizures occur
because of a health problem elsewhere in the body, for
example a heart problem, which stops oxygen reaching the
brain, this is not epilepsy nor are issues such has
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) to be confused with it.
Your vet can do tests to try to find the reason for the
epilepsy but in many cases if all the tests come back
negative it is simply a conclusion of it must be
epilepsy because it isn't anything else that can be
tested for. Epilepsy affects around 4 in every hundred
dogs and In Dachshunds it is currently thought to be
hereditary. To that end if a dog is found to be
suffering from epilepsy and or suspected epilepsy it
would be highly recommended to no longer use that dog
for breeding and possibly it's offspring. (Note: I have
posted this information due to the fact that one of my
dogs suffered from Epilespy - whilst it is a initally a
frightening experience one learns to live with the fact
that it can happen when least expected.) Having coped
with this problem I decided to take the necessary steps
to have my dog castrated in order that in case of
accidents this problem could not be passed onto future
progeny. The dog in question continues to lead a very
healthy happy life, and due to modern medicine does not
suffer in any way.


