Dachshund Minitaure Long Haired
Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE - In conformation the Miniature Dachshund should be in all respects similar to the Dachshund of standard size. It should be compact, short-legged and long in body, well muscled and strong, with bold and intelligent expression. The body should be neither so plump as to give an impression of cobbiness, nor so slender as to impart a weasel-like appearance. Height at shoulder should be half the length of the body measured from the breast bone to the base of the tail, and the girth of the chest double the height at the shoulder. The length from the tip of the nose to the eyes should equal the length from eyes to base of skull.

CHARACTERISTICS - The Miniature Dachshund should be gay, alert, bold and highly intelligent. Despite its small size it should be strong, extremely active, hardy and game. Movement should be free and gay, both fore and hind feet should move straight forward without plaiting or crossing in front and free from any tendency to throw out the hind feet sideways.

TEMPERAMENT - (Not detailed)

HEAD AND SKULL - Long and conical when seen from above, sharp in profile and finely modelled. Skull neither too broad, nor too narrow, only slightly arched, without prominent stop. Foreface long and narrow, finely modelled. The lips should be tightly drawn but well covering the lower jaw, neither too heavy nor too sharply cut away. The corners of the mouth slightly marked.

EYES - Of medium size, neither prominent nor too deeply set, oval in shape, placed obliquely. They should be clear and expressive and dark in colour except in Dapples and Chocolates, in which wall or light eyes are permissible.

EARS - Broad and placed relatively well back, high and well set on, lying close to the cheeks and very mobile. The leather of the ears when pulled to the front should not extend beyond the tip of the nose.

MOUTH - Wide, extending back to behind the eyes. Teeth sound and strong, the inner side of the upper incisors closing on the outer side of the under ones.

NECK - Long and muscular, showing no dewlap, slightly arched at the nape, running cleanly into the shoulders, carried well up, giving the dog an alert, defiant appearance.

FOREQUARTERS - Muscular, with deep chest. Shoulder-blades should be long and broad, set obliquely and lying firmly on well-developed ribs. The breast bone should be prominent, extending so far forward as to show depressions on both sides. Upper arm equal in length to the shoulder blade, which it should join at an angle of 90 degrees, well boned and muscled, set on close to the ribs but moving freely. Lower arm short, inclined slightly inwards, well boned and free from wrinkle.

BODY - Long and well muscled with oblique shoulders and short strong pelvic region. Ribs well-sprung and extending far back. Chest oval, well let down between the forelegs, with the deepest point of the keel level with the wrist-joints. The line of the back level or only slightly depressed over the shoulders and slightly arched over the loin, with the belly moderately tucked up.

HINDQUARTERS - Rump full, round and broad. Pelvis bone not too short, broad, strong and set obliquely. Thigh bone strong, of good length and jointed to the pelvis at an angle of 90 degrees. Second thighs short, set at right angles to the upper thigh and well muscled. Hocks well let down, set wide apart, strongly bent. Seen from behind the legs should be straight, with no tendency for the hocks to turn inwards or outwards.

FEET - Broad and large in proportion to the size of the dog, straight or turned only slightly outwards. The hind feet smaller than the fore. Toes close together and with each toe well arched. Nails strong. The dog must stand equally on all parts of the foot.

TAIL - Set on fairly high, not too long, tapering and without too marked a curve. It should not be carried too high and never curled over the back.

GAIT/MOVEMENT - (Not detailed)

COAT - The coat should be soft and straight or only slightly waved. It is longest under the neck, on the under-parts of the body and behind the legs, where it should form abundant feathering and on the tail where it should form a flag. The outside of the ears should also be well feathered. The coat should be flat, resembling that of an Irish Setter, and should not obscure the outline. Too much hair on the feet is not desired.

COLOUR - Any colour. No white is permissible except for a small spot on the breast and even this is undesirable. The nose should be black except in Dapples and Chocolates in which it may be flesh coloured or brown. In all cases the coat colour should be bright and clearly defined. In black and tans the tan should be rich and sharp. Dapples should be free from large unbroken patches, the dappling being evenly distributed over the whole body.

SIZE - The ideal weight is 4.5 kg (10 lbs) and it is of the utmost importance that judges should not award a prize to any dog exceeding 5 kg (11 lbs) in weight. Other points being equal the smaller the better, but mere diminutiveness must never take precedence over general type and soundness. Any appearance of weediness or toyishness is to be avoided at all costs.

FAULTS - Nervous or cringing demeanour.
Round skull
Round or protruding eyes.
Short ears.
Mouth under or overshot.
Shallow chest. Short body. Narrowness in front or behind.
Long legs. Cow hocks.
Splayed feet.

NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.


Hound Group A.N.K.C. © January 1998