The Dachshund, from the tips of its toes…
General Aspect
Low dog with short legs, an elongated yet compact and highly muscular body. Despite short legs for such a long body, the breed is very lively and agile. A daschund should not appear either crippled, awkward, cramped in its capacity for movement, weasel-lik, or too thin.
Head
Elongated viewed from clean cut from above and in profile, it tapers uniformly to the nose without being pointed. The superciliary ridges are clearly defined. The skull should be slightly arched, sloping gradually without stop into the finely formed, slightly arched muzzle. The bridge bones over the eyes should be prominent. The nasal cartlidge and the tip of the nose are long and narrow; the nostrils are well open. The lips are tightly stretched, well covering the lower jaw but neither deep or pointed; the corner of the mouth is not very marked. The jaws open wide and are hinged well back of the eyes. The teeth are strong developed, with canine teeth that fit closely together.
Ears
Set high and not too far forward, of sufficient length, but not exaggerated. Rounded, not narrow, pointed or folded. They are mobile. The forward edge should just touch the cheek.
Eyes
Medium size, oval, almond-shaped, set well apart. They should have a clear, alert, yet friendly expression; not piercing. Colors range from lustrous bright, dark reddish brown to blackish brown in every colour of the coat. Wall, eyes in dapple dogs are permissible. Glassy, fishlike. or beady eyes in gray are not a serious fault.
Neck
Should be fairly long, muscular and lean cut - not shouwing and dewlap on throat. It should be held high, slightly arched in the nape, carried proudly not stiffly.
Body
The upper line traces a harmonious contour from the neck to the slightly sloping croup. The withers are pronounced. The back is straight along the length of the thoracic vertebrae or slightly inclined towards the rear. As to the chest,the sternum is well developed and so prominent that slight depressions appear on either side. From the front the ribcage is oval; from above and in profile it is capacious. The ribs are well receded. If the shoulder blade and upper armare the right length and angulation, the front leg covers the lowest point of the sternal line in profile.
Coat
A) Whole-colored Dachshund
Red, reddish yellow, yellow – all with or without interspersed black hairs. A clear color is preferred and red is more highly valued than reddish yellow or yellow. White is not permissible except for a small patch on chest. The nose and nails are black.
B) Two-colored Dachshund
Deep black or brown, with tan or yellow markings over the eyes, on the sides of muzzle, the lower lip, the inner edge of the ears, the forechest, the inside and rear of the legs and paws, and around the vent, where it extends down about a third or a half of the underside of the tail. The nose and nails are black in black dogs, brown in brown dogs. White is not permissible except for a small patch on chest. Too much tan or yellow marking is undesirable.
