Four Fundamentals Of The Show Dachshund
Download this page in PDF format‘FOUR FUNDAMENTALS’
by Albert E. Van Court
(as printed in Popular Dogs Magazine c. 1960)
In the thirteen years of our activities in Dachshunds, my wife and I have observed and judges emphasize and re-emphasize certain attributes of the breed – particularly size and color – but in spite of changing tastes the Dachshund has, through his own virtues, won a deep-rooted place in the hearts of the public.
During these thirteen years, breeders have changed the emphasis from red to black, from medium-sized to large and back again several times. Personally, I think it makes no difference if he be red or black, large or small, as long as he is a good specimen conforming to the Standard. But I do feel that four basic fundamentals are sometimes lost sight of in the endeavor of some to produce super shoulder placement, super running gear, or super whatnot. Some attain their desired goal in improving one particular part of the dog but lose, in so doing, basic fundamentals — namely: type, balance, temperament, and condition. If a Dachshund has not good type, balance, and sound temperament, he is not a real Dachshund.
Now type is an attribute hard to define exactly, just as the words beauty and elegance are hard to define. For a Dachshund to have type he must be endowed with head, neck, backline, body, and outline which classifies him immediately as the correct example of what the experienced breeder demands as a correct specimen.
If the head is not elegant, if the neck is not long and graceful, if the backline is not level and of sufficient length, if angulation — front and aft — is lacking, then the whole dog loses that eye-filling appeal which perfect type demands.
Usually the judge starts his examination at the head, and a non-typical head and expression, although no more important that other attributes, is a great handicap and often quickly relegates the specimen to that great middle class or mediocre dogs. It is hard for a Dachshund to have good type without a good head and a true Dachshund expression. A short neck or shelly middle-piece, or improper angulation also removes the dog from being classed as typical.
If type is satisfactory, the dog must also be well balanced. One part should not be over-developed to a point where the symmetry of the whole is destroyed. A well –developed forechest with properly angulated shoulders is much to be desired but if not in proportion to the hindquarters, the desired balance is lost. All should form a symmetrical whole.
Next we must have good temperament. A Dachshund which is cross, timid, or which is not alert should be discarded. That line in the Standard which says a Dachshund should be clever, lively, and courageous to the point of rashness is too often forgotten. The real Dachshund is gay, happy, and alert and is not a plodder or a dullard.
Condition is also important. A dog in full bloom is in good health, and the dog’s nobility and elegance are emphasized if exhibited with a shiny, well-conditioned, radiant coat covering firm muscles and flesh.
Movement is a great exposer of virtues and faults. Bad angulation prevents good movement. If improperly angulated in front the dog cannot reach forward properly. If improperly angulated in the rear, the dog drags himself along the ground instead of propelling himself by a rear-end drive and follow-through which lets the pads of the hind feet be seen as the dog goes away from you. Many dogs may gait in a straight line, but they have little power of propulsion if not properly angulated.
I prefer to study a Dachshund more from the viewpoint of virtues than faults. By this I do not mean that serious faults should be overlooked. Most dogs have a few faults, but some have so much type and quality that the virtues overshadow the faults. Conversely, a dog with only negligible faults may never be a top dog because it lacks type, balance, or elegance. The dogs which reach the top of the ladder all have some fault, but they attain their top rating by showing type, balance, and elegance. The dog which does not rise above mediocrity can blame his plight not so much on his faults but more on his lack of virtues.
The perfect dog does not exist, but a great dog, if shown fearlessly under many judges, will find his proper place at the top and you will always find this great dog having type, balance, and sound temperament.
submitted by Bob Bray, February 18, 2012