First, he differs
physically from the general conception of the breed. His legs are a bit
longer, and his back is a bit shorter, which gives him greater agility.
Dachshunds of the wirehaired coat variety are the most commonly used for
tracking wounded deer. Many of them trace their ancestry directly back to
Germany where they are bred for tracking wounded game, as well as for
underground work.
More
important than coat and appearance is the inner dachshund. A good tracking
dachshund checks things out first with his nose. He has a scent hound’s
line sense; he knows instinctively that a scent line leads somewhere and
he wants to follow. He has a very good nose, and most important, he has
the intelligence to use that nose well. With some experience, a good
tracking dachshund learns to stay on the scent line of a deer, wounded the
day before. He ignores the hot scent lines of deer that have just crossed
ahead of him. A tracking dachshund has stubborn patience and at the same
time a readiness to cooperate with his handler to find that wounded deer.
The tracking
dachshund offers several special advantages. He loves human contact and
is ideal as a family dog. On the other hand, he is not the dog to leave
isolated in a kennel. A 20 to 25 pound dachshund is a handy dog, equally
at home on a Four-Wheeler or on the seat of a car or pickup. Keep in mind
that this small size can sometimes be a disadvantage. A dachshund is less
likely to survive a rattlesnake bite than a long-legged, eighty pound dog.
Born-To-Track
