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Setting the scene
German foresters bred low, long-bodied hounds to pursue badgers into burrows; by the nineteenth century 'Dachs Kriecher' dogs appeared in hunting manuals and noble kennels across Saxony and Bavaria, prompting breed clubs to codify uniform appearance.
What happened
The dachshund breed standard was established in 1879 by the Deutscher Teckelklub, fixing wire, smooth, and long-haired coat types along with chest measurements suited for underground work.
Why it still matters
Wiener-dog nicknames followed in America after World War I soldiers brought them home; dachshunds surged in popularity despite brief anti-German renaming during wartime, and remain icons of stubborn hunting instinct packaged in lap-dog size.
Background
Wiener-dog nicknames followed in America.