The black and tan thereupon went quite out of favour, and this fact, coupled with the reckless amount of inbreeding of red to red that has been going on since Ptero’s day, accounts largely for the prevalence of light eyes, pink noses, and bad-coloured coats of the Dachshunds, as a class, to-day.

There are, strictly speaking, three varieties of Dachshund—­(a) the short-haired, (b) the long-haired, and (c) the rough-haired.

Of these we most usually find the first-named in England, and they are no doubt the original stock.  Of the others, though fairly numerous in Germany, very few are to be seen in this country, and although one or two have been imported the type has never seemed to appeal to exhibitors.

Both the long-haired and rough-haired varieties have no doubt been produced by crosses with other breeds, such as the Spaniel and probably the Irish Terrier, respectively.

In the long-haired variety the hair should be soft and wavy, forming lengthy plumes under the throat, lower parts of the body, and the backs of the legs, and it is longest on the under side of the tail, where it forms a regular flag like that of a Setter or Spaniel.  The rough-haired variety shows strongly a terrier cross by his “varmint” expression and short ears.

The Germans also subdivide by colour, and again for show purposes by weight.  These subdivisions are dealt with in their proper order in the standard of points, and it is only necessary to say here that all the varieties, colours, and weights are judged by the same standard except in so far as they differ in texture of coat.  At the same time the Germans themselves do not regard the dapple Dachshunds as yet so fixed in type as the original coloured dogs, and this exception must also apply to the long and the rough haired varieties.

The following German standard of points embodies a detailed description of the breed:—­

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GENERAL APPEARANCE AND DISPOSITION—­In general appearance the Dachshund is a very long and low dog, with compact and well-muscled body, resting on short, slightly crooked fore-legs.  A long head and ears, with bold and defiant carriage and intelligent expression.  In disposition the Dachshund is full of spirit, defiant when attacked, aggressive even to foolhardiness when attacking; in play amusing and untiring; by nature wilful and unheeding.  HEAD—­Long, and appearing conical from above, and from a side view, tapering to the point of the muzzle, wedge-shaped.  The skull should be broad rather than narrow, to allow plenty of brain room, slightly arched, and fairly straight, without a stop, but not deep or snipy.  EYES—­Medium in size, oval, and set obliquely, with very clear, sharp expression and of a dark colour, except in the case of the liver and tan, when the eyes may be yellow; and in the dapple, when the eyes may be light or “wall-eyed.”  NOSE—­Preferably