Dachshund..

The dachshund is a short legged,elongated dog breed,of the hound family.The standard size was developed to scent,chase and flush badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals,while the miniature was developed to hunt smaller prey,like rabbits.In the American West,they have also been used to hunt prairie dogs.The name 'dachshund' is of German origin and literally means 'badger dogs',from dachs(badger) and hund(dog).The pronounciation varies widely in english.Because of their long,narrow bulid,they are sometimes nicknamed hot dog dog,wiener dog or sausage dog.Although 'dachshund' is a German word,in modern German they are also commonly known by the name Dackel.While classified in the hound group in the United States and Great Britain,there are some who consider this classification to be arguable,speculating that it arose from the fact that the word hund is similar to the English word hound.Part of the controversy is because the dachshund is the only certifiable breed of dog to hunt both above and below ground.