Tahltan Bear Dog vs Dachshund - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

The primitive Tahltan Bear Dog comes from Canada. The dog was developed by the Tahltan people to hunt bears, so you can imagine he was a strong, brave dog.

They also had fox-like yaps that confused bears until the hunter could come and kill the bear. These dogs are descended from pariah-type dogs with their diet being birds and fish.

It was in 1988 that the Canadian Post Office honoured the Tahltan Bear Dog by having a picture of it appearing on a stamp.

Some people claim that after the 1960s there are no longer any living descendants while others say that breeding projects were established and that there are still a few of these dogs around today. There are records on the other hand that claim the dog became extinct in the 1970s.

These dogs have been recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Dachshund originated in Germany. He was used as a hunting dog with his origins starting way back in the 15th century already. The small dog was developed to hunt for animals that buried themselves deep underground such as badgers. The shape of the dog and his courage and bravery allowed him to take on the badger.

There has been a lot of debate as to whether the Dachshund is a hound or terrier, and it was decided that the Dachshund is a hound that became a terrier, and which displays some of the best qualities of both.

It was in 1881 that the Dachshund Club of England was formed and the German Deutscher Teckelklub was formed in 1888. The small dog gained popularity in America and the Dachshund Club of America was founded in 1895.

Not like a bear, but more foxy in appearance or even more like a husky, the Tahltan Bear dog is medium sized, standing at between 36 – 43cm in height and weighing between 6 – 9 kg.

It is believed that they were similar to spitz and pariah type dogs, and were athletic. The short to medium length coat of the dog was mainly black or brown with some white.

He had fairly large pointed, erect ears and also a fairly pointed muzzle. The tail was interesting and was short and furry and always carried erect.

Temperament:

The Tahltan Bear Dog is fearless, not being deterred when meeting large bear. It's why the dog has been valued by hunters – their bravery and fearlessness.

They’re great family dogs too and will get on well with children. He is intelligent and easy to train if you want to give him training and socialization.

Known as Badger Dogs, Sausage Dogs or Doxies, the Dachshund is known for his long body, his sharp, pointed face and the short legs with the large front paws.

He stands at about 21-28 cm while the female may be 20-25 cm and weighing 6 to 15kg. He is the smallest of the hound dogs, with the standard size dachshund being developed to scent and chase badgers and other animals.

There are different Dachshund coat varieties – the smooth coat, the long-haired Dachshund and the wire-haired dachshund. They also come in a number of solid colors such as brown, red, tan, chocolate and black.

Temperament:

The dachshund is an energetic,social little dog with a loving personality. He’ll love to lie as close as possible to you on the couch and be with you wherever you are. Training and socialization is important so he doesn’t become too protective so that he wants to go for anyone who comes near.

He can be stubborn but he is also protective of his human family. Dachshunds are known for their tendency to bark but training and socialization can help tremendously to make him obedient and relaxed around humans and pets.

He is small enough to be a great pet in the city or in the country. He loves to spend time indoors- as well as outdoors. He can become a loving companion and gets on well with children and pets in the house. In spite of his small size, he makes a good watchdog.

Because some claim that this dog is extinct, there are only a few accounts of what he is actually like.

Even though they were hunting dogs, they were devoted pets and companions of the people of the Yukon.

If these dogs are still to be found today, you will find them to be easy going, protective, loyal, intelligent, playful, alert, watchful and energetic. Just don’t allow them to get too hot as they prefer cooler climates.

The Dachshund may be small but he is courageous, brave and loyal. He gets on well with children and pets in the home but care needs to be taken because of his long back.These dogs are prone to disk problems so you have to be careful with rough and tumble from children.

Dog experts say that the different kinds of Dachshunds produce different personalities and that the longer-coated one is more amicable than the short-coat variety. Whichever variety you choose, they are guaranteed to entertain and delight you and be a loyal, loving companion.

Healthy dogs are unlikely to pick up any of the many common dog illnesses there are. There are many – cancer, diabetes, bloat, hip dysplasia, ear infections, dental disease and many more.

Kennel Cough:

This is a contagious and infectious disease known as canine tracheobronchitis and which is transmitted through the air. Treatment is usually administered as a nasal spray, but your dog will need to get to the vet because of his dry, honking cough and lack of appetite.

Rabies:

This is a viral disease which in most instances is fatal. It is mostly transmitted when an animal that carries the disease bites the dog. Your dog develops behavior which is totally uncharacteristic of him. He'll also froth at the mouth and become aggressive. Death is nearly always guaranteed.

The life expectancy of the Dachshund is 12 to 16 years. With good care which includes good nutrition he can reach mature years. However there are always some dog diseases that are worth knowing about so that you can steer your pet away from them.

One of these is obesity, and the Dachshund is prone to developing obesity. Never overfeed him and ensure he gets his regular exercise which can be walks and ball games. Check with your vet if you’re unsure about how to feed him. Essentially, the amount of food you give a dog depends on the size of your dog, his age and his activity levels.

Be sure to provide high-quality food and monitor his intake. Your vet is always there to advise on the correct food and amount that can help him remain healthy.

Back Problems:

Unfortunately, this dog’s shape – the long back – makes the dog more prone to disc herniation. With some Dachshunds having a gene that creates mineral deposits in the discs in the spine, the risk of herniation is higher.

A large percentage of dachshunds have intervertebral disc disease. Encourage your Dachshund not to jump down off a bed or couch, but rather provide some steps for him to get to out of reach places.

Grooming:

This double coated hunting dog’s thick coarse coat will require brushing at least twice a week to free the dog of loose hair. He is regarded as a low mainenance dog.

During brushing, you would check inside his ears and make sure there are no signs of redness. Eyes of the dog should be bright, eager and free of discharge.Always keep the nails of the dog trimmed.

If you keep your pet outside for any lengths of time it is imperative that this dog has shade to lie down in as he doesn’t do well in too much heat.

Exercise:

Because he is a hunting dog, he is used to being outdoors and being active. He wont be content to lie around inactive for too long. He’ll want at least a walk every day and some ball games.

Diet:

A pet dog can’t choose his own food so they depend on us to make the right choices for them. It’s always convenient to have a packet of commercially manufactured dog food available, but who knows if this dog, which some claim is extinct, ever ate commercially manufactured food.

If he did, you would want to mix it every now and again with home made food - boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach. This food could be chopped up and added to the dog’s kibble.

Ensure that a constant supply of fresh, cool water is available to him.

The Dachshund is a medium shedder and if you choose the short haired dog, you’re going to have a low maintenance pet.

The long haired Dachshund will require more regular brushing but the short-haired Dachshund is a low maintenance dog that will require a brush once a week.

While brushing him, you can be checking his ears and nails at the same time. All dogs with floppy ears need to have them checked for ear infections. Also, maintain good oral hygiene with your Dachshund by brushing his teeth 2 or 3 times a week.