The miniature dachshund has a very similar history to its larger cousins, considering that they have the same roots. The miniature dachshund finds its beginnings in 15th Century Germany, though the dachshund itself has been depicted in ancient cultures as far back as the Ancient Egyptians.

Though the standard dachshund was bred to be a badger hunter, miniature dachshund dogs were bred for the similar task of hunting rabbits and driving them out of their holes, instead of using ferrets.

As far as the way the miniature dachshund looks, it is almost a mirror image of the standard dachshund, except in much smaller. Their coat varieties (long, smooth, and wire haired) and permitted colors are all the same, though tan remains the most common color. They remain one of the most recognizable breeds with their very long and narrow bodies and short legs that keep them close to the ground. Though the miniature dachshund breed is quite small, it is a sturdy and strong one, with broad shoulders and hips.

The miniature dachshund is intelligent, good tempered, and faithful, but owners should beware that many individuals have a wariness around strangers. Though their intelligence is quite high, this doesn't mean that they are necessarily easily trained because they can be quite stubborn and independent. The way to work around this is to start socializing the dog as early as possible. This will help to lower their hunting instincts and increase their dedication to behaving as their pack (ie you and the family) wants them to.

With the right training, the miniature dachshund can make an extremely good family pet, even with children (as long as they are introduced to children early in their lives). Of course, it is not just a matter of training the miniature dachshund to deal with children, but children should also be supervised when playing with a miniature dachshund. The miniature dachshund is more likely to build an especially strong bond with one family member than to bond equally with the whole family.

Keep in mind that the size of the miniature dachshund is deceptive, as they are hunting dogs and will still require a good amount of exercise every day. You'll need to take your miniature dachshund for one or two 20 to 40 minute walks each day to keep his or her energy levels under control. However, you should be careful if you let the dog off the leash because of the natural hunting instincts which could cause him or her to take off after the first scent to hit his or her nose!