Animal welfare: cultural battle over the dachshund

Animal welfare
Cultural battle over the dachshund

Whether as a mascot for the 1972 Olympic Games, as a loyal companion in the TV series “Hausmeister Krause – Ordnung muss sein” or as a wobbly dachshund on the hat shelf in the car – the Dachshunds are cult in Germany. In recent weeks, however, owners have become more concerned about the future of the dachshund. Fans of the little four-legged friend believe that it is being threatened by a reform of the animal protection law.

Different points of view clash here. For dog breeders and especially dachshund breeders, the planned new regulations on so-called cruel breeding practices go too far and, in their opinion, also severely restrict the breeding of healthy animals. The federal government’s plan is, for example, about ensuring that certain characteristics that are detrimental to the animals, such as legs that are too short, cannot be passed on through breeding.

Animal rights activists generally welcome the reform planned by Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens). They also see room for improvement. But why is this issue so agitating?

The dachshund as a favorite dog

There are hardly any other dog breeds in Germany that have as many animals as the dachshund. According to the German Dog Association, almost 6,300 dachshund puppies were registered in its member clubs in 2022; only the German Shepherd was more popular.

For Heike Maiwald, this is not surprising. She is the spokesperson for the German Dachshund Club 1888, a dog breeding club that claims to have more than 20,000 members. She is also an active breeder herself. “The dachshund is so widespread and popular, among all generations. For many people, a dachshund was part of their childhood. Dachshund owners who already have their third or fourth dachshund and remain loyal to the breed for life are not uncommon.”

For Maiwald, the dachshund represents Germany like no other animal – instead of the federal eagle, they would like to see a federal dachshund. Comedian Tom Gerhardt is also calling for this. As “caretaker Krause” in the TV series of the same name, his loyal dachshund Bodo always accompanied him. “He has something unique in the dog world. He has a strong will, a lot of persistence and a lot of courage – in contrast to his small body,” he told the German Press Agency. At the same time, the dachshund is also a family pet.

“Everything for the Dachshund”

With his series, Gerhardt also found his way into the cult surrounding the dachshund. He was invited to the German Dachshund Museum in Regensburg. Of course, the motto of the Dachshund Club was also quoted again and again in the series: “Everything for the dachshund, everything for the club, our life for the dog.”

Dispute over dachshund breeding

Currently, dachshund fans are being pilloried for so-called cruel breeding practices. Crooked or too short legs, for example, harm the animals. This is why Agriculture Minister Özdemir wants to limit the possibilities for breeding in a planned reform of the animal protection law. Although this would basically affect all dogs, dachshunds in particular have come under discussion.

What do the breeders say?

Maiwald and the German Dachshund Club believe this is unjustified. The characteristics that characterize the debate no longer correspond to the breeding goal of the German pedigree dachshund and are rejected by their breeders, they argue. Instead, the real problem is dachshunds that are bred without knowledge or breeders who operate according to far less strict standards from abroad. And these would not be affected by the law.

What does animal protection say?

The German Animal Welfare Association sees a legal loophole here. There is no ban on importing and trading animals with characteristics of cruel breeding. This means that cruelly bred animals can continue to be bred abroad and then brought to Germany. The Animal Welfare Association, on the other hand, welcomes the regulations on breeding in Germany and speaks of outdated and unhealthy breed standards.

However, Özdemir makes it clear that breeding healthy animals remains permitted: “This law does not prohibit dachshunds, it is a pro-dachshund law because it helps dachshunds to live pain-free.” The Dachshund Club nevertheless criticizes the law for being too vague and leaving too much room for interpretation as to what constitutes cruel breeding.

“Leave the church in the village”

Caretaker Krause has also already expressed his indignation about the legal reform, says Gerhardt, and says that this was received with amusement. He himself only says: “There are so many dachshunds that have grown up and lived well and healthily that it’s better to leave the church in the village.”

dpa