Comprehending the Standard
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by Ann Gordon
 

Always keep in mind that the standard is a verbal description of the perfect Dachshund. Trying to form a visual image of the ideal Dachshund by reading words is rather difficult. The situation is further complicated by the fact that each person who reads this verbal description will form a somewhat different visual image in his mind.

Let's leave dogs for a moment and think about verbal descriptions and their interpretations in general. For example, an author may write a wonderfully detailed description of a beach. Each person who reads that description will visualize that beach in his own way. Although the images may be similar, no two images will be exactly the same. So it is with trying to visualize what is correct for a Dachshund by reading the standard, no two people will interpret it or visualize it in exactly the same way. It is designed to be a written guide of what is desired and what is not desirable in a Dachshund. To apply that guide to individual Dachshunds takes study, mentoring, and a great deal of experience. The standard is a written description of a visual image, and as such, it leaves plenty of room for different perceptions.

Realizing that interpreting breed standards is not an easy task, many breed parent clubs have developed an illustrated standard and the Dachshund Club of America is one of them. The Illustrated Standard enhances the written standard by providing drawings that illustrate the various details pertaining to the Dachshund as it is presented in the written standard

If you have had no experience with Dachshunds, it is likely that your ability to assess how adequately a particular dog compares to the standard will not be much better than before you read it. Just reading the standard and trying to apply it to a living Dachshund is difficult. Drawings and photographs are very helpful in interpreting what the written word is intended to convey, however, the only way to really understand what this document is saying is to look at many, many, many Dachshunds and make comparisons.

Some aspects of the standard are easy to comprehend. Features such as bites, feet, toplines, eye color, and tail carriage are easy to assess. Proper angulation, overall balance, and movement require experience and an educated eye.

Much of the standard is devoted to a description of parts, but it is the overall appearance of the Dachshund that is imperative. A core principle of Gestalt psychology is that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" and so it is with the Dachshund. A Dachshund may have many parts that are essentially correct as described by the standard, but when these parts are put together, they may not produce the overall type that is the essence of the Dachshund. In addition to correct parts, there must be balance, style and the Dachshund personality which personifies boldness, courage, perseverance, stamina, alertness, stubbornness, cleverness, intelligence, and independence.

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