In this article you will know the answer to the query “9 Long Body Dogs“.
Many people automatically think of the quintessential Wiener dog when someone mentions a long-bodied dog – tiny legs floppy ears and soulful eyes. Are there other long-bodied breeds such as the Basset Corgis and little-known Drever?
What is the purpose of their long bodies? Throughout this article we explore the reason behind the long body and cute little legs as well as some long-bodied dogs. Lets get started.
Why were dogs bred to have long bodies?
The legs of many dogs with long bodies are also long. A sighthound hunts prey by spotting it and then physically pursuing it using its incredible speed. Here the long legs provide agility and speed by balancing the long bodies.
Small scrappy hunters with short legs such as the Dachshund are other long-bodied dogs. Dogs bred for this purpose followed badgers and other small prey into burrows.
When hunting on foot or by horseback a smaller Corgi is easier to follow than a big Greyhound. Our fierce hunters long body provides an advantage as he squares off with a cornered badger despite his stubby little legs. Our hunters elongated body offers an advantage in this fight.
With a low center of gravity and enough weight the four-legged friend can thrust at its opponent forcing it off balance and allowing the dog to win.
Due to their long bodies these hunters can also easily enter badger and raccoon burrows while keeping their feet firmly planted on solid ground. If the dog needs assistance the human hunter can easily pull it from the burrow by its tail.
Interestingly enough the long-bodied characteristic originated from a genetic mutation that later proved useful.
Here are some of the most amazing dog breeds.
Dachshund
A Dachshund is the smallest dog specifically bred for hunting.
Because their long bodies are flexible they can wiggle into tight burrows with ease. The floppy ears of Dachshunds trap scent molecules making them extremely adept at detecting their prey (or your bag of treats). Those features plus their digging paws and sharp teeth and nails make them excellent hunting dogs.
Corgis
Herding was originally the purpose of corgis. Despite their loyalty these dogs are not overly needy and make excellent pets. This fearless breed of dog is known as a big dog in a small dogs body and is fast agile and built for long hours of hard work. They need daily walks or slow jogs to stay healthy. It’ll be less likely for them to get up to mischief after having spent so much energy.
Dogs of this lively breed come in several colors including red fawn sable black and tan. Their coats may also contain white markings. In spite of their thick waterproof double coat these dogs shed a lot especially during the shedding season. With all this hair it requires a lot of grooming while regular baths help keep it under control.
Basset Hounds
Dogs like these were originally bred to hunt small game such as badgers and rabbits. Considering how mellow Basset Hounds are they probably would not initiate exercise. You can expect your pup to become an overweight couch potato if you do not take him for a daily walk. Basset hounds may have small bodies but they still believe that they’re lap dogs so be prepared for some cuddles.
Although Bassett hounds shed quite a bit they’re relatively easy to groom so you would not have too much hair in your home.
A tri-color dogs coat is smooth short hard-textured and usually a combination of white tan and black. It is possible to get a Basset with an open red and white pattern (red spots on a white coat) or a closed red and white pattern (solid red with white feet and tail) or a lemon and white pattern.
The Basset Hound has the second-best sense of smell after the Bloodhound.
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Sir Walter Scott a Scottish author created a fictional character named Dandie Dinmont which gave rise to Dandie Dinmonts. These are the only dogs named after fictional characters.
They have long hanging ears and thick silky white hair which makes them look wilful and proud. Pepper (bluish-black to silvery gray) to mustard (reddish-brown to pale fawn) is their body coat. But do not let the Dandies small stature fool you. There is a lot of courage in this breed. When they are not working they make great family dogs since they enjoy playing with the kids and are not hyper like other small breeds.
Although Dandies do not shed (yay! ) they still require daily grooming to keep their coats looking their best. Additionally they require plenty of exercises such as chasing a ball in the backyard or taking a brisk walk. These dogs are keen hunters so if your Dandie is not leashed or in a secure area he might make a dash for it if he sees anything that looks like prey.
Drever
Originally bred to drive deer over difficult terrain the Drever is a Swedish hunting dog. An even-tempered loyal pup this pup is muscular and tough built for hard work. Maintaining this medium-sized poochs short coarse coat does not require much effort – an occasional bath is all it takes. White sable brindle fawn and even red can be seen on the coat of the Drever. A solid coat can also have white markings or be tri-colored.
Your Drever will enjoy cuddling on the couch with you as you watch Netflix when you offer it a balanced daily routine with lots of stimulating activity.
Westphalian Dachsbracke
Westphalian Hounds also known as Westphalian Dachsbrackes are the ancestors of the Drever. How cool is that? hat? It is unfortunate that this wonderful breed isnot widely recognized by kennel clubs even in its native home country. Hence finding a purebred puppy will take some digging. Although the untrained eye might think this pup is a Dachshund you’ll see that the Westphalian has a narrower chest and longer legs than the Dachshund.
Short and gorgeous its short fur is usually a tricolor combination of red and yellow with a black saddle and white Bracken markings. These features are referred to as the white muzzle chest legs collar tail tip and blaze on the head.
Basset Bleu de Gascogne
In the early 19th century the rare Basset Bleu de Gascogne or Gascony Basset nearly disappeared. A white ticked coat gives this scent hound its bluish appearance which is caused by its floppy ears and sad eyes. It has a smooth coat with characteristic brown or tan spots above the eyes and ears.
Gascony Bassets were bred to hunt slowly and steadily easily followed on foot. Nonetheless it is still a highly exercise-demanding breed.
Basset Fauve de Bretagne
The scruffy pup has a fawn color and is an excellent companion and hunter. What a great combination! Known as the Fawn Colored Brittany Basset this small rough-coated breed is hardy and small. Dogs like this need a lot of exercises – they’re too smart and energetic to be couch potatoes. If you do not let it burn off that energy it will probably get up to mischief.
With its wiry dirt-repellent coat the Brittany Basset does not require a ton of grooming but it should be brushed weekly with a fine-toothed comb to keep him looking good. Then theres the seasonal shedding when brushing becomes a daily chore.
American Hairless Terrier
Are there no hairs? Its not fair! A terrier is an ideal companion for allergy sufferers due to its gritty courageous nature. The American Hairless Terrier has hair however in some varieties. Strange. In addition hairless dogs may have eyebrows and whiskers. They have a variety of beautiful colors in their smooth skin usually in colored spots over a white or lemon base.
Even though hairless dogs do not shed and do not cause allergies be prepared for other problems like sunburn and shivering during cold weather. The American Hairless Terrier is not suitable for hunting because it has no protection against the elements.
This terrier-like breed is recognizable by its broad wedge-shaped head and erect V-shaped ears as well as its characteristic alertness. They’re fiercely protective of their human parents and will alert you (and all your neighbors) to anything that moves in your yard.
Conclusion
The dogs with long bodies were originally bred to hunt usually as scenthounds but also as sighthounds. Due to their agile bodies they can easily squeeze into tight spaces such as badger and rabbit burrows and they are usually slow enough to follow on foot.
The elongated bodies of some long-bodied breeds can lead to medical complications. No matter what breed of long-bodied dog you choose you’ll find a pup that is alert energetic and loyal. You can even get them in hairless varieties if you suffer from allergies.
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
