Which breed's name means 'badger dog' in German?

The Dachshund’s name means “badger dog” in German.

The word combines the German terms Dachs, meaning “badger,” and Hund, meaning “dog” or “hound.” The name reflects the breed’s original job: tracking, chasing, and flushing badgers from underground tunnels. Its long body, short legs, strong forequarters, and broad paws helped it enter and work inside burrows.

Dachshunds were developed in Germany and were not limited to badger hunting. Different sizes were used against rabbits and other small prey, while working Dachshunds could also track foxes, wounded deer, and larger game. Their famous shape is therefore functional rather than merely decorative.

The breed is commonly called a “wiener dog” or “sausage dog” in English-speaking countries, but those nicknames describe its body shape and are not translations of Dachshund. In modern Germany, Dackel is a common everyday name, while Teckel is often associated with working dogs. Dachshunds come in smooth-haired, long-haired, and wire-haired varieties, and are classified as hounds or scent hounds in several kennel systems.