Both German and British Dachshunds were imported to America beginning in the 1880’s, but it was the German imports that dominated at dogs shows until the start of World War I. The best German dogs were often owned by German nobility, so buying them was often a challenge.
Thankfully a small group of breeders in the Midwest and on the East coast acquired enough good breeding stock to give American Dachshunds their start. A few of these early breeders include George Semler of New York City, whose ‘West End’ kennels between 1906 – 1910 were declared by experts in Germany, Austria and Great Britain to be among the best Dachshunds in the world. He acquired the best German bloodlines and used them successfully with his homebred dogs. Dr. Carl Folkens, who rarely showed his dogs, was highly regarded by his German counterparts and imported the very first Wirehair to America.
Lastly, there were Harry Peters, Sr., the artist G. Muss-Arnolt and Dr. Montebacher, a doctor and chemist from New York City. Dr. Montebacher used space under the shelves of his drug store to kennel his Dachshunds. These three were the driving force behind the formation of the Dachshund Club of America in 1895, with Mr. Peters as its first President. Thanks to their efforts, the Dachshund Club of America is the eighth oldest member of the American Kennel Club.
The Dachshund Club of America promotes the natural qualities of all purebred dachshunds.
The club supports one standard of the breed as adopted by the membership and approved by the American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which Dachshunds shall be judged.
The Dachshund Club of America promotes canine health and wellbeing and ethical sportsmanship in all competitions, and protects and advances the interest of the breed.
The Dachshund Club of America promulgates maintaining the dachshund as one breed with three varieties and two sizes.
