European Standards
The oldest dachshund club in the world is, of course, the German Dachshund Club (or DTK, for Deutsche Teckelklub e.V. 1888), which was founded in 1888. The breed standard of the German Dachshund Club is very similar to that of the DCA, with the exception that the German club recognizes three sizes of dachshunds: large, miniature, and rabbit size. Additionally, instead of using weight to determine the size classification for the dachshund, the German club measures the circumference of the dog's chest when it is fifteen months old.
Before a German dachshund can be approved for breeding, it must have been judged on its conformation and temperament and received a “Very Good” rating (or higher). The dog also must have been tested for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and be cleared of the disease. Dogs meeting these criteria must be at least fifteen months old before they can be bred.
The North American Teckel Club (NATC) follows the DTK's breed standard and breeding requirements and also offers some of the DTK's hunting tests and titles. The DTK is the NATC's parent club, and as such, NATC-registered dogs meeting DTK breed standard and breeding requirements can also be registered with the DTK.
