Emily Giovansanti, age 10, of Denton, Texas, for her question:

HOW DID THE DACHSHUND GET ITS NAME?

Dachshund is a breed of hunting dog. Originally developed in Germany, dachshunds were used to drive badgers from their holes, which the dogs could enter because of their short legs.

Dachshund in German means "badger dog." It was a natural name for the dog.

Short legs and a long body are the dachshund's most important features. Today the dogs are seldom used for hunting but they have become valuable as pets. They are very brave dogs and they also have good dispositions.

Dachshunds have short hair, are tan or tan and black and have houndlike heads.

Standard sizes range in weight from 16 to 22 pounds. The miniature variety weighs much less.

Dachshunds range in height from five to nine inches.

Long haired and wirehaired varieties of dachshunds have been bred by crossing the short haired variety with spaniels and terriers.