The future of our breed depends on something way more important than just winning at dog shows. It’s about communities actually coming together. I’ve always felt the show world and the working Teckel folks shouldn’t be living in separate bubbles. When we collaborate, we swap knowledge, widen the gene pool, and most importantly, put the dogs first. That’s what this blog post is about.
For more than 25 years, Sue and I have been supporters of the working Teckel community. In fact, we’ve been involved with the UK Teckel Stud Book Society pretty much since it started. I designed and managed their original website. The Society was founded back in 1999 by Nick Valentine, Brenda, and Trevor Humphrey specifically for owners of working Teckels. Its whole purpose is to keep accurate pedigrees, offer a puppy register, list dogs available at stud, and provide a pedigree tracing service. It’s been a key resource for the working side of the breed here in the UK.
I’ve contributed to 2 editions of The International Working Teckel book, including writing the chapter on health and breeding in the latest (3rd) edition. The UK section of that book notes the positive influence of Sunsong dogs. Sue and I judged the Teckel Show at Stafford in 2024 and Sue Holt (Waldmeister Mini Wires) judged it in 2025 and 2026. Mark Hinge has been a great advocate for bringing Teckels together at the Stalking Show.
Teckels have a fascinating history in this country. They really got going thanks to pioneers like Richard Brydges-Price in the 1970s, who brought in dogs like Xitty Vom Heiligenkopf and Rastus. Then came imports such as Jaro Vom Lehrschen Forst (Flint) and Kosi, followed by Garrick Hawkes with Birke Von Der Magnetbahn, who whelped a litter right in quarantine. Later, Icelandic bloodlines brought in by Sue and me, (including some lovely chocolate and tan dogs) added fresh genetic diversity. All these dogs and their descendants form the foundation stock that the UK Teckel Stud Book Society carefully records and preserves.
The Society keeps things practical with different categories so no good Teckel gets turned away while the Stud Book is open. Category A is for full-pedigree dogs with limited allowances for a grandparent or great-grandparent of different breeding. Category B covers first crosses and some pure but partially unregistered lines, with progeny able to upgrade when bred back to a Category A dog. Category C includes no-pedigree dogs, show-bred Dachshunds, or other crosses, whose offspring can step up to B when mated to a registered A. Confirmation of pedigrees is required, of course, and the Registrar has the final say. It’s a sensible, inclusive system that keeps the focus on the dogs rather than paperwork technicalities.
Our approach to breeding at Sunsong has always been straightforward: do what’s best for the whole breed. Show standards have their place, but we shouldn’t chase “show-only” perfection if it comes at the cost of real functionality, correct temperaments, or genetic health. That’s why we’ve been happy to let our Sunsong stud dogs be used by the wider Teckel community and to sell puppies to working homes. We’ve also been happy to consider using working Teckels as stud dogs on our bitches. Over the years, Sunsong dogs have been bought by working Teckel owners, and our imports from Scandinavia and Iceland have been registered with the Society too, helping to broaden those working pedigrees.
Genetic diversity matters. Healthy, capable companions that are genuinely fit for purpose matter. Of course, responsible breeding isn’t casual. It should never be “any dog will do” and we are always happy to help discuss pedigrees and health screening with owners in both communities. Every breeding decision involves careful thought. Since the Dachshund IVDD screening programme has been managed by the RKC, all our eligible dogs have gone through the scheme, and results are publicly available. For example:
– Sunsong Fire Opal – Grade 2
– Sunsong Keep Dreaming – Grade 2
– Sunsong Hopes and Dreams – Grade 0
– Ch. Sunsong Dare to Dream – Grade 1
Our Norwegian import Ch Zlowfox av Larhjelm at Sunsong was too old to be screened in the RKC Scheme but has 5 screened offspring: 2 Grade 0, 2 Grade 2 and 1 Grade 3. He (Foxy) died aged 12, never having had a back problem. Sunsong Fire Opal has 1 Grade 0, 1 Grade 1 and 1 Grade 3 (k5) screened offspring. 4 Sunsong bitches have screened offspring: 1 Grade 0, 1 Grade 1 and 2 Grade 2 (k4).
Our younger dogs will be screened as soon as they hit the right age (24-48 months). We can encourage buyers of our puppies to screen, but ultimately we can’t enforce it; responsible ownership has to come from the new homes too.
Opinions will always differ within any breed community. That’s normal. But our priority has always been the welfare of the dogs and the long-term future of Wirehaired Dachshunds and Teckels as a whole. By working together, show folks and working enthusiasts sharing knowledge, bloodlines, and best practices, we end up with stronger, healthier, more versatile dogs that can thrive whether they’re in the field, the home, or the show ring.
At the end of the day, it’s not about “us versus them.” It’s about all of us who love the breed pulling in the same direction. The more we collaborate, the better the breed’s future will be.
