A foxhound-dachshund cross named Juno. Notice the feral cat furs! Photo taken in 1909.
The story of a foxhound-dachshund cross being used as fur and varmint dog comes from an article in Hunter-Trader-Trapper from 1910:
A word about my little dog Juno might not be out of place. She is a good general purpose dog, being bred from fox and Daschshund (sic}, being one half each, and is broke on coon, skunk and rabbits. I have shot eight foxes ahead of her, but she is no good for running in heavy snow as her legs are too short. I have shot 90 rabbits ahead of her from November 1st until December 15th, which is our open season in this state (pg 126-127).
Juno has the bent forelegs that were once a standard feature in dachshunds. It has since been bred out of them, but originally, it was believed that the bent forelegs made them better diggers.
The author of the piece, a Mr. John Sherman of Susquehanna County mentions that he hates using the dog to dig out skunks because “digemouts” destroy skunk dens.
And yes, there are plenty of dogs that are so plucky that they will go after a skunk with zeal. Most dogs are broken from skunk chasing and killing with one spray, but some dogs almost revel in the challenge.
My guess is Juno slept outside quite a bit!
Juno lived at a time when people were always innovating through crossbreeding. It’s really the tradition of people who bred dogs for work.
The dog fancy, which is a very recent invention, made this innovation a sin.
This is something that should be rectified.
Juno looked sort of Bassetty didn’t she?
We have a female patterdale that bags a few skunks every fall when they begin digging up our back lawn and gardens looking for grubs. She does not seem to mind a face full of spray and will gladly run around the back yard with a ripped of tail in her mouth, shaking it back and forth.
Our old staffie bull had one run in with a skunk and that was enough. Never went near another one in his 16 years.
Would pass for a European basset hound variant, maybe?
If I’m right, there is only one gene,with variable effect, responsible for dwarf legs in dogs?
I hate to tell you this Scottie, but those aren’t cats.
Those are skunks.
Top row in the middle. Calico cat.
Just make sure not to try and pet the other “cats”.