--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The dachshund is a perfectly engineered…" description: "\"The dachshund is a perfectly engineered dog. It is precisely long enough for a single standard stroke of the back, but you aren't paying for any superf..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/mary-doria-russell-3319_animal_the-dachshund-is-a-perfectly-engineered_445567.png" --- # The dachshund is a perfectly engineered dog. It is… ![“The dachshund is a perfectly engineered dog. It is precisely long enough for a single standard stroke of the back, but you aren't paying for any superfluous leg.” quote by Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/mary-doria-russell-3319_animal_the-dachshund-is-a-perfectly-engineered_445567.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/mary-doria-russell-3319_animal_the-dachshund-is-a-perfectly-engineered_445567.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/mary-doria-russell-3319_animal_the-dachshund-is-a-perfectly-engineered_445567.png) > “The dachshund is a perfectly engineered dog. It is precisely long enough for a single standard stroke of the back, but you aren't paying for any superfluous leg.” [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dachshund’s design is efficient, avoiding unnecessary limbs. **In simple terms:** Efficient design avoids excess. Key Takeaway Design for purpose, not excess. Themes design efficiency simplicity Mood practical observational Type scientific humorous When to use this quote - product design - architecture - pet care - fitness training Key Concepts biology engineering evolution Questions to Reflect On - What functions might extra limbs serve? - How does efficiency balance with adaptability? A Different Perspective May oversimplify biological diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Dachshund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dachshund/) [Dachshunds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dachshunds/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) ## Related quotes > [Dachshund: A half-a-dog high and a dog-and-a-half long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/dachshund-a-half-a-dog-high-and-a-dog-and-a-half-long/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The secret of architectural excellence is to translate the proportions of a dachshund into bricks, mortar and marble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-wren/the-secret-of-architectural-excellence-is-to-translate-the/) [Christopher Wren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-wren/) > [Nothing will turn a man's home into a castle more quickly and effectively than a dachshund.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-victoria/nothing-will-turn-a-man-s-home-into-a-castle-more-quickly-and/) [Queen Victoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-victoria/) > [“Abandon a dachshund and upon your return, you may well be confronted with a small token of her displeasure. This, for the dachshund, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/abandon-a-dachshund-and-upon-your-return-you-may-well-be-confronted/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [House-training, I must tell you, is a formality that can elude young dachshunds for some time; this is particularly true in climates that affront…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/house-training-i-must-tell-you-is-a-formality-that-can-elude-young/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [Dachshunds have their own agenda and can be stubborn about seeing their plans through to completion. What Rosie lacked in consistency, she made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/dachshunds-have-their-own-agenda-and-can-be-stubborn-about-seeing/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [“Apparently that dog of hers joined you in the water.” Yes, that’s right, he took his dip with the rest of us. But what’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/apparently-that-dog-of-hers-joined-you-in-the-water-yes-that-s-right/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“I learned that when people see a dachshund, they have to yell, "A wiener dog!" Like "A rainbow!" "A Shriner!" "A shooting star!" "A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kling/i-learned-that-when-people-see-a-dachshund-they-have-to-yell-a-wiener/) [Kevin Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kling/) > [“The dogs came racing up the stairs. They danced at Rima's feet, frantic with the need to communicate something to her. Little Timmy's down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-joy-fowler/the-dogs-came-racing-up-the-stairs-they-danced-at-rima-s-feet-frantic/) [Karen Joy Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-joy-fowler/) > [“I swear," Nell said, walking faster, "you're looking at a life of hamburger and no yelling." She held the dachshund closer, and it sighed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/i-swear-nell-said-walking-faster-you-re-looking-at-a-life-of/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [“He couldn’t have moved quicker if he had been the dachshund Poppet, who at this juncture was running round in circles, trying, if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/he-couldn-t-have-moved-quicker-if-he-had-been-the-dachshund-poppet/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Volnay is prancing, head up proudly; her squat little bowlegs producing a smooth gait that would make the dog show people preen. She carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/volnay-is-prancing-head-up-proudly-her-squat-little-bowlegs-producing/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“If I ever have to see something like that again," he told us, "I will retire and raise dachshunds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/if-i-ever-have-to-see-something-like-that-again-he-told-us-i-will/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“That went well," Christina murmured to him. "Pffaww," he agreed. "They're a pair! They don't like anything. They don't even like the dachshund. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-harkaway/that-went-well-christina-murmured-to-him-pffaww-he-agreed-they-re-a/) [Nick Harkaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-harkaway/) > [Why do dachshunds wear their ears inside out?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-do-dachshunds-wear-their-ears-inside-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mary Doria Russell > [“The household was densely populated by a lively gang of children, homemade and Fostered, mix thoroughly and well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/the-household-was-densely-populated-by-a-lively-gang-of-children/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [“As many as thirty or as few as ten years later, lying exhausted and still, eyes open in the dark long after the three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/as-many-as-thirty-or-as-few-as-ten-years-later-lying-exhausted-and/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [Like so many Boomers, I saw 'Lawrence of Arabia' in 1962 when it was first released and when we were young teenagers. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/like-so-many-boomers-i-saw-lawrence-of-arabia-in-1962-when-it-was/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [ “\[John\] watched the flames for a while. "I would have to say that I find God in serving His children. 'When I was hungry… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/john-watched-the-flames-for-a-while-i-would-have-to-say-that-i-find/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [“Stability and order have always been paid for with captivity and blood. (76)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/stability-and-order-have-always-been-paid-for-with-captivity-and/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [In my worldview, there are filers, and there are pilers. Filers think alphabetically. Pilers think geologically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/in-my-worldview-there-are-filers-and-there-are-pilers-filers-think/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [See that's where it falls apart for me!" Anne cried. "What sticks in my throat is that God gets the credit but never the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/see-that-s-where-it-falls-apart-for-me-anne-cried-what-sticks-in-my/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [Cleveland is really good about recognizing its artists because of the Arts Council.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/cleveland-is-really-good-about-recognizing-its-artists-because-of-the/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [You know what's the most terrifying thing about admitting that you're in love? You're just naked. You put yourself in harm's way and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/you-know-what-s-the-most-terrifying-thing-about-admitting-that-you-re/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [If we keep demanding that God yield up His answers, perhaps some day we will understand them. And then we will be something more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/if-we-keep-demanding-that-god-yield-up-his-answers-perhaps-some-day/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [“The poor you will always have with you,' Jesus said. A warning, Emilio wondered, or an indictment?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/the-poor-you-will-always-have-with-you-jesus-said-a-warning-emilio/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [“Ah, Sofia, darlin'! On my best days, I believe in Him with all my heart." "And on your worst days?" she had asked that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/ah-sofia-darlin-on-my-best-days-i-believe-in-him-with-all-my-heart/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [“I think the world will be a better place when science has swept all religion into the dustbin of history. What is religion but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/i-think-the-world-will-be-a-better-place-when-science-has-swept-all/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [Feelings are facts. Look straight at 'em and deal with 'em. Work it through, as honestly as you can. If God is anything like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/feelings-are-facts-look-straight-at-em-and-deal-with-em-work-it/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) > [“You know what's the most terrifying thing about admitting that you're in love? You are just naked. You put yourself in harm's way and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-doria-russell/you-know-what-s-the-most-terrifying-thing-about-admitting-that-you-re-2/) [Mary Doria Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) [Explore all 131 Mary Doria Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-doria-russell/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. 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He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The dachshund is a perfectly engineered dog. 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