Dirt Dogs, Circa 1560

Count Jacques du Fouilloux's book La Vernarie (The Art of Hunting), was the first book to accurately describe hunting quarry underground with dogs.

The dogs used were described as "bassetts" and were probably small dachshund-like hounds.

Near the ruins of Hadrian's Wall, archeologists have discovered the remains of two very distinct types of dogs -- a mid-sized coursing dog about the size of a large whippet or small greyhound, and long low-slung dogs with small chests that appear to have been dachshund-like in appearance.