Uberhund at the airport

[Rudi]

Bob..here's a story just for you...

Waiting at the arrivals terminal for my son (who was in LA for a week) I saw a nice looking woman come and sit down in a row of seats just in front of me. She was accompanied by a Dachshund on a long leash. He was all over the place, smelling the railings and sniffing the air. While waiting for my son, her husband (or partner) came through the doors with his bags. Uberhund must of smelled him or seen him because he dashed under the railings and ran to him moaning at the top of his voice. It was a love scene of epic proportions LOL!!! Jumping all over this man, whining and moaning as if his life depended on it...his wiry tail wagging so hard that it whipped the sides of his body.

I think that is how these little dogs got their name: Dash hund...

[BobH]

They are super loyal dogs and make deep attachments.

But . . . "dachs" is German for badger; ergo 'badger dog' because they were used to roust badgers and other underground poultry thieves out for proper disposition.

[Rudi]

Interesting. So that's the purpose of those short stocky legs. (A dog for every occasion).
PS: I'm assuming now that Great Danes were used to catch birds on the wing.

[HansV]

Great Dane:

"The dogs were used for hunting bear, boar and deer at princely courts, with the favorites staying at night in the bedchambers of their lords. These Kammerhunde (chamber dogs) were outfitted with gilded collars, and helped protect the sleeping princes against assassins."

[Claude]

But . . . "dachs" is German for badger;

Jawohl, das stimmt genau, aber sollte "Dachs" sein soviel ich weiss

[BobH]

Jawohl, das stimmt genau, aber sollte "Dachs" sein soviel ich weiss :evilgrin

Yes, we Americans do not capitalize all nouns as do Germans and others. I should have written "Dachs" instead of 'dachs', nicht Wahr?

Ich könne nür ein bischen Deutsch und dass war jetzt vielen Jahren nach. (is that even understandable?)

[HansV]

It's not perfect, but Germans will understand it without problem.

[Rudi]

Ich könne nür ein bischen Deutsch und dass war jetzt vielen Jahren nach. (is that even understandable?)

I know Google Transpale is not always accurate, but this is what it shows based on Bobs sentence:
"I could Nur a little German and that was now many years after."

[HansV]

A better translation would be: "I know only a little German, and that was many years ago".

[BobH]

It's been more than 55 years since I studied German and I've never used it outside the classroom much at all.

I think the use of 'können' in this case is an idiomatic usage. IIRC there is also the verb 'kennen' which more correctly means 'know', or is it 'understand' or maybe 'familiar with.; (Hans, Claude?) It truly has been a great long time since I studied. Most of what I read in those days was in the old script typeface with double 'esses' (eg, ss) were combined as a single character very much resembling an English 'f'.

[HansV]

See German for Beginners: Lektion 16 - Lesson 16 for an explanation of the German verbs kennen, können and wissen.

Also see ß about the so-called Ringel-S character (resembling the Greek letter beta) for sz / ss.

[viking33]

A better translation would be: "I know only a little German, and that was many years ago".

I know a few big Germans also.

[Rudi]

My grandmother was a big German.

[HansV]

Does Hans Christian Andersen count as a Great Dane?

[Rudi]

Sure, he was Danish and he was a "great" story teller, or he caught birds on the wing.

[Rudi]

BTW: If you can cycle VERY fast, I'd say that you are the Flying Dutchman