Designers' Homes Nico with Dachshunds -- Nico, (born Christa Paffgen) was a popular fashion model and later lead singer of the The Velvet Underground. She was photographed in 1960 for LIFE along with her two dachshunds in the apartment of Parisian interior designer Henry Samuel. Even though the dachshund is technically from the hound family, they are closer in temperament to the terriers, so no one should be fooled by their over cute appearance! Dachshunds can be strong and feisty one minute and happy to take a big nap the next. Dachshunds, given their size and temperament, make perfect house and apartment dogs.