Dachshund breed guide

Mischievous and loyal, the Dachshund is a little dog with a big character!

Read our guide to find out more about the delightful Dachshund breed…

Dachshund breed history

Some sources say the Dachshund’s origin story begins in 15^th century Germany, whereas others suggest Dachshund-type dogs can be seen in artwork from ancient Egypt. Wherever their breed originated, sources agree that Dachshunds were bred to flush prey – like badgers, foxes, and rabbits – out of dens, which has given them a high prey drive.

As centuries rolled on, the Dachshund breed became popular worldwide due to their affectionate nature, small stature, and charming personality.

However, in the aftermath of World War I and World War II, the Dachshund breed became less popular in the UK and USA.

Despite the American Kennel Club’s unsuccessful attempts to re-brand Dachshunds as ‘badger dogs’, breed enthusiasts continued to promote the joy of owning Dachshunds – helping their popularity soar once more.

While their role has evolved, and they’ve become the lovable family dog we know today, the Dachshund remains connected to their roots by being part of the ‘hound’ group.  

Common characteristics of the Dachshund breed

All six varieties of Dachshund share similar breed characteristics:

• Smooth haired Dachshund.
• Miniature smooth haired Dachshund.
• Long haired Dachshund.
• Miniature long haired Dachshund.
• Wire haired Dachshund.
• Miniature wire haired Dachshund.

Please remember that the following characteristics are considered ‘average’ for Dachshunds, and since each dog is a unique individual, your Dachshund’s characteristics may differ. 

Average height for a Dachshund

Standard Dachshunds tend to be around 20-27cm (at the shoulder), whereas miniature Dachshunds are usually 13-18cm in height (at the shoulder).

Average weight for a Dachshund

The average weight for a standard Dachshund is approximately 9-12kg, whereas the miniature Dachshund can weigh up to 4-5kg.

Average lifespan for a Dachshund

In general, all types of Dachshunds can live for 12-15 years or more.

Typical Dachshund appearance

Both the standard and miniature Dachshund are very similar in appearance, though the miniature Dachshund is far smaller than the standard Dachshund.

Their enchanting almond-shaped eyes are complemented by the way the Dachshund’s broad ears frame their slightly arched muzzle. In addition to their long body, the Dachshund has relatively short legs and prominent paws that are designed for digging. All Dachshunds also have a lengthy tail that’s slightly curved and ‘pawfect’ for wagging!

While smooth haired Dachshunds have a sleek, short coat, long haired Dachshunds have silky coats with straight hair. Wire haired Dachshunds have a dense undercoat with a wiry topcoat – as well as distinctive eyebrows and beard-like hair surrounding their mouth.

Smooth haired Dachshunds have lower maintenance coats that only require grooming once or twice a week. However, both long haired and wire haired Dachshunds require frequent grooming to keep their coats healthy and in tip top condition.

Although Dachshunds can be found with a large array of coat colours, patterns, and markings, the standard colours most often seen include:

• Black and tan (pale brown).
• Black and tan brindle (distinctive darker striped pattern over a base colour).
• Chocolate and tan.
• Chocolate and tan brindle.
• Chocolate dapple (darker marbled splashes over a lighter base) and tan.
• Red (a rich orange-brown colour).
• Red dapple.
• Red brindle.
• Silver (very pale grey) dapple and tan.
• Blue (pale grey) and tan.

Typical Dachshund temperament

A Dachshund’s charm is second only to their cuddliness! However, their love of human company means they share strong bonds with their family, which has been known to cause separation anxiety if they’re left alone for too long.

If you’re owned by a Dachshund, you’ll discover a devoted companion who adores snuggling – and relentlessly vying for your attention, through endless games of fetch or stealing items like socks!

One of the ways Dachshunds enjoy making sure all your focus is on them is to voice their opinions. Loudly. Dachshunds are well known for being vocal, so you may want to visit our article about how to manage barking for some top training tips.

Since they’re so intelligent, Dachshunds enjoy training activities – as long as you’ve found the right reward to motivate them and keep their attention!

Despite their teeny tiny frame, Dachshunds are high-energy dogs who require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to limit the chances of developing undesirable habits, like destructive behaviour.

Standard Dachshunds benefit from at least one hour of exercise daily, whereas miniature Dachshunds require a minimum of 30 minutes’ exercise a day.

Dachshund health conditions

It’s not unusual for pedigree breeds to be prone to certain health concerns, and Dachshunds are no exception. Here are a few health conditions commonly seen in the Dachshund:

• Heart disease.
• Eye problems (like dry eye).
• Intervertebral disc disease.

Remember: Keep an eye out for any health issues your Dachshund may develop, and get your canine companion checked by a vet if you have any concerns. If you are considering pet insurance, be sure to read our guide about insuring your Dachshund.

Fun facts about Dachshunds

Fact 1 – Crusoe the Celebrity Dachshund has over 3.1 million followers on Facebook and has made special guest appearances on TV shows like Ellen!

Fact 2 – In Germany, the standard Dachshund is known as the Teckel, which means ‘badger dog’, while the smallest type of Dachshund is referred to as ‘Kaninchen’ (which means ‘rabbit’).

Fact 3 – Popular nicknames for the Dachshund breed include Doxie, sausage dog, and wiener dog.

Fact 4 – Dachshunds often bark a lot because their ancestors were taught to alert hunters that they’d found their prey.

Fact 5 – Since they instinctively love to burrow, Dachshunds often like to snuggle in cosy spaces, like under a duvet or curled up in a pile of laundry!