Miniature Dachshund

Hound

Size:

Grooming:

Exercise Level:

Trainability:

Barking Level:

Good with Children:

Good with other pets:

Affectionate:

Protective:

Height: 13 - 18cm M | 13 - 18cm F

Weight: 4 - 5kg M | 4 - 5kg F

Life Expectancy: 12 - 14 Years

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Introduction

The Miniature Dachshund has many nicknames, Miniature Doxie wiener dog, hot dog, or sausage dog are just a few of them. Long-backed body, tiny short legs, and big personality are the unmistakable characteristics of the Dachshund. They come in two sizes—standard dachshund and miniature dachshund —but both share the same endearing nature and tenacious spirit. Bred to be hunters of dangerous prey, these tiny sausage dogs are cautious and watchful. They are stubborn to a point, but their charming side shines through.

Do you want to own a Miniature Dachshund? Read the history of this short-legged spunky breed.

History

The Miniature Dachshund originated in Germany in the 16th century. The word “Dachshund” comes from the German words dachs (badger) and hund (dog), a fitting name for a breed that was developed to hunt and despatch badgers. Their long and low-slung body is perfect for digging into a badger den.

The Mini Dachshund came to the UK in 1840 when it was brought to England by the Royal Family. During the 19th century, smaller Dachshunds were preferred as they were used to hunt European hares. Before they became popular pets, the smaller ones were, in fact, considered runts of the litters. Later on, as the demand rose for Mini Dachshund dogs, they were crossed with Toy Terriers and Pinschers.

The unfortunate result is that some of the desirable characteristics of the Dachshund disappeared, specifically their excellent hunting skills. This type of breeding was eventually stopped in 1910 and breeders were forced to use selective breeding to maintain genetic lineage.

Appearance and Grooming

How big will the Miniature Dachshunds get?

Miniature Dachshunds have an alert, bold and confident presence. They can easily be distinguished from the standard Dachshund because they are smaller and lower to ground. They weigh 4-5 kilograms and stand 13 to 18 centimetres at the withers.

The Mini Doxie display an adorable appearance with short legs that highlight their long compact bodies. They have long heads, almond-shaped eyes, slightly arched muzzles, and broad and moderately long ears.

According to the Miniature Dachshund breed standard, the miniature comes in smooth haired, longhaired, and wirehaired coat varieties.

Smooth-haired Dachshund

For the smooth Dachshund, the coat is short, shiny, and not too thick or too long. The underside has a patch of sleek hair that grows long. The tail is tapered and not richly haired. Hair colour varies widely but certain patterns and colours are more pronounced.

Red and cream predominate in single-coloured Dachshunds with acceptable white on the chest. Their nose and nails are black.

On the other hand, the recognised colours and combinations for two-coloured Dachshunds are black, chocolate, tan, cream, brindle, dapple, red, and silver. Depending on the hair colour, their nose and nails can be black, dark brown, or self-coloured.

Smooth-coated Dachshunds are generally low-maintenance because of their short and dense coat. Weekly brushing and wiping with a chamois leather will keep the coat clean and shiny.

Longhaired Dachshund

Longhaired Dachshunds have a long glistening coat with wavy hair growing longer under the neck, chest, the ears, behind the legs, and the underside of the body. Their tail hair can grow profusely. In terms of coat, nose, and nail colour, they share the same breed standard characteristics of their smooth-haired counterpart.

Because of the thickness of the Doxie's coat, longhaired Dachshunds are the biggest shedders out of the three Dachshund varieties, but not as bad as other breeds. The longhaired Miniature Dachshunds are harder to maintain. They require frequent brushing with the use of a stiff-bristled brush and a comb to avoid tangles and matting.

The hair behind the ears, under the belly, and behind the legs need to be combed thoroughly. Taking them to the groomers is a good idea to thin out the area around the neck.

Wirehaired Dachshund

Wirehaired Dachshunds have short, thick, and rough outer coat except in the jaw, ears, and eyebrows. Their undercoat has finer and softer hair that are interspersed with coarser hairs. Their ears have shorter hair, while the tail has thick hairs. The most common colours for the wirehaired are wild boar (agouti), black, tan, and different shades of red.

Grooming wirehaired Dachshunds involves plucking or hand-stripping the coat several times a year to keep the coat looking its best. Trimming the beard and eyebrows may be necessary when they get too long. Their coat needs to be brushed two to three times a week.

Dachshunds are prone to gum and tooth disease because of their tiny jaws and crowded teeth. Start brushing its teeth when young so it gets used to the process. Also, make sure to trim the nails every month and clean the ears as necessary.

Temperament and Intelligence

The Miniature Dachshund is an active, intelligent, loyal and courageous hound. It may be a small dog, but what it lacks in size more than makes up in personality. It is recommended for families with older children who know how to responsibly handle dogs.

In general, Dachshunds get along well with other dogs but they would not back down against a larger dog when threatened. It is better to avoid introducing smaller types of animals because of their strong prey drive.

Although a quick learner, the Mini Dachshunds can be challenging to train as they have a stubborn streak. They may deliberately not follow commands from a timid owner. It is important to start training early to establish leadership.

Are Miniature Dachshunds aggressive?

Dachshunds typically bark and howl. This characteristic makes them good guard dogs for the family. They have a superb ability for alerting against intruders, however, their small stature will prevent them from defending their owners. The perceived aggressive behaviour is just their natural instincts kicking in to protect their turf when there is an apparent threat.

Read the miniature dachshund training tips and how to correct bad behaviours

Nutrition and Feeding

A typical serving of food for an adult Mini Dachshund is 3/4 to 1 cup of excellent quality dry dog food per day. However, like in every breed, the amount of food depends on its age, size, build activity level, and metabolism. Advice and tips are given on how to provide for the basic nutritional needs of the Miniature Dachshunds.

An adult Mini Dachshund typical calorie needs per day:

Senior and less active: up to 370 calories daily
Typical adults: up to 460 calories daily
Physically active/working dogs: up to 700 calories daily

The main ingredient of a Mini Dachshund’s meals should be meat, which can be beef, chicken, lamb, or fish. Avoid meat by-products as well as gluten sources such as corn, wheat and soy. Keep in mind that this breed has a tendency to be greedy, which causes weight gain. Be cautious as excess weight can put a strain on its long and rather delicate back.

Health and Exercise

Mini Dachshunds are generally healthy, however just like many other breeds, they are prone to their breed-specific health problems such as obesity, dental issues, thyroid problems, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, Lafora disease, idiopathic epilepsy, and distichiasis.

The Minis can also get skin problems like allergies, acanthosis nigricans, pattern alopecia, and vitiligo.

Learn more about Miniature Dachshund Health Problems and Prevention.

Dachshunds are high-energy dogs with stamina that can really drain their owners. Make sure to provide your Mini Dachshund with physical and mental activities or it will find ways, often unpleasant, to amuse itself.

How much exercise does a Miniature Dachshund need?

As Miniature Dachshund is an active breed, a 30 to 40-minute daily exercise and playtime is enough. It enjoys walks and games in a fenced area. Avoid over-exercising your sausage dog when he is still young to avoid spine and joint problems.

Cost of Ownership

If you are keen on caring for a Miniature Dachshund, be ready to pay at least £500 for a well-bred pedigree puppy. To ensure it stays healthy at whatever age, you will need to feed your dog high quality dog food and treats, which can set you back £20-£30 a month. You would also need to spend on dog accessories such as leads, collars, bowls, crates, beds, and toys. The combined initial cost for these things is estimated at £200.

Moreover, you need to consider paying for pet insurance to offset veterinary bills in case your dog suddenly falls ill or gets into an accident. Depending on where you live and your dog’s health and age, a time-limited cover can cost £22 a month while a lifetime one can cost up to £43 a month. Generally, insurance companies do not cover routine veterinary consultations, initial vaccinations, boosters, and neutering or spaying, so you may also have to spend an additional £800 annually for these services.

On average, the minimum cost to care for a Miniature Dachshund is £50-£80 per month depending on your pet insurance premium. This estimate does not include the rates for other services such as walking and grooming.

Miniature Dachshund Breed Highlights

The Miniature Dachshund is a loyal breed that develops a strong bond with its owner.
It is an intelligent breed but training can be challenging because it can be stubborn
Interactions with small children should be supervised to avoid accidents and injuries.
Miniature Dachshunds need physical and mental activities to keep them busy and active
Miniature Dachshunds will bark at intruders but may not be physically capable to defend their owners
Grooming is very easy for short-haired types and can be more demanding for the long-haired ones.
This Mini Dachshund is prone to dental problems because of its small jaw and crowded teeth.