Miniature Dachshund
A small, long-bodied German hound with a big voice, bold spirit and smooth, wire or long coat.
At a glance
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- Males 4–5.5 kg · Females 3.5–5 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–16 years
- Exercise
- 30–60 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, Wire-haired, Silky, short, medium, long
- Colours
- Red, Yellow, Black and tan, Chocolate, Merle, Brindle, Cream
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent, Terrier work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Germany
- FCI
- Group 4, no. 148 · Dachshunds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 5/5 – Very high |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 2/5 – Low |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a small dog that still enjoys proper walks
- live in a flat or compact home
- like a dog with a strong personality
Think twice if you …
- want an obedient dog with little effort
- can't help a dog with stairs and jumping
- have neighbours sensitive to barking
Care
Temperament
Miniature Dachshunds are bold, curious and loving with family. They can be stubborn and protective and are quick to bark.
Exercise
Daily walks totalling 30–60 minutes and some sniffing games are usually enough. Tracking and scent work are ideal; avoid high-impact jumping.
Grooming
Smooth coats need a quick weekly wipe, long coats need brushing a few times a week and wire coats need hand-stripping a few times a year.
Training
They are clever but independent, so stay patient and reward-based. House training and recall often need extra work.
Health
Intervertebral disc disease is the main concern, and eye disease (including cord1 PRA in long-haired lines), patellar luxation and Lafora epilepsy in wire-haired lines occur. Ask the breeder for spinal, eye and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Spine
- Eye examination
- Kneecaps (patella)
DNA tests
- PRA (cord1)
- Lafora disease
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Dachshund was developed in Germany to hunt badgers and other animals that live underground; the miniature size was bred down to work smaller burrows and became popular as a companion. FCI standard no. 148 covers three sizes and three coat types, and the miniature sits between the standard and the rabbit size.
Miniature Dachshunds are affectionate, confident and often very attached to one person. They adapt well to flats but are not couch ornaments: they like walks, sniffing and digging. Keeping them slim and avoiding repeated jumping matters for their backs.
Did you know?
The FCI separates Dachshund sizes by chest circumference: a Miniature measures 30–35 cm around the chest at 15 months.