Rabbit Dachshund
The smallest Dachshund variety, bred to follow rabbits underground, with a bold heart in a very small body.
At a glance
- Size
- Toy
- Weight
- Males 3–4 kg · Females 2.5–3.5 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
- 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 …
- live in a flat or small home
- want a tiny dog with a hunter's character
- can protect a long back from strain
Think twice if you …
- want an easily trained dog
- have very young children who might drop it
- need a quiet dog for thin walls
Care
Temperament
Rabbit Dachshunds are brave, lively and loyal, often bonding strongly with one person. They can be stubborn and are quick to bark at noises.
Exercise
Two or three short walks a day plus play keep them fit. Scent games and tracking suit their nose; avoid repeated jumping off furniture.
Grooming
Smooth coats need little care, wire coats need stripping a few times a year and long coats need brushing several times a week.
Training
Clever but independent, so training takes patience and good rewards. House training can take longer than average.
Health
Back disease (IVDD) is the main concern in all Dachshunds, and eye disease, patellar luxation and Lafora epilepsy (in wire-haired lines) occur. Ask the breeder for spinal X-ray, 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 Rabbit Dachshund (Kaninchenteckel) is the smallest of the three German Dachshund sizes. German hunters developed it to follow rabbits into their burrows, which are narrower than those of badgers or foxes. Like the other sizes, it comes in smooth, wire and long coats, and size is measured by chest circumference rather than weight.
Despite its tiny frame, it is a real hunting dog: brave, persistent and vocal. At home it is affectionate and loves comfort, and it suits flats well. Owners need to protect its back by keeping it lean, limiting jumping and using ramps where possible.
Did you know?
Under the FCI standard a Rabbit Dachshund must have a chest circumference of no more than 30 cm, measured at 15 months of age.