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Miniature Dachshund

Miniature Weiner Dog, Doxie's Miniature

Family: Canidae"Oscar (Oski)"Canis lupus familiarisPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Dee

  The Miniature Dachshund is long and muscular with short legs. It is just like the Standard Dachshund, only it is smaller and was bred for rabbit hunting rather than flushing out badgers.

  The Miniature Dachshund is quite a lively little companion dog. They are very similar to the Standard Dachshund which is the same breed but larger. Miniature Dachshunds are active and entertaining pets, as well as loyal to their owners and protective. They can be quite forward and are often mischievous, but Miniature Dachshunds do make excellent traveling companions. All Dachshunds are prone to back problems, so it is important to be aware of this when choosing one. They may also develop ailements such as heart disease, diabetes, eye problems, epilepsy, or urinary tract problems.

Common Name(s)   Miniature Dachshund, Miniature Weiner Dog, Doxie's Miniature

Breed Type   The Miniature Dachshund is a hound breed that was bred for rabbit hunting, while the Standard Dachshunds were bred to flush badgers,

Background   The Dachshund of today originated in Germany, but this breed has a long history. There are references found in books dating back to the early 1700s. Originally Dachshunds were much larger than they are today. Over time breeders developed them into dogs with shorter legs, so more suitable for digging. This breed first came into the United States in the late 1800's.
  As well as Miniature Dachshunds, there are Standard Dachshunds and Dachshunds distinguished as long-haired, wired-haired, and short-haired. Some breeders today are also developing Toy or Mini Dachshunds, though they are not yet recognized by kennel clubs . These smaller dogs weigh 8 pounds or under and are less than 12 inches.

Description   The long and muscular Miniature Dachshund has short legs, a long head and long ears, and dark eyes. The Dachshunds coat may have short, long, or wiry hair. Color variations include solid tan or yellow, bi-colored black, brown, gray, or chestnut, and piebald, speckle-streaked, or harlequin. The term 'Dapple' describes Dachshunds with merle coloration and the term 'Wild Boar' describes Dachshunds that are dull gray intermingled with black in color.
  Miniature Dachshunds are up to 14 inches tall and weigh around 9 pounds. The Standard Dachshunds are larger, between 14-18 inches tall and around 20 pounds.

Care and Feeding   Many breeders suggest feeding Miniature Dachshunds puppy food throughout their lives. Their diets should include horse meat, beef, wheat, and yellow corn. The Dachshunds are prone to obesity, so overfeeding should be avoided.
  The amount and frequency of grooming depends on the dog's coat. Brush Long-haired Dachshunds every day. Wire-haired Dachshunds should be brushed regularly and trimmed twice a year. Short-haired Dachshunds can simply be rubbed down with a damp cloth.
  Get regular checkups to keep your Miniature Dachshunds healthy. Vaccinations should be given on the following schedule:

• 6-8 weeks: Distemper, Leptospirosis, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo, and Corona virus (DHLPPC)
• 10-12 weeks: Second DHLPPC
• 14-16 weeks: Third DHLPPC and rabies
• Annually: DHLPPC and rabies booster
  

  You will need to vacuum regularly as this breed will shed moderately. Miniature Dachshunds also have a bit of an odor, so regularly cleaning of the furniture will also be necessary.

Housing Your Dog   Miniature Dachshunds are usually kept indoors. They do well in a small space and are active both indoors and out.

Social Behaviors   Miniature Dachshunds get along well with people they are familiar with. Even though they are friendly and outgoing, they are best suited to adults and older children. Dachshunds generally get along fairly well with other pets, but they can get jealous of them.

Handling and Training   Miniature Dachshunds are difficult to housebreak because they are willful dogs, and they need training that is consistent.

Activities   Provide them with walks and play sessions every day. This will keep their weight and health optimal. Because of their elongated bodies, MIniature Dachshunds can hurt themselves with too much jumping around, so you should discourage this type of behavior.

Breeding/Reproduction   Like all Dachshunds, Miniature Dachshunds are prone to the hereditary problems of epilepsy, Cushings disease, thyroid problems, and certain eye conditions. Check the bloodlines of potential mates for these problems.

Common Health Problems   The back problem, intervertebral disk disease, is quite common. Back problems in general are perhaps the most common health concern for the Miniature Dachshund. They are also easily injured because of their long spines. Take precautions to keep them from getting hurt and discourage too much jumping about..

Availability   The Miniature Dachshund is extremely popular, which makes them a favorite of breeders. Consequently they are usually available, but prices vary. Usually they are between $350 and $700.

References "Dachshund", Wikipedia, Copyright 2008
"Dachshund", Dog Breed Info Center, Copyright 1998-2008
Cusick, William D., "What to Feed a Dachshund", Referenced online, 2008
"Dachshund Puppies for Sale", Copyright PuppyFind.com, LLC, Referenced online, 2008
Dachshund Club of Metropolitan Atlanta, "Site Glossary", Copyright 2003, Referenced online, 2008

Lastest Comments on Miniature Dachshund View all 5 comments on Miniature Dachshund Add Your Comment

AMoore - 2010-11-18 We have had our mini Dachshund for 3 days and I have fallen in love. My husband and I have 5 kids, and we love "Fash". However he is not eating his dog food which is puppy chow-what kind is best for him? He is 8 weeks. Maureen - 2012-02-15 I'm not sure what kind of food is best for your puppy, but I've had puppies before and so I've learned that if they don't want to eat their solid food at first. They'll eat it if you add water to it to make it good and soggy. Hope this works for your pup! ron - 2012-02-23 We kept a bowl of Eukanuba (ground up with blender). I would mix it with warm suplemental puppy milk. Sweetjoan - 2012-03-01 Try to add a water, hot water, to make it soft and wait for 5 minutes before you give. Try Beef pro dog food, before my brand is eukanuba but it doesn't like my mini dachs.. so I switched it to Beef pro. shannon - 2012-03-04 Mine is a very pickey eater I tried everything moist hard soft. Now he eats soft and moist but I have to sprinkel his food with NUPRO. It's a dog supplement. He loves it and it makes his coat nice and shinny. You can get it from ebay. It's much cheaper. Reply

shannon - 2012-02-28 My minature dachshund is having back problems. He's 4 years old and once every 6 months this had been happening to him. It's like he's paralyzed for about 5 min. He can't walk, falls over, has the shakes all over. His eyes are kind of in the back of his head. It only lasts about 5 min. What should I do how can i help him? All I can do is hold him tight and wait for it to pass. Help Charlie Roche - 2012-02-28 I believe you should take the little guy to the vet. It sounds like seisures and there is medication. Reply

Becky Burnett - 2011-01-11 We have a mini dachshund and he has a gagging and mucus problem. He is always coughing and acting like he is going to throw up. Is there anyway to treat this problem? ron - 2012-02-23 Our minis would do the same thing when they would eat or drink try raising the dish off the ground some Reply

Concerned Reader - 2010-11-09 "Many breeders suggest feeding Miniature Dachshunds puppy food throughout their lives. Their diets should include horse meat, beef, wheat, and yellow corn. The Dachshunds are prone to obesity, so overfeeding should be avoided." NO dog should be fed horse meat or yellow corn! Dachshunds are prone to gaining too much weight. Which is precisely why they should NOT be fed puppy food their entire lives! ron - 2012-02-23 Corn can cause a bunch of skin problems the first ingredient should be meat. Reply

j gustafson - 2009-09-07 Wiener dogs are a great pet, however they do not do well with very small children and are prone to anxiety problems! But we love our denali. Jenny Sprowl - 2010-10-06 We also have a little wiener girl, Norma Jean. She has very bad anxiety when I have to leave without her. We are very close and she burrows down in the front of my night shirt to sleep. But I would not trade her for any other dog in the world. She is my heart. k naganuma - 2012-01-06 I have a mini dachsy/jack russell terrier mix, I've also noticed that she doesn't like kids either, everytime she sees a kid, she starts growling and running back and forth. I will go to her level and talk to her, letting her know that they won't hurt her, but she doesn't trust them at all, so I end up picking her up to calm her down and talking to her, once she calms down, then she okay after that. Reply

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