Did you know that the Miniature Dachshund is identical to a regular Dachshund in every way but size? A Miniature Dachshund must weigh under 11 pounds, but there’s no minimum weight. They’re extremely cute and loving pets, and if you want a smaller lap dog, a Mini Dachshund might be just what you’re looking for!
Breed Overview
Height:
9–16 inches
Weight:
Under 11 pounds
Lifespan:
12–16 years
Colors:
Black & tan, chocolate & tan, cream, wheaten, wild boar, red, blue & tan, fawn & tan, black & cream, fawn & cream, chocolate & cream, or blue & cream
Suitable for:
Individuals who want a low-activity dog, families with older children, and multi-pet families
Temperament:
Loyal, easy to train, vocal
Miniature Dachshunds are loving pups that are relatively easy to train, and because of their smaller size, it can be a bit easier to meet their energy needs. However, they are quite vocal, so they aren’t the best fit if you live in close proximity to other people.
They come in a variety of colors, have different markings, and even have three different types of coats, meaning there are tons of options for you to pick from.
Miniature Dachshund Breed Characteristics
The Earliest Records of Miniature Dachshunds in History
The history of the Dachshund goes back centuries, and some people refer to it as the “world’s oldest dog.” While there’s nothing to verify that, there’s no doubt that it’s one of the older dog breeds of the world.
It’s originally a German breed, and it’s several hundred years old. It has remained a popular dog breed throughout its entire existence, although it did have a short dip in popularity during World War II. The AKC tried to rebrand the dog during this time, but the attempts didn’t stick, and it didn’t take long after the war for the popularity of the Dachshund to rebound.
How Miniature Dachshunds Gained Popularity
While the Dachshund is pretty much nothing but a lap dog today, that wasn’t originally the case for them. Germans originally bred the Dachshund as a hunting dog for badgers, which meant they needed a fearless personality and the ability to work in a pack.
While you won’t find many Dachshunds hunting badgers today, they’ve remained popular because of their distinctive long bodies, cute appearance, and even sweeter personalities. Adding to their charm is their ability to forget about their size and act bigger than they are, which can lead to some pretty fun encounters.
Formal Recognition of Miniature Dachshunds
Sometimes called the “world’s oldest dog,” it’s no surprise that the Dachshund received formal recognition very early on. In fact, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the Dachshund in 1885, meaning it has enjoyed formal recognition for well over 130 years!
Meanwhile, the United Kennel Club (UKC) took a bit longer to recognize the breed, but with formal recognition in 1919, the Dachshund has enjoyed formal recognition there for over 100 years.
Of course, breeders have been maintaining this breed for a while, but they didn’t come to a consensus on standards until these groups gave it formal recognition.
Top 3 Unique Facts About Mini Dachshunds
1. Dachshunds Once Hunted Badgers
When you look at a Dachshund, you likely don’t think of a hunting dog, but that’s exactly what Germans once bred them for. Dachshunds are fearless pups that work well in packs, and while the Miniature Dachshund’s size doesn’t make them an ideal candidate for hunting, larger ones can still hunt with proper training!
2. Waldi Was the First Olympic Mascot
In 1972, Germany was the first country with an official mascot, which was a Dachshund named Waldi. Germany embraced the Dachshund so much for the Olympics that organizers plotted the marathon’s route in the shape of a Dachshund!
3. They Come with Three Types of Coats
Mini Dachshunds can have a smooth, wire-haired, or long-haired coat, giving you all sorts of options when buying or adopting one. Smooth Dachshunds are the most popular and common, but if you want your Dachshund to have a different type of coat, it’s certainly possible.
Does a Miniature Dachshund Make a Good Pet?
Miniature Dachshunds make phenomenal pets for many people. While they’re not the perfect pet for everyone, they’re extremely loving and eager to please. They also do well with other pets, especially dogs, although you do need to be careful with smaller pets because of a Dachshund’s hunting instincts.
Not only that, but you need to be careful with them around smaller children and larger dogs because of their small size. The Mini Dachshund doesn’t always realize they’re such a small dog, which can lead to problems with smaller children who could fall on them or larger pets that could end up trampling them when playing.
Conclusion
Miniature Dachshunds are extremely loving and interesting dogs, and with tons of colors, markings, and coats, it’s not hard to see why they’re so popular. They make great pets and have remained popular for hundreds of years, so you can rest easy knowing that the Mini Dachshund isn’t going anywhere anytime soon!
Featured Image Credit: David Pecheux, Shutterstock
3 Responses
I don't think my mini dachshund has ever been aggressive with any animals that were smaller than him before. He interacted with a bunny, cats, and guinea pigs and then tried to groom and take care of them. He's more aggressive with other small dogs that he is to rodents and cats.
Hello Ace,
thank you for sharing this with us. Your Mini Dachshund sounds like such a sweet dog and protector!
you do a beautiful job. and have a heart for animals, I hand a miniature one before we grew old together. then he left me, I cried for many day, his name was simply Twix.