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View 8 More +A cross between a Dachshund and a Beagle, the Doxle is one of the cutest and most loving breeds you’ll find out there. With a lifespan of 11 to 14 years, the Doxle can be a variety of colors, from tan to chocolate and cream. Because of the Beagle Dachshund mix, the Doxle makes an excellent early warning system for intruders, as they do put up a ruckus.
Breed Overview
Height:
9–11 inches
Weight:
18–30 pounds
Lifespan:
11–14 years
Colors:
Red, tan, black, cream, chocolate & cream, blue & tan, black & tan, chocolate & tan
Suitable for:
Families, houses with yards, those who need a guard dog
Temperament:
Alert, attentive, funny, cheerful, loving, curious, charming
If you adopt or purchase a Doxle from a breeder, be prepared for them to bark, as their curious natures will lead them into those types of situations. However, training and socialization as a puppy can do a lot to curb barking tendencies. So, if you’re looking to adopt or purchase a Doxle, follow us along in our guide to find out everything you need to know before bringing a Doxle into your home.
Doxle Characteristics
Doxle Puppies
Doxle puppies are adorable and have quite a bit of energy. They train pretty well but can have a barking problem that you’ll need to address. However, they’re loving, intelligent, and alert, which will make them the perfect watchdog when they grow up.
A Doxle will make an excellent addition to a family, as they’re good with other pets and children. In addition, they don’t grow to be very big, which makes them great for someone who lives in an apartment. It’s essential, however, to realize the amount of responsibility any pet requires before you decide to adopt one of these puppies and bring them home to live with you and your family.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Doxle
With their curious, attentive, and loving nature, Doxles make perfect family pets. They can be a bit on the stubborn side, so you want to start training and socializing them as puppies. The Doxle is also very intelligent. This breed does love to bark, chew things, and dig, so watch for these traits in your Doxle puppy and take care of them early on for the best results.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
As previously mentioned, Doxles make great pets for the elderly, but they also make the perfect dog for families. They love to play with children, and since they are energetic and active, they can keep up with an active family.
They are watchful, which makes them excellent guard dogs, and they are known for being protective of their families.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶
While Doxles get along well with pets, there are exceptions to every rule. The breed does have a hunting instinct, so hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, and even rabbits might trigger that instinct and cause them to give chase. Training your pet early on and teaching them socialization skills as a puppy can help curb their instinct to hunt.
Things to Know When Owning a Doxle
Now that you know the personality traits and the quirks associated with the Doxle breed, you’re probably ready to go out and adopt one for your very own. However, you need to know the food and diet requirements, exercise, grooming and training needs, and any health conditions to watch out for. We’ll go into all of this in our next section.
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Your medium-sized Doxle will require food that has quite a bit of protein in it. It’s best to go with foods that have chicken, beef, or lamb as the first ingredient listed for best results. Dry kibble will work for your Doxle, but home-cooked food is also a possibility, especially if you want to be extra sure your puppy is getting the protein and nutrients that he needs to remain healthy, active, and happy. You want to make sure to feed him foods that reduce his risk of gaining too much weight.
Exercise 🐕
A Doxle can be quite active, but he doesn’t require very much exercise, which is what makes him the perfect companion for a senior citizen who can’t get out and about very much. A quick walk around the block and a few minutes of playing fetch in the backyard will suffice for this puppy to get the exercise they need to be healthy and happy.
Training 🎾
Your Doxle pup can be stubborn, which can make training them a bit of a challenge. Though intelligent, the breed gets bored and loses interest easily, ready to move on to the next thing. Being consistent with your training and using treats and praise for rewards is the best way to get the results you want from your Doxle.
Grooming ✂️
Your Doxle is going to require brushing three to four times a week to keep a shiny, healthy coat. While they don’t do much shedding, brushing them regularly will help keep the hair off your floors and furniture. You’ll also want to clip their nails and brush their teeth on a regular basis to keep them healthy and looking great.
Health and Conditions 🏥
As with any other breed, the Doxle has a few severe and minor health conditions you should watch out for. Many of these you can possibly avoid by choosing a reputable breeder. Below, we’ll go into a few of those conditions.
- Epilepsy
- Deafness
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Bloating
Male vs. Female
There isn’t much difference between the male and female Doxle when it comes to their weight or their adult height. It is thought that the female Doxle might be just a tad more on the dominant side than the male of the breed. It is also believed that the female may fight other female dogs and be a bit less affectionate than males.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Doxle
1. Doxles Like to Dig
If you’re going to own a Doxle, make sure you’re prepared for it to dig. It’s one of this breed’s favorite pastimes.
2. Doxles Work Well for Senior Citizens
Doxles are friendly to everyone but make great pets for senior citizens as well. Their easy-going and loving ways make them perfect companions for the elderly.
3. Doxles Get Along Well With Cats
If you have cats in the house, then a Doxle may be the best choice of pet for you. They get along great with these feline creatures.
Final Thoughts
This concludes our guide to the Beagle Dachshund mix and what you can expect if you decide to give one a forever home. The Doxle is perfect for a family that loves to play and likes to be active. However, the breed is also content to be the companion of the elderly as they don’t require much exercise and are happy just cuddling on the couch with their owners.
We hope this guide on the Doxle has helped you make your decision and that soon you’ll have one of these lovable, intelligent pets living in your home.
We have lots more Dachshund Mixes and Beagle Mixes for you to explore!
Featured Image Credit: Slavomir Tomka, Shutterstock
2 Responses
I adopted a Beagle Dachshund mix 6 years ago from a family who had to move into an apartment and couldn't take the dog with them. They told us he was two years old and his birthday was 11-18-16. His name is Bernie and he struggles with not trusting men and jumping at every little noise. When he eats his food, me and my husband have to sit down before he will even touch his food to eat it. Very friendly loving animal. This past Friday I took him to have his teeth cleaned. They had to give him anesthesia. I got a phone call back from the vet that he has a heart murmur that was a 3 on a scale from 1 to 6. Also, that by looking at his teeth, he is definitely not 8, but probably 10 to 11. I am devastated to hear this. Has anyone had this happen to them and has anyone else had a dog with a heart murmur? Thank you
We had a senior beagle Pigpen (age 13) who had a similar issue with a heart murmur. Our vet said it was something to definitely monitor but not something to panic about— it sounds scarier than it is sort of thing. Senior dogs make incredible companions but it is a shame you were incorrectly told his age regardless. We recently adopted an 8-year old beagle-dachshund and she, like your Bernie, is extremely fearful but also extremely loving.
My understanding based on what our vet said is that a lot of mild to moderate heart murmurs can be managed by maintaining proper weight and adequate exercise— things you are probably already doing. It can be tough trying to discern between changes that are solvable issues and the inevitable aging process.
Hope this helps: it is definitely stressful when our little buddies have health issues.