Dachshund (All Sizes) Puppies

Two sizes, three coats

Dachshunds vary more than most breeds, and this page brings the sizes together so you can compare.

The size division is a formal one. A standard Dachshund typically weighs somewhere between sixteen and thirty-two pounds. A miniature is classified at eleven pounds or under, measured at twelve months of age. Both are the same breed with the same history and the same character; the miniature was developed to work smaller quarry in tighter burrows.

The badger dog

The name translates from German as badger dog, and everything about the build follows from that job. The long body and short legs let the dog work underground, the deep chest carries lung capacity, the large front paws dig, and the famously loud voice let a hunter above ground track where the dog had got to.

When your Dachshund digs up the garden, follows a scent across the yard, or announces the mail carrier at surprising volume, it is doing precisely what it was bred for.

The three coats

Coat type crosses both sizes, so you can find a smooth, a longhaired, or a wirehaired Dachshund in either.

Smooth coats are short and close-lying, and need little more than a weekly wipe-down. Longhaired coats are silky with feathering on the ears, chest, legs, and tail, and need brushing several times a week to stay tangle-free. Wirehaired coats are harsh and dense with a beard and eyebrows, and need brushing plus occasional stripping or trimming to hold the texture.

Coat type also carries a loose reputation for temperament, with wirehaired dogs often described as the most terrier-like and longhaired as the most easygoing. Individual variation matters more than the generalization.

Character in both sizes

Bold, funny, and determined covers most Dachshunds. They were bred to go down a hole alone and make their own decisions, and that independence has not been bred out.

Training is a negotiation. Dachshunds learn fast when there is something in it for them and are perfectly capable of hearing you and choosing otherwise. Short sessions, good rewards, consistency across the household. Pressure and repetition get you a dog that stops participating.

Scent games are the most efficient way to tire one out. Hide treats around a room and let the dog work; fifteen minutes of searching does more than a long walk.

Habits for a long back

The same care applies to both sizes. Discourage jumping down from beds and sofas, and provide steps or a ramp to favorite spots. Support the chest and rear when lifting rather than hoisting under the front legs. Use a harness instead of a neck collar. Keep the dog lean rather than round.

None of this is difficult, and all of it is easier to build as a habit in puppyhood than to introduce later.

Compare in person

Look at each size on its own if you prefer: standard and miniature.

Our Dachshund puppies come from our licensed breeder network. Come and meet them in Orlando or Nashville, find store hours and directions, and ask about financing when you visit.