Miniature Dachshund Food, Lifespan, Shedding, Training, & Height

Miniature Dachshund Dog Breed Introduction

Miniature Dachshund is a small Honda group dog breed from Germany. The dogs have nicknames including Wiener Dog\ Sausage Dog, Badger Dog, or Doxie. Miniature Doxies have short legs and long bodies. The dog breed is available in three types smooth-haired, long-haired, or wire-haired coat. The Mini Doxie is known to be an alert little watchdog as it is generally spunky and playful. Moreover, they are often stubborn and require early training and socialization.

Miniature Doxies were naturally bred to be independent hunters of dangerous prey. The dogs are known to be energetic and when bored will often turn to chewing up objects around the house. Thus, the owners should be ready to provide the dog with adequate exercise.

History

The Miniature Doxies belong to the Doxies breed where their origin is in Germany. The dogs attained the German name “Dachshund,” which means “badger dog.” The Miniature Doxies were originally bred to hunt small animals such as rabbits. The dogs are known to be the most popular dogs in the United States as the 2018 AKC registration ranks them in 12th position. Due to their small size, the Miniature Doxies are popular with urban and apartment dwellers.

Moreover, the Doxies were chosen as the first official mascot with the name Waldi for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The Miniature Doxies have a loud bark which allows the Doxies’s above-ground human hunting partner to mark his hound’s underground location. Additionally, the AKC Stud Book admitted their popularity in America was immediate and enduring in 1885.

Miniature Dachshund Photo — **Miniature Dachshund’s Photo**

Miniature Dachshund Lifespan

A Miniature Doxie has a lifespan of 12 to 16 years.

Average Lifespan

A Miniature Doxie has an average of 12 to 16 years life expectancy. However, some Miniature Doxies have exceeded their life expectancy by one or two years.

Oldest Mini Dachshund

The oldest Miniature Doxie lived for 25 years.

Grooming

The Miniature Doxies are available in three coats the smooth, long, and wire-hired Doxies. The Smooth Miniature Doxies have a short smooth coat that requires a hound glove brush once a week. The Miniature Long-Haired Doxies require a pin or bristle brush to brush their coat twice a week. The Miniature Wire-Haired Doxies require to be brushed twice a week with a closely spaced bristle brush and Slicker. The Wired Miniature Doxies can be plucked or hand-stripped three or more times a year.

Regarding bathing, the Wirehaired and Longhaired Doxies require a bath once after two months while the Miniature Smooth-coated Doxies can have a bath after three months using warm water, canine-formulated shampoo, and conditioner. The Wirehaired and Longhaired Doxies are then brushed after bathing to ensure their coat is neat free of tangles. Owners should avoid frequent washing as it may cause dry skin, cracking, or irritation.

Use a canine dog toothpaste and toothbrush to clean the Mini Doxies’ teeth to prevent gingivitis and tartar buildup. Their nails should be cut once a month by using nail clippers. Additionally, clean the Miniature Doxies’ ears with a damp cotton ball soaked in an ear cleanser to remove dirt and wax.

Shedding

The Miniature Dachshunds come in three coat types: Smooth, Long Haired, or Wire Haired. They are known to shed moderately, with the Long Haired and Wire Haired shedding more during the fall or spring due to their dense undercoat. In spring, their coat becomes lighter to help them stay cool in the warm weather, and in fall, they shed their coat to prepare for winter. During these two seasons, it is recommended that owners brush the Long Haired and Wire Haired Dachshunds’ coats using a pin brush for the Long Haired and a slicker brush for the Wire Haired.

Long Haired Miniature Shedding

The Long Haired Miniature Doxies are known to be the heavy shedders among the Doxies. During the seasons they will shed moderately and high during the fall or spring season due to the dense undercoat.

Coat | Coat Type

The Miniature Doxies comprises of the Smooth, Long Haired, or Wire Haired coats.

Hypoallergenic

Miniature Doxies are not hypoallergenic dogs as they moderately shed their coats. When they shed, they tend to leave dander around the house, which contains an allergenic protein. This protein has the potential to trigger allergic reactions in individuals who are sensitive to it. Furthermore, saliva, urine, and mucus contain protein allergen that causes inflammation in allergic people. The Miniature Doxies are likely to drool.

Miniature Dachshund Training

Miniature Doxies are known to be independent and often stubborn, thus training them at an early age is required. They may be a challenge to train and owners and trainers should be consistent. Miniature Doxies training should begin from three to 16 weeks to establish good habits, boundaries, and also expectations within your household. Miniature Doxies’ socialization should begin early to ease with people, animals, places, and activities from three to 16 weeks.

Socialization is attained by introducing the Miniature Doxies to new dogs or people, places, and also sounds like washing machines, trains, and doorbells. Avoid using harsh commands or punishment on the Miniature Doxies as they are sensitive. Make the training lessons short with a duration of 10 to 15 minutes to prevent the dog from being distracted by their excellent sense of smell as well as a strong prey drive.

Miniature Doxies should learn basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “heel”. When they are eight weeks enroll the dog in puppy classes with a trainer who has a positive approach. In addition, to housebreak this breed, introduce them to potty training, crate training, and feeding schedules at an early age.

Training Tips

To have productive training on the Miniature Doxies, the owners should consider the following training tips:

Use a treat to lure your dog to respond to commands.
Have consistency and patience when training.
Avoid lengthy hours of training.
Avoid punishing the dog.
Understand the Miniature Doxie’s behavior
Use advanced methods to help with mental stimulation.

Potty Training

Once the dog is brought to a new home, the owner should introduce the pet to potty training. Three methods can be used; crate training, paper training, and indoor potty training. The most popular method among new dog owners is crate training. It’s important to use a crate that is the right size for the dog, so they can move around comfortably but not so large that they use one corner for elimination. Dogs usually alert their owners that they need to go outside by whining and scratching.

Puppy pads and paper training are great alternatives for Miniature Doxies owners. This method is mostly used by owners who spend more time at work and cannot get home several times a day. The pad and paper allows the pets to relieve themselves in a specific spot at home. For indoor training, it is known that dogs can control their bladders for several hours depending on their age. Puppies aged six months and above can hold it for up to six hours. House training is effective when the owners take their puppies out in the morning, at night, after indoor play, after spending time in the crate, waking from a nap, eating, and also drinking.

When taking the dog out for potty training use a leash to prevent the dogs from thinking it is an impromptu play session. Reward the dog after a successful potty visit. Also, the owners should learn the puppy potty signals. Look for a dog walker if you have a 9 to 5 job, and avoid leaving any odors when cleaning up. The time it takes for a Miniature Doxie to consistently use the designated potty area usually depends on the dog’s age and consistency in training.

Temperament

Loyal.
Independent.
Friendly.
Brave.
Curious.
Intelligent.
Often Stubborn.
Alert.
Active.

Exercise

The Miniature Doxies require half an hour of exercise a day split into two moderate lengths. The exercise allows the Doxies to build strong muscles to support and protect their back. These dogs should be trained to avoid running up and down stairs or jumping on or off furniture as it could cause damage to their long backs. Moreover, some Miniature Doxies may like to engage in activities like hiking, swimming, or practicing agility courses.

Miniature Dachshund Barking

The Miniature Doxies do bark a lot and can get vocal as they were naturally bred as hunting dogs. They are also alert and good watchdogs that will bark to alert their owners when they see something or someone strange.

Barking Problem

The Miniature Doxies do bark a lot and can get vocal as they were naturally bred as hunting dogs. However, the dog may bark excessively due to fear, compulsive disorders, boredom, excitement, or separation anxiety. To control the Miniature Doxies’ barking problem, the owners should use command words like Quiet and also interact with the dog when they are calm.

Miniature Dachshund Size

A healthy Miniature Doxie stands at a height of 5 to 6 in ( approx. 13 to 15 cm) and weighs up to 11 lbs ( 5kg ).

Height

The Miniature Doxies stand at a height of 5 to 6 in ( approx. 13 to 15 cm) measured from the withers.

Weight

A healthy Miniature Doxie weighs up to 11 lbs ( 5kg ).

Weight At 4 Months

Four months Miniature Doxies weigh between 5.5 to 8 pounds (approx. 2.5 to 3.5 kg).

Full Grown | Adult

A Full-grown Miniature Doxie has a lifespan of 12 to 16 years. They also stand at a height of 5 to 6 in ( approx. 13 to 15cm) and weigh up to 11 lbs ( 5kg ).

Weight By Age

The Miniature Doxie reaches its full-grown age when they are 11 to 12 months. The dog has the following weight by age:

3 months 5 to 6 pounds ( approx. 2.3 to 2.7 kg ).
6 months 8 to 9 pounds ( approx. 3.6 to 4.1 kg )
9 to 12 months 10 to 11 pounds ( approx. 4.5 to 5 kg ).

Bite Force

The Miniature Doxie doesn’t have as strong a bite as larger breeds thus, they have an estimated biting force of around 78 PSI.

Health Issues

Miniature Doxies are prone to having spinal problems like intervertebral disk disease due to extremely long spinal column and short rib cage. Spinal problems may worsen if the dog is obese, or has rough handling, jumping, or intense exercise. There are also varying degrees of vision and hearing loss in some of the double dapples Miniature Doxies.

The dog may also suffer from hereditary epilepsy, granulomatous meningoencephalitis, dental issues, Cushing’s syndrome, thyroid, and autoimmune problems. Most of the Miniature Doxies are likely to develop patent ductus arteriosus, a congenital heart defect. For the dilute color dogs like Blue, Isabella, and also Cream are prone to color dilution alopecia, a skin disorder that can result in hair loss and extreme sensitivity to the sun.

Apart from Mini Dachshunds, other dog breeds include:

Dutch Shepherd.

Labrador Retriever.

Black and Tan Coonhound.

Norwegian Elkhound.

Biewer Terrier.

Eye Problems

Miniature Doxies can have genetic eye diseases like Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), Distichia which is extra eyelashes that often turn inward toward the eye surface, and persistent pupillary membrane. The Doxies may also suffer from Cataracts and Corneal disease. Dog owners should visit vets to get their dogs to undergo eye checkups.

Ear Problems

Long haired and Wire haired Miniature Doxies have a lot of hair in their ears. Their ears are also floppy which can cause bacteria to build up causing an infection. If the dog is not cleaned, the earwax can cause swelling, fluid, and also pain. The dogs can also have ear infections if they accumulate moisture from swimming. Depending on the cause, the Miniature Doxies’ ears can heal after proper cleaning and drying. However, if the infection is due to food, environmental, or seasonal allergies, the owners should consult a vet.

Seizures

Miniature Doxies are prone to having seizures. Signs of seizures in dogs include twitching, shivering, spasming, convulsions, collapsing, incontinence, or losing control of the bowel movement. If the dog has more than one seizure, the owner should visit or call the vet immediately.

Moreover, if the Miniature Doxies have frequent seizures, they may have epilepsy which is managed through medication. In case the dog has a seizure the owners should avoid the dog’s mouth and head, move the dog away from stairs, furniture, and sharp objects, and avoid putting anything in a dog’s mouth. Additionally, after the seizure, ensure the dog recovers, speak calmly and softly, and record the seizure that occurred.

Names

Miniature Doxies’ parents give their dogs names. Naming occurs before they join a new home from the breeder or after some days of staying with the parent. Their names vary from different parents as some of the parents name them according to movies, coats, songs, books, or historical places. However, special care is used when giving them names to avoid aligning them with the command words taught in training.

Names Female

Some of the Miniature Doxies’ female names include:

Phoebe.
Penny.
Minnie.
Coco.
Lizzo.
Fern.
Duchess.
Clara.
Donna.
Ophelia.

Names Boy

Boy names for Miniature Doxies include:

Frank.
Milo.
Rolo.
Winston.
Oscar.
Gus.
Jaeger.
Finn.
Chase.
Archie.

Heat Cycle

Miniature Doxies come to heat twice or three times a year. A female dog is said to be ready for mating from 6 to 12 months while a male Miniature Doxies attain sexual maturity when they are 12 to 15 months. Moreover, the recommended age for breeding a Miniature Doxie is typically around 2 years old. This enables the dog to reach their full physical and emotional maturity to cope with having puppies before mating occurs.

When the Miniature Doxie is on heat, it will display a bloody vaginal discharge, swollen genitals, mounting behavior, and nesting behavior that usually lasts between 14 and 21 days. This discharge indicates that the female dog’s hormone levels are changing, making her ready for fertilization. The dogs are most fertile between days 10 and 14 of their heat cycle.

Litter Size

A mature and healthy Miniature Doxie has one to six litter which weighs one to three pounds.

Speed

Miniature Doxies are known to be great hunters who can move deceptively fast despite their short legs. The dog has a speed of between 21.8 and 22.17 mph.

Harness

Miniature Doxies are known to have a high prey drive. The owners should use a harness when taking a dog to a walk to reduce pulling, increase control over Miniature Doxies, and also decrease stress on the neck and joints. However, the harness should not be left on the dog for long hours as it may cause discomfort or even health issues.

Collar

Miniature Doxies owners have their dogs with collars that often display their names. Moreover, most Miniature Doxies owners tend to use harnesses as it has a good grip on the dog. The miniature Doxie has collar sizes ranging from 8 to 12 inches.

Muzzle

Muzzles come in handy when transporting a Doxie to the vet when it is unwell since it is likely to bite. The size of the muzzle should be 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches to the dog’s exact circumference of the snout. Owners should introduce the accessory to their pets from a young age by smearing a special treat and allowing the dog to lick. While doing so, fasten the muzzle on the snout for a few minutes while giving praise to the dog. Parents should never use a muzzle to correct bad habits like destructive chewing, biting, and excessive barking.

Miniature Dachshund Food

Miniature Doxies are known to be small-feeding dogs. The Miniature Doxies eat homemade, raw food, and commercial food either wet or dry depending on age, size, allergies, and sensitivities. The dogs should not become overweight to avoid strain on the Miniature Doxie’s long back, which can lead to slipped or ruptured (herniated) discs. Avoid giving the dog cooked bones and also foods with high-fat content. Treats should be given moderately and always keep food out of Miniature Doxie reach as their nose can get them in trouble. In addition, always provide the dog with fresh and clean water.

Miniature Dachshund Food Amount | Food Chart

The adult and senior Miniature Doxies should eat twice a day with food not exceeding 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup of dry foods. For the canned food, the dog should not eat more than half a day. The Miniature Doxie puppies, eat three times a day with treats given within the meals. Moreover, ensure their diet is made up of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.

Miniature Dachshund Colors

Miniature Doxies are available in various colors like Black and Tan, Chocolate and Tan, Cream, Red, Blue and Tan, Fawn and Tan, and Blue and Cream. The dogs also have brindle, dapple, piebald, and sable markings on their coat.

Long Haired Colors

Long Haired Miniature Doxies are available in red, cream, black, and tan, black and cream, chocolate and tan, blue and tan, and fawn and tan.

Cream

Miniature Doxies are available in cream or English cream colors. The dogs with this coat are said to have a genetic modification that turns their coat cream. The cream color in dogs is available in Lennon-Clear Cream, Curly-Shaded Cream, Peyton-Clear Cream, and Karmen-Shaded Cream. The cream color lightens with the dog’s age but retains cream throughout their life.

Moreover, the puppies are born nearly black and gain a cream color as they grow. The English cream has been available on Long Haired Miniature Doxies where it is still predominant. However, there has been some successful cultivation of Smooth cream Miniature Doxies in recent years. Additionally, dogs with the English cream color are popular in the United States as they are suited to be affectionate pets.

Dapple

Dapple is a mark or sport of color on the Miniature Doxies caused by the dapple gene called the Merle gene. The three coat types of Doxies are available in Dapples. Miniature Doxies could have full dapple patterns or have large areas of dapple. Miniature Doxies with double dapple are fully white or have white markings on their bodies. The pattern may be around the neck, tail, paws, or nose. The dogs with one dapple color are recognized but a double dapple which is a mix between two Doxies with dapples is not recognized.

This is because the dogs with the markings may have congenital eye defects, reduced or absent eyes, degrees of hearing loss, full deafness, malformed ears, and partial or full blindness. Moreover, the dapple gene are dominant gene considered a “dilution” gene, meaning whatever color the dog would have originally carried is lightened, or diluted. The Miniature Doxies with dapple or double dapple have multi-colored “wall” eyes with fully blue, partially blue, or patched irises due dapple gene effect.

Blonde

A Blonde color in Miniature Doxie is also known as golden. These dogs have a very light cream color when born but become a darker, golden color as they age.

Long Hair Miniature Dachshund

The Long Hair Miniature Doxie is a type of Miniature Doxie which is made up of a long coat. They are dominant in the United States as they are available more in English colors. The dog stands at a height of 5 ft 6 in ( approx. 13 to 15cm) and weighs up to 11 lbs ( 5kg ).

Miniature Dachshund Wirehaired

A Wirehaired Miniature Doxie is a dog breed under the Miniature Doxie which is identified for its wirehaired coat. The dogs are known to be independent and sometimes seemingly obstinate. However, they are loyal to their owners when introduced at an early age. The Wirehaired Miniature Doxie has an average weight of 10 pounds ( approx. 4.5kg ).

Miniature Dachshund Allergies

Miniature Doxies are prone to allergies that affect skin allergies, food allergies, or environmental allergies. Depending on the type of allergy, the shows symptoms include Swelling of the ears, lips, face, eyelids, or earflaps, Red, inflamed skin, Diarrhea, and also Vomiting. Miniature Doxie owners should visit the vet to get their dogs checked.

Miniature Dachshund Food Allergies

Food allergy is known as an internal allergic reaction often caused by meat protein. The meat protein is high in chicken, beef, and eggs. The Miniature Doxie should visit a veterinary nutritionist to get a clear feeding guideline. The best and most common means to diagnose a possible food allergy is an elimination diet or food trial. This is mostly done by feeding the dog pure food for a minimum of eight weeks.

Ensure the food is well-cooked or commercially produced. Moreover, the owners should refrain from feeding the Miniature Doxie with any table food, supplements, flavored medications, or treats during the elimination diet trial. Following the trial period, gradually introduce other ingredients while monitoring which causes a reaction.

Miniature Dachshund Skin Allergies Treatment

Miniature Doxies may be prone to skin allergies. The skin allergies may be caused by genes, environment, or food allergies. The dog shows symptoms like hair loss, scaliness, flakiness, hot spots, and rashes. If the Miniature Doxie owner notices these symptoms they should visit the vet for further medical check-ups. If the dog does not visit the vet, chronic itchiness can occur, causing your dog to scratch so frequently that bacterial or yeast infections develop. The skin allergy may be caused by grass, pollens, house dust, molds, and External parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitos.

Yeast or bacterial infection in the Miniature Doxies should be treated by a vet. The owners can also use antihistamines and anti-inflammatory medications to provide the dogs with temporary relief from itchy rashes and dry skin. Moreover, the owners may use hypoallergenic shampoo with aloe vera or tea tree oils while bathing the dog to soothe inflammation.

Ears

The Miniature Doxies are set near the top of the head, of moderate length. The rears are rounded and not narrow, pointed, or folded. For the Wire-Haired and Long-Haired Miniature Doxies, they have hair medium-length hair on the ears.

Teeth

The Miniature Doxies have 42 sets of teeth with 20 on the upper jaw and 22 on the lower jaw. A Miniature Doxie may have less than 42 teeth if they have lost or broken a tooth. The puppy’s 28 milk teeth are made up of 14 in the upper jaw and 14 in the lower jaw. When the Miniature Doxies puppies are around 12 weeks, they begin to lose their deciduous teeth as permanent teeth begin to erupt. By the time the Miniature Doxies are six months, they have grown all permanent teeth as they are mature.

Teeth Problems

The Miniature Doxies may undergo several teeth problems which include:

Plaque and Tartar Buildup.
Periodontal Disease.
Oral Infections.
Tooth Fractures.
Organ Damage.
Retained Baby Teeth.

Cost

A Miniature Doxie has a cost ranging from $1500 to $2000 depending on the age, location of the breeder, and pedigree.

Miniature Dachshund Vs Standard

Miniature Doxies stand at 5 to 6 inches ( approx. 13 to 15cm ) while the Standard Doxies stand at 8 to 9 inches ( approx. 20 to 23cm ).
The Miniature Doxie weighs up to 11 pounds ( 5kg ) while the standard Doxie weighs 16 to 32 pounds ( approx. 7 to 15kg ).
Miniature Doxies were bred to hunt small animals while the Standard Doxies were bred to scent, chase, and flush out burrow-dwelling animals.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Big Is A Mini Dachshund

A fully grown Miniature Doxie should stand at a height of 5 to 6 in ( approx. 13 to 15 cm) and weigh up to 11 lbs ( 5kg ).

Are Miniature Dachshund Aggressive

No, as the Miniature Doxies are friendly and loyal dogs. However, without adequate socialization and proper training, the Miniature Doxies may be aggressive due to their independent nature.

How Much Does A Miniature Dachshund Weigh

A healthy miniature Doxie weighs from 10 to 11 pounds ( approx. 4.5 to 5kg ).

How Much Do Mini Dachshunds Weigh

A Miniature Doxie weighs up to 11 pounds ( approx. 5kg ).

Why Are My Miniature Dachshunds Shedding So Much

A Miniature Doxie may shed so much if it is fall or Spring and it has to shed its dense undercoat. The dog may also shed due to frequent bathing. Moreover, health problems such as allergies may be another cause of why a miniature Doxie is shedding more. The owner should consult a qualified vet for further medical check-ups on the dog to provide the required prescription.

Are Miniature Dachshund Hypoallergenic

No. Miniature Doxies are not hypoallergenic as they shed their coats. They also produce protein allergens from their dander, mucus, and saliva, which cause inflammation in people with dog allergies.

Miniature Dachshund Quick Facts

The Long Haired Miniature Doxies with English Cream color are predominant.
The Miniature Doxies with Double Dapple are prone to eye and hearing problems.
The miniature Doxies were naturally bred to hunt small animals.