Do you love Dachshunds? If so, which type is your favorite?
There are three different types of Dachshunds – the standard, wire-haired, and long-haired. Each one has its own unique set of characteristics that make them special.
In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of Dachshunds and show you a few mix-breeds too.
Dachshund History
The Dachshund breed first appeared in Germany in the 15th century, but Dachshund type dogs have appeared in ancient Egyptian and Mexican art. The German breed standard was set in 1879 and these dogs became a national symbol of Germany.
The word Dachshund translates into “badger dog”, given to this breed thanks to their ability to dig into badger holes to run them out. They have also been used for hunting wild boar in the past, too.
Dachshunds arrived in Great Britain and the United States in the 19th century. The Wire Haired Dachshund first appeared in the late 19th century, following the smooth and long-haired versions.
Short Haired Dachshund
The Dachshund (pronounced DAHKS-hoond and commonly misspelled as Daschund) is a dog breed with a diverse range of characteristics. Dachshunds are small dog breeds with a long body, short crooked legs and large floppy ears. Dachshunds come in two sizes, three varieties of coat, many colors and patterns.
The Standard Dachshund stands more than 14 inches tall at shoulder height and usually weighs between 15 and 30 pounds.
The Shorthaired or Smooth variety is the most common and has a short dense and shiny coat.
Miniature Dachshund
The Dachshund breed is believed to have originated in Germany around the 15th Century and initially used as a hunting dog. Early Dachshund dogs were larger and used to hunt badgers and even wild boar.
Miniature Dachshunds are the smallest type of Dachshund. They typically weigh between 9 and 11 pounds and stand about 10-12 inches tall. They are a popular type of Dachshund, and they make great family pets. Miniature Dachshunds are lively, playful, and affectionate.
Miniature Dachshunds typically live between 12 and 16 years.
Long Hair Dachshund
It’s still highly popular in Germany. In the United States in the 1950s the Weiner became a popular family dog, and still ranks the 13th most popular dog in the US, and 9th in UK.
Now a registered breed standard by the AKC they can compete as purebred show dogs and are used less as hunting dogs, in the US and the United Kingdom. In the rest of Europe they are still used to hunt smaller animals like rabbits.
It is not clear if the change in variety was through naturally breed variations or crossbreeding. The longhaired Dachshund may have been crossed with land and water Spaniels.
A long-haired Dachshund is your companion and loyal family dog; known to just follow its master around for no particular reason, other than to watch them.
The dominant coat color is red (copper-red or rust), black and tan, or fawn.
They can have up to 15 different color combinations and variety of patterns: Dapple (merle), brindle (dark stripes), sable and piebald.
Wire Haired Dachshund
One of the biggest differences between the Wire Haired Dachshund and other Dachshunds is their coat! The Wire Haired Dachshund has a thick double coat; they have a soft undercoat and a thick coarse overcoat that gives them the wiry appearance.
These dogs also look like they have a beard and bushy eyebrows. These dogs are low shedders which means they can be the pet for those with allergies.
Dappled Dachshund
If this is the first time you are coming across the name “Dapple Dachshund”, it is worth knowing that there are multiple nicknames for this breed and its color variation. For example, it may also be called a Sausage Dog, Doxie, or a Weiner Dog, depending on the most popular nickname in the area or country that you live in.
This is perhaps the most important section for differentiating the standard Dachshund with this variant of Dapple Doxie brothers and sisters. The key thing to remember is that “dapple” is not a color; it is a pattern.
And as a dapple pattern, it comes in more than one color set. In fact, there are three merle color patterns that can be present on the Dapple Dachshund from the dapple gene. They are:
- Black and tan dapple
- Chocolate dapple and tan
- And the rarest color variation, red dapple
Usually, the base color of the dapple will be dark, with lighter-colored areas as part of the merle pattern. Some Dapple Doxies have a large, white area on their chest.
Beaschund
The Beaschund, also sometimes known as the Doxle, is a Dachshund Beagle mix. These pups have an elongated body and a long muzzle and look mostly like their Dachshund parent. They normally only stand between 9 to 11 inches tall and will weigh anywhere between 20 to 30 lbs.
Despite their small size, they can make excellent watchdogs and guard dogs because they can be territorial and protective in their instincts. They are very loyal to their owners, too. However, these pups are also super friendly and get along well with other dogs and children. They normally do better with older children but, given the right socialization, get on with young children too.
Chiweenie
A Chiweenie is the miniature companion or toy breed that is a mix of the Chihuahua and the Dachshund. It’s hard to imagine anything much cuter when you think of a loyal little pup that also wants the role of your personal protector. And let’s not forget its name, how can you not smile as you say the breed name “Chiweenie” out loud?
There is a nickname for Chiweenies, which gives a pretty thorough insight into the origins of this mixed breed. You might hear a Chiweenie referred to as a “Mexican Hotdog” due to its combined features from both Chihuahuas and Dachshunds.
Breeding Chiweenies became popular from the early 1990s, so is still considered a fairly new crossbreed dog.
DACHSHERD
The Dachsherd is a mix between the Australian Shepherd and a Dachshund. There is quite a big clash of personality between these two dogs, because the Australian Shepherd is very active and the Dachshund isn’t! This likely means that you will get a dog that is somewhere in the middle, and, therefore, the Dachsherd is known for being one of the less active Australian Shepherd mixes.
These dogs are intelligent and are highly trainable. Their owner will need to be firm with them, but they can make excellent family dogs when in the right environment. You will need to keep their brain stimulated to ensure there are no unwanted behaviors, but if you do so, they can become a well rounded and friendly pet for all.
Doodle Dachshund
The poodle dachshund mix breed is a mix between the standard dachshund and the poodle. This mix breed is known for being intelligent, friendly, and playful. They are also low-shedding and hypoallergenic, making them a great choice for families with allergies.
Doodle dachshunds come in a variety of colors, including black, white, brown, and cream.
Related: Poodle Mix Breed Dogs
Golden Dox
The golden dox is a crossbreed between the standard dachshund and the golden retriever. This mix breed is known for being intelligent, friendly, and playful.
Golden dox dachshunds come in a variety of colors, including white, brown, and cream.