Stefan has been writing about dachshunds since 2016, when the breed took over his page, his inbox, and his life. He reports; the doxies decide.
Doxie Life
Dachshunds come in three coat types — smooth (short-haired), longhaired, and wirehaired — plus two sizes (standard and miniature), making for six possible combinations. Each coat type has a different origin story, a subtly different personality, and completely different grooming needs. The smooth came first. The wire showed up last, with
Doxie Life
Dachshunds typically live 12 to 16 years, making them one of the longer-lived dog breeds. A 2024 UK study found dachshunds had a life expectancy of 13.2 years — higher than the 12.7-year average for purebred dogs — with miniature dachshunds averaging 14 years. Weight management, regular exercise,
Doxie Life
Dachshunds were bred in Germany to hunt badgers — the name literally translates to "badger dog" (Dachs = badger, Hund = dog). Originally called the "Dachs Kriecher" (badger crawler) or "Dachs Krieger" (badger warrior), these dogs were engineered with short legs, a deep chest, and a fearless
Doxie Life
Dachshunds are trainable — but they're not Golden Retrievers, and training them the same way will frustrate everyone involved. Ranked in the "average working intelligence" tier by canine psychologist Stanley Coren, dachshunds were bred since the 1500s to hunt badgers underground and make independent decisions without human
Doxie Life
Dachshunds burrow because they were literally bred to do it — "dachs" means badger, "hund" means dog, and for over 400 years this breed was engineered to chase badgers into underground tunnels and fight them in the dark. Every part of the dachshund body — the short legs,
Food & Weight
A miniature dachshund puppy under four months old needs roughly three times its resting energy requirement — about 265–390 calories per day depending on weight — split across four meals to prevent hypoglycemia. After four months, that drops to twice the resting energy, split across two to three meals. The breed&
Food & Weight
Most dachshund owners don't need glucosamine chews — they need fish oil. A 2022 meta-analysis of nine clinical trials found "strong evidence of non-effect" for glucosamine and chondroitin in dogs, while multiple randomized trials show omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil consistently improve joint
Food & Weight
Dachshunds can't eat chocolate, grapes, raisins, xylitol (in gum, peanut butter, and sugar-free products), onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, or raw yeast dough — and because they weigh 8 to 32 pounds, the toxic threshold is far lower than for larger breeds. A single ounce of dark chocolate
Food & Weight
A standard dachshund (16–32 lbs) needs roughly 500–830 calories per day, split across two meals. A miniature (11 lbs and under) needs 300–400 calories. Puppies under four months eat four small meals a day; by six months they're on three; by one year, two. The
Food & Weight
The best dog food for a dachshund is one that delivers high-quality animal protein, moderate fat, and enough joint-supporting nutrients (glucosamine, omega-3s) to feed a body that's built like a footlong hot dog with four tiny legs — while keeping weight in check, because every extra
Back & Mobility
IVDD surgery for dachshunds typically costs $3,000 to $8,000 for the procedure, imaging, and hospital stay — but "all-in" costs at a specialty neurology center can reach $10,000 to $15,000 including MRI, hospitalization, pain management, and rehab. Conservative treatment (crate rest plus medication) is
Back & Mobility
A dachshund carrying extra weight isn't just round — they're loading a spine that was already dealt a tough hand. Research on 700 dogs found that being overweight significantly increased the risk of disc disease, and in a breed where up to one in four will face