Dachshund (Miniature)
Also called Miniature Dachshund, Zwergteckel, Zwergdackel, Mini Dachshund · Germany
A lively, clever and very self-assured little hound.
At a glance
| Size | Small |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.5 to 5 kg (10 to 11 lb)1234 |
| Height | 13 to 15 cm (5 to 6 in)5 |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years627 |
| Coat | Three coat varieties: smooth, wire-haired and long-haired |
| Origin | Germany86 |
| Group | FCI group 4 |
Ranges cover males and females and every standard linked on the line, so one standard alone may give a narrower range.
what they are likeDachshund (Miniature) temperament
A lively, clever and very self-assured little hound. The UK standard calls it intelligent, lively and courageous to the point of rashness, and the FCI asks for a friendly, even temper that is neither fearful nor aggressive. It is affectionate with its own people and can be reserved with strangers. Bred to hunt on its own initiative, it can be stubborn, so short, reward-based training works best.139
how to spot oneDachshund (Miniature) coat and colours
Three coat varieties: smooth, wire-haired and long-haired
A small copy of the Standard: long, low and compact on short, strong legs, with a deep chest and a bold head carriage. The FCI treats it as the same dog in a smaller frame, measured by chest girth rather than height. The smooth coat is short and glossy, the wire coat is harsh with a beard and brows, and the long coat is soft and silky with feathering.3110
a typical week and yearThe care rhythm
A typical home-care rhythm for a Dachshund (Miniature). A starting point, not a vet's advice.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upevery year
how busy a day looksDachshund (Miniature) exercise needs
Moderate. The Royal Kennel Club suggests up to an hour of exercise a day, split into walks and play. Steady daily exercise keeps the back muscles strong; scent games suit its hunting nose.63
where they are happiestDachshund (Miniature) at home
Very well suited to a flat or small house; the Royal Kennel Club suggests a small house with a small to medium garden. Its small size and, in smooths, short coat mean it loses heat fast, so it needs a coat in cold weather.69
who they like aroundDachshund (Miniature) with people and other pets
Wants to be close to its family and often attaches to one person. Gets on with pets it grows up with. Children need supervising, since VCA warns they could easily hurt a miniature.9
the hands-on bitsDachshund (Miniature) grooming and care
Smooth coats need a brush about once a week; long and wire coats need brushing more than once a week, and wire coats benefit from occasional hand-stripping. Keep the dog lean, avoid jumps on and off furniture, and brush its teeth, since small dogs are more prone to dental disease.61011129
what to watchDachshund (Miniature) health problems
The conditions the breed clubs and health schemes name for the Dachshund (Miniature). Most animals of the breed never get them; this is what to ask a breeder or an insurer about.
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
Discs in the long back harden and can slip, causing pain or weak back legs. Keep the dog lean, fit and away from repeated jumping. Kennel Club/DachsLife 2018 survey of dogs over 3: Miniature Smooth 29.9%, Miniature Wire 16.5%, Miniature Long 15.7% had IVDD, against 16.8% for Standard Smooth. ↗
Progressive retinal atrophy (cord1 PRA)
Inherited loss of the retina's cone and rod cells, slowly leading to blindness. A DNA test for the RPGRIP1 variant shows carriers, but a second gene (MAP9) affects whether and when dogs go blind. First traced in 2006 in Miniature Long-haired Dachshunds, which have the highest frequency of both variants of any breed studied; the Dachshund Breed Council lists it for all three Miniature varieties. No published rate. ↗
Lafora disease
A late-onset progressive epilepsy with jerking set off by light, noise or movement, then seizures and decline. Average onset around 7 years. Mainly Miniature Wire-haireds; a DNA test exists. 733 Miniature Wire-haireds tested (Ahonen et al. 2018): 7.0% affected genotype, 31.9% carriers; at-risk dogs fell from 10.4% in 2013 to 2.7% in 2015 to 2017 after testing began. ↗
Dental disease
Small mouths crowd the teeth, so tartar and gum disease build up early; brush teeth and have them checked yearly. VetCompass: dogs under 10 kg had 3.07 times the risk of dental disease of dogs weighing 30 to 40 kg. No Dachshund-specific figure published. ↗
Double dapple defects
Puppies from two dapple (merle) parents risk impaired sight and hearing. The Kennel Club has refused to register puppies from dapple to dapple matings since 1 January 2010. ↗
Tests a good breeder can show you
- IVDD X-ray screening scheme Kennel Club / Dachshund Health UK; Good Practice for all Miniature varieties ↗
- cord1 PRA DNA test Kennel Club Best Practice for all Miniature varieties; Dachshund Breed Council ↗
- Lafora DNA test Kennel Club Good Practice for Miniature Wire Haired ↗
- BVA/KC/ISDS eye examination Kennel Club Best Practice for all Miniature varieties ↗
From the breed club or a health scheme. Not veterinary advice: for your own animal, ask your vet.
per year, in your countryWhat a Dachshund (Miniature) costs
Running costs for a Dachshund (Miniature), built from current prices in each country: food scaled to the weight of the breed, insurance to its size, the rest per country. The purchase price and unplanned vet bills come on top.
| Foodabout 31 kg of dry food a year | 102 GBP ↗ |
|---|---|
| Routine vet care | 345 GBP ↗ |
| Pet insurancetypical policy, varies by breed and age | 346 GBP ↗ |
| Dog tax | 0 GBP ↗ |
| Licence and registration | 12 GBP ↗ |
| Gear to start | 531 GBP ↗ |
| Microchip and registration | 26 GBP ↗ |
Yearly cost in all 28 countries
- Australia 1,282 AUD
- Austria 871 EUR
- Belgium 454 EUR
- Canada 1,437 CAD
- Czech Republic 11,443 CZK
- Denmark 5,290 DKK
- Estonia 425 EUR
- Finland 543 EUR
- France 506 EUR
- Germany 772 EUR
- Hong Kong 5,769 HKD
- Ireland 502 EUR
- Italy 392 EUR
- Japan 101,058 JPY
- Luxembourg 666 EUR
- Netherlands 459 EUR
- New Zealand 1,315 NZD
- Norway 5,744 NOK
- Poland 1,681 PLN
- Qatar 2,020 QAR
- Singapore 988 SGD
- South Korea 694,867 KRW
- Spain 705 EUR
- Sweden 8,436 SEK
- Switzerland 931 CHF
- United Arab Emirates 2,626 AED
- United Kingdom 805 GBP
- United States 1,927 USD
Estimates from the sources linked on each line. Food: a complete dry food at about 3,600 kcal/kg at the NRC maintenance energy for the average weight of the breed. Insurance: a typical adult policy scaled by size; real quotes depend on breed, age and cover.
by countryIs the Dachshund (Miniature) legal where you live?
No breed-specific rule names the Dachshund (Miniature) in the 61 countries we check. General dangerous-dog laws still apply everywhere, and some cities keep their own lists.
See the rules and sources for every country
Laws change and local rules exist; this is a sourced overview, not legal advice.
homemade and simpleTreats they will love
- Blueberry Oat Biscuits Dogs Trust
- Frozen Yogurt & Strawberry Hearts PDSA
- Banana and Peanut Butter Dog Treats RSPCA
Not veterinary advice. Check with your vet first if your pet has allergies, a health condition, is on a special diet or is pregnant. Treats should stay a small part of the daily food. Cut to a safe size and supervise. Terms of use
for the dinner tableFun facts
The FCI does not measure a Miniature Dachshund's height. It measures chest girth with a tape, once the dog is at least 15 months old.3
UK registrations of Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshunds rose from 3,450 in 2015 to 15,308 in 2022.13
In the UK, cream is an accepted colour only in the Miniature Smooth Haired, not in any other Dachshund variety.1
Since 2010 the Kennel Club has refused to register puppies from two dapple parents, because of the risk to sight and hearing.6
The cord1 eye disease gene was first traced in 2006 in a colony of Miniature Long-haired Dachshunds.14
where it all beganDachshund (Miniature) history
The Dachshund was developed in Germany as a badger hound, and smaller dogs were bred to go to ground after rabbits as Germany's rabbit population grew in the 1800s. In German it is the Zwergteckel or Zwergdackel. The FCI now recognises three sizes in three coats, nine varieties in all, separated by chest girth; the UK and the AKC recognise only the Standard and the Miniature. In the UK the Miniatures have long outnumbered the Standards, and Miniature Smooth registrations rose more than fourfold between 2015 and 2022 before easing. The same rise in popularity has made back health a central topic, and UK clubs now run X-ray screening for IVDD and DNA tests for eye disease and Lafora epilepsy.461581316
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Dachshund (Standard)
Dachshund (Rabbit)
Dandie Dinmont Terrierthe official bitsRecognised by
- FCI
- Standard no. 148, Group 4 Dachshunds (working trial); definitive recognition 01.01.1955; current valid standard published 25.05.2021 (English text dated 14.03.2022). Miniature (Zwergteckel) is one of three sizes, each in smooth, long and wire coats. Size is set by chest circumference measured at 15 months or older: males over 32 cm up to 37 cm, females over 30 cm up to 35 cm. No weight is given.3
- AKC
- Dachshund registrable since 1885, Hound Group. Miniature is one of two sizes (standard and miniature) within the one breed; AKC says miniatures weigh up to 11 lb (about 5 kg).2
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Hound group; three separate breeds: Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired), (Miniature Long Haired) and (Miniature Wire Haired). Breed standard (updated 1 April 2025): ideal weight 4.5 kg (10 lb), desired maximum 5 kg (11 lb).1
- Dogs Australia
- Registers Miniature Smooth, Long and Wire varieties.17
Popularity UK: 15,881 Miniature Dachshunds registered with the Royal Kennel Club in 2024 (Smooth 11,664, Long 3,450, Wire 767), against 1,520 Standards.13
Sources (18)
Every fact on this page has a numbered source. Spotted an error? support@petwiki.app.
- The Royal Kennel Club: Breed standard, Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) royalkennelclub.comused for UK ideal and maximum weight, temperament, colours
- AKC: Facts About the Dachshund That You May Not Know akc.orgused for AKC miniature weight limit, lifespan
- FCI Standard No. 148 Dachshund fci.beused for size by chest girth, coats, colours, temperament, use
- AKC: Dachshund History, The Badger Dog's Fascinating Past akc.orgused for development of the small sizes, US recognition of two sizes only
- Wikipedia: Dachshund en.wikipedia.orgused for secondary: miniature height, Rabbit weight, name, tweenies
- The Royal Kennel Club: Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired) royalkennelclub.comused for UK group, exercise, grooming, lifespan, home size, health tests, dapple rule
- Science News: Explore the expected life spans of different dog breeds (McMillan et al. 2024) sciencenews.orgused for Miniature median life expectancy in the UK
- FCI Nomenclature: Dachshund (148) fci.beused for FCI group, varieties, recognition and standard dates
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Dachshund vcahospitals.comused for temperament, social needs, cold sensitivity, children
- The Royal Kennel Club: Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired) royalkennelclub.comused for grooming, health tests
- The Royal Kennel Club: Dachshund (Miniature Wire Haired) royalkennelclub.comused for grooming, health tests incl. Lafora
- RVC VetCompass: New research gets to the root of dental disease in dogs rvc.ac.ukused for dental disease risk in dogs under 10 kg
- The Royal Kennel Club: 10-yearly breed registration statistics, Hound group royalkennelclub.comused for UK registrations by variety 2015 to 2024
- MyDogDNA: The saga of cord1-PRA testing in dogs mydogdna.comused for cord1 PRA genetics
- Wikipedia (German): Dackel de.wikipedia.orgused for secondary: German names, use
- The Royal Kennel Club: IVDD screening scheme royalkennelclub.comused for IVDD prevalence by variety, X-ray scheme
- Dogs Australia: Registration statistics 2018 to 2025 dogsaustralia.org.auused for Australian registrations incl. Rabbit varieties
- AKC: Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2025 akc.orgused for US rank, all Dachshund sizes combined
Text is written in our own words from these sources.