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Wire miniature dachshund
A miniature dachshund with a harsh outer coat with a soft undercoat and a beard, needing hand-stripping or trimming a few times a year. FCI sizes by chest circumference at 15 months or older (32 to 37 cm for males, 30 to 35 cm for females); the US and UK use weight rules.
| Adult weight | 3.6 to 6 kg |
|---|---|
| Height at withers | 13 to 18 cm |
| Lifespan | 13 to 17 years |
| Chest (FCI, 15 months+) | males 32 to 37 cm, females 30 to 35 cm |
| Shedding (1-5) | 2 |
| Grooming (1-5) | 3 |
| Trainability (1-5) | 3 |
| Barking (1-5) | 5 |
| Cold sensitivity (1-5) | 4 |
| Heat sensitivity (1-5) | 3 |
| Coat disc tendency (DachsLife) | 1 of 9 (9 is highest) |
| Temperament | feisty, terrier-like, outgoing |
Size rules in your country
- AKC (US): miniature dachshunds are 11 lb (5 kg) or under at 12 months or older.
- The Kennel Club (UK): ideal weight is about 4.5 kg (10 lb) for miniature.
Back health
The DachsLife 2015 owner survey found the lowest IVDD prevalence in wire coat standard dogs (7.1%). It did not measure this size separately, so treat the coat tendency as a rough guide only. One survey, not a vet diagnosis. Every dachshund is at higher risk of disc disease than most breeds, whatever the variety. Read the back disease guide, learn the red flags and run the home audit.
Colours this coat comes in
Compare with
Check your puppy against the weight timetable, or take the fit quiz to see whether the breed suits your life.
Sources
- FCI Standard No. 148: Dachshund, Federation Cynologique Internationale
- Dachshund breed standard, American Kennel Club
- Dachshund breed standards, The Kennel Club
- Inherited and acquired risk factors for IVDD in dachshunds (DachsLife), PMC / BMC
- Review of Hansen type I intervertebral disc disease, PMC
- Global nutrition guidelines, energy requirements (general reference), WSAVA
Ratings are our own 1 to 5 summaries of the sources above and are indicative only.
Facts are cited and rewritten in our own words. All sources and how we use them.