Full Grown Mini Dachshund: Appearance, Health & Care!

How much do you know about a full grown mini Dachshund? We are willing to bet not that much if you visit us today!

Dachshund dogs are gritty canines that have spirited personalities. Most people aren`t amazed that much about their small-sized bodies, yet they tend to change their opinion once they see how fierce they become when protecting what`s theirs.

Breed Highlights

Pros

• Low grooming maintenance
• Loving & playful nature
• Affectionate & loyal with people of all ages
• Full of personality
• Very smart

Cons

• Rather tough to train at times
• They tend to bark a lot as they like when they hear their own voices
• Quite stubborn sometimes
• If not properly socialized, they can become over-protective
• Veterinarian bills can be rather expensive as they tend to suffer of some genetic medical conditions.
• They tend to become a bit chubby.
• They aren`t the greatest choice for families with young kids or first time dog owners.

History

This dog breed has its origins way back in the Middle Ages when they were often used as hunting canines due to their incredible sense of smell.

READ MORE: Daschund German Shepherd Mix: 8 Vital Facts You Need to Know!

Their small but rather long body shape allowed Dachshunds to hunt above and below ground just as well, being able to track just about any kind of animal for days to come.

Over time there were distinct sizes being developed, like large Dachshund dogs to hunt boar and small ones to hunt foxes.

The Dachshund Club of America started to promote this dog breed in 1985 in the United States.

Appearance

This dog comes in 3 distinct coats: wire-haired, long-haired or smooth. Also, the breed comes in a large range of different patterns and colors: chocolate & tan, red, blue & tan, cream, Isabella & tan, and black & tan.

Mini Dachshunds don`t grow more than 5 – 7 inches at their shoulder and weigh usually somewhere around 8 to 11 pounds.

They have a very cute appearance with short legs which somehow accentuate their compact, muscle type of body.

When seen from above, they seem to have a long head. Their jaws are very strong and their lips seem a bit tight.

When it comes to most countries where English is spoken, especially Great Britain or the U.S., there`s only one single size of mini Dachshund.

On the other hand, if we talk about Germany and a few other countries that belong to the World Canine Federation, in fact, there`re types of Dachshund smaller in size, mini (e.g. zwerg) as well as the rabbit (e.g. kaninchen).

Temperament

These dogs are very sharp-minded and one that might surprise you how much courage they prove to have. When talking about loyalty, you won`t find any other canine character to be more loyal than this dog.

Even though they are so small, mini Dachshunds are always full of energy, meaning you`ll probably seem always wanting to go out and do something – anything.

READ MORE: Training a Dachshund Puppy: 9 Awesome Tips Every Owner Should Know!

Also, they have a lot of stamina, reason for which they are always happy to go for walks in the park or play games.

Because they are so clever, they require mental stimulation each day for a full grown mini Dachshund to become a well-rounded character that is sincerely happy.

Physical Development

A miniature Dachshund is fully grown when they around 1 year old, but they may continue to fill out for a while after as well.

These dogs are bred with the chondrodysplasia gene, meaning their legs will take longer than usual to completely develop.

As soon as they are born, pups of this breed begin growing rather fast for their first 7 to 8 months. The long bones from this dog`s legs grow longer due to the development of the plates at the bones` end. They continue to grow up to when the growth plates close, and this occur at around 10 to 12 months of age.

For some time after when the growth plates close, your mini sausage dog will continue putting on more weight until getting to its usual fully grown weight. It might continue growing up to 2 years of age or just stop developing at around 18 months – this will very much depend on each puppy.

It`s essential to watch for the dog`s size as it fills out. The dog`s metabolism will begin to slow down at some point and it might become overweight if not careful.

Of course, a chubby Dachshund canine isn`t really a great idea to have! Additional weight might put strain on the little fella`s legs, which in turn might lead to back issues. However, with exercise and a well balanced diet, your Dachshund should be fine.

Grooming

Dachshund dogs enjoy rolling in things that smell quite a lot. So, although they shouldn`t normally need more than one bath per month, this particular rule flies out of the window when they something “sweet-smelling” for them.

Besides this, brushing on a weekly basis to maintain their coat clean and smooth should be fine.

They don`t shed much, so grooming on a regular basis should keep any loose hair “in place” and away from your furniture or clothes. – Check this out!

Keep the little one`s ears clean by using a particular solution that a veterinarian can always recommend.

Trim the nails every now and then, twice per month should be fine.

Living with a Mini Dachshund

Full grown mini Dachshund dogs might look like plush toys that you want to always cuddle, but they are always curious, full of energy and very intelligent canines. Some dog owners consider them rather “intense.”

They are always up for a play in the park or even for a simple walk. They don`t like to be left alone and they don`t play with the same toy for too long. That`s why their owners of Dachshunds always find new things chewed by them.

They eventually become quite loyal to their owner, but this will usually take some time. This isn`t necessarily something bad! At times, they are relentless when it comes to barking strangers away, so they make great small guard dogs.

As they`ve once been hunting dogs, they enjoy outdoors a lot. They don`t need more than a decent-sized backyard where to play. But be prepared to see them digging some holes, barking at anything and everything that moves around, and even chase out small animals around.

They do fine in an apartment as well, but they do need a lot of attention and interaction, even daily walks to keep their mental and physical shape.

Health & Care

Mini Dachshund dogs don`t find it too hard to live in either urban or rural areas. Actually, they find it quite easy to adapt.

These are active, energetic canines that benefit plenty when it comes to exercise on a daily basis.

The wire-haired as well as long-haired type of Dachshund requires brushing every week.

Dogs of this breed tend to live around 12 – 14 years, sometimes even longer.

Because they have rather long spines, they are predisposed to health issues at their back. So, it`s recommended for them to avoid jumping from a couch or over a fence. Instead, dog owners could buy dog-friendly ramps to alleviate such issues.

READ MORE: 9 Questions About Dachshunds That Will Clear Things About This Breed

An illness which is often found in mini Dachshunds is IVDD, which short for Intervertebral Disc Disease, a health problems that generally might start around 3 to 6 years of the dog`s age. – More info!

Other health problems that might occur involve bowel movements, paralysis in their back legs as well as urinary bladder control loss.

Full Grown Miniature Dachshund Facts

• This dog breed is recognized by the AKC.
• Mini Dachshunds have a tendency of putting some weight, which means their dog owner can counteract this with exercise and a well-balanced diet.
• Like lots of other small-sized canines, these dogs also have big personalities and may become rather stubborn at times.
• A miniature Dachshund may experience “slipped discs,” so it might be best to avoid letting it jump from the couch or furniture.
• In Australia the Dachshund has a cute nickname – the sausage dog. In our case, we have the mini sausage dog.

Overall

It`s a real treat to be the owner of a full grown mini Dachshund. Like already mentioned, they are intelligent, loyal dogs that will always be “there” for their loved ones. This makes them lovely companions to have around for the right kind of owner.