What is the Size of a Daschshund?

A breed of dog belonging to the hound family, the dachshund is known for its elongated body and short legs. The miniature-size was originally bred to hunt smaller animals such as rabbits. Meanwhile, the original purpose of the standard-size dachshund was to flush, chase and scent badgers and other animals that dwell in burrows. The term ‘dachshund’ is of German origin, which literally means ‘badger dog.’ Aside from these facts, it is also good to know the size of a dachshund.

The Size of a Dachshund

What is the size of a dachshund? The average height of this particular breed of dog is 10 to 15 inches or 25.4 to 38.1 centimeters. Meanwhile, the average weight of full-grown dogs is 15 to 28 pounds or 6.8 kilograms to 13 kilograms. Miniature dachshunds only weigh less than 11 pounds or 5 kilograms.

Additional Facts and Other Important Details

The body of a typical dachshund is described as long and muscular. Meanwhile, its legs are short and stubby. It has highly efficient paws for digging, which are described as paddle-shaped and unusually large. It has a deep chest, which gives it superior lung capacity to outlast the tedious demands of hunting. The long snout allows it to absorb odors easier.

The three types of coats are the wire-haired, the long-haired and the short-haired, which is commonly referred to as smooth. Although very common in Germany, white-haired dachshunds are rarely seen in the U.S. This type of dog comes in three different sizes, namely the kaninchen, miniature and standard. The United Kingdom and the United States do not recognize the kaninchen, which means rabbit-size.

This kind of dog is very playful. It loves to chase tennis balls, birds and other small animals. Compared to other dog breeds, this one is quite challenging to train because of its stubborn nature. They bark aloud. Consistency and patience are two important traits that owners must have when training this kind of dog.

Because of the short rib cage and extremely long spinal column of dachshunds, they have higher risks of developing spinal problems such as the intervertebral disk disease. Other factors that increase the risks of injury for these dogs include intense exercise, rough handling and obesity. Furthermore, jumping can be very bad for them, especially when greater strain is involved.

Moreover, other health problems are common amongst these dogs including Cushing’s syndrome, granulomatous meningoencephalitis and hereditary epilepsy. It is also possible for them to develop diseases such as atopies, allergies and thyroid problems. Additionally, their eyes are at risk of conditions like corneal ulcers, progressive retinal atrophy and glaucoma amongst other serious eye conditions.