Dachshund Dogs for Adoption in Durham, NC

A Dachshund is a long-bodied, short-legged hound from Germany, originally bred to track badgers and other burrowing animals. It comes in standard and miniature sizes and three coat types: smooth, longhaired and wirehaired. Nicknamed the wiener dog, it is known for courage, curiosity, a big bark and a strong bond with its people.

The Dachshund comes from Germany, where it was developed from a blend of German, French and English hounds and terriers. Hunting texts from the 1700s describe early badger dogs that went to ground after quarry. German foresters and hunters refined the breed through the 1800s, and the American Kennel Club recognized it in 1885.

A Dachshund has a long, low body on short, sturdy legs, a deep chest, a long tapered muzzle and soft hanging ears. Its tail continues the line of the back. The coat may be smooth and shiny, long and silky, or wiry with a beard and eyebrows, in colors such as red, cream, black and tan, chocolate, dapple and piebald.

Miniature Dachshunds usually weigh 11 pounds or less as adults and stand about 5 to 6 inches tall at the shoulder. The AKC classifies dogs at or under 11 pounds at a year old as miniatures for showing. Many pet minis end up a little heavier, and dogs between 11 and 16 pounds are often informally called tweenies.

Standard Dachshunds typically weigh 16 to 32 pounds and stand about 8 to 9 inches at the shoulder, while miniatures weigh 11 pounds or less and stand about 5 to 6 inches. Body length varies, but both sizes are much longer than they are tall. Many dogs in shelters fall between the two official sizes.

Dachshunds are known for their long sausage-shaped bodies, short legs and outsized personalities. They have a reputation for bravery, a deep bark, loyalty to their families and a stubborn independent streak. They are also known, unfortunately, for back problems, since their build makes intervertebral disc disease common. Many people love their clownish, curious behavior.

Miniature Dachshunds were bred to hunt smaller quarry, especially rabbits, that standard Dachshunds were too large to follow into burrows. German hunters selected smaller dogs that kept the same proportions and courage as the standard. Today most miniatures are companions, though they still show the digging, scenting and barking instincts of their hunting past.

The average adult standard Dachshund weighs roughly 16 to 32 pounds, often settling in the 20s, while miniatures weigh 11 pounds or less. A healthy weight depends on the dog's frame, and it matters a great deal in this breed: extra pounds strain the long spine. You should be able to feel the ribs easily and see a waist.

Dachshunds are called wiener dogs because their long, narrow bodies and short legs resemble a wiener sausage. The nickname became popular in North America, while British owners more often say sausage dog. The breed's German name, Dachshund, actually means badger dog, a reference to the job it was originally bred to do.

Yes, Miniature Dachshunds are smart, resourceful dogs. They were bred to make decisions underground without human direction, so they are good problem-solvers but not always eager to obey. That independence can look like stubbornness. Short, game-like training sessions with food rewards work well, and puzzle toys and scent work give their clever minds a healthy outlet.

Yes, Miniature Dachshunds stay small, generally weighing 11 pounds or less and standing about 5 to 6 inches tall. Some grow larger than expected, especially if one parent was a standard or a tweenie, and puppies of uncertain background are hard to predict. Excess weight is a different matter: minis gain easily, which strains the back.

Early Dachshunds were generally larger and leggier than today's dogs, with less extreme length and deep chests, since they needed to travel across fields as well as dig. Old illustrations show sturdier, hound-like dogs closer to small terriers or bassets in build. Over the past century, selection for the show ring made the body longer and the legs shorter.

A Dachshund puppy looks like a tiny version of the adult, with a long body, short legs, big paws and floppy ears that can seem oversized for its head. Smooth puppies have a sleek coat, while longhaired and wirehaired puppies start out fuzzy and grow their adult coats over the first year. Colors and dapple patterns are visible from birth.

A Miniature Dachshund looks like a scaled-down standard: long and low with a deep chest, short legs, a tapered muzzle and drop ears. It weighs about 11 pounds or less and can have a smooth, long or wire coat. Minis often have slightly more delicate features, and many carry the same range of colors and patterns.

An adult Miniature Dachshund should usually weigh 11 pounds or less, with many healthy pets landing between about 8 and 11 pounds. The right weight depends on the dog's frame, so veterinarians judge by body condition: ribs easy to feel, a visible waist and no sagging belly. Keeping minis lean is one of the best protections for their backs.

A Dachshund is a small dog. Even standards, at 16 to 32 pounds and under 10 inches tall, fall in the small range for most purposes, though heavier standards may feel like a medium dog to carry. Miniatures, at 11 pounds or less, are clearly small. Their long bodies sometimes need more space in crates than their weight suggests.

Miniature Dachshunds usually have smaller litters than standards, commonly around two to five puppies, while standard Dachshunds often have four to six. Litter size varies with the mother's age, size and health. Most Dachshunds in shelters and rescues are spayed or neutered before adoption, which avoids unplanned litters and some health risks.

The main difference between a standard and a Miniature Dachshund is size. Standards weigh about 16 to 32 pounds, while minis weigh 11 pounds or less. Both share the same shape, coats and colors and are the same breed. Minis may be a little more prone to dental disease and separation anxiety, while standards tend to be slightly sturdier around children.

No, not all Dachshunds are miniature. The breed has two AKC sizes: the standard, weighing about 16 to 32 pounds, and the miniature, at 11 pounds or less. Many pet Dachshunds fall somewhere in between and are informally called tweenies. Some international clubs also recognize a still smaller rabbit size, called the kaninchen, mostly in Europe.

Dachshunds are very popular. The AKC ranked them the sixth most popular breed in 2024, up from twelfth in 2018, and they appear frequently in shelters and breed-specific rescues. Their portable size, comic looks and loyal personalities win many fans. That popularity also means a steady supply of adoptable Dachshunds and Dachshund mixes.