Animal register · DogIn the app
Dachshund
Sausage dog, Teckel
The Dachshund is a German badger and rabbit hunter, known at home as the Teckel, that comes in several sizes and three coats; this page is about the standard size with the smooth coat. Its standard describes a dog that is moderately long in proportion to its height, with no exaggeration — faithful, versatile and good tempered; intelligent, lively and courageous — with a dense, short, smooth coat in red, or black or chocolate with tan markings.
It needs up to about an hour of exercise a day, split into a couple of walks with time for sniffing, and suits a small house. It loves people and generally gets along well with children of all ages, always supervised, but with its strong prey drive it is not recommended with smaller pets, and it does not do well left alone. Because of its long back and short legs it is prone to slipped discs, so it should not jump; breeders are asked to screen the spine before breeding.
Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- medium — The Royal Kennel Club S125
- Adult weight
- 9–12 kg — The Royal Kennel Club S126
- Daily exercise
- up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S125
- Brushing
- once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S125
- Shedding
- sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S125
- Lifespan
- more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S125
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
Good for:
- families with childrenS127
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S125
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
- Lifespan: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S125
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 9–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does a Dachshund need?
According to our sources, the Dachshund needs this much exercise: up to 1 hour a day — The Royal Kennel Club S125.
How long does a Dachshund live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Dachshund is: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S125.
How big does a Dachshund get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Dachshund, according to our sources: Size: medium — The Royal Kennel Club S125; Adult weight: 9–12 kg — The Royal Kennel Club S126.
How much grooming does a Dachshund need?
Coat and grooming of the Dachshund, according to our sources: Brushing: once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S125; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S125; Coat: short — The Royal Kennel Club S125.
Who is the Dachshund a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Dachshund as a good fit for: families with children — PDSA S127. Keep in mind: long back — spine problems, avoid jumping — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA, British Veterinary Association S125S127S128S129; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club, PDSA S125S127; needs mental challenges — PDSA S127; strong prey drive — may chase small pets — PDSA S127.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 6,000 from month 6 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 6,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 6,000 steps |
| Senior | month 108 (9 years) | 2 | 4,500 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 1 hour, so 6,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
- Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing once a week.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S125
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Intervertebral disc disease, a problem with the cushioning discs between the bones of the back, occurs in the breed. — PDSA S129
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum
Further tests for best practice
- Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Royal Kennel Club S125
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S124FCI — Breeds nomenclature — Dachshund (148)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/DACHSHUND-148.html
- S125The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breeds A–Z: Dachshund (Smooth Haired)https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/hound/dachshund-smooth-haired/
- S126The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breed standard: Dachshund (Smooth Haired) (last updated 1 April 2025)https://www.royalkennelclub.com/breed-standards/hound/dachshund-smooth-haired/
- S127PDSA (UK veterinary charity) — Dachshund breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/medium-dogs/dachshund
- S128British Veterinary Association — news (9 March 2020) — Worried vets lay out the long and low of dachshund health issues following Crufts winhttps://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/wiener-get-a-sausage-dog-worried-vets-lay-out-the-long-and-low-of-dachshund-health-issues-after-crufts-win/
- S129PDSA (UK veterinary charity) — IVDD / slipped disc in dogshttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/ivddslipped-disc-in-dogs
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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