- Dog suitable for owners with some experience
- Extra training required
- Need to be aware of potential health issues
- Enjoys active walks
- Needs under an hour of walking a day
- Small dog
- Minimum drool
- Requires grooming every other day
- Chatty and vocal dog
- Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual
- Could have issues with unknown dogs but gets along with known dogs
- May need additional training to live with other pets
- May need additional supervision to live with children
- Needs a small garden
- Can happily live in the city
- Can be left occasionally with training
Key Facts
Lifespan: | 12 – 15 years |
Weight: | 4.5 – 5kg |
Height: | 12 – 15cm |
Colours: | Miniature Dachshunds can either be solid colours such as red or cream or two-coloured such as black, chocolate, grizzled, blue or fawn with tan or cream markings. Some may be dappled too |
Size: | Small |
UK Kennel Club Groups: | Hound |
Ratings
Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
Exercise needs: | 3/5 |
Easy to train: | 2/5 |
Tolerates being alone: | 3/5 |
Likes other pets: | 3/5 |
Energy level: | 3/5 |
Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
Shedding: | 3/5 |

Personality
Do not underestimate the Mini Long Haired Dachshund as while they are small in size they are giant in personality. This is a strong-minded and independent little dog whose natural inclination is to take on the world, and they are totally confident they will win! Clever and quick to learn, but not easy to motivate, the Mini Long Haired Dachshund requires a patient owner with a sense of humour and the time to dedicate to good socialisation and on-going training, entertainment and activity. Not inclined to warm to strangers quickly, they do adore their owners and family, though are likely to bond more strongly with just one person.

History and Origins
Country of Origin – Germany
The Long Haired Miniature Dachshund’s origins lie in 15th Century Germany, as a dog bred to go to ground after badgers, and their place in the Hound group is something of a translation error (‘hund’ meaning ‘dog’ and not ‘hound’). As an earth-dog, designed to go down holes and hold quarry at bay until hunters could dig to them, they are really a terrier with all the feist and spirit one would associate with terrier types.
The standard sized Dachshund is recorded as early as 1735 but was probably around for longer than that, and at certain times in their history were crossed with working French Basset types (bred to be long and low so they could be followed on foot rather than on horseback). It was normal to work hounds alongside terriers so it is easy to see how this cross came about.
Once in England and finding favour with royalty (Queen Victoria owned several), the breed became longer, lower and more refined. When the need arose for a smaller dog to go to ground after rabbits rather than the larger badger, Dachshunds were selectively bred down to reduce height and chest size. The first Miniature Long Haired Dachshunds appeared in the UK in the 1930’s where the Long Haired version became the most popular of the three very quickly.

Did You Know?
- Whilst it is difficult to be precise as many sources list both Miniature and standard dachshunds as simply ‘Dachshunds’ its probable that David Hasselhoff, Christian Slater and George Harrison among other celebrities, all owned Miniature Long Haired Dachshunds. Dachshunds of all types have been popular with both celebrities and royalty for many decades!