When you adopted your Dachshund, or purchased him or her from a breeder, you were probably told whether your Dachshund was a miniature or standard.
But when you made some Dachshund friends, you noticed that your Dachshund was larger than other miniatures or smaller than other standards.
You began to wonder if what the breeder, shelter, or rescue told you is incorrect.
Now you’re wondering if your Dachshund is a mini or standard.
The general, brief answer to this question is that miniature Dachshunds, in the US, are 11 lbs or under at 12 months of age and anything larger than that is a standard size.
However, there are a few nuances to the different classifications, as well as some controversy over what to call the size between 12 lbs and the “typical” 16 lbs of a small standard Dachshund.
In this article, explain those details as well as what this “in between” size is called.
Do know that, although you can make predictions, one can’t definitively determine whether a Dachshund is a standard or miniature until they are full grown.
When Will My Dachshund Stop Growing?
Smaller dogs mature earlier in life than larger dogs.
The general consensus is that Dachshunds are considered “full grown” by 12 months old.
After 12 months, your Dachshund may continue to fill out (gain muscle and get wider) until they are about two years old but they won’t get much larger than their 12 month size unless they become overweight.
What Will My Dachshund Weigh When Full Grown?
What you probably really want to know is how big your Dachshund puppy will be as an adult.
By six weeks old, you can make a prediction about what your Dachshund will weight when they are full grown.
There’s no way to be absolutely sure how big your Dachshund will be when full grown until they reach maturity at 12 months of age.
However, there are some formulas you can use to guess.
This is one of the calculations I found to be the easiest and most accurate (many others were extremely off from my experience).
For this growth prediction, weigh your puppy at 6 weeks old.
Then take that weight and double it. Then double it again.
For example, if a Dachshund puppy weighs 3lbs at six weeks old, they are predicted to weigh around 12lbs as an adult (3 x 2 = 6 x 2 = 12).
In the case of my Dachshund puppy, Summit, this was was significant over-estimation though.
Using this formula, I anticipated that she could be 16 lbs when fully grown (she was 4 lbs at 6 weeks).
However, she stopped growing when she reached 10.5 lbs. So, she doubled the weight she was at 8 weeks (5 lbs).
So remember that any calculation is just an estimate.
If you search out other puppy growth charts and calculators, make sure you are looking at one that specifies it’s for small dogs.
The growth rate is different for medium, large, and giant dogs.
What’s the Difference Between a Standard and Miniature Dachshund?
I live in the United States and and this article is written for people who also live in the United States.
In the US, standard and miniature Dachshunds are considered the same dog breed.
Generally, they have the same genetics (except small variations that dictate things like color).
The only difference between a standard and miniature Dachshund is their weight and height.
You can only tell whether your Dachshund is a mini or standard when they have completed the majority of their growth, and Dachshund is considered full grown by 12 months of age.
The main difference between a miniature and standard Dachshund is their height and weight. They aren’t different breeds.
Miniature Dachshunds weigh 11 lbs or under and are 5-6 inches tall, or 13 and 18 cm, at their withers (measured from the floor to the high point between the shoulder blades) when they are full grown.
Standard Dachshunds weigh from 16-32 lbs and will be about 8-9 inches, or 20–22 cm, tall at their withers at full maturity.
So, once your Dachshund is 12 months old, you can easily determine if they’re a miniature or standard using a weight scale and tape measure.
Note: If you are visiting my blog from the UK, the breed standard in your country defines a miniature vs standard Dachshund based on what there parent’s were registered as, regardless of weight or height. In fact, it is my understanding that if a doxie has one standard parent and one miniature, they are considered a “mixed breed”.
What if My Dachshund Weighs Between 12 and 15lbs?
Since the American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard for Dachshunds does not clearly define dogs that fall in the 12-15 lb range, it has led to some confusion as whether Dachshunds in that weight range are considered standard or miniature.
Among owners in the Doxie community, Dachshunds that weight between 12-15 lbs are affectionately referred to as “tweenies.”
According to the AKC, all Dachshunds weighing over 11 lbs would be classified as standard. “weenie” is not Dachshund weight classification recognized by the organization.
My Mini is Over 11 lbs. Did My Breeder Lie to Me?
You might have been told that your Dachshund was a standard or mini and they turned out to be larger or smaller than you expected.
When that happens, many owners assume that their breeder lied to them about whether their Dachshund was standard or miniature.
If you are buying a Dachshund puppy from a responsible breeder, they will mate only miniature Dachshunds with each other (and only standards with standards).
However, since standard and miniature Dachshunds are genetically the same breed, a breeder can’t guarantee what size their puppies will be when full grown.
Trustworthy breeders cannot predict how much your Dachshund will weigh full grown but will however be able to give you an estimate based on the size of the parents. However this may not always be accurate as explained they can end up smaller or larger than anticipated.
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It’s not uncommon for two miniature Dachshunds to have puppies that grow large enough to be considered a tweenie or standard when full grown.
Conversely, but more rare in my experience, two standard parents can produce mini Dachshunds.
The more established the breeder, the more accurately they will be able to predict the full grown size of their puppies.
This is because they know more about their Dachshund’s lineage and already have experience with one or several litters from the same parents.
If a breeder is less experienced, they may predict incorrectly how big their Doxie puppies will be as adults.
So if your Dachshund ends up being bigger or smaller than you expected, it’s not necessarily a case that the breeder lied to you.
Miniature Dachshund parents can produce standard Dachshunds and mini parents can product standards.
But there’s something else to consider, and that’s if your Dachshund is the correct weight.
If your Dachshund is over 11lbs, take a close and honest look at how much “padding” they have on their body.
If you put your 12 lbs Dachshund on a diet and exercise regimen, would they be 10lbs when in ideal physical condition?
Your veterinarian can help you determine if your Dachshund is overweight.
If so, you may indeed have a miniature Dachshund trapped inside an overweight body.
If you’re not sure about your Doxie’s diet or ideal body weight, I suggest having a conversation with your veterinarian.
Frequently Asked Questions About Miniature and Standard Dachshunds
Are miniature Dachshunds considered a different breed?
Both miniature and standard Dachshunds are considered the same breed genetically in the United States, although there are gene variations that influence things like color and bone structure.
Although predictions can be made, ultimately, a Dachshund’s full grown size and weight is not completely known until, well, they are completely full grown.
Of course, you’re more likely to have a miniature Dachshund if both parents are miniature size and a standard if both parents are standard size.
But, remember it is possible for two standard parents to give birth to a miniature and visa versa though.
How big do mini Dachshunds get?
A miniature Dachshund stands 5-6 inches at the shoulder, and is 11 lbs or under, when fully grown.
If your Dachshund is closer to 8 -9 inches tall at the shoulder, and weighs 12lbs or more as an adult, then it is considered a standard.
Note that Dachshunds that fall between 12-15 lbs are sometimes affectionately called “tweeenies” by Dachshund owners but that is not a formal size recognized the AKC.
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