Dachshund Nutrition: Everything You Need to Know

Richard Thomas
Over 15 years handling, testing, and restoring pocket, fixed-blade, and Damascus steel knives across hunting and everyday-carry disciplines.

Feeding Your Dachshund

One of the best ways to keep your dachshund healthy with a beautiful coat throughout their life is to provide a balanced diet and the right amount of food.

Indeed, overfeeding can lead to obesity (a common issue in this dog breed), which triggers a multitude of health problems, while underfeeding can cause serious nutritional deficiencies.

It is more common for a dachshund to be overweight than underweight. The main cause of this phenomenon is overfeeding.

If you have found your way to this article, you are probably wondering how much food you should give your four-legged sweetheart every day.

We have compiled a guide based on research and experience to help you determine how much food your dachshund should eat daily, and of course, we ALWAYS recommend listening to your vet for the health of your beloved dachshund. 🥰

👉 Check out our article on the diet of a neutered dachshund.

How Much Food for My Adult Dachshund?

First, determine your dachshund’s ideal weight

All dog breeds are different, so this is the very first step to feeding your dachshund according to their needs.

According to official FCI standards, a dachshund’s measurements are taken from the age of 15 months.

For reference:

a standard dachshund will weigh between 7 and 14 kg
a miniature dachshund should not weigh more than 6 kg
a kaninchen (rabbit) dachshund 3.5kg maximum
Your pet must therefore be fed an amount of food adapted to their ideal weight.

Note: for a more accurate estimate of your dog’s ideal weight, consult your veterinarian.

Also, look at your dachshund’s ribs when they are standing.

Can you see more than the last rib or the last two protruding?

You can guess if your dog is overweight or underweight and adjust their diet accordingly. If you are unsure, always consult your veterinarian.

It is important to be completely honest about your dachshund’s current weight and activity level in order to best decide how much food to give them.

Dachshund bags >

Next, check the recommendations on the back of the food package

Another important factor in determining how much your dachshund should eat each day is to check the recommendations on the back of the dog food packaging.

Use your dachshund’s ideal weight when looking at the feeding guidelines.

The amounts recommended on the feeding chart correspond to the amount you should feed over a 24-hour period.

Adult dachshunds (like most adult dogs) should eat two meals a day, so you can divide the suggested amount of food by two.

Dachshund puppies should consume 3-4 meals a day, so divide this daily amount into equal portions for each meal.

Third, consider the variables

There are, of course, other factors to consider, such as the activity level and age of this magnificent dog breed.

If your dachshund is very active – walking at least an hour most days of the week – you may need to give them a little more food than what is recommended on the chart (unless they need to lose weight).

If your dachshund is sedentary, or if they are older and have a slower metabolism, you may need to give them a little less food than recommended.

You will need to adapt your dog’s food ration based on their activity level to promote good digestion.

Be mindful of the caloric intake of the food you have chosen for your dog, as this will also be a determining factor in how much food to give your dachshund.

In other words, don’t always keep the same amount if you change food 😉

How Much Food for My Dachshund Puppy?

Puppies need a larger amount of food, more frequently than adults.

Puppies have greater nutritional needs than adults because their bones and joints are developing (growth until 18 months).

Your dachshund puppy must eat high-quality food with at least 22.5% protein.

Puppies have a particularly fast metabolism, so you should give them 3 to 4 meals a day to start.

For dachshund puppies, here is an approximate feeding guide: (but always refer to your veterinarian).

2-4 months: 4 meals a day
4-6 months: 3 meals a day
6-8 months: 2 to 3 meals a day
Over 8 months: 2 meals a day

As with adult dachshunds, you must calculate the appropriate amount to feed based on your puppy’s age and weight.

However, you should always exercise caution, as you don’t want your puppy to become too heavy during their growth stage.

How Many Treats to Give Your Dachshund?

Training your faithful 4-legged companion is not always easy…

Besides, it is incredibly difficult to resist those big doe eyes on your favorite sausage dog… 😍

Their manipulative tendencies get the best of people, but it is really important that you don’t give in often!

Everyone in your home must agree on the amount of treats your dog receives per day.

Treats should be reserved for rewards during training sessions or when your dachshund “works for it”.

It is also good to get your whole family on the same page when it comes to giving your dachshund (and other pets) table scraps and other delicious snacks… we know very well that it’s hard!

Dachshunds are little dogs that are great actors and pros at begging! They will try to convince everyone that they are absolutely starving.

You will need to subtract the calories from the treats from your dachshund’s daily diet to keep them at a healthy weight. In other words, the more treats your dachshund receives during the day, the less they should eat at mealtime.

If you feel guilty about reducing the amount of food, replace some of it with something that has very few calories, like thawed green beans (make sure no sodium is added to them).

DoxieLife recommends ELMUT: fresh, healthy, and tasty meals for a healthy and happy dachshund. -30% on the trial box!

-30% code: TECKELS

In Summary

The amount of food your pup should gobble up in their beautiful bowl is determined by these factors:

– Age
– Current weight
– Ideal weight
– Natural metabolism
– Activity level
– Other health concerns

The ideal goal is to give your dachshund a diet and an amount of food that does not cause them to gain or lose weight.

Dachshunds, famous terrier dogs, are prone to obesity, or at least it is common for owners not to realize that their dachshund is overweight (which can play a role in an earlier loss of the dog, their lifespan).

Giving your little dog the appropriate amount of food so they maintain an ideal weight is not only important for their health (it has been shown that being overweight can reduce a dachshund’s life expectancy by two years), but carrying excess weight can also lead to back problems and herniated discs.

Remember that the dachshund (long-haired, short-haired, wire-haired) is an affectionate pet that is not like all dogs. They can manipulate you with finesse by making you believe they are always hungry…😜

It is up to you to know how much dog kibble they should eat, and not to give in so that they keep a healthy weight, as well as an extraordinary coat. 🐶

The DoxieLife team – 💚 Last modified on 04/15/26