The Standard Dachshund: The Largest of the Dachshunds

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

Standard Dachshund: The Largest of the Dachshunds!

The standard dachshund is the largest of the dachshund breed (group 4 with working trial).

The 2 other smaller sizes are the miniature dachshund and the kaninchen (toy) dachshund.

The name “dachshund” was not given because of their characteristic long body, but because of their aptitude for hunting and tracking prey.

Standard dachshunds were designed to scent and pursue animals like wild boars and deer, but also to flush out game living in burrows, such as badgers or rabbits, thanks to their long snouts.

Dating back to their creation around the 15th century, the standard dachshund is an efficient and very lively hunting dog known for its stamina and for never giving up on the trail of its prey.

Today, it is still a very popular and sociable dog breed, and the one that has the most success in the 21st century is the miniature dachshund as a companion dog 😉

Characteristics and Behavior of the Standard Dachshund

The standard dachshund is the largest of all dachshunds (the 2 other dachshund sizes are small dogs weighing less than 7kg).

Its body is long and naturally muscular, its paws are short, and it has a long, well-proportioned tail.

Its head is long, its almond-shaped eyes are expressive, and its ears are large and floppy 🥰

Its easily recognizable coat comes in three varieties:

Smooth-haired (short hair)
Wire-haired
Long-haired

As for their magnificent coats and colors, there is an exceptional choice to suit every taste: solid red, two-tone, dapple (merle), or even brindle.

The weight of an adult standard dachshund varies between 7 and 14kg, but you will need to monitor its diet throughout its life (puppy and adult) because it is a dog that tends to gain weight (very) easily… A real foodie 😜

Dachshund Grooming

Grooming a dachshund is more or less easy depending on the coat type, but generally, it is a dog that requires little care unless you take it out into nature often and it digs or rolls in the dirt for fun… Yes! These are very playful dogs!

Grooming a smooth-haired dachshund is very quick, as its beautiful coat is less dense and the shortest.

Grooming a wire-haired dachshund requires more effort, with hand-stripping of dead hair at each change of season as well as regular brushing for a shiny and soft coat.

And finally, for grooming a long-haired dachshund, you will need to take good care of its beautiful fur to prevent tangles by brushing it regularly (every 2 days), which will keep its coat vibrant and neat.

Also, all dachshunds are active, lively, and dynamic and need daily exercise!

So regardless of their size at adulthood (standard, miniature, kaninchen), they are true athletic bundles of fur.

Also, in terms of life expectancy, the standard dachshund is no different from the other sizes, living about 12 to 16 years.

Dachshund Behavior

Dachshunds are very loyal and devoted dogs to their owners and can be great companions for children.

However, they must be properly trained during the early stages of their lives… They are among the dog breeds with a rather stubborn temperament 😜

As seen above, the standard dachshund is a great hunter with impressive intelligence, and it loves to search and sniff, so don’t hesitate to offer it toys and have fun with search and intelligence games like a snuffle mat.

Dachshunds are devoted to their family and love to bark loudly if they encounter strangers, which makes them excellent guard dogs!

By the way, feel free to refer to our blog post on dachshund barking to find tips on how to relax and calm them down.

A simple tip (which applies to all dogs) is to take long outings and walks with them. The dachshund has great stamina, so don’t hesitate to take it with you if you go cycling or even jogging (avoid this for puppies).

Doxie Health

The most common health problem in doxies is intervertebral disc disease, which affects their back.

It is also the most common spinal disease in dogs. It can lead to dehydration, bladder problems, and in some cases, paralysis.

For a standard dachshund, you should quickly equip yourself from a young age with a dog ramp to help it get on and off your furniture as well as stairs safely.

The dachshund remains a super cuddly dog, so if you want it close to you on the sofa or bed, you know what to do to take care of it 🤗 or you can always carry it.

Also, gastric dilatation-volvulus, better known as bloat or torsion, occurs most often in large-breed dogs.

Due to the deep chest of the standard dachshund, it can also affect this breed.

Intestinal torsion can be fatal if not treated immediately. If your dog has a distended abdomen, is drooling excessively, and is retching without vomiting, these are signs to watch for in the hours following a meal.

Other possible indicators are restlessness, depression, lethargy, and weakness with a rapid heart rate, so avoid letting it jump, playing with it, or even taking it for a long walk after eating.

In any case, always consult your veterinarian to ensure the good health of your pet.

Final Word

Also known as a sausage dog, or Dackel in German, one cannot help but love the standard dachshund, which is so confident, endearing, and affectionate 🤗

This large dachshund is not so different from the other sizes of its breed, but you will need to think about taking extra care of its back and preventing it from jumping as much as possible.

Tell us in the comments if you are the owner of one or more standard dachshunds and especially what you prefer about this extraordinary breed!

The DoxieLife team – 💚 Last modified 01/10/26