Dachshund vs Mini Dachshund: The Differences (With Pictures)

You’re probably quite familiar with the Dachshund breed, also known as wiener dogs, sausage dogs, and Doxies. As of 2023, they are the 6th most popular breed in the States, and for good reason–they’re completely adorable and have a loving yet feisty temperament!

So, if you’ve been thinking of adding a Doxie to your family, you might be trying to decide between the Standard and the Miniature. What exactly is the difference between the two besides the size? We’ll cover topics like this and give you a thorough comparison between the Standard and the Miniature Dachshund.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Dachshund Overview

The famous wiener dog originated in Germany and was used for hunting, but particularly for digging into a badger’s den. Their name actually translates into “badger dog.” Doxies have been around for at least 600 years and have only gained in popularity.

Personality / Character

Standard Dachshunds were bred to dig badgers out of a hole, so their temperament does reflect their ancestry. They are quite feisty and stubborn but also sweet, intelligent, and devoted. They make wonderful family pets as long as the children in the home are taught to be respectful of their pets.

With the proper training and socialization, Doxies also get along well with other pets, but like all hounds, they have a high prey drive. They are also barkers, which is something to keep in mind if you live in an apartment or have neighbors who don’t appreciate barking dogs.

Training

Standard Dachshunds are very intelligent but independent and stubborn dogs. This makes them easy to train but also quite the challenge. Doxies are very food-oriented, so combining treats with lots of affection and praise will work best, and like all dogs, they won’t respond well to punishment.

Also, keep in mind that they have a high prey drive so they can be quite focused during a training session, but this also makes them easily distracted.

Exercise

While they are small dogs, they are very energetic and need about 45 to 60 minutes of exercise spread out in walks two times a day.

Beyond the walks, they will enjoy spending time with their humans. Give them the opportunity to play and engage them in activities for mental as well as physical stimulation. This will go a long way in keeping your Dachshund trim and happy.

Health & Care

For a Dachshund’s overall health, you need to start with high-quality food formulated for your dog’s current age, weight, and activity level. Doxies are prone to obesity, so a proper diet and avoiding a lot of treats (including table scraps) will help keep your dog in great shape.

Grooming Dachshunds depends on their coat. There are smooth, wirehaired, as well as longhaired Dachshunds, so the amount of time you put into grooming your dog will differ depending on what type of coat your dog has.

Wirehaired dogs only need infrequent grooming with the occasional trim of facial hair and plucking or hand-stripping the coat a few times a year.

Longhaired Doxies might require daily brushing and smooth-coated dogs just need an occasional wipe-down with a hound glove or towel.

Finally, there are a number of health conditions that Dachshunds can genetically inherit:

This isn’t to say all Dachshunds will inherit these conditions. Still, it’s a good idea to become familiar with any potential medical problems.

Suitable for:

Standard Dachshunds can do well in apartments or houses but remember that they are barkers and can make great watchdogs, but you don’t want to upset your neighbors. They make excellent family pets, but you’ll need to invest in some ramps or other devices, so your Doxie doesn’t need to jump too frequently.

You also should be around for your Doxie as they are very social dogs that might display some destructive behavior when left alone for too long – they are house dogs, not kennel dogs. And if you have small pets already, your Dachshund should be introduced to them at a young age, so they don’t view them as prey.

Miniature Dachshund Overview

The Miniature Dachshund is practically the same as the Standard. They feature the same patterns, colors, and coat types and tend to have the same temperament. However, there are a few minor differences.

Personality / Character

The temperament of the Mini Doxie is pretty much what you would expect from the Standard. They both have the same small-dog-who-thinks-they-are-a-big-dog syndrome, as well as a stubborn yet affectionate streak.

They also make excellent family pets, but considering they are a fair bit smaller than Standards (who are also small), young children need to be taught to be gentle. Miniature Dachshunds might do better with a family with older children. They also do well with other pets, as long as they have been socialized well.

Training

Training the Miniature Doxie is more than similar to the Standard. They have the same intelligence and stubbornness that makes training challenging and do better with positive reinforcement. And they can equally lose focus during training sessions when distracted.

Exercise

Even though the Miniature Dachshund is very small, they still require quite a bit of exercise. These dogs are just as energetic as their larger counterparts but won’t need to go on quite as long walks. They would do well with two 15 to 20 minute walks daily in addition to the usual playtime with you.

Health & Care

Like with the Standard, the Miniature Doxie needs high-quality dog food made for small breeds and targeting their current age and activity level.

And not to sound like a broken record, but you can expect grooming to be the same as well, just with a little less dog to brush and bathe. Since Miniature Doxies also have smooth, wire, and longhaired coats, the grooming works the same as it does with the Standard.

The Mini Dachshund has more potential for a longer lifespan than the Standard because they are smaller. The smaller the dog, the longer the life, but of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.

And finally, the same health conditions that can potentially affect the Standard are as likely to affect the Mini.

Suitable for:

The only real difference you might find between these two great dogs is the size. This means the Miniature Doxie would do better in a family with older children, but they will bark just as loudly as the Standard, which means they make excellent watchdogs.

If you’re looking for a dog that doesn’t need strenuous exercise and you might enjoy spending some time with your pup curled up on your lap, the Miniature Dachshund might be the right fit.

Which Breed Is Right For You?

If you have very young children, you’ll probably want to aim for the Standard Dachshund, but if you prefer a dog that doesn’t need quite as much exercise and can actually have their exercise needs met running around the house, the Miniature Dachshund might be the better fit.

But the Standard might work better if you’re looking for a dog that can keep up with your own active lifestyle.

If you want a smaller dog in the adorable Dachshund wrapper, you know the Miniature is what you’re looking for. When it comes down to it, you really can’t go wrong with either size–Standard or Miniature are equally amazing!

See Also:

• Male vs Female Dachshund: How Are They Different?

• Dachshund Vs. Doxin Vs. Dotson: Key Differences & Facts

Featured Image Credit: Left - Eric Isselee, Shutterstock | Right - Jagodka, Shutterstock