How Do You Know When Your Dachshund Has Become An Adult?

For new Doxie pet parents, one of the first questions that come to mind is when do Dachshunds stop growing. All new parents worry they won’t sufficiently satisfy the puppy’s requirements so that she can meet what would deem average physical development for a Dachshund (full-grown) or that the animal might exceed the weight expectations. That is a genuine concern since Dachshunds are prone to obesity.

Ideally, you will be collaborating with a reputable veterinarian from the moment of adoption. The professional will initially advise on proper diet and exercise for the pup in order to encourage a natural progression of development through the beginning stages of development and to maintain a healthy weight.

Helpful in the process is either to keep a journal or to develop a dachshund growth chart to monitor the pup throughout her first two years until you have a full-grown Dachshund. Once you reach that point, you can breathe a little easier, but weight still needs monitoring for the animal’s lifespan, again due to the propensity towards obesity.

At what age do dachshunds stop growing?

A full-size Dachshund achieves capacity at approximately 12-13 months. For the standard Doxie, that will be between 16 and 32 pounds. A full-grown mini Dachshund reaches its size at around 11 to 12 months, weighing between 11 and 16 pounds. Weight is based on intake of food and activity level.

So, in summary, the age that a standard Dachshund stops growing is at the latest, typically by the end of their first year. For the mini dachshund size, full-grown, the animal will be close to age one as well, probably sooner.

Dachshund Weight Chart: Growth Curve and Average Weights

Age	Standard Dachshunds	Miniature Dachshunds
1 month	3-5 lbs	1.5-3 lbs
2 months	5-11 lbs	2.5-5 lbs
3 months	6-12 lbs	3-8 lbs
4 months	8-15 lbs	4-9.5 lbs
5 months	10-20 lbs	5-11.5 lbs
6 months	12-25 lbs	6-12.8 lbs
7 months	14-27 lbs	7-14 lbs
8 months	15-29 lbs	7.5-14.9 lbs
9 months	15-31 lbs	7.5-15 lbs
10 months	16-32 lbs	8-15.7 lbs
11 months	16-32 lbs	11-16 lbs
12 months	16-32 lbs	11-16 lbs
24 months	16-32 lbs	11-16 lbs

Part of what determines how big do Dachshunds get is their home environment. For a pup exposed to a caring, loving atmosphere with parents who take the time and effort to measure adequate food portions for meal plans, it will promote the proper development of muscles, bones, and tissues.

Length And Height Of Dachshunds

A Dachshund is easy to recognize due to its extended body. Believe it or not, a ratio formula was created to allow pet parents to determine the height and length of their pup at 2:1, meaning the length of the dog’s body is typically two times the shoulder height measurement – in some cases exceeding that number.

A standard Doxie will typically fall between 21.5 and 25 inches long, but that will be based on the animal’s overall size. The miniature will generally be approximately between 12 and 13 inches long.

When considering how big do mini Dachshunds get as far as height, these will measure roughly between 5 and 7 inches from withers with a stance of between 9 and 10 inches at a full-grown size.

The standard pup has a stance between 13 and 14.5 inches, differing from the withers’ height (measurement from the tallest point of the shoulder to the floor) which equates to roughly between 8 and 9 inches.

How to Weigh and Measure your Doxie

In order to monitor your Dachshund to ensure proper physical development as age progresses in the first two years, a Dachshund size chart or a journal should be kept to make sure the animal stays on point throughout the Dachshund growth stages.

• Neck (A): Measure the circumference midway between the ears and base of the neck.
• Length (D): Measure along the back from between the shoulder blades to the base of the tail.
• Chest (B): Measure around the widest/deepest part of the chest — usually right behind the front legs.

In order to correctly measure, use a tailor’s tape measure and start from the ground going to between the shoulder blades at the highest point (referenced as “withers”). If the dog is a year old (full-grown) and measures up to 7 inches, she is a mini Doxie. A pup over 14 inches will be a standard.

Generally, you can put your Dachshund on the scales to get a weight. Often what a pet parent will do is get their own weight and then weigh again, holding the pup to get an accurate number. Breed standards will dictate up to 16 pounds on a mini Dachshund’s weight chart and up to 32 pounds on a standard Dachshund weight chart.

What size is a Miniature Dachshund?

Miniature Dachshund Size Chart
Size	Weights (pounds)	Length (inches)	Chest (inches)	Neck (inches)
Small	5 – 8	12.5 – 13	13 – 16	9.5 – 10
Medium	9 – 12	13.5 – 14	15 – 18	10.5 – 11
Large	13 – 16	14 – 14.5	17 – 21	11 – 12

What size is a Standard Dachshund?

Standard Dachshund Size Chart
Size	Weights (pounds)	Length (inches)	Chest (inches)	Neck (inches)
Small	16 – 21	16 – 16.5	19 – 23	12 – 13
Medium	22 – 27	16.5 – 17	21 – 25	13 – 14
Large	28 – 32	17 – 17.5	23 – 27	14 – 15

All Doxies are different, developing into unique shapes and sizes. The “AKC official breed standards” relayed here are just that, the standards. That doesn’t mean all Dachshunds will meet these. There will be variables, particularly when it comes to the “Dachshund ideal weight.”

Factors That Affect The Dachshund’s Growth

When a Doxie stops growing or is not developing as it should, meaning the Dachshund measurements are not meeting the breed standards, something has “stunted” the process.

Many things can contribute to a smaller than average dachshund weight and measurement, beginning with genetics or the possibility of underlying health issues. Let’s look at a few possibilities.

1. Worm Infection

Among the most common causes for why a dog is not meeting the Dachshund puppy weight chart is a hookworm or roundworm infection. The indication is that intestinal worms are an exceptional problem for young dogs, who often contract them from their parents but can also develop them merely from the environment.

A heavy infestation can respond by consuming the animal’s calories impeding her growth, ultimately resulting in an unhealthy appearance including lackluster coat, rounded belly yet a thin, petite frame albeit voracious appetite resulting in no weight gain.

Normal development can proceed once the Dachshund is free of the infection, but prevention is key, following the vet’s care plan.

“A House Is Not A Home Without A Doxie”

2. Spay/Neuter

There is the suggestion that spaying or neutering can potentially affect the growth process, but this is not true as far as development. It is possible to add to the propensity for weight gain. Veterinarians do carry recommendations on when Dachshunds should be spayed or neutered. For a small or medium-sized pup, the suggestion is to wait until roughly between 6 and 8 months. Females need to go after the initial heat cycle.

The best way to ensure your Doxie grows to its full potential is to work closely with the vet to develop a meal plan in the first two years. The provider will suggest high-quality, nutritious food meant for puppies that you need to measure into adequate portions as set by the vet.

The pup will also need to engage in plenty of activity to prevent obesity, which is a problem for Dachshunds at every age.

How To Tell If Your Dachshund is Underweight Or Overweight

A pet parent can tell when a Dachshund is at an ideal weight when the ribs can be easily felt but cannot be seen. You should be able to notice behind the ribs, a waist that’s obvious when looking from above. The abdomen should consist of minimal fat, and only subtle “tuck-up” when looking at her on the side will be evident.

Underweight Dachshund

The dog will be considered underweight if the ribs, pelvic bones, and spine are visible. The pup will likely have muscle mass loss, and there will be minimal fat felt on the bones. You’ll see a prominent “tuck-up” of the abdomen on the side.

For an underweight Doxie, it’s essential to increase the portions with mealtime and perhaps speak with the vet concerning suggestions on higher-calorie options.

Overweight Dachshund

If your Doxie has rolls of fat at the shoulders and neck, plus it’s visible over the base of the tail and the back, and you can’t feel her ribs, she is overweight. You won’t see a waist by looking from above, but instead, there will be a site of excessive fat in the abdomen when in profile.

The risk of obesity in Dachshunds increases as age progresses, with higher risks for diseases like osteoarthritis and diabetes. The suggested prevention is to measure food from the time pup is young forward.

Suppose that habit doesn’t start early and you end up with this situation. In that case, it’s essential to reduce the quantity of food the animal is receiving, including treats and tiny snacks, plus look for lower-calorie options for food that the pup might prefer. Again, the vet is the ideal resource for developing a new meal plan offering fewer calories and could provide other recommendations for managing weight.

If you want to show your over or underweight puppy how they should look according to the AKC breed standards, AKC dictates how much a miniature dachshund weighs roughly 11 pounds and a standard Doxie at approximately 16 pounds minimum.

The pet parents face severe repercussions for show dogs that exhibit as underweight or thin according to standards. It’s essential for you to keep in mind, though, these standards are the ideal as set for a typical mini and a standard Dachshund.

That doesn’t dictate a “target weight” for your individual puppy. All Doxies are unique and need to be cared for as such, with their ideal weight equating to their particular body frame.

What is a “Tweenie” Dachshund or a “Rabbit” Doxie?

The AKC or other registries do not recognize a Tweenie Doxie. Instead, it is more of an unofficial category for some Dachshunds. These Tweenie dachshunds are between a standard and a mini in size. The adult weighs as much as 15 pounds when healthy and well cared for.

Outside the United States and the United Kingdom, you will also find a Dachshund referenced as a “Kaninchen” or a “rabbit,” which is smaller than the mini version weighing in at under 8 lbs with a chest that measures no more than “11.8 inches” when the dog is a year old.

In some cases, these dogs represent what is considered “designer” dogs that are typically intentionally bred so that they remain exceptionally small, resulting in an animal that suffers from mounds of health issues.

Fortunately, no registry recognizes these pups discouraging the practices, so hopefully, the breeding will stop, eliminating puppies having to endure poorer quality lifespans.

How do you predict when your dachshund is full-grown weight?

It’s not clear if this is genuine science, but if you’re wondering how do I know when my Dachshund is fully grown, you can try a few tips and tricks. One of these includes taking the Doxie’s weight divided by her age in weeks and then multiplying that result by 52 (weeks in a year). Incredibly, that is supposed to give you the ideal weight of your full-grown pup.

The ideal weight of full-grown Dachshund = Current Weight/Age (in weeks) x 52

Example:

• Input: Your 10-month-old pup weighs 16lbs
• Result: ideal weight = (16/40)x52 = 20.8lbs
• Conclusion: Based on your input (16 lb. at 40 weeks), the estimate that your Dachshund will weigh around 20.8 pounds and will reach full adult weight between 52 and 58 weeks of age.

Another trick is to get the Dachshund’s six-week weight from the vet, double that amount (multiply), and double it again. That will give you a rough full-grown weight.

These two methods will offer different results, but you will receive a range that your Doxie will most likely fall within as an adult – given variables, of course.

How To Help Your Dachshund Achieve Optimum Growth And Development

In order to assure your Dachshund reaches its full growth potential, proper care has to start from the point of adoption. That entails working closely with both the breeder and a licensed veterinarian. The breeder will advise the diet the dog was on before coming to you, recommendations for the pup as far as the best nutrient-rich food for a Doxie pup, and the best choice as she grows. If you decide to change from the diet plan the breeder incorporated, ensure to make the process gradual over a couple of weeks to allow the Doxie sufficient time to adjust to the new diet.

A vet will give a second opinion on the meal plan, recommend controlled portions and what those should be, provide required vaccinations, determine health status, and put the pup on an exercise regimen. These are all necessary steps leading to healthy progression through the natural stages of growth and development for which the vet will monitor as she goes.

Final Thoughts

It’s essential to understand that not all Dachshunds are created equal. The “breed standards” represented here are simply that, standard set forth by registries for the typical standard and mini Doxie. In reality, every dog is unique, with different sizes/shapes. You shouldn’t try in any way to attempt to fit them into any kind of predictable mold.

The bottom line is to ensure that you collaborate fully with a licensed veterinarian from the moment of adoption to ensure you develop a healthy meal plan where you measure adequate portions to ensure proper physical development, crucial in the first two years.

Also, make sure to involve the dog in a disciplined exercise routine to help them stay strong and manage weight. When you do all the right things as a loving, caring pet parent, you’ll have a perfect version of your Doxie when she is full-grown, regardless of her measurements.