When is a Dachshund an adult?

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When Is a Dachshund an Adult?

When will dachshunds reach their maximum size, their adulthood?

The bones of a dachshund stop growing at 12 months old, but they continue to grow and gain weight until they are 18 months, or even 2 years old.

Be sure to monitor their weight during this period, as these sweet doggies are foodies and especially love to eat (everything) 😅

👉 According to global statistics, 2/3 of dachshunds are overweight after 2 years old!

Is your affectionate sausage puppy still growing like crazy? Wondering when they will stop growing taller and putting on weight? Or perhaps you're worried about them gaining too much weight?

Read on to discover the different sizes of dachshunds and what size your dog is supposed to reach when they become an adult.

NOTE: The measurements in cm are up to date with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, source Teckel Club de France.

How Do I Know When My Dachshund Is an Adult?

Read: Why Adopt a Dachshund

There is no definitive answer to the question of when your dachshund is an adult.

It is generally agreed that their growth will be complete around 12 months, but they will continue to grow and gain weight on the scale.

At this age, it makes sense, because the dachshund's skeleton is supposed to be fully developed by 12 months of age. They should not get taller or longer after that. 😊

Just like us, dachshunds go through different phases in their lives. They go from being a puppy to an adolescent, then an adult, and then they reach their golden years.

Your dachshund may look and behave like a puppy during the first years of their life, even if they have reached full maturity.

Furthermore, even if your dachshund's silhouette won't change once they are no longer a puppy, they could gain or lose weight with age.

NOTE: It is important to know your dachshund's actual size once they have reached their maximum size so that you can detect any weight problems.

At What Age Do Dachshunds Stop Growing?

Read: Which Dachshund to Choose

A dachshund's bones should stop growing at 1 year old, although they may continue to grow for a while afterwards.

Dachshunds are bred with the chondrodysplasia gene (dwarfism, like the basset hound or bulldog), so it takes longer than normal for their legs to fully develop.

Once born, dachshund puppies start growing rapidly for the first 8 months or so.

The long bones in their legs lengthen thanks to the growth plates at the ends of the bones. These continue to develop until the growth plates close, which occurs at the age of 10-12 months.

For a while after the growth plates close, your dachshund will continue to gain weight until they reach their adult weight.

They may stop growing at 18 months or continue until age 2 - it depends on your puppy.

It is very important to monitor their size as they grow because their metabolism will have started to slow down, and they will be more at risk of being overweight.

Excess weight can put strain on their little legs and cause back problems. We recommend getting your dachshund used to using a dog ramp (fixed or adjustable) from a young age to help them get up and down furniture easily!

Choose your ramp from our Grooming & Care collection. 😇

With a healthy, balanced diet, good kibble, and plenty of exercise, your little darling should also be in top shape!

It is easy to feel and see if your dachshund is gaining too much weight: you should be able to feel their ribs and see a well-defined waistline.

What Is the Size of a Kaninchen (Rabbit) Dachshund?

• A Kaninchen dachshund measures about 13-18 cm (at the withers) and weighs no more than 3.5 kg.
• Female chest circumference: 25-30 cm
• Male chest circumference: 27-32 cm

 

The Kaninchen dachshund (rabbit) was bred to hunt smaller prey like rabbits (rather than badgers).

Despite time and their small size, they remain an excellent hunter.

What Is the Size of a Miniature Dachshund?

 

• A miniature dachshund measures about 20-30 cm (at the withers) and weighs between 4 and 6 kg.
• Female chest circumference: 30-35 cm
• Male chest circumference: 32-37 cm

 

This little dachshund generally weighs 4.5 kg from 12 months onwards.

It is therefore the intermediate format of all our dachshund friends and can also be trained as a hunting dog.

What Is the Size of a Standard Dachshund?

 

• A standard dachshund measures about 20 to 35 cm (at the withers) and weighs between 7 and 14 kg.
• Female chest circumference: 35-45 cm
• Male chest circumference: 37-47 cm

A standard dachshund generally weighs between 7 and 13 kg when they are 12 months or older.

Of course, they are always much smaller than most dogs, so they are still classified as a small dog.

That said, these are "breed standard" measurements, and dachshunds come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. Another good way to check is to examine them yourself.

See if there are rolls of fat on their withers (this is the point between the shoulder blades). Check that they are well-defined or well-tucked at the waist.

You should be able to see their waist and hips by looking at them from above. And run your hands over their coat at the rib cage.

If you cannot feel their ribs at all, they are overweight.

We highly recommend our blog post on dachshund feeding.

The End

You now have all the necessary information to know when a dachshund reaches adulthood and how long it takes for a dachshund puppy's bones to develop 🐾

This will give you a better idea of the size your pet dog will be as an adult.

For further information, you can refer to the Club des Amateurs de Teckels and ask your canine veterinarian.

Every dachshund is different, regardless of their shape or size, they will be perfect just as they are with lots of love 😊!

The Teckelshop Team - 💚 Last modified 06/10/26

Don't miss this article: How to measure my dachshund

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