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Poodle mix breeds are rising in popularity. One popular mix is the Doxiepoo (also known as a Doxiedoodle).
People love the Doxiepoo because of its loving temperament, non-shedding coat, and it’s small stature!
Let’s learn more about this type of Poodle mix so you can decide whether or not its the right fit for you!
What is a Doxiepoo?
A Doxiepoo is a cross between two dog breeds: a Dachshund and Toy or Miniature Poodle. Also referred to as “designer dogs” or dog hybrids, Doxiepoos are small low-shedding dogs.
To understand more about a Dachshund Poodle mix, let’s take a quick look at its parent breeds.
Dachshund
The Dachshund is hard to miss. With its long body and short legs, this pup has earned the nicknames “wiener dog”, “sausage dog”, or “doxie”.
Dachshunds are hunting dogs that originated in Germany and were originally bred to hunt badgers.
In German, “Dachs” means “badger” and “Hund” means “dog”, hence, we have a badger dog!
Nowadays, people keep Dachshunds as loving family pets. They are friendly, curious, and have a high prey drive; they might not be the best pets for someone who has other small animals!
The Dachshund comes in two sizes: standard (roughly 16 to 32 pounds) or miniature (less than 11 pounds) and their coats are either smooth, wirehaired, or longhaired.
Dachshunds are moderate shedders but the level of shedding depends on their coat type.
Toy/Miniature Poodle
The Miniature Poodle is a popular dog breed worldwide. It comes from the Standard Poodle (which is one of the oldest dog breeds) that was eventually bred down to smaller sizes, resulting in the Miniature Poodle and the Toy Poodle.
They are regarded as one of the most intelligent dogs in the world, are energetic and playful and love to be near their family at all times.
Toy Poodles are the smaller of the two with Miniature Poodles being slightly larger than a Toy Poodle.
Doxiepoo
Doxiedoodles will share similar traits to their parents. Like their parents, Doxiepoos are curious and affectionate. As Poodles tend to stick to one member of the family, your Doxiepoo might do the same. They don’t like to be left alone, so if you aren’t home for long stretches as a time, the Doxiepoo might not be the right dog for you.
They have a well-mannered temperament making them suitable for families with children, singles, or seniors.
And although small, they can also be territorial (like the Poodle) and alert you if they sense a stranger is coming onto your property. It’s this reason that Doxiepoos might not be suitable for living in apartments or noisy attached dwellings.
Both Dachshunds and Poodles are high-energy dogs, so your Doxiepoo will be just as energetic! They need daily walks—roughly 60 minutes per day—along with training and mental stimulation to satisfy their high-level of intelligence.
Speaking about intelligence and training, you must make sure to keep your Doxiepoo interested and challenged with their training. Puzzle toys with different levels are a great way to keep your Doxiepoo from getting bored.
Average size of Doxiepoos
The Doxiepoo is a small dog standing around 10 to 15 inches tall and weighing less than 18 pounds (depending on whether the Poodle parent is a Mini or a Toy).
Doxiepoos inherit the short and stout legs and long body of the Dachshund, making them a small pooch!
Coat and colors
Both parent breeds come in a variety of coats and colors, and there are many different combinations for Dachshund Poodle mixes!
Poodles always have a single-layer non-shedding coat. Their coat is curly and comes in various colors like:
- black
- white
- cream
- apricot
- brown
- black and white
- silver
- sable
- blue
- grey
- red
Dachshunds have short and coarse coats that shed. The Dachshund also comes in different colors, the most popular being:
- chocolate and tan
- blue and tan
- black and tan
- cream
As for the Doxiepoo, their coat color and marketing entirely depend on the parents and will be one (or a mix) of the above colors.
Doxiepoos are usually low to non-shedding, but breeders can’t predict with 100% confidence how the puppies will turn out. Usually, however, Doxiepoos have non-shedding curly or wavy coats.
Health issues seen in Doxiepoos
Doxiepoos can have a number of common health issues that arise from their parent breeds. Here’s a list of general ailments Doxiepoos are prone to:
- Hip Dysplasia: Even though Hip Dysplasia is mostly seen in larger dogs, it can definitely happen with pint-sized pooches, like Doxiepoos. Hip Dysplasia is when the ball and socket of the hip do not fit together properly, resulting in the hip bone grinding and wearing down the socket.
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD): IVDD affects the Dachshund more than any other breed and roughly 19% to 24% are affected. With IVDD, the disks (or shock absorbers) between the spine’s vertebrae bulge (or burst completely). In turn, they press on the nerves which causes immense pain. It can even result in nerve damage, incontinence, and paralyze your dog.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): PRA affects the Doxiepoo’s retina and can cause blindness.
- Mast Cell Tumors: Many dogs can develop mast cell tumors. Mast cell tumors are most commonly found on a dog’s head or neck area and will take a wide range of forms. They can be small and harmless or large and life-threatening. It’s best to consult a veterinarian if you notice any new bumps on your pet.
- Liver Shunts: Some signs of Liver Shunts include stunted growth, circling, starring at nothing, and seizures. Dachshunds are more prone to Liver Shunts than other dog breeds.
- Obesity: With a healthy diet and exercise, obesity in your Doxiepoo is completely avoidable.
- Spinal Problems: Because Doxiepoos have long backs, they tend to suffer from spinal problems. It is important that you don’t let your Doxiepoo jump on and off furniture (use a dog ramp for them instead).
- Ear Infections: Poodles are prone to Malassezia (yeast) overgrowth in their ears leading to ear infections. This is because of the shape of the Poodle’s ear canal, the fact that they have “flap ears”, and because curly hair grow inside the ear canal trapping moisture and promoting bacterial growth. Doxiepoos are also prone to ear infections.
Take note: Some of these dog health problems can look like other problems so it’s important to consult a vet about the matter before you try treating it yourself.
You should also look to find a responsible dog breeder who will test the parents against different health concerns, lowering the chance of your Doxiepoo getting the above conditions. A reputable breeder will only breed their dogs if both parents have been medically tested and will offer a whole range of health guarantees for the puppies and its parents.
There are many Poodle mix dogs. Click here to learn about the different kinds.
Lifespan of a Doxiepoo
With the right care, most Doxiepoo’s have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
Training
It’s up for debate on whether or the Doxiepoo is easy to train. On one hand, they are incredibly intelligent, picking up new tricks and commands. On the other hand, Doxiepoos can a stubborn streak, so you need to have patience and remain consistent when training your Doxiepoo!
And with any dog, it’s necessary to begin training the day you get them. You can socialize your Doxiedoodle through puppy training classes (once your Doxiepoo has their puppy vaccines) where they will get to meet other dogs and people, lessening the chance of it becoming overly attached to one person.
Grooming needs of the Doxiepoo
Because Doxiepoos are part Mini / Toy Poodle, they will inherit the coat of the Poodle and won’t shed much (if any).
But there’s a catch…
Doxiepoos need require grooming, else they will get painful mats.
To groom your Doxiepoo you’ll need to:
- Schedule frequent and regular trips to the groomers
- Brush and comb their coats weekly to avoid tangles, knots, and mats in between grooming visits.
Grooming your Doodle dog at home is easy when you have the right tools like a brush and a comb.
Is a Dachshund and Poodle mix right for you?
Doxiedoodle crossbreeds (Dachshund and Toy Poodle mix) have an excellent temperament for any type of family, with or without children, as long as someone is home frequently as they don’t like to be left alone. Some note that because the Doxiepoo can be stubborn, they may also not be easy to train. Regardless, they require consistent training as puppies and may attach themselves to one person in the family.
The Doxiepoo dog has a high-energy level that wants to accompany you on all of life’s adventures! Just make sure your Doxiepoo isn’t doing lots of jumping, which can contribute to health issues like IVDD.
If you think the Doxiepoo is the right dog for you, make sure you check out Doodle rescues to adopt or get your puppy from a reputable breeder.
Would you like a Dachshund Poodle mix? Let us know in the comments below!
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Veterinary Disclaimer: travellingwithadog.com is not a substitute for veterinary advice and does not intend to provide any type of veterinary advice for your animals. Please consult your vet for any questions you have regarding your pets health.
About the Author:
Dana owns a Sheepadoodle and a rescue merle Labradoodle. Her first dog growing up was a white Toy Poodle and she’s loved dogs ever since. She has years of experience fostering dogs and has helped find homes for a variety of different breeds, both large and small! After seeing so many dogs end up unwanted and in shelters, she began blogging about different dog breeds (specifically Doodle dogs, since that’s what she knows best) to help people make informed choices when adding a new member to their family.
When Dana’s not brushing her Doodles’ hair (it takes a lot of time for two!) you can find her playing nose work games and fetch with her two amazing pups.
Learn more about her here.