Dachshund Boston Terrier Mix: The Adorable Bo-Dach

Bo-Dach: The Dachshund Boston Terrier Mix

Mixing these two breeds may seem odd at first, but after seeing a Boston Terrier Dachshund puppy, you will wonder how you could have ever doubted they make a perfect pup combination! Their strikingly different appearance might be one of the reasons this combo sounds strange—but the truth is that the Doxie and Boston Terrier’s contrasts work like a charm, resulting in a goofy, loveable, and occasionally stubborn dog.

If you’re considering adopting a Bo-Dach—as this lovely cross is known among breeders—here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons you should have in mind before getting one. In this short guide, we will focus on their temperament and physical appearance, followed by the dietary, grooming, and exercise needs, as well as the health issues this cross is prone to.

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Cuteness Overload: Dachshund Boston Terrier’s Appearance and Temperament

The Boston Terrier Doxie mix seems to get the best of both of its parent breeds. From their stature to their behavior, the Bo-Dach seems like a perfect balance between the famed Doxie and one of the rare all-American dog breeds that is Boston Terrier. One of the Dachshund interesting facts is that they were a great inspiration of Picasso.

Pups resulting from this mix are small to medium in stature, and compact and muscled like their Boston Terrier parent. Their height of up to 12 inches and weight that doesn’t exceed 20 pounds, making them perfectly portable. It’s no wonder both of the Bo-Dach’s parents rank high on our list of top 10 best dog breeds for apartments!

Droopy ears are perched atop their square-shaped heads with short muzzles. Legs on these pooches tend to be significantly longer than the Dachshund’s, giving them a more athletic look. Their paddle-like feet are bigger than the Boston Terrier’s and resemble the Weenie’s paws.

Most often, the mix keeps one of the most noticeable Boston Terrier’s features: a pair of prominent eyes set widely apart.

Their coat is tight with short hair unless one of the parents in the mix is a long-haired Doxie. In such a scenario, the coat may vary accordingly. The Doxie Terrier may be bi- or tri-colored and is known to sport any combination of chocolate, black, or white. When it comes to the pattern, apart from the adorable Boston Terrier “tuxedo,” the Bo-Dach may be spotted, merle, brindle, or speckled.

Bo-Dach’s posture is poised and calm, thanks to the strong presence of American Gentleman’s genes, although, at times, they can get nervous or mischievous if bored. The cross gets its curiosity from both parent breeds and has a gentle and kind nature. They are goofy and love to make their people laugh.

If properly socialized and trained, they will enjoy being around other dogs, people, children, and even other non-canine pets. If not, they can show their territorial nature and be highly protective of their owners, ditching their otherwise even temper for more aggressive behavior.

Image source: harperthebodach

Three Pros When Adopting a Boston Weenie Mix

Here are the three reasons this adorable mixed breed will make a good pet for you and/or your family. Apart from having attractive looks, they are:

1. Perfect urban companions
2. Comedians who love to make their owners laugh
3. Good fit for a family environment

Perfect Urban Companions

If there ever was a dog that can be described as an “urban” pet, it’s the Boston Doxie. After all, both his ma and pa have found their way into our list of best city dog breeds! The compact size allows them to adapt exceptionally well to small living spaces, while their average activity requirements make this pooch happy to just snoop around the local park. Treat your good boy or girl with an occasional stroll in the woods, and your dog will surely be satisfied and healthy.

Comedians Who Love to Make Their Owners Laugh

These goofy fellas will do anything to make their owners laugh! They are highly people-oriented and will enjoy doing funny stuff just for your amusement. You will surely notice this when they spin in circles when happy or excited, or when they make a birdbath and sit in it on a hot summer day. Or maybe it’s their characteristically funny facial expression and eyes that seem to look in the opposite directions? Dachshunds too rank high on the funny scale—just look at these hilarious memes and you’ll see what we are talking about.

Good Fit for a Family Environment

With proper and timely socialization and training, this mixed breed will make an excellent choice for families with children. Socialization will reduce the risks of your pooch getting separation anxiety. Once introduced to small children, they will put their alertness to good use and do their best to keep them safe (or will simply take a nap with them!). With older children, they will embark on all sorts of adventures in the local woods, sniffing around and exploring as they satisfy their inherent curiosity. The Bo-Dach won’t mind living in a home with a senior either. “People are people” seems to be their motto, so age won’t make any difference at all.

Three Cons of Adopting a Dachshund Boston

Living in a city and having children are by no means all things to consider when getting a Bo-Dach. They also have a number of features that, if not handled correctly, may be harmful to them and their health.

1. They may be hard to housebreak
2. They are sensitive to the owner’s emotional state
3. They are prone to obesity

They May Be Hard to Housebreak

Although they are intelligent, some Dachshund Boston Terrier pups appear to be slow learners when it comes to housetraining. This type of behavior can be attributed to either Doxie’s stubbornness or Boston Terriers’ need for cheeky retribution. Experienced dog owners will have no problem controlling these episodes, but first-time owners should pay special attention to this. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of five most common mistakes you should avoid when training your furry friend.

They Are Sensitive to the Owner’s Emotional State

Any mood exhibited by the owner can greatly influence Boston Weenies’ behavior. These pooches are heavily dependent on their owners for guidance and will feel the same emotions as their human friends. Forceful tone or shaming the dog into obedience is also likely to cause a cycle of stubbornness or sulkiness, and will probably be counterproductive. Their gentle nature means that you will have to treat them kindly if you want the same response from them.

They Are Prone to Obesity

Caring for a Bo-Dach means that you will have to be extra careful when meeting their dietary needs. Make sure you don’t exceed the amount of daily food intake prescribed by the vet and go easy on snacks and treats. The Boston Doxie is a moderately active dog, yet this doesn’t mean that they are not lively or energetic. They do need a certain amount of workout. The best way to keep them lean and healthy is to feed and exercise them regularly. Consult these best canned dog food and best dry dog food for small dogs lists to learn more about what to look for in dog food.

Image source: harperthebodach

Main Health Issues of a Boston Doxie

There is a common belief that crossbred dogs are healthier than purebred ones. The truth is that thus far, there hasn’t been a single study to confirm this claim. Until this is proven true or false, what you as a dog owner can do is make sure you provide your dog with enough exercise, feed it only high-quality, and make regular vet appointments to check the dog’s health status.

We’ve already mentioned obesity as one of the main health concerns of this cross.

Here are several potential health concerns you should keep an eye out for:

1. Eye issues
2. Patellar luxation
3. Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)

Bo-Dachs may suffer from a number of eye conditions because of their protruding eyes. These can be mild, such as pink eye, or more serious, like cataracts, corneal ulcers, and glaucoma. Flat faces also make their eyes even more exposed, meaning they are more at risk of physical injuries.

Patellar luxation causes your dog’s knee to pop out of its normal anatomic position. As small dog breeds, both the Doxie and the Boston Terrier are prone to this condition. If you notice that your dog is lifting and stretching their hind legs for a couple of minutes, be sure it’s time to visit the vet. A surgical procedure is a preferred way to treat knee dislocation, given that other treatments have proven to be ineffective. To keep your dog’s joints healthy, take care of their nutrition. Consider adding some supplements to their dies, but consult with your vet first.

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is one of the most common health concerns affecting Dachshunds’ lifespan. Mixing them with Boston Terriers does not remove the risk entirely, but it does reduce it. This back problem occurs when the discs between spinal bones (vertebrae), which otherwise protect the spinal cord, become either displaced or ruptured, damaging the spinal cord. If left unchecked, it can cause permanent paralysis. The Dachshund owners need to take good care of their pooches, but since Mauxies can inherit IVDD from their parents, check them regularly with the vet.

Other health issues include respiratory problems, Cushing’s syndrome, skin problems, diabetes, seizures, and allergies.

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Taking Care of the Coat: the Boston Terrier Dachshund Grooming Needs

If you’re not a fan of brushing or grooming, the Boston Doxie may be the right choice for you. Unless they inherit longer hair from their Weenie parent, Bo-Dach’s coat will be smooth, tight, short-haired pooch that will require practically zero effort to keep their coat looking dazzling and silky.

Brushing them once a week will suffice; not even the high-shedding season will give you a headache. Bathe the dog only when necessary to maintain the natural balance of oils produced by their skin. And use only all-natural dog shampoos.

Regularly check for dirt in their ears—this applies especially to Weenie Boston Terriers with floppy ears—to prevent infections. Their teeth should be brushed at least once, ideally twice a week. To keep them gnashers strong, treat your Bo-dach with one of these top 10 best dog dental chews. When it comes to nail clipping, make sure they don’t turn into claws; otherwise, walking on hard surfaces will do the trick.

Keeping Your Dachshund Boston Terrier Lean: Bo-Dach’s Dietary Needs

Keeping your Dachshund mixed with Boston Terrier lean is most certainly the most basic prerequisite in prolonging his or her lifespan and overall health. Beware Boston Terrier Dachshund’s insistence on consuming more food than they need—they can easily become overweight, which can trigger a number of severe conditions.

Their daily food ration should range between three-quarters of a cup and a cup and a half of kibble, ideally split into two servings. The simplest way is to follow the instructions on the packaging. Also, make sure to check if the food is packed with BHA preservative or any other harmful ingredient like the brands included in our worst dry dog food list.

Being prone to obesity doesn’t mean that they should never get any snacks; it means that you should pick the right ones. To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled this handy guide to healthy vs. natural dog snacks and made a list of the worst dog treat brands you should stay as far away from as you can.

If your dog is still a little munchkin, look for their food among the best puppy food brands. Grandpa and grandma doggos also deserve special treatment, right? So, give them the best senior dry dog food on the market. Based on their size choose between best dry dog food for small dogs or best large breed dry dog food.

Here are some of the more popular brands your pup will enjoy:

• CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Petite Fricassee Style Dinner. This premium turkey and green beans dog food is made especially for picky pooches and, apart from offering all the necessary nutrients, it comes in a handy serving size.
• Hill’s Science Diet Wet Dog Food. This canned food comes in three varieties: turkey and rice stew, salmon and vegetables, and chicken and vegetables. It contains precious omega-six fatty acids and vitamin E for optimal digestive and skin health.
• Taste of The Wild Grain Free High Protein Dry Dog Food Appalachian Valley Small Breed. This high-quality kibble is made from real venison and has a balanced amino acid profile and is rich in protein for lean and strong muscles.

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Training And Exercise: Turning Your Boston Weenie into a Polite and Athletic Dog

The cross between a Dachshund and Boston Terrier is an intelligent canine, which means that they will understand instructions easily. Their stubbornness—if inherited from the Dachshund—may arise as an issue in training and cause trouble along the way.

Arm yourself with patience and keep the sessions short and engaging. They may not be the most undemanding breed to housetrain, but they are far from being the toughest. There should be a ton of positive reinforcement. Each time your Bo-Dach does well, give them lots of verbal praise, treats, gifts, whatever you can think of. Every time they do badly, sigh, roll your eyes, and start over. Punishing them won’t do anything but add to your frustration and scare the pooch.

They are lively and energetic dogs, but when it comes to exercise, 30 to 60 minutes of activity a day will be more than enough. Make sure to top it off with another 15 minutes of high-intensity activity or free play; this will keep your dog’s brain working and strengthen the bond between the two of you.

Training the youngsters can be pretty challenging, so skim through our articles on Dachshund potty training and the best ways to train your puppy, you will find lots of useful info there.

Have You Seen These Other Adorable Dachshund Combos?

Still uncertain whether you should take in a Bo-Dach, but you are positive that you want to adopt a Dachshund in one form or the other? Take a look at these other lovely Dachshund mixes, and maybe you’ll find a perfect match.

In our articles Boston Terrier mixes and Boston Terrier Pug mix, you can find some adorable cuties, too!

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Terrier
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachshund
3. Gelatt, Kirk N., and Edward O. Mackay. “Prevalence of Primary Breed-Related Cataracts in the Dog in North America.” Veterinary Ophthalmology, vol. 8, no. 2, 2005, pp. 101–111., doi:10.1111/j.1463-5224.2005.00352.x.
4. Etiology of Patellar Luxation in Small Breed Dogs. SLU/Dept. of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, 2017.