Dachshund Poodle Mix: The Best Doxiepoo Guide

To be a responsible owner, you need to start well—research, research, and research some more until you’re sure that the dog you’re bringing home is the best option possible for your lifestyle and your family. If you neglect this, everything might still turn out fine—dogs are loveable enough for us to put up with them at their worst, and they are loving enough to put up with us even when they’re unhappy. Still, you might want to ensure you and your new pooch have the best chance of happiness with the least potential problems. To do that, you need to learn as much about dog breeds as possible. To give you a hand, here is the basic info on Doxiepoos—their personality, grooming and feeding requirements, common health issues, and everything else you need to know.

History of the Dachshund Poodle Mix

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The Dachshund Poodle mix is a relatively new one—it has existed for about 20 years and was created in the USA. Not much is known about it yet, so you need to be familiar with both of the parent breeds to understand what to expect from this unpredictable mix. They are fantastic pets and have found their way to our list of best dog breeds to adopt.

There are so many Dachshund memes online, but besides their funny appearance, what is so special about the sausage dog? Dachshunds come from Germany, where they were bred to hunt burrowing animals. Their strong sense of smell, elongated bodies, and short legs were the traits that made their job much more manageable. Their loud bark ensured the hunters knew their underground location, and their bravery made it possible for them to face fierce adversaries like badgers. They are an incredible breed, so if you want to know more, check out these facts you should know about Dachshunds. They are so adorable that the sheer number of Dachshund-inspired gifts and many famous owners (have you seen Picasso’s Doxie?) are good indicators of their popularity.

A Poodle is another imposing breed. Its extreme intelligence is second only to Border Collie, and its appearance is one of the most recognizable among the dog breeds. Like the Doxie, it originates from Germany, but its popularity blossomed in France—there is evidence that the Sun King kept them as pets, and Toy Poodles were a great favorite of Louis XVI. If you want to know what it is about them that French royalty found so irresistible, check out the advantages and disadvantages of owning a Toy Poodle. To this day, they have retained their spot as some of the most popular dogs in general. People still adore them as much as Louis XVI did, and here are the 50 Poodle memes as proof.

Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Dachshund Poodle Mix

Choosing the best shampoo and conditioner for a Dachshund Poodle mix, often known as a Doodle or Doxiepoo, involves considering their unique coat characteristics. Opt for a gentle, hypoallergenic shampoo that caters to sensitive skin, as both Dachshunds and Poodles can have skin sensitivities.

Furminator deShedding Shampoo for Dogs and Cats, 16 Ounces

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9.7

• Made in the USA.
• Designed to reduce excess shedding.
• Contains moisturizing omega fatty acids.
• Features a deodorizer that reduces wet dog smell.
• Free of parabens and chemical dyes.

Dog Shampoo with Oatmeal & Aloe Vera - Grooming Pet Wash for Itchy & Sensitive Skin + Dandruff & Coa

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9.5

• Zesty Paws Dog Shampoo is a bath wash with Oatmeal, Aloe Vera, and Vitamin E that support your pup's skin and coat health.
• This shampoo includes oatmeal to keep skin moisturized, plus the antioxidant Vitamin E to help support your pet's healthy skin.
• The Aloe Vera in this formula may help support soft hair and coat for your canine companion.
• Zesty Paws Itch Soother Dog Shampoo features Vanilla Bean Extract to give your smelly pup a clean and refreshing scent.
• This soothing and cleaning bath wash is a great choice for pet parents and groomers to clean dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes, and regardless or short, long, straight or course hair texture.

Dog Conditioner with Oatmeal, Aloe Vera & Shea Butter - Natural Grooming Pet Wash for Skin & Coat -

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9.1

• Zesty Paws Dog Conditioner is a bath wash with Oatmeal, Shea Butter, and Aloe Vera, to help condition and detangle dog fur, while also supporting their skin health.
• This conditioner includes oatmeal to help moisturize skin and Shea Butter to help support healthy skin for dogs.
• The Aloe Vera in this formula may help support soft hair and coat for your canine companion.
• Zesty Paws Itch Soother Dog Conditioner features Vanilla Bean Extract to help you wash your smelly pup with a clean and refreshing scent.
• This soothing and cleaning bath conditioner is a great choice for pet parents and groomers to clean dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes, and regardless or short, long, straight or course hair texture.

Poodles are often crossbred with other dogs, so check out these fantastic Poodle hybrids, too.

Three Reasons Not to Adopt a Doxiepoo

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Even if the Doodle you’ve set your sights on combines the best of both worlds, some things in your lifestyle and the Doxiepoo’s temperament might not match. Here are three reasons not to get a Dachshund Poodle mix:

1. Your Guinea Pig will live in constant fear.
2. Your neighbors will hate you.
3. Your Daffodils will feel the consequences of your choices.

Your Guinea Pig Will Live in Constant Fear

Dachshunds were bred to hunt small and not-so-small animals, and Poodles to retrieve prey from the water. Doxiepoos inherit the prey drive from both sides of the family, so all small animals you keep as pets will seem like potential prey to them. Early socialization can reduce this tendency to some degree, but you can never altogether remove a part of their nature. If you like keeping small animals and birds as pets, or you have children who love them, you should consider finding a dog with a lesser prey drive to avoid broken hearts.

Your Neighbors Will Hate You

Your Doodle will likely bark every time you leave them alone. A lot. Loudly. Their Dachshund part is loyal and easily bored, and their Poodle part is clingy and suffers from separation anxiety. The Dachshund part loves to bark, and the Poodle part is a bit melodramatic like drama Queen kind of dramatic. You go to the store and leave them alone for half an hour, and it’s the end of the world. They just know that they will never see you again, and how could you do this to them after all you’ve been through? This combo makes a dog that is extremely unhappy when left to their own devices, and they’ll let everybody in on their heartbreak. And because you’re not home, it’s safe to say that your neighbors will get an earful. If you live alone and have to be away from home a lot, a Doxiepoo might not be a great choice.

Your Daffodils Will Feel the Consequences of Your Choices

The Dachshund heritage of the breed makes your new pooch likely to enjoy digging in your garden. Poodles can be enthusiastic diggers as well (although not to the same degree as Doxies), so your garden will never be safe. You may try to teach them not to devastate your flower beds, but remember that that’s what Dachshunds were bred to do—dig through the tunnels to catch burrowing animals—so a better strategy would be to give them their own digging grounds if you can simply. This is no guarantee that your Baby’s Breath will survive, though. All you need is a stray butterfly flying into the “forbidden” part of the garden, and all hell breaks loose.

Three Reasons to Adopt a Doxiepoo

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Don’t be frightened; Doxiepoos are not all that terrifying! They are incredibly funny, loyal, and intelligent, so if you don’t have small animals that could be eaten or gardens that could be wrecked, and there are people other than you to keep your Doodle company, this dog could be an excellent match for you! Here are three reasons to introduce a Doxiepoo into your family.

1. They are exceptionally intelligent.
2. They get you.
3. They are great with people.

They Are Exceptionally Intelligent

Poodles are widely accepted as the second most intelligent dog, preceded only by the Border Collie. The intelligence from the Poodle side of the family allows Doxiepoos to be trained relatively easily. The Dachshund genes, however, will provide your Doodle with a strong, stubborn streak. Both breeds love to please, though, so you probably won’t have many problems training this little fellow even if you’re a first-timer.

They Get You

Poodles tend to be in tune with their owner’s emotional state. If you’re happy, the Poodle is happy. If you’re having a bad day, so is the Poodle. This trait usually sticks with Doxiepoos as well. Dachshunds have a way to communicate as well—their tendency to bark is not an accident. They needed to be able to communicate their underground location to their human hunting partners. Combining these two characteristics gives you a pooch that senses your emotions, empathizes with you, and lets you know you’re not alone. This makes them genuinely remarkable companion dogs.

They Are Great with People

Both parent breeds love the company of people. They will adore you and your entire family and be hopelessly devoted to you. However, dachshunds are suspicious of strangers, and Poodles can be shy around them. You can rest assured that this won’t cause any trouble whatsoever. Doxiepoos will be reserved around people they don’t know, but once they realize you trust these strangers, they will warm up to them in no time. Even if they don’t, they won’t become aggressive, so you won’t have any problems bringing friends over.

Looks and Brains of a Doodle

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We’ve already compared the Doodle to Russian roulette, but any gamble can be used to illustrate the nature of this combo. The size stays pretty consistent. If you use a Miniature Dachshund and a Teacup Poodle, you’ll get a small Doodle. If you use a standard Doxie and a Toy Poodle, the mix will be small to medium. That’s about it when it comes to consistencies regarding this mixed breed.

Everything else is a matter of chance. You can get the sausage body of a Dachshund and the coat of a Poodle, or vice versa. The shape and the coat could resemble one breed and the face of the other. You can even get a tall Dachshund! Every mixed breed carries an element of surprise, but this mix is entirely unpredictable. Even the puppies in the same litter can differ significantly.

When it comes to their temper, things are a bit more predictable. Their little heart has a lot of room, and they’ll bond with the entire family. They are loyal and affectionate. Due to their barking tendencies, they make excellent watchdogs, but they hate to be left alone. Their gifted little minds are easy to train, but they occasionally get quite stubborn. Their eagerness to please is likely to win over that stubbornness, though, which makes them great dogs for first-time owners. A Doxiepoo is an easy-going, friendly cross-breed, and they can make superb watchdogs, companion dogs, and family pets.

How Easily Can You Train a Poodle Dachshund Mix Puppy?

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In general, training should not pose an issue with this cross-breed, even though training a Dachshund is a task. Sure, Poodles can be stubborn from time to time, and Dachshunds are famous for their resistance to potty training, but both breeds are intelligent and love to please their humans. Poodles are the second smartest dogs in general, so training should be a piece of cake. Just in case, make sure you never make the common dog training mistakes.

Both breeds do best with positive reinforcement. Poodles simply explode with happiness whenever you pay attention to them, and Dachshunds are food-motivated. Don’t use punishment as a training method—it’ll provoke the stubbornness discussed above. Dachshunds are easily distracted, so try not to get frustrated when it seems like your little buddy is paying more attention to a crack in the wall than to you. If you start training your puppy early on, you’ll be able to train even the strong-willed Doxie in your Doodle!

How Much Exercise Does a Dachshund Poodle Mix Dog Need?

Doodles need daily exercise, but it doesn’t have to be of high intensity. If you don’t have a yard, you can take two 20-minute walks and have a 20-minute playing session in a park. If you do have a yard, it is enough to have two half-hour playing sessions in a day. Never leave your Doxiepoo alone in the yard, though, and don’t force them to sleep outside alone. They are not meant for solitude and will be extremely unhappy in those circumstances. Still, as long as you’re with them, they’ll play happily around the yard, and you won’t have to take them out to the street unless you want to.

How to Groom a Doxiepoo?

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If your Doxiepoo has inherited the Poodle coat, you have a hypoallergenic dog, which is great. In that case, you’ll only need to master the basic dog grooming tips, and you’re golden!

If the coat is Dachshund-like, it’s not hypoallergenic but requires less grooming. For anything other than a smooth and short, typical-for-a-Doxie kind of coat, you’ll need to brush daily to deal with the knots and mats. Make sure you clip your pooch’s nails regularly—once every week or two—so you never hear the dreadful you’ re-an-responsible-owner mantra of nails clicking on the floor. Brush your Doodle’s teeth at least twice a week, and check out our top 10 best dog dental chews to help your dog keep their gums nice and healthy.

What Are the Food Requirements of a Doodle?

When it comes to food requirements, a Doxiepoo is nowhere near the top 10 world’s most expensive dog breeds to own. In general, your Doodle should eat about one cup of dry kibble per day. Make sure you don’t overfeed them because they tend to gain weight quickly. Splitting the daily portion into two meals can help avoid gas, which can protect your dog from bloating.

Always avoid low-quality food because it can cause a plethora of health issues for your pooch. Steer clear of these worst dry dog food and worst dog treat brands. Food rich in protein is an excellent way to go, and you can serve them any meat that the family is having that day, although you might want to stick with chicken for young puppies. Dry kibble is just fine, but make sure it’s of high quality. Our favorites are:

• Wellness Core® Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
• Wells Earthborn Holistic Natural Dog Food
• NUTRO ULTRA Adult Dry Dog Food

If you need more choice, here is our list of the best dry dog food for small dogs. If your dog prefers wet food, that’s fine as well—check out our list of the best canned dog food. You should adapt the food to the dog’s age as well. If your dog is already past their prime, you might want to check out these best senior dry dog food brands.

Are There Any Health Conditions that Doxiepoos Are Susceptible to?

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In general, mixed breeds tend to be healthier than pure breeds. You shouldn’t put too much faith into that, though, because your Doodle can inherit all the health issues from both sides of the family tree. The only way to keep your dog healthy is to check the health of both parents—and even that is not a guarantee.

The most common health issues that can trouble your Doxiepoo are these:

1. Intervertebral Disc Disease. This is a condition that can be extremely painful for your little fellow and even cause paralysis. It happens when the discs separating the bones of the spine deteriorate and press on the spinal nerves, and you can recognize it if your buddy drags their rear legs, holds their head lowered, shows visible signs of weakness or pain, has muscle spasms, and so on.
2. Legg-Calve Perthes Disease. This health issue affects the dog’s hips. The top of the leg bone starts deteriorating, and the entire hip gets inflamed and painful. If you notice obvious signs of discomfort and wasting away of the hind leg muscles, schedule a visit to your vet ASAP. In the meantime, follow our tips on keeping your dog’s joints healthy.
3. Canine Cushing’s Disease. This disease commonly affects middle-aged and elderly dogs. It happens because of the overproduction of cortisol, the hormone of stress. If your dog seems hungrier and thirstier than usual, urinates at night, and loses hair, visit your vet as soon as you become aware of the symptoms.
4. Addison’s Disease. Affecting your dog’s Adrenal gland, this condition causes a lack of hormones aldosterone and cortisol. There are two types: primary, in which the dog’s immune system attacks the gland, and secondary, in which the condition is a result of a tumor or steroid treatment that your dog went through. If your dog shows signs of loss of appetite, lethargy, or depression or starts vomiting or having diarrhea, visit your vet immediately.
5. Bloat. Despite being fairly common in large breeds, bloat affects small dogs as well. The dog’s stomach fills with gas that twists on itself, stopping the blood flow and causing bloated stomach, panic, unproductive vomiting, difficulty breathing, fast heart rate, and eventually collapsing. If you notice any of the symptoms, pay a visit to your vet as soon as possible.

Apart from these health concerns, most Doxie mixes are prone to back issues and skin problems characteristic of the breed. If your Doodle resembles their German parent, you’ll need to give them the care worthy of a Dachshund, especially if they suffer from seizures.

Are Doxiepoos Good Family Dogs?

Doxiepoos are great family pets. They bond easily with everybody in the family. They don’t like to be left alone, which means that they do best in households with multiple members where it’s likely that somebody will always be home. They generally have a good relationship with children, but you should never let a little child play with any dog unsupervised. Children tend to overstep a dog’s boundaries, especially if the dog in question is on the smaller side. This can lead to scars or injuries, so you should avoid it at all costs.

Check Out These Other Cute Dachshund Mixes

If you’re not quite sure that a Doxiepoo is the way to go, but want to get a Doxie mix, check out these bad boys!

Doxiepoo FAQ

1. What is a Doxiepoo?

A Doxiepoo, also known as a Dachshund Poodle Mix, is a hybrid dog breed resulting from the crossbreeding of a Dachshund and a Poodle. This mix combines traits from both parent breeds, creating a unique and often affectionate companion with various coat types and sizes.

2. How big do Doxiepoos get?

The size of Doxiepoos can vary depending on the specific breeds in their lineage and whether they are bred from a standard, miniature, or toy Poodle. Generally, Doxiepoos are small to medium-sized dogs, and their weight can range from around 5 to 30 pounds, with height varying accordingly.

3. How long do Doxiepoos live?

The lifespan of Doxiepoo can vary, but they typically live between 10 to 15 years with proper care. Factors such as genetics, overall health, diet, exercise, and living conditions can influence their longevity. Regular veterinary check-ups and a healthy lifestyle contribute to a longer and happier life for Doxiepoos.

Remember that individual dogs may have unique health considerations, and responsible breeding practices play a role in the overall well-being of the breed.

4. What are the common coat types of Doxiepoos?

Doxiepoos can have a variety of coat types, depending on the characteristics inherited from their Dachshund and Poodle parent breeds. Common coat types include straight, wavy, or curly. Additionally, their coat colors can vary widely, incorporating a mix of shades and patterns.

5. Are Doxiepoos suitable for families with children?

Doxiepoos are known for their friendly and affectionate nature, making them generally good companions for families with children. However, individual temperament can vary, so early socialization and positive reinforcement training are essential to ensure a harmonious relationship between the dog and the children. Always supervise interactions and teach children how to treat the dog with kindness and respect.

References

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dachshund
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poodle
3. Sauvé, Christopher P., et al. “Oronasal and Oroantral Fistulas Secondary to Periodontal Disease: A Retrospective Study Comparing the Prevalence Within Dachshunds and a Control Group.” Journal of Veterinary Dentistry, vol. 36, no. 4, 2019, pp. 236–244., doi:10.1177/0898756420909657.
4. Beauchesne, Ryan. Crusoe, the Celebrity Dachshund: Adventures of the Wiener Dog Extraordinaire. St. Martins Griffin, 2015.
5. Kalstone, Shirlee, et al. Poodle Clipping and Grooming: The International Reference. IDG Books Worldwide, 2001.