German Shepherd Dachshund Mix: Complete Guide

If you think you’ve never seen anything cuter than a German Shepherd or a Dachshund, get prepared for this mix the German Shepherd Dachshund dog.

Cute as adults and even cuter when they are puppies, this hybrid mix dog breed draws traits from two of the world’s most popular dog breeds to create an irresistible mix.

Of course, it is more difficult to know exactly what to expect with a hybrid dog breed. This is because there is no surefire way to predict which traits from each parent dog a given puppy will inherit although there are some known defenses we will discuss. So now, let’s dive in and start acquiring about the tough, feisty, and most of all, fun German Shepherd Dachshund mix dog.

Where Does the German Shepherd Dachshund Mix Come From?

Unfortunately, as this is a relatively recent and obscure crossbreed, there isn’t much of a background on them just yet. However, by looking at the histories of the parent breeds, we can still gather a lot of information about this cross.

What is Hybrid Dog Breeds?

If you are not sure what a hybrid dog breed even is, you are not alone. Many people get hybrid dogs and mixed breed dogs confused. This is normal and natural. A mixed-breed dog, or mutt, may have two, three, or many dog breeds influencing that dog’s presentation, health, behavior, and temperament.

A purebred dog breed, on the other hand, comes from a long and carefully managed breeding plans that have standardized the dog’s DNA to specific appearance and temperament traits. A hybrid dog breed falls somewhere in between.

Why breed hybrid dogs, you might ask? Because there can be genetic and health advantages to adding more diversity to one or both purebred parent dogs’ gene pools.

This is the case with all hybrid dog breeding programs today, and the German Shepherd Dachshund mix is the possessor of this type of breeding program.

History of the German Shepherd

The German Shepherd traces its ancestry back to many varieties of herding dog that existed in Germany during the 1800s. By breeding these variations together, the German Shepherd that we know and love was created for the first time.

While the German Shepherd was basically bred to be a herding breed, its high intellect and trainability have allowed it to take on many different roles throughout the years.

It wasn’t until the 1900s that the breed entirely took off within America, which was due in part to the breed being used in popular movies. Nowadays, the breed is a popular choice for a police or security dog due to their imposing looks and smarts.

History of the Dachshund

The iconic Dachshund also hails from Germany, first being described several hundred years ago. Developed initially for badger hunting, the Dachshund’s long back and short legs allowed it easy access to badger dens, forcing the inhabitants out into the open.

Dachshunds are intimidating ground hunters, using their small, sturdy front legs to dig and tunnel into the earth after badgers and equally powerful jaws and hind legs to drag their prey back out again.

But badgers weren’t the Dachshund’s only prey. Packs of hunting Dachshunds were often used to bring down wild boar. The original Dachshund dog was standard in size and had a unique wiry coat built to protect the dog while running through thorns, briars, and dense undergrowth.

Interesting Facts About German Shepherd Dachshund Mix

The best way to learn more about any trait for a hybrid dog breed is to study the predominant characteristics of each purebred parent dog. This is the most accurate predictor for which traits your German Shepherd Dachshund mix puppy might inherit.

The German Shepherd is often described as affectionate, loyal, and loving with “their” people but aloof and naturally wary of strangers, whether people or pets. This befits the GSD’s longstanding role as a guardian, guard, and service dog.

The Dachshund is known to have a feisty and fierce temperament with the bravery to boot. But with “their” people, Dachshunds can be devoted to the point of clinginess, even through their famous stubbornness.

Dachshunds are small in size but significant in the bark and make excellent guard dogs. Overall, standard Dachshunds tend to be calmer in temperament than their miniature and toy peers.

From this overview, we can learn that your German Shepherd Dachshund mix dog is likely to make an excellent guard and watchdog who will bark readily to warn you of any new developments. The German Shepherd Dachshund will be reliably wary of strangers, whether people or animals, but devoted and loving towards you.

German Shepherd Dachshund Mix Appearance

Dogs of the German Shepherd Dachshund mix can take on features of either parent breed. Therefore, we can’t 100% guarantee what a dog of this cross will look like or act. However, by seeming at the parent breeds, we can give you information as to what’s possible so that nothing catches you by surprise.

German Shepherd Dachshund Mix: Size, Height and Weight

If there is one area where the German Shepherd and the Dachshund couldn’t be more different, it is probably in size, height, and weight. To that end, it can almost boggle the mind that any breeder thought to breed these two dogs together in the first place.

For this reason, if you have particular size requirements for your next companion canine. The best way to get a better sense of your puppy’s adult size is to work with an F1b or later F2, F3 et al. hybrid dog breeder.

The German Shepherd dog fits into the broad dog section. Adult German Shepherd dogs can easily weigh 50 to 90 pounds and stand 22 to 26 inches high paw pad to shoulder. Adult male GSDs typically stand taller and weigh more than adult female GSDs.

Because the Dachshund is bred in three various sizes today, it is essential to learn everything you can about the parents of your hybrid GSD Dachshund puppy.

Dachshunds are produced in three sizes: standard, miniature, and toy the American Kennel Club recognize only standard and miniature. Their weight can range from less than eight pounds to 30+ pounds. Dachshunds have a type of genetic dwarfism.

It is this that causes their extremely short legs. Typically an adult Dachshund will stand less than nine inches tall paw to shoulder. So as you can see, correctly guessing the adult size of your German Shepherd Dachshund mixed dog can feel like playing the lottery.

In most cases, however, you will see a breeder using the standard Dachshund as a breeding dog. This means your GSD Dachshund puppy will most likely weigh between 30 and 70 pounds and stand less than 22 inches tall.

German Shepherd Dachshund Mix Coat and Color

For the coat of the German Shepherd Dachshund mix, there are many different changes in its length and texture. Possibilities include a Medium-length double coat, with a dense outer coat that is straight to slightly wavy.

• Short and smooth coat
• Short, thick, and coarse outer coat with a softer undercoat
• Medium-length coat with longer hair on the chest, the underside of the body, behind the legs, and ears

The most common coat colors and patterns that may potentially appear within this cross are.

• Black
• Gray
• Sable
• Liver
• Blue
• Red
• Cream
• Chocolate
• Wild Boar
• Fawn
• Black and Tan
• Red and Black
• Black and Silver
• Merle
• Brindle
• Piebald

A good breeder should be able to discuss what colors and coat types are common within their line of dogs so you have a better idea of what to expect in their puppies.

German Shepherd Dachshund Mix: Training and Exercise Requirements

While both the German Shepherd and the Dachshund dog are bred to hunt, guard and be active, the Dachshund’s short legs and headstrong temperament means these dogs need a different approach to exercise and training.

The German Shepherd may be aloof with strangers, but these dogs are intensely people-centric and eager to please “their” people, which can make them easier to train. GSDs are unbelievable athletes and need a lot of daily activity, exercise, and play.

These dogs are faithful working dogs who fare best when they have a job to do or involvement in canine athletics to give them an outlet for all that energy. The Dachshund’s short legs and long back means these aggressive dogs need some special safeguards to avoid injury.

It would be best if you never let a Dachshund jump up or down from the furniture or walk up and downstairs. Dachshunds have a confident streak born from their work as independent hunting and digging dogs.

However, they respond very well to positive support and tend to be very food-motivated, which can be a great help during training. You can expect your German Shepherd Dachshund mix dog to enjoy an activity and play daily.

If your dog takes more after the GSD parent, you may find yourself with a very active dog on your hands who needs a lot of exercise to avoid becoming destructive.

German Shepherd Dachshund Mix Temperament

The German Shepherd Dachshund mix has the potential to be a loyal dog with heaps of character. However, there are many potential temperamental issues common within the parent breeds that may occur within this cross. It’s critical to acknowledge and understand these potential behavioral problems so that if they do occur, you can spot and deal with them quickly while the dog is still at a young age.

German Shepherd Dachshund Mix Shedding Coat and Grooming Needs

This is another area where the German Shepherd Dachshund mix dog can surprise owners because while the GSD coat is graded, the Dachshund is bred in three various coat types, wire-haired, smooth shorthaired and smooth long-haired.

The German Shepherd dog has a thick, double-layer coat that has been developed to serve a special purpose. The outer cover of the GSD coat is dense, medium-length, coarse, and water-resistant.

The inner layer is excellent, soft, thick, and insulating. Once to twice per year, the German Shepherd feels event owners call the coat blow. As you may have guessed, this is a period of intense shedding that owners often liken to a snowfall of dog hair.

The GSD also sheds more moderately year-round. They don’t need a lot of grooming or bathing, but you will do a lot of vacuuming. The Dachshund coat is a single layer smooth-hair or double-layer wire-hair.

The long coat needs the most brushing and grooming, but none of the three coat types sheds all that much, and the Dachshund generally emits minimum body odor.

Matching the German Shepherd with the Dachshund delivers a lot of questions in attempting to predict what your hybrid dog’s adult coat will be like.

Finding out what coat type the Dachshund parent dog has can give you a heads-up, of course. If the pairing is with a wire-haired Dachshund, you can count on a double layer coat and likely more shedding and brushing to go with it.

German Shepherd Dachshund Mix Health Issues

Unfortunately, this cross may be at high risk of severe health issues. As a result, it’s a good idea to understand these potential problems in case they ever occur.

German Shepherds are big dogs and have an average longevity of 7 to 10 years. There is a potential conformational health issue within this breed, which is the short legs and long back of the Dachshund. This fundamental defect is known as Achondroplasia.

This body build brings with it significantly higher risks of debilitating joint problems such as Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, and Patellar Luxation. That risk is increased further by the fact that the German Shepherd is already highly predisposed to Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia.

The long back brings with it a much higher risk of Intervertebral Disc Disease, a progressive condition where one of the discs in the dog’s spine ruptures or herniates. This can cause intense pain, incontinence, and may even lead to paralysis in severe cases.

Feeding the German Shepherd Dachshund Mix

This cross will do well on average high-quality dog food, but you must watch their weight. Obesity can quickly make any potential joint and back problems worse, meaning that proper pressure must be maintained.

As for grooming, this breed may require frequent brushing, depending on the coat type it has inherited. Expect to at least brush twice a week.

As with every dog breed, it is vital to keep their nails trimmed to prevent discomfort. Teeth should also be brushed regularly.

How to Find a German Shepherd Dachshund Mix Puppy

When buying a puppy from a breeder, you must do everything to ensure that you receive a healthy puppy. Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad breeders out there who would happily sacrifice the welfare of their litters for more efficient sales.

Such breeders are nicknamed “puppy farms” due to this. Puppies sold at such places are commonly riddled with genetic health problems, have no training or socialization, and have been raised in poor conditions. It is not likely they will be healthy, and they may have severe behavioural problems.

Therefore, you should do what you can to avoid purchasing any puppies from such breeders. Sadly, pet shops should be avoided too; they commonly buy their stock from such puppy farms. To have the best chance of receiving a healthy puppy that has been raised well, you need to search for a breeder with a discerning eye.

Shepherd Dachshund Mixes Good Family Dogs or Not?

It’s all about your family requirements which type of pet (Dog) you want according to your living standard. Unfortunately, we cannot recommend this mix due to the severe risk of debilitating health issues.

This cross can potentially increase the risk of the health problems that are already prevalent within both parent breeds. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia is already familiar within the German Shepherd; combining this with the structural health issue of the Dachshund is just going to worsen the situation.

If your heart is truly set on this cross, we would recommend rescuing an adult German Shepherd Dachshund mix rather than purchasing a puppy from a breeder.