If you thought you had seen the last of designer dogs, wait until you see the Dachshund Pitbull mix. It’s an offspring of the Dachshund and Pitbull dog breeds.
This hybrid is a small-sized dog with sweet affection for family. It’s also loyal, and its versatility allows it to work as a farm dog besides being a family pet.
If you want to know about this mix, read this article to the end. You’ll learn what it is, how it behaves, and whether it suits your home or apartment.
What Is a Dachshund Pitbull Mix?
A dachshund pitbull mix is a product of the Dachshund and the American Pitbull Terrier. It’s a hybrid dog that boasts a rich line of unique features. For example, the Doxie Pit (as it is sometimes called) enjoys an unfamiliar long back with the low-lying body of the Dachshund.
From its Pitbull parent, the mix takes a powerful and muscular compact body. The result is a small dog with a big personality. It loves the company of family and won’t disappoint when it comes to being loyal and affectionate.
That being said, it’s vital to know a little bit more about the history of this out-of-this-world breed.
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History of the Dachshund Dog Breed
The Dachshund traced its origins in Germany 600 years ago. It was purposely designed to help bust badgers from their holes or dens. Actually, the name Dachshund is German. It means a badger dog.
So, German breeders decided to work on a low-lying, long-bodied canine with a strong sense of smell and the nous to take on the badger pests.
Given the violent nature of badgers, Dachshunds were developed with top qualities like bravery, perseverance, and physical strength to enable them to battle their adversary.
Generally, there are two varieties of this dog breed; the first has a smooth, short coat. But continuous breeding efforts also saw the emergence of a Dachshund with a wired coat.
Since the dog’s work was mainly above-ground dirt work of bashing badgers, sometimes it would get into nasty thorny environments. And, thanks to the wired coats, the dog was up to the challenge.
When the breed crossed to America, it was an immediate sensation. Its popularity went crazy, and in 1885, the American Kennel Club registered the dog as an official breed.
History of the American Pitbull Terrier Dog Breed
The American Pitbull Terrier, has a mixed record. They were feared to be bad-tempered dogs with the tendency to fight other dogs and even launch attacks on humans, at least a behavior a few badly-trained Pitbulls by negligent owners exhibited.
For some reason, the American Kennel Club has not registered the dog as a distinct breed. However, the United Kennel Club recognized it in 1898.
According to records, Old English Terriers were bred with Bulldogs. The British breeders wanted to take advantage of the aggressive traits of both breeds. The Terrier was full of gameness, while Bulldogs were power-packed and athletic.
Combining the two would produce a fight-ready, highly temperamental dog for bloodsports such as bull baiting and bear baiting. But with the advent of laws banning such cruel games, bull baiting and bear baiting ceased.
Nonetheless, the stubborn owners didn’t end at that. Instead, they created dog-fighting events–a type of bloodsport that pitted one dog against another. They would then reap from gambling proceeds.
The Pitbull arrived in America in 1845-1860, where it was improved to match the American qualities in what is now called the American Staffordshire Terrier.
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Characteristics of the Dachshund Pitbull Mix
Here is a table summarizing the individual characteristics of the Dachshund and the Pitbull. It will help you understand the hybrid better.
| Characteristic/Trait | Dachshund | Pitbull/American Staffordshire terrier |
| Size | -Height: 8-9 inches for the standard breed, 5-6 inches for miniatures. -Weight: 16-32 lbs. for standard breeds, 11 lbs. And below for miniatures | -Height: 18-19 inches female, 17-18 inches male -Weight: 55-70 lbs. male, 40-55 lbs female |
| Coat | Smooth or wiry | Smooth and short |
| Life Expectancy | 12-16 years | 12-16 years |
| Family life | Full of affection and loving to children and other dogs | Lovey-dovey dog |
| Social | Very social dog, loves strangers, great watchdog, highly adaptable | Best friend with strangers Excellent watchdog |
| Personality | -Eager to please -Very vocal | High-energy pet but easy to train |
Appearance
The physical appearance of the Doxie Pit depicts a short-medium, strong-legged dog with an elongated back and smooth or wired coat. The dog is deep-chested to emphasize Pitbull features. It’s impossible not to think that Doxie Bull is a strong dog.
It perfectly mixes its parents’ traits, sometimes following in the path of the Pitbull for a block body and the long snout of its Dachshund parent. Most often than not, the head likens to Pitbull’s–it is decently broad and more prominent.
Generally, expect the mix’s height to be between 10-16 inches (25.4-40.64 cm) and its average weight at 20-50 pounds (9.07-22.68 kg). All in all, the dog breed can actually inherit more of one parent than the other.
The coat of this dog is primarily short and smooth. It can take on the color of its parents or display individual shades. However, you can always expect colors such as black, brown, cream, blue, and merle or black and tan markings.
Temperament
Overall, the temperament of the Dachshund Pitbull mix can be described as a happy, fun-loving dog with a cheeky influence. This offspring is made of two breeds with a history of stubbornness and cheeky behaviors.
Doxie Pit is an indoor dog. It will love being close to the owner or people every other time. Hence, your ready-to-go companion dog.
It can stay focused and unturned when committed to a job. This is a trait that’s overly conspicuous in the Dachshund breed.
Doxie Pit is also a down-to-earth dog. You may not believe how easy it can be to deal with Doxie Pit. Of course, it’s vital to use the proper techniques and language during training.
Surprisingly, Dachshund Pitbull produces a big dog’s bark. You won’t believe it, but that’s how it may come in as a watchdog. Not a guard dog, though.
The Dachshund Pitbull delivers a particular liking for prey. This trait can influence how it interacts with other pets, which is why a cat or rabbit chase will not be a surprise.
If you are a family that loves little pets and play, this mix is the best. However, it’s a fairly active dog that will need a family dedicated to making it happy.
Be careful with your little friend picking up a fight. Remember, this is a trait one of their parents was developed for.
Lifespan
Proper food supply and regular exercise ensure that your puppy hits the most extended lifespan, which is 12-16 years.
A Doxie Pit in good health condition is likely to live for long. The more your dog comes down with diseases, the more it becomes frail.
You want to keep a regular schedule for vet visits to check up on the dog. One thing is for sure: a strong correlation between a healthy and well-fed dog and a long life.
How Do You Care for A Dachshund Pitbull?
As the American Kennel Club emphasizes, caring for your dog is not a privilege but a responsibility you take seriously. Consider the following key aspects when looking after the Dachshund Pitbull mix puppy to a mature dog.
- Feeding
AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials)-approved food should contain nutrients according to the need of your dog. Generally, the authority specifies what a dog’s meal should have.
- 22.5% protein
- 8.5% fat
- Minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, and more.
- Vitamins such as Vitamin D and Folic acid.
The diet above is meant for a young Doxie Pit puppy. For the adult dog, here’s the breakdown;
- 18% protein
- 5.5% fat
- Minerals including calcium, manganese, zinc, iron, iodine, sodium, chloride, and more.
- Vitamins like Vitamins A, D, E, thiamine, choline, and more.
Keeping the regime mentioned above, dog owners must ensure the foods they give their dogs are complete and balanced with all the necessary nutrients.
For young pups, supply a calorie-rich diet. Puppies need to eat such foods to meet their rapid-growing needs. However, avoid such foods for mature dogs. This is what causes many lifestyle diseases like obesity.
Give your two meals a day in two separate turns. The meals should be 12 hours apart.
- Grooming
Honestly, you don’t need to worry about the coat of your Dachshund Pitbull mix. The dog has a short coat that sheds seasonally and not daily. Except for the wiry types that may need brushing two or three times a week, the smooth-coated variety may only need a single brush.
You can also bathe your dog once a month with dog-specific shampoo that’s not harmful to the sensitive skin of the Doxie Pit.
- Exercise and Training
Don’t be fooled into thinking that a small-sized dog such as the Dachshund Pitbull won’t require training. Dachshund Pitbull may exhibit lazy, sleep-loving behavior, but it’s a highly energetic dog in the open.
After all, it needs regular light exercises like walking over short distances. This will keep him healthy, happy, and relaxed after getting tired.
The stubborn instinct of the Pitbull and Dachshund combined makes this dog hard to deal with sometimes. You just want to be firm and spell the rules. Don’t overcommit your tone, though. Make training sessions fun and short.
- Health
With good care, your Doxie Pit is more likely to live longer than the average life span of its parents. Luxating patella is a common disease for this dog, thanks to the long back of the Dachshund breed.
The dog’s kneecap twists out of place when it occurs, causing much pain because of the wear. Be on the lookout for this condition and heart problems like degenerative mitral valve disease.
Pitbulls have severe skin issues and are prone to hip dysplasia. So, you’ll keep an eye on whether any of these were inherited by your hybrid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pitbull mixed with a Dachshund?
Mixing a Pitbull with a Dachshund produces the Doxie Pit, Doxie Bull, or Dox Bull. This is a dog with a strong love for family, and it also loves staying indoors.
Where can you get pitbull dachshund mix puppies for sale?
You can get pitbull dachshund mix puppies for sale at dog rescues and shelters. You should consider adopting from these centers. So, don’t rush to only want to buy.
Can Dachshund Pitbull mix be aggressive?
The dachshund pitbull mix can become aggressive if not well-trained and socialized. Just as their parents are known for stubbornness, you expect the dog mix to carry it.
Final Thoughts
As the name suggests, the dachshund pitbull mix is a hybrid mix between the dachshund and pitbull dogs. Therefore, it takes on the qualities of these two dogs.
