Dalmatian Dachshund Mix: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits

Imagine a short-legged dog toddling around with a stellar spotted coat. Cute, right? The Dalmachshund is a recent crossbreed between the Dalmatian and the Dachshund. While they don’t always take the spots, they frequently adopt the Dalmatian’s iconic black and white coat coupled with the Dachshund’s small frame. This attractive blend of features accounts for their rising popularity (and cost!).

This adorable new designer breed is the perfect pet for fans of the Dachshund and Dalmatian who are looking for a compromise of sizes and temperaments. Their size varies greatly depending on whether they take the Dachshund’s small size or the Dalmatian’s medium build. It’s possible to have a Dalmachshund as small as 16 pounds or as large as 70 pounds. Additionally, because of the diverse features both established breeds bring to the gene pool, there are a lot of coat variations. Typically, however, the Dalmachshund will be spotted—it just may or may not be black and white like a pure Dalmatian.

Dalmatian Dachshund Characteristics

Dalmatian Dachshund Puppies

New designer breeds like the Dalmachshund are typically harder to find than purebred or rescue dogs without a breeding history. If you are lucky enough to find one, expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $2,000+ from a reputable breeder.

With some patience and diligent searching, you may be able to find a Dalmachshund in disguise at a shelter or breed-specific rescue. Like most crossbreeds, you probably won’t be able to find a rescued “Dalmachshund” per say, but the shelter may have a dog they’ve labeled as a Dalmatian or Dachshund that has another unnamed dog in the mix. If you’re attracted to the Dalmachshund for their spots, you may be able to find a piebald Dachshund a little easier.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Dalmatian Dachshund 🧠

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Both parent breeds tend to form close bonds with their people. The Dalmatian in particular has long been heralded as a top guard dog. As long as small children know to treat dogs with respect, the Dalmachshund can be a great family pet. However, they may become provoked and nip at their fingers under stress.

Due to their active nature, the Dalmachshund is best suited for active families who like to spend time outside.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Most dogs can learn to coexist with other pets as long as they’ve been socialized from a young age. However, the Dachshund’s high prey drive mixed with the Dalmatian’s guarding instincts generally doesn’t make a great combination for households with small pets. Cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, and even other dogs may be perceived as objects to chase and antagonize. We advise finding another breed if you have a diverse family of pets. If the Dalmachshund will be the only pet, or if you only have larger dogs, it’s more likely to work out.

Things to Know When Owning a Dalmatian Dachshund:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Feeding a balanced diet can help prevent common health problems like obesity and heart disease. Since the Dalmaschund’s size varies greatly, you’ll need to talk to your vet about what type of food and how much to feed them. For example, dogs under 20 pounds may be best suited for a recipe formulated specifically for small breeds and might only eat a cup of dry food each day. Meanwhile, a 60-pound dog might benefit from a different recipe altogether and will certainly eat much more. Keep in mind that their dietary needs also change throughout their lifespan depending on their age and health conditions.

Exercise 🐕

Both parent breeds were originally developed to serve a purpose. Dachshunds were badger hunting dogs who chased prey into burrows. Dalmatians ran beside firefighting vehicles, alerting unaware pedestrians to get out of the way of the barreling carriage. While both breeds may have adjusted to our modern lifestyles somewhat, the Dalmachshund still requires a moderate amount of exercise to stay fit. If you adopt this breed, you should expect to spend at least an hour or two each day walking or running with this active dog.

Young puppies under 2 years old don’t have fully developed joints yet, so you’ll want to be cautious about letting them run excessively. A 30-minute walk twice a day or a trip to the dog park should suffice while they’re still growing. Once their bones and joints are fully grown, you’ll definitely want them to tag along on your runs.

If your Dalmachshund adopts the Dachshund’s short legs, you should be careful not to let them jump on and off tall furniture to prevent injury. Making sure they’re receiving adequate exercise outside helps prevent boredom and injuries. Like children, they’ll sleep and play better at home if they’re tired from the day’s activities.

Training 🎾

The Dalmachshund is an intelligent breed that’s generally eager to please. While training any dog always takes patience, you shouldn’t expect much difficulty house-breaking your pup and even teaching them a trick or two. Brief training sessions in an environment that’s free from distractions will make the process go a little faster and smoother for you both.

Grooming ✂️

The Dalmaschund’s short, smooth coat sheds moderately, so you’ll definitely want to invest in a lint roller. A soft boar brush or grooming mitt works best to care for their short hair and sensitive skin. Simply brush them a few times a week to distribute the oils across their skin and keep their coat looking shiny. Expect to bathe your Dalmachshund no more than once a month. Excessively bathing your dog can strip the naturally occurring oils that nourish their coat, so you’ll only want to give them a bath as needed with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo. The good news is that healthy Dalmachshund are essentially odorless, so you should only need to wipe their paws after a walk to keep them looking and smelling fresh.

In addition to brushing and bathing, you should also trim your Dalmaschund’s nails as needed and brush their teeth a few times a week.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Adopting a dog comes with an unwritten contract that acknowledges that they’re going to put a hefty chunk of medical bills on your credit card at some point in their life. If you’re like most pet parents, you’ll likely experience sudden accidents or illnesses a few times in their 11–16 year lifespan. Unfortunately, some breeds seem more predisposed to illnesses than others. The Dalmachshund is a relatively healthy breed, but they are at risk of some hereditary diseases common in both parent breeds. Investing in a pet insurance policy or putting aside a small amount each month can help you deal with diseases or medical emergencies when they do arise.

Male vs Female

A dog’s personal history and environment determines their personality more than breed and gender. However, it’s generally understood that male dogs form closer bonds with female owners and may be a little more affectionate than females. Girl dogs are usually more likely to become close friends with male owners and might act a little moodier and more independent.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Dalmatian Dachshund Mix

1. Although the Dalmatian is named after a region in Croatia, their origin story remains a bit of a mystery.

Dalmatians were named after Dalmatia, where they were discovered during the 1600s. However, historians debate whether the dog actually existed centuries before in ancient Egypt.

2. Like Dalmatians, Dalmachshunds likely have no spots at birth.

Dalmatian puppies are born solid white. They begin to develop their spots around 2 weeks old. The pattern may continue to morph until around their first birthday.

3. Dalmachshunds may have webbed feet.

Dachshunds were intentionally bred to have webbed feet because this feature helped them burrow underground to search for badgers. Thus, depending on their genetics, a Dalmachshund may have more webbing between their toes than the average canine.

Conclusion

If you want a short, spotted dog, the Dalmachshund may be the perfect pup for you. Because they inherit the Dalmatian’s athletic personality, be sure you have time to spend at least an hour every day exercising your pup. While they have a longer than average lifespan of 11–16 years, Dalmachshunds are prone to certain medical conditions related to both parent breeds. You’ll want to stay on top of routine vet appointments, exercise them regularly, and give them a balanced diet to reduce their risk of developing diseases. You’ll especially need to prevent them from jumping on and off tall furniture to reduce their chances of intervertebral disc disease. Eventually though, every dog of any breed will need to go to the vet. Setting aside money or enrolling your pup in a pet insurance policy can help offset the cost of any treatment your dog may need.

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Featured Image Credit: Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock