Doxiepoo puppies

About the Doxiepoo

The Doxiepoo, also called the Doxiedoodle, crosses a Standard or Miniature Dachshund with a Toy or Miniature Poodle and first appeared around 2000. Because both parents come in more than one size, Daily Paws gives a wide range: 13 to 38 cm (5 to 15 in) and 2.3 to 13.6 kg (5 to 30 lb), with a lifespan of 10 to 18 years. They may have the Dachshund's long, low frame or the Poodle's lighter build, and the coat can be short, wiry, long or curly. A Dachshund rescue quoted on the page says no two look alike, though many end up small and fluffy with a Poodle-type coat.

Daily Paws describes moderate energy and a high need for mental stimulation, met by daily walks or play in a fenced garden plus puzzle toys. Most coats need only regular brushing and an occasional bath, but a Poodle-type, wiry or long coat needs more work and an occasional professional groom. They are big barkers, which makes many a poor match for flats and shared walls, and a long Dachshund back makes stairs and jumping a risk. Keeping them lean and stopping them jumping are the two habits that protect their spines.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Doxiepoo puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Intervertebral disc disease, especially in dogs with a long Dachshund back, causing pain or paralysis, with the risk reduced by keeping them lean and preventing jumping
• Patellar luxation, where the kneecap moves out of place, sometimes leading to other injuries

Your Doxiepoo puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Doxiepoo.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 2.3 to 13.6 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 13.6 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Doxiepoo

Previous: Dorkie · Next: Drentsche Patrijshond

Sources

• dailypaws.com for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• Health notes from Doxiepoo breed information at https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/dog-breeds/doxiepoo. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

No published figure for the good with children rating, the good with other dogs rating and country of origin, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.

Photo: Ray Larabie from Nagoya, Japan, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.