As we all know, our dog friends sadly do not stay the same size as the day we adopted them. They also have periods of youth, adulthood, and old age just like us humans.
However, these periods vary according to the breeds of dogs, while large breed alpha dogs may enter adulthood earlier, a small dog may go through this process more slowly, and sometimes it can be the opposite, it all depends on the breed.
Although there is no clear opinion about exactly when our Dachshund dog friends stop growing, it is generally agreed that they stop growing at an average of 10 to 12 months.
Dachshund dogs are always in motion with their energetic and athletic nature. Instinctively equipped, his hunting instinct gives him tremendous agility.
In addition, dachshunds, which have a sharp sense of smell, can be a good aide to you on your hunt.
If you own a Dachshund breed, don’t be fooled by your dog’s small appearance. When it comes to eating, Dachshunds can give the biggest breeds a run for their money.
Overfeeding is a common problem for Dachsund owners, and for this reason, you may not know whether your dog is growing or gaining weight!
Is your friend still growing? Wondering when this growth will end? Or is he gaining too much weight instead of growing? This guide will help you understand the different growth rates of Dachshunds, and if yours has stopped growing or has another growth spurt ahead.
How Do You Know When Your Dachshund Has Stopped Growing?
It is not known exactly when Dachshund dogs will stop growing, but they are generally seen to stop growing up to 12 months. However, they may continue to gain weight for a while after growth, which does not indicate growth, this is just temporary weight gain.
Life Stages
The American Dachshund dog federation uses the phrase between 12-15 months to define adult Dachshund dogs. By this age, your Dachshund will be considered an adult dog.
Just like humans, Dachshunds go through a number of life stages, go from adolescence to adulthood and live their most productive years between the ages of 1 and 16.
Even if your dachshund puppy is sufficiently grown, it may still look like a puppy in the first year or two of its life. This is due to its small size, and cuteness!
You can also understand that the growth of dachshund breed dogs complete by the development of their bone structure and reaching standard adult weight.
Behavioural Indicators
Also, you may notice behavioral changes during the stage when your Dachshund passes from puppy stage to adult stage. Although dachshunds always love to have fun, you may notice that they calm down quite a bit as they lose their infant energy.
In some dogs, especially males, when combined with other dogs, there may be an alpha struggle once they reach adulthood. At this point, it will be to your advantage to socialize your Dachshund frequently.
When Do Dachshunds Stop Growing?
A Dachshund’s bones and muscles should stop growing by the time they reach the age of 1, although they may keep growing for a little while longer after that.
Dachshund Development
Dachshunds inherit the chondrodysplasia (dwarfism) gene. It’s the gene that gives them their short lets and long sausage-like shape. Therefore, it can take longer than average for their legs to fully develop after adolescence has passed.
Once they’re born, Dachshund puppies will have several growth spurts during their first 8 months of life. The growth plates at the ends of their bones take longer to close than other dog breeds. This is what leads to their characteristically short legs. Therefore, their legs will be the last part of their body to cross into adulthood, at around10–12 months.
However, no two dachshunds are the same. Some stop growing at around 18 months, and some may still have little growth spurts until the age of two.
Weight Management
As your Dachshund starts growing and filling out, it is important to keep an eye on their weight. Extra weight gain can lead to a host of physical ailments, especially back problems, because of their low center of gravity.
As mentioned previously, Dachsunds are good eaters, and their metabolism slows down as they age. If you feel your dachshund is putting on a little extra pud, try giving smaller meals and going on long walks.
It’s easy to estimate if your Dachshund is putting on a few too many. You should be able to easily feel his ribs and he should have a defined waist.
What are The Sizes of Dachshunds?
Miniature Dachshund
The average Miniature Dachshund height is 13-18 cm (or 5-6 inches) and the average weight is 5 kg (11 pounds). Miniature Dachshunds are around 5 kg at 1 year old and have a 33 cm chest circumference.
Miniature Dachshunds are much smaller than standard Dachshunds. They are almost half the size. So you have to wait until your Miniature Dachshund reaches 12 months to what size your furry friend will be at adulthood.
If you bought your Dachshund from an affiliated federation breeder, you should receive information on the type of Dachshund you have and be able to estimate its growth potential accordingly.
Standard Dachshund
A Standard Dachshunds average 22-25 cm (8-10 in) high and weigh 8-15 kg (15-30 pounds).
When Standard Dachshunds reach 1 year old, they weigh an average of 25-28 pounds (8-10 kg) and have a 34cm (14 inches) chest circumference.
Even if a Standard Dachshund is twice the size of a Miniature Dachshund, it is still in the small breed dog category because it is smaller than an average-sized dog.
Tweenie Dachshund
A Tweenie Dachshund is generally larger than an average Miniature Dachshund and smaller than a Standard Dachshund.
An average tweenie Dachshund is 6-8 kg (12-17 pounds)
Dachshunds of this size are popular with Dachshund lovers because their size and weight category fall roughly in between standard and miniature.
Just like any dog, if you meet your Dachshunds nutritional and daily energy consumption needs regularly, you will see a steady size and weight incline that will peak and stabilize in adulthood, when they are around 1 year old.
However, some Dachshunds do peak earlier than others, so if yours appears to have stopped growing at 10 months, don’t be alarmed, this is still considered normal.