Dachshund Great Dane Mix

The Dachshund Great Dane Mix is an existing crossbreed in the canine world, although it may seem hard to believe!

As this is yet one of the most uncommon crossbreeds you can encounter, little has been written or even researched about this mix.

Yet, due to the apparent size difference, it’s understandable that the kennel clubs do not encourage breeding practices of this mix. The same applies to responsible breeders and veterinarians in general.

With two popular dogs at opposite ends of the spectrum size-wise, in this article, we consider the Dachshund Great Dane Mix further in detail.

Firstly, we will concentrate on issues such as health, personality, temperament, and exercise requirements. We will also look at the potential physical appearance of such a pairing.

In summarizing, we then offer our expert opinion as to whether the Dachshund Great Dane Mix is a suitable choice for you.

What Is a Dachshund Great Dane Mix?

A Dachshund Great Dane Mix is the result of pairing a Dachshund with a Great Dane.

However, one has to assume that this pairing is only possible with an assistance from humans. Natural reproduction is not possible considering the complete size difference here between these two dogs!

This fact understandably creates the question, – Why anyone would actively encourage this pairing?

For some people, the placid nature and temperament of each dog may be a reason.

For others, though, the sheer concept of taking one of the canine world’s smaller dogs and pairing it with undeniably one of the biggest dog breeds may well be the reasoning behind this mix.

But, for many dog lovers and dog professionals, the biggest concern remains that these two dog breeds are unable to mate naturally. Therefore, this pairing really shouldn’t be considered at all, let alone encouraged.

Either way, this is perhaps one of the more unnatural of dog mixes. Hence, it possibly paves the way for several issues and complications later on down the line.

Dachshund Great Dane Mix Physical Appearance

Because of the rarity of this pairing, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact appearance of the Dachshund Great Dane Mix.

Thus, we need to look at each parental dog breed separately to gain a possible idea of the outcomes.

A Great Dane is instantly recognisable for its colossal size! These beautiful creatures are enormous in stature, reaching as tall as 81 cm and weighing up to as much as 59 kg!

The Great Dane is a muscular dog with a long neck and robust overall body structure.

Also, the Great Dane has a massive narrow head, its eyebrows are often prominent, and the ears usually tend to drop forward.

Some Great Danes ears are cropped and stand erect. Coat wise, these fantastic beasts come in many colours with a short sleek coat.

A Dachshund is also recognised for its size. But this time, it is a small structure and body shape that does often resembles that of a sausage!

Short-legged and with a coat that ranges from smooth to wired or long-haired, the colour range found in these dogs is also beautiful but vast.

With distinctive long ears set high, these dogs are also well built and boast a sleek body structure.

Therefore, when pairing these two dogs, so far from what we can tell, the body shape and size tends to resemble that of the dachshund.

The visible markings, though, have come more from the Great Dane genes.

A couple of Dachshund Great Dane Mix dogs that do exist seem to boast an elongated body structure with lengthy legs and enlarged paws.

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Personality and Temperament

One thing’s for sure is that the Dachshund Great Dane Mix would make for a gentle personality.

A Great Dane has very gentle temperament, despite its sheer size. Dog lovers favour its docile, dippy, and often scaredy-cat nature!

Many Great Dane owners refer to these dogs as the gentle giants of the dog world.

Great Danes are ideal for the homes with families, in particular, those with younger children. These dogs are affectionate but ultimately playful with all those who show them attention.

Dachshunds, too, are also preferred by their human fan base for their lovely robust and happy nature.

Their vigor in combination with their feistiness create the most amiable four-legged companion.

Referred to as clowns because of their happy hour moments, surprisingly, they are also ones of the most intelligent in the dog world.

Dachshunds learn very quickly how to please those around them for affection and of course, treats!

A loving and affectionate dog breed, a Dachshund’s loyalty knows no bounds when it comes to their human owners. They will also fiercely guard and protect their beloved family members at all times!

Therefore, there’s no denying that when you combine all these wonderful individual traits of both the Dachshund and the Great Dane, it will result in a gentle-mannered and devoted dog.

Such a mix as this would result in a placid and carefree temperament and suit ideally a busy household.

Dachshund Great Dane Mix Life Expectancy

One of the most significant problems foreseen in this mix is the potential lifespan of a Great Dane breed.

It is a real shame that these breeds don’t have a long lifespan. Great Danes can live on average from around just 6 to 8 years – or even less than that.

When compared to other dog types, the reduced life span of a Great Dane is primarily because of its greater size.

Experts suggest that such giant breeds will age much faster. The gigantic size of these dogs potentially leads to the development of diseases that can impact their overall health.

In contrast to the Great Dane, an average Dachshund lifespan is in the region of 12 to 16 years if their health remains good. In exceptional cases, dachshunds can live up to 18 years.

Therefore, it is hard to determine the lifespan of a Dachshund Great Dane Mix.

Overall, Dachshund Great Dane Mix life expectancy is in the range from 10 to 14 years.

However, in case the genes of the Great Dane are more prominent in this mix, it may mean a shorter lifespan overall for this crossbreed.

Dachshund Great Dane Mix Health

The problematic health of a Dachshund Great Dane Mix is perhaps the most significant cause for concern regarding this crossbreed. It is all to do with the sheer contrast in the sizes of parental dogs.

It’s important to mention that neither dog is known for having severe unique health complaints. However, when you combine a Great Dane and a Dachshund, it causes a lot of confusion concerning the resulting size and body structure of the mix.

What’s more, worryingly here is that the majority of health problems experienced by a dachshund often comes in the form of spinal issues.

These health issues are the result of their elongated body structure and disproportionally short legs. The primary health problem that affects one out of four dachshunds is intervertebral disc disease (IVDD).

However, the situation is different, when you combine such issues in a crossbreed. The heart disease commonly affects the Great Danes. Also, Great Danes may experience the health condition called bloat. So, the combined potential health risks of a Dachshund Great Dane Mix doesn’t look good at all.

Exercise and Activity Requirements

At the moment, the information regarding the exercise and activity requirements for the Dachshund Great Dane Mix is limited as well.

The issue is that there’s no breed standard for Dachshund Great Dane Mix. Therefore, it’s hard to determine what the general body structure is prevalent for this combination.

Therefore, it is difficult to give recommendations regarding exercise and physical activity levels for this crossbreed.

More so, Dachshunds need to be careful with exercise requirements because of their lower body structure and shorter legs.

Yet, Great Danes, as a vastly larger dog breed, require plentiful walks throughout the space of just one day!

Thus, the physical appearance of the mix here will be the most significant visual determiner as to how and when you’ll need to exercise your dog.

Is a Dachshund Great Dane Mix the Right Dog for You?

All in all, the Dachshund Great Dane Mix largely remains one of the most uncommon crossbreeds. For this reason, it is difficult to recommend this dog to potential dog owners.

As dedicated dog lovers, we believe both the dachshund and the Great Dane are the ideal canine companions for any household.

However, the idea of combining these two breeds is not something we recommend. On that account, we discourage anyone from looking to breed these two dogs together actively.

As responsible dog owners, the health and welfare of those dogs we choose to raise should be a priority. And as yet, there’s not enough research undertaken on the overall well-being of this particular mix.

We strongly advise not to seek out those breeders claiming to produce such mixes, nor undertaking to recreate the mix yourself.

Uneducated and uninformed demand leads to ill-breeding, and the consequences are often disastrous for the new born puppies.

On the other hand, you may come across this particular mix in the pounds, shelters, or through rehoming adverts.

In this particular situation, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Dachshund Great Dane Mix as a great addition to a family home.

You may not have as much information on the mix as is ideal to have. But remember, – rehoming a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences for both dog and human! We believe the Dachshund and Great Dane mix is no exception to this rule!