How much food a Dachshund needs per day
An adult, neutered Dachshund weighing 8 kg needs about 535 kcal a day with normal exercise – roughly 150 g of dry food or 535 g of wet food. A miniature Dachshund at 5 kg comes to about 375 kcal (105 g of dry food), a large, active Dachshund at 11 kg to around 845 kcal (235 g). With a Dachshund, every gram counts double, because excess weight increases the risk of a slipped disc.
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Adult weight
- Standard:
- approx. 7–14.5 kg
- Miniature:
- up to approx. 5 kg
Weight according to the American Kennel Club (16–32 lb and up to 11 lb respectively). The FCI standard classifies Dachshunds not by weight but by chest circumference.
Activity type
A passionate hunting dog with plenty of stamina on short legs – usually more agile than its size would suggest.
Breed watch points
Weight and back
Calculate how much to feed your Dachshund
Enter the weight and choose the type of food – the result updates instantly.
Leave empty = typical value of 360 kcal (usually 330–400 kcal/100 g). If the pack says MJ/kg, calculate MJ/kg × 23.9.
Result
150 g
Dry food per day
≈ 535 kcal · 2 meals of 75 g
Get it worked out for your dogRecipes with grams per ingredient in the DoggoMeal app- Range per day
- 135–165 g
- Meals
- 2 per day
- Per meal
- 75 g
- Energy
- 535 kcal (480–585)
How the figure is calculated
Resting energy requirement 70 × 8 kg^0.75 ≈ 333 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 535 kcal per day.
535 kcal ÷ 360 kcal per 100 g (typical dry food) × 100 ≈ 150 g.
- A starting point – check the weight every 1–2 weeks and adjust the amount in small steps. Treats count too.
Dachshund feeding chart by weight and activity
Adult, neutered dog. Dry food with 360 kcal, wet food with 100 kcal per 100 g.
| Activity | kcalper day | Dryg per day | Wetg per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | |||
| Calm | 330 | 90 | 330 |
| Normal | 375 | 105 | 375 |
| Active | 470 | 130 | 470 |
| 8 kg | |||
| Calm | 465 | 130 | 465 |
| Normal | 535 | 150 | 535 |
| Active | 665 | 185 | 665 |
| 11 kg | |||
| Calm | 590 | 165 | 590 |
| Normal | 675 | 190 | 675 |
| Active | 845 | 235 | 845 |
How it is calculated: Calm = factor 1.4, Normal = 1.6 (neutered, 1–2 hours of walks), Active = 2.0. Entire (unneutered) dogs with normal exercise come out about 12 per cent higher (factor 1.8).
Example for 8 kg: resting energy requirement 70 × 8 kg^0.75 ≈ 333 kcal × factor 1.6 = 535 kcal a day, divided by 360 kcal per 100 g = 150 g of dry food. If your pack states a different value, enter it in the calculator above.
Why weight affects a Dachshund's back
Intervertebral disc disease is 10 to 12 times more common in Dachshunds than in other breeds; an estimated 19 to 24 per cent of all Dachshunds show symptoms during their lifetime. In a British clinical study of 700 dogs, three things increased the risk of a slipped disc in the thoracic and lumbar spine: a back that is long relative to height, a smaller stature and excess weight. The authors explicitly recommend a lean figure for at-risk breeds.
The “DachsLife 2015” survey, with data on 2,031 Dachshunds, also found that dogs exercised for more than an hour a day had intervertebral disc disease less often, while older and neutered dogs had it more often. The proportion was highest in the standard smooth-haired Dachshund (24.4 per cent) and lowest in the standard wire-haired Dachshund (7.1 per cent). These are associations, not proof – but they fit the everyday advice: lean, regularly exercised, muscle instead of padding.
Miniature, rabbit, standard: measure instead of guessing
The FCI standard classifies Dachshunds not by weight but by chest circumference, measured from the age of 15 months: rabbit Dachshunds up to 32 cm (males) or 30 cm (females), miniature Dachshunds up to 37 or 35 cm, and above that the standard Dachshund. For the food amount, however, weight is what counts – specifically the weight at a good body shape. A miniature Dachshund at 6 kg can be too heavy, a sturdy wire-haired Dachshund at 10 kg just right.
Because the amounts are small, extras make a big difference: with a daily requirement of 535 kcal, 50 kcal from treats and chews is already almost a tenth. A Dachshund weighing 9 kg that should weigh 8 kg gets about 335 kcal a day while losing weight – roughly 95 g of dry food.
- Weigh the food – with a daily ration of 150 g, 15 g too much already makes up 10 per cent.
- Cut treats into small pieces and take them from the daily ration.
- Exercise every day – ideally several shorter walks rather than one long outing at the weekend.
Dachshund puppies: growing up lean
Like other small breeds, Dachshunds are usually fully grown at around one year. Puppies get four meals until about three months, then three. Per kilo they need considerably more energy than adult dogs, but the portions remain small – so weigh them precisely.
Get your puppy used to rewards coming out of the daily ration early on. That way there is nothing to unlearn later, and the back carries no unnecessary weight from the start.
The puppy feeding calculator works out the exact amount by age and current weight.
Recipes with grams per ingredient – for your Dachshund
In the DoggoMeal app you create a profile for your Dachshund – with weight, age, activity and allergies. From this, the app calculates recipes with grams per ingredient, daily calories and portions.
- Dog profile
- Recipes with gram amounts
- Allergy warnings
- Cooking with video
Free · no subscription · every feature included
Common questions about feeding your Dachshund
How much food does a Dachshund need per day?
A neutered 8 kg Dachshund with normal exercise needs about 535 kcal per day. That is roughly 150 g of dry food with 360 kcal per 100 g or 535 g of wet food, split into two meals. Calm Dachshunds are about 12 per cent below that.
How much dry food does a miniature Dachshund need?
A neutered 5 kg miniature Dachshund with normal exercise needs about 375 kcal a day, so roughly 105 g of dry food. Per kilo, that is more than for a large Dachshund (75 instead of 61 kcal), because small dogs have a higher basal metabolic rate per kilo.
How heavy should a Dachshund be?
The American Kennel Club gives about 7 to 14.5 kg for standard Dachshunds and up to about 5 kg for miniature Dachshunds. The FCI standard classifies by chest circumference. What matters is the body shape: ribs palpable, waist visible, no fat padding on the back.
What is the best way for a Dachshund to lose weight?
Calculate with the target weight instead of the current weight. A 9 kg Dachshund with a target of 8 kg gets about 335 kcal a day, roughly 95 g of dry food. Weigh every one to two weeks and have larger diets supervised by a vet.
Does exercise help against disc problems in Dachshunds?
In the DachsLife survey, Dachshunds exercised for more than an hour a day had intervertebral disc disease less often. This is an association, not proof – but regular exercise and a lean figure are the two things you can influence yourself in everyday life.
Sources
- FCI-Standard Nr. 148: Dachshund (Teckel) – Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
- Dachshund – Breed Information – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- How long and low can you go? Effect of conformation on the risk of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion in domestic dogs (Packer et al., 2013) – PLOS ONE
- DachsLife 2015: an investigation of lifestyle associations with the risk of intervertebral disc disease in Dachshunds (Packer et al., 2016) – Canine Genetics and Epidemiology
Calculation method
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats (2006) – National Research Council (NRC), National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines – World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food – FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation
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