How Much Does a Dachshund Cost? (Full Breakdown of Initial Price and Yearly Costs)

With the Dachshund cracking the top 10 on the American Kennel Club (AKC) Most Popular Dog Breeds for the last two years, people have begun researching these adorable little sausages. 

How much does a Dachshund cost really is a loaded question and you may get different answers from different people. The initial price of a Dachshund will vary depending on so many different factors such as demographic, quality, gender, color, and health testing. Generally speaking, plan to spend $1000-$2500 from a reputable breeder and $350-$500 for rescue. The cost of owning a Dachshund that the first year will be $1270-$2000, maybe a bit more as inflation raises things like food, toys, treats, and even vet expenses. After that, plan about $1185-$2515 per year for expenses related to your Dachshund.

Other factors when you think about the cost of a Doxie are how much it costs to keep them happy and healthy. These are the recurring costs or upkeep costs for your new family member. So, let’s break things down for you so you know what to expect before you add a Dachshund to your family and what to expect as the general upkeep for a Doxie. 

How Much is a Dachshund: The Initial Cost

Purchase Price

Endachs long-haired Dachshund breeder
Reputable Long-haired Dachshund Breeder

The biggest initial cost will of course be the purchase price. No matter if you are buying a new puppy from a reputable breeder or adopting an adult from a rescue, this will be the biggest expense right away. 

The purchase price of a puppy will depend on several different factors including:

  • Demographic

Many people do not realize that the location of the breeder does play a part in their pricing. A breeder on the West Coast is more likely to charge more for a puppy than a breeder in the Midwest.

  • Quality/Registration

Prices will also vary depending upon the quality of the puppy and registration. A puppy that a breeder feels is showing great potential for the show ring will cost more as breeding rights and the right to show conformation will be given to that puppy. Companion puppies or puppies that the breeder does not feel will be competitive in the show ring are generally less money and no breeding rights are given.

AKC registered puppies will also cost more than the lesser registries such as American Pet Registry, Inc. (APRI), American Canine Association (ACA), Continental Kennel Club (CKC), etc. Unregistered puppies out of unregistered parents will also not cost as much as a registered puppy.

  • Coat Type

Dachshunds come in three coat types: short-haired, long-haired, and wire-haired. Pricing does tend to differ between the three coat types with short-haired generally being the most popular, and therefore, the pricier coat type. Even blue dachshund attracts good price tag.

  • Size

Dachshunds also come in two different sizes: standard and miniature. While some will argue that the prices are comparable between the two sizes, in certain areas, miniature Dachshunds do tend to be a little higher in price.

  • Gender

Females are almost always higher priced than males. It is a simple matter of supply and demand; females are more sought after than males. That is not to say females are better than males, in fact, I prefer males over females. But, most of the inquiries I get for a puppy are for a female.

  • Color

This is a big one, Dachshunds come in a variety of colors and patterns. The original Dachshund colors are red, black and tan, chocolate and tan. However, dapples and piebald as well as English cream and brindle have really become very popular with Dachshund buyers. Piebald is a rare coat (find more).

Do not let people trick you into purchasing a “rare” color, do your research and learn about the breed. Many times, those rare colors are either not rare at all or they have not approved colors for the breed. The rarest color in the Dachshund is a solid black. 

  • Health screening

Responsible Dachshund breeders will do health screenings on their Dachshunds and will offer some type of health warranty on their puppies. You can expect to pay more money for a well-bred Dachshund from a reputable breeder.

Purchasing a Dachshund puppy from a reputable breeder can cost you between $900 to $2500, but prices can go as high as $3500 to $4000 in some areas and for breeding rights. If you feel the price is too low or something seems too good to be true, make sure you thoroughly research the breeders before you decide to send money. 

Adoption Price

Rescues do charge a fee to help offset the care they have provided to the Dachshund. For some people, adopting a rescue makes them feel good and they are able to handle any of the problems that may arise whether they be behavioral or health. Rescue organizations will generally require an adoption fee that can range anywhere from $350 to $500; this fee will differ depending on the organization and the demographic. 

Reputable breeders will also adopt adult Dachshunds that they are retiring from their breeding program. These dogs will either already be spayed or neutered or placed on a contract that requires you to have them altered. Retired dogs will usually be offered for $350 to $650 depending on age and gender.

With Dachshunds being longer-lived dogs, most breeders will retire their Dachshunds around 6 to 7 years old. A Dachshund’s average lifespan is around 12-13 years, but this is really on the lower end as I have had many live 16 to 17 years. 

Supplies, Food, and Veterinary Care

Everyone knows when a new puppy, or even an adult dog, is coming home that means lots of preparing and shopping. From puppy-proofing the house and yard to set up their crate or playpen, you will want to make sure anything you do not want your new Dachshund to get into is safely put out of reach. 

You will also be hitting the pet store or even your local Wal-Mart or Target for toys, beds, dishes, and any other cute thing you might impulse buy for your new pup. Amazon and Chewy are also fantastic resources when you are getting your supplies together for your new Dachshund.

Car safety is another big thing when you travel with your new Doxie, even if it is a short trip to the vet or park, they need to be secured in case of an accident. I always recommend a sturdy crate to protect them but some people do prefer safety seats, which will not protect your pooch in the event of a high-impact accident but will keep them from going airborne should you have to stop short or have a slight fender bender. Check out the Top 10 Best Dachshund Car Seats if you do not want to crate your pup during car rides. 

Here is a list of the most important things you will need to purchase for your new Dachshund. Depending on how much you like to shop, plan on spending $200-$300 to get the essentials for your new Doxie. 

  • Food – be sure to get the food that the puppy is used to eating to avoid tummy upset. Quality kibble will cost between $35 to $70 per bag; bag weights generally range from 20 pounds to 40 pounds.
  • Treats – while many people are against table food as treats, I have found making my own treats or giving healthy table food is really the best choice for me. I will bake a chicken breast (skinless and boneless) and then cube it for quick training treats, or give small cheese cubes, or even frozen blueberries and banana slices.
  • Dog beds – most of my Dachshunds love the round cuddle beds with a fuzzy blanket. They will hide their toys in the blanket and burrow in for a nice, long snooze.
  • Toys – Dachshund puppies need a lot of toys, and different varieties, to keep them busy. I have a large toy box in the closet where I stash all their toys and I rotate toys from their smaller toy basket so they think they have new toys every week or so.
  • Harness and leash – depending on the type of training you are planning for your Doxie pup, a harness is a great way to take them for a walk. However, if you are doing conformation or obedience work, a collar or choke chain is better.
  • Sweater or coat – in the cooler weather a short-haired Dachshund will get chilled if outdoors for longer periods of time. Therefore, I always recommend a sweater or coat when winter weather arrives to keep them snug and warm when they have to go outside.
  • Crate or playpen – some people are against using a crate and for those, I do strongly encourage a playpen to keep the puppy, and even an adult contained in a specific area when you are not home, have a lot of company over, or just need some downtime. Dachshunds that are properly crate trained will welcome nap times or downtime in their crate.
  • Grooming essentials – longhair and wirehair Dachshunds do require more grooming than short-haired Doxies. But they all do require baths, about every 6 to 8 weeks to keep their coat and skin healthy. Invest in a good shampoo, brush, comb, and nail clippers. Ear cleaning and nail trimming are essential for all three coat types.

Breeders will give you a list of items you will need for your new puppy and even give you recommendations on food bowls, treats, toys, and grooming supplies.

How Much Does Spaying or Neutering Cost?

If you do not already have an established veterinarian, you will want to take the time to research prospective veterinarians. Do not be afraid to call the vets you are considering using and ask to meet with them to ask questions.

You may have to pay for an office visit, but meeting in person will give you a better understanding and feeling about each vet. If you are not comfortable with them, move on to the next veterinarian on your list. Veterinary care can be very expensive and in the first year of life, you do have significant costs.

Ask about puppy wellness packages which would include all the vaccinations, fecal exams, de-wormings, and spay/neuter that a puppy needs. These packages are usually cheaper than doing each visit separately. Puppy packages range in price from $150 to $350 depending on the gender of the puppy and the area of the vet. City veterinarians are usually higher priced than vets that are further out into the country.

If your veterinarian does not offer a puppy package, you will be paying for an office visit each time your puppy needs the next set of vaccinations. Remember, puppies need four puppy vaccines that are usually given three weeks apart. Your breeder will have had the first one or two given but it is up to you to complete the series. Office visits can cost around $25-$50 depending on the vet.

Also, if you do decide to spay or neuter your Dachshund and do not have a puppy package, you can plan on spending anywhere from $75-$350 depending on the procedure. Basic neuter does cost significantly less than a basic spay.

Summary First Year Cost of New Dachshund Puppy

Items Average Cost
Spay/Neuter $350
Food $360
Harness $40
Leash $20
Dog bed $50
Crate or playpen $50
Poop bags $10
Toothbrush and toothpaste $15
Nail clippers $15
Shampoo $10
Brush $20
Toys $50
Food and water bowls $30
Vet visit $50 on average each
Puppy Training Classes $200
Total $1270

Yearly Costs for Your Dachshund

Full Grown Standard and miniature dachshunds
Full-Grown Standard and Miniature Dachshunds

I always say when adding a dog, no matter the breed, to your home it is like having another child to care for. The cost during that first year can be quite high, but then things seem to level out and if you purchased from a responsible breeder, your dog should only require routine veterinary care. The day-to-day care of your Weiner dog should be as commonplace as buying groceries for the family.

Veterinary Expenses

Yearly vet exams are a must for your Dachshund as well as vaccinations and fecal exams. This yearly exam will usually be between $75-$125. Once your dog reaches about 7 years old, have your vet do a titer test to see if the antibodies are present for specific diseases. If titers have built up, you will not need to do any more vaccinations on your Dachshund. 

Flea, tick, and heartworm medications will also be a monthly thing, but I like to lump them into the yearly category because you can now get 3 to 6-month supplies on these meds. 

If your veterinarian finds something that needs to be investigated further or they need to send you to a specialist, it will obviously cost more money depending on what diagnostic tests are done and specialists will need to be seen.

If you are unable to keep your Doxie’s teeth cleaned, you may also opt to have teeth cleaning done once a year. This will cost around $100-$150.

Depending on where you live and how expensive your vet is, you can plan on spending $175-$275 for their annual visit, vaccinations, fecal exam, and teeth cleaning.

Food and Treats

Transition your Dachshund from quality puppy food to quality adult food by 12 months of age. Make sure you transition slowly by mixing the puppy and adult food together and slowly lowering the amount of puppy food given. Quality dog food will cost between $30-$70 per bag; most adult dog food bags are between 20-50 pounds.

Treats are also an ongoing expense for your companion. Who doesn’t love getting a treat? Commercial dog treats can cost from $5 to $20 a package but you can easily make your own treats or use fresh veggies and fruits such as carrots and blueberries.

Most Miniature Dachshunds will eat about 1 cup of food per day and Standard Dachshunds will eat between 1-1 ½ cups per day. Therefore, a 40-50 pound bag of food should definitely last them a full month. So, monthly food bills for your Doxie will be $30-$70.

Grooming Requirements

Short-haired Dachshunds obviously require the least amount of grooming and are the easiest to maintain. The long-haired and wire-haired do require more grooming and more bathing, therefore, some people prefer to take their longhair or wirehair Dachshund to a groomer.

Plan on heading to the groomer every 6-8 weeks for a full groom which includes a brush, bath, trim, stripping (if any), ear cleaning, and nail trimming. The cost for a full groom for your Dachshund will vary depending on your location but will most likely be from $50-$125 (including the tip for your groomer). So, that would be somewhere in the ballpark of $450-$1100 per year for grooming needs if you use a professional groomer.

Dog Sports

You may decide you want to participate in dog sports with your Dachshund. Rally, obedience, scent work, lure coursing, barn hunts, conformation, and agility are just a few sports you can enjoy with your dog. It is not cheap to participate in dog sports as you have training classes, equipment, and entry fees which can easily cost you a few thousand dollars each year if you become a serious competitor. Novices in dog sports start out by spending around $200-$300 for training, equipment, and entry fees.

Summary Yearly Cost of New Dachshund Puppy

Items Average Cost
Veterinary Expenses $175 – $275
Food $360 – $840
Grooming $450 – $1100
Dog Sport $200 – $300
Total $1185 – $2515

Final Thoughts

The initial cost of a Dachshund puppy
(from a Reputable Breeder)
$1,000-$2,500
Adoption Cost from a Rescue Organization
(homeless or owner-surrendered dogs)
$350-$500
Adoption Cost from a Reputable Breeder
(Retired dogs)
$350-$650
First-year costs for a Dachshund $1270-$2,000
The annual cost for adult Dachshunds $1185-$2515
Geriatric dog costs (per year) $1,000-$3,500

Dog ownership is certainly not cheap, but then again, how can you place a value on the love and loyalty that a Dachshund shows you and your family. These devoted little sausages will steal your heart in an instant and you will find yourself gladly doling out the cash to ensure their comfort and health. 

Food bills and money spent on toys, treats, beds, etc. will be the same no matter if you rescue a Dachshund or purchase a puppy. However, if you do not get a healthy Doxie, the vet bills can become overwhelming. Be certain you find a good breeder who stands behind their puppies.

If adopting a rescue, ask the rescue about ongoing medical expenses that will be needed so you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. It can sometimes be expensive to maintain a rescue because they already have pre-existing health issues.

Just like with humans, as your Dachshund ages, its health will start to decline. Therefore, the “golden years” for your Dachshund may find you dealing with age-related health issues and illnesses. I always have an emergency vet expenses fund set back for my dogs so I can afford to properly care for them as they age. 

Pet insurance is also not a bad idea if you only have one or two dogs. It does help with the really big expenses if you ever have to deal with unexpected and difficult illnesses or diseases. 

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