We in the United States enjoy the Dachshund in two sizes (standard, usually between 16 and 32 pounds, and miniature, 11 pounds and under), while those adhering to Fédération Cynologique (FCI) standards get one more size option, and it’s all based on the size of the hole the Dachshund can enter.
In FCI countries, the Dachshund (or Teckel, as the breed is most commonly called by hunters) has been bred for decades in three sizes:
• The Teckel, what we call “standard;”
• The Miniature Teckel;
• And the size not recognized in the US, the Rabbit Dachshund, or as it’s known in Germany, the Kaninchen Teckle, “kaninchen” the German word for rabbit.
The Fédération Cynologique differentiates between the Miniature Dachshund and the Rabbit Dachshund based on two measurements taken when the dog is 15 months old: Chest width and weight. Miniature Dachshunds can weigh up to about 8.8 pounds and have a chest measurement of between 11.8 and 13.8 inches, while a male Rabbit Dachshund can weigh up to 7.7 pound (or for a bitch, 6.6 pounds). They must have a chest measurement that is less than 11.8 inches.
In Germany, the Dachshund is divided into the same three categories, again based on the size of the hole the Dachshund can enter:
First is the Standard Dachshund, or Normalgrossteckel, while the second and third categories are Miniature Dachshunds, but they are further split into two categories. The Dwarf Dachshund, or Zwergteckel, and the Rabbit Dachshund, or Kaninchenteckel. measuring approximately 13.8 inches around the chest.
One source writes that to obtain the the Miniature, Dwarf and Rabbit sized Dachshunds, standard sized Dachshunds were bred with toy terriers or pinschers to reduce their size and give hunters more options. The Standard Dachshund can be used on wild boar, foxes, and badgers, but the Rabbit Dachshund is a rabbit “specialist” since the dog has to negotiate very narrow passages. This is one reason the breed’s chest is also measured as it determines which kind of game the dog can be used to hunt.
A caveat. A Rabbit Dachshund is not a “toy” or “teacup” Dachshund, something we’ve encountered while “surfing” the Internet. No respected or longstanding breed registry recognizes a “toy Dachshund,” and some have suggested that substandard Dachshund breeders have taken the smallest puppies in a litter (what some call “runts”), breed the “runts” together to ensure more tiny pups, and call the results “toy” Dachshunds as a marketing scheme. Buyer beware!
Where can you find rabbit dachshunds for sale in the United States? Where you can go look at the parents and the litter before purchasing to make sure they are the real thing? How do you check to find out for sure if the breeder is legitimate?
We honestly don’t know, Stacey, as it’s not an AKC recognized size. Our inclination would be to check European breeders, particularly in Germany. You are wise to ask about breeder reputation since distance and a potential language barrier make buyers easy targets. Certainly ask to see health testing on puppies and parents (and ask to SEE them, don’t take a verbal word for it); ask if the breeder offers a contract, ask about health guarantees, and what the breeder had as a goal in the particular breeding, ask what steps were taken to properly socialize the puppies, and how long the breeder has been breeding and what their experience is with the breed. They should be knowledgable about the breed’s strengths and weaknesses and any genetic diseases that might affect their breed. Also inquire if the breeder is involved in any breed clubs or if they show their dogs.Be aware of certain red flags, i.e., owning both parents who live on the premises, or never inquiring about you, and the home you can provide.
Blackhawk Falconry Dachshunds breeds rabbit dachshunds right here in the USA!
Here’s their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BlackhawkDachshunds/