Best Dachshund Dog Food

As a dachshund owner, you know that these little dogs have big personalities and require high-quality food to support their active lifestyles. But with so many different dog food brands on the market, it can be hard to choose the right one for your dachshund. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best dog foods for dachshunds and provide tips for choosing the right one for your pup. So read on to learn more!

Let’s start with some background info;

What is a Dachshund breed?

A dachshund is a short-legged, long-bodied, hound type of dog that was originally bred for hunting.

Dachshunds come in three different coat types: smooth coats, longhaired and wirehaired. Dachshunds also have two different color varieties: red and black and tan. And they may have either brown eyes or one dark and one light eye.

A standard dachshund is 10-11 inches tall and weighs 16-32 lbs. A mini dachshund stands 6-9 inches high and weighs 13-18 lbs. And a tweenie, which is a cross between a standard and a mini, is 8-11 inches and weighs 9-16 lbs.

Dachshunds have a very long back and short legs, which gives them the ability to enter into small spaces that dogs with longer legs can’t get into, making them great for hunting smaller or more timid animals. And they are strong enough to pull small animals out of holes in the ground.

As I said before, dachshunds were bred to be hunters, so they have a very low tolerance for small animals such as rabbits or chickens. So this means owners should always keep an eye on these dogs when they are around smaller pets because they could do some serious harm in the blink of an eye.

Their very flexible spines also allow them to squeeze through small spaces, which is another reason why they’re good hunters. And it means that dachshunds are more likely to experience back problems later in life due to the strain on their spines from squeezing into tight spots.

Dachshunds were originally bred as hunting dogs so their main prey was usually small animals, such as rabbits or rodents. But they are also known for chasing after larger animals, like deer.

Dachshunds are very active dogs that require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. Hiking, swimming, playing fetch with the family pet – are all great ways to burn off all that extra energy. We previously reviewed the best bark collars for Dachshunds which you’ll appreciate.

Because dachshunds have a long back and short legs, their spines are very flexible which gives them the ability to squeeze into small spaces where dogs with longer legs can’t fit. This also means that dachshunds are more likely to experience back problems like slipped discs later in life.

Nutritional requirements of dachshunds:

Dachshunds are hunting dogs which means that they have very high energy requirements and require a lot of physical activity. Their long spines also mean they’re more likely to experience slipped discs later in life, so choosing the right dog food for this breed is very important.

This means that dachshunds need food with higher fat content than other breeds. Because they are so active, dachshunds also need food with high levels of protein to maintain their lean muscles.

Small-breed dog foods are also a good choice for dachshunds because these have smaller kibble sizes that are easier for them to chew and digest. Dachshunds should never be fed adult dog food because these usually have too high a protein content for this breed.

Dachshunds also tend to put on weight quickly, so it’s important that they stick to a healthy diet and watch their calorie intake. And since dachshunds are more likely than other breeds to become obese, it is extra important to feed them a diet that promotes lean muscle mass and weight loss.

How does your Dachshund look like?

Dachshunds are always ready to play! Some dachshunds may be black and tan, others red and black or cream and red. A dachshund has a long body and short legs with a long, stretched-out neck. They have deep chests which are good for their endurance.

A dachshund’s body is covered in muscles and since they were bred to hunt small animals, they’re known for being fearless. Their very flexible spines allow them to squeeze into tight spaces where other dogs can’t fit.

What to know about feeding them

1.  If your doxie is always ready to play, he might be very active and seem like he never runs out of energy. If your dachshund sleeps all day but is always awake for dinner, then your dachshund might seem overweight or tend to become obese easily. If you notice that your doxie has a hard time breathing or experiences some strange movement in its back legs, then your dachshund might have a slipped disc.

2. To keep your Dachshund healthy and active, he needs food that contains high levels of protein to maintain his lean muscles and burn energy from the most effective source – fat from animal meat. Any food for small dogs will do just fine but since most dogs usually gain weight easily, you should pay extra attention to how much your doxie eats.

3. Dachshunds often fatten easily because they’re usually very hungry and tend to eat too fast without chewing their food enough. This creates problems like lack of nutrient absorption, gas, indigestion or other intestinal disorders which can lead to weight gain.

Best dog food for dachshunds in 2022

Now that you know why it’s important to feed your Dachshund right, here are some products I recommend:

Iams ProActive Health MiniChunks Dry Dog Food, Chicken & Rice Formula

Our overall best dog food for Dachshunds in this 2022 list is IAMs ProActive Health MiniChunk Dry Dog Food. This tasty recipe is appetizing, unlike most other dry dog food that dogs hate. It has quality ingredients as well.

• Ingredients: chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain wheat, whole grain corn, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, animal liver flavor, dried beet pulp, lactic acid, flaxseed (source of omega 3 fatty acids), potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, taurine*, vitamins (vitamin E supplement , L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate , riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, biotin), minerals (zinc sulfate, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, iron proteinate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese sulfate, manganous oxide , calcium iodate), dried apple pomace , dried carrot pomace , DL-methionine, l-lysine, dried blueberry pomace, dried spinach pomace , preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid, rosemary extract
• *Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.

Feeding instructions:

• Tiny (1-10 lbs.): 1/4 – 3/4 cup daily
• || Small (11-20 lbs.): 3/4 – 1 cup daily || Medium (21-35 lbs.): 1 – 1 3/4 cups daily || Large (36-60 lbs.): 2 – 2 1/2 cups daily

If you have a dachshund, you know how stubborn they can be sometimes. But if your Dachshund is like mine, he will love this product and eat it all up.

The first thing I noticed about the product was its smell; it smelled really fresh and appetizing! The kibble size isn’t that small (which is good if your dachshund has a hard time chewing), and also not too big which can create digestion problems for small dogs.

Iams has been known to produce high-quality products and this one is no exception; the fresh smell, kibble size and shape, and all the nutrients found in the product will create a healthy diet for your Dachshund. In my opinion, price isn’t too much of an issue when it comes to quality products (but you should always shop around for food and find the best price).

Iams ProActive Health mini Chunks is great dog food, and every Dachshund will love it! The small kibble size reduces gas and digestive problems. It’s very nutritious and contains no preservatives which mean higher levels of vitamins and minerals!

2. Purina Beneful IncrediBites dry dog food

Ingredients: Ground whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, animal fat preserved with mixed tocopherols (form of vitamin E), whole grain wheat, meat and bone meal, dried beet pulp , flaxseed, oat meal, animal digest, glycerin , wheat middling, sugar , salt, preserved with BHA and citric acid, potassium chloride, choline chloride, taurine (0.1%), vitamin E supplement, l-lysine monohydrochloride , zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate , manganese sulfate, niacin, vitamin A supplement, calcium carbonate, copper sulfate , calcium pantothenate, vitamin B12 , thiamine mononitrate , pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement , folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement , biotin

Feeding instructions:

• Tiny (1-10 lbs.): 1/3 – 2/3 cup daily
• || Small (11-20 lbs.): 2/3 – 1 cup daily || Medium (21-35 lbs.): 1 – 2 cups daily || Large (36-60 lbs.): 2 – 3 cups daily
• Bite-size pieces that are slightly smaller than the average kibble may be a bit easier for your Dachshund to chew and digest, while the blend of healthy ingredients provides balanced nutrition.

Our second best choice is another great dog food choice for your Dachshund! It has high-quality ingredients such as whole-grain corn which gives it a greater number of milligrams per kibble than other foods. The taste is excellent and your Dachshunds will love each bite.

Price also isn’t too much of an issue for this product; you can find it anywhere between $15-$25. It’s great dog food, with high-quality ingredients that provide balanced nutrition for your dachshund!  

3. Hill’s Science Diet Adult small & toy breed dry dog food

Ingredients: Whole grain corn , chicken by-product meal, soybean meal, wheat gluten , animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of vitamin E), whole grain wheat , natural flavor , dried egg product, fish oil , flaxseed (source of omega 3 fatty acids), brewers rice, dicalcium phosphate , potassium chloride, l-lysine monohydrochloride , choline chloride, vitamins (l-ascorbyl-2polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate , calcium pantothenate, biotin , vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride , riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin A), folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, ), minerals (zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate monohydrate, zinc proteinate , manganese sulfate monohydrate , copper sulfate pentahydrate , manganous oxide, sodium selenite), taurine, oat fiber , l-carnitine, dl-methionine

Feeding instructions:

• Small dogs (5-10 lbs.): 1/2 to 3/4 cup daily || Medium dogs (11-25 lbs.): 3/4 to 1 1/4 cups daily || Large dogs (25-50 lbs.): 1 1/4 to 2 cups daily

This product is great for your Dachshund because it has high-quality ingredients which provide balanced nutrition. Dogs love the flavor and every bite means you’ll be catching less of it on your clothes. It’s also not too expensive; you should be able to find it for about $20-$35 dollars.

4. Iams Lamb and Rice dry dog food

Ingredients: Ground whole grain corn , lamb meal, poultry by-product meal (source of omega 3 fatty acids), soybean meal, whole grain wheat , animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of vitamin E), rice , natural flavor , fish oil (source of DHA-docosahexaenoic acid), brewers rice, dicalcium phosphate , potassium chloride, l-lysine monohydrochloride , choline chloride, vitamins (l-ascorbyl-2polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, thiamine mononitrate , calcium pantothenate, biotin , vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride , riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin A), folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement), magnesium oxide , zinc sulfate, iron sulfate , zinc proteinate , ferrous sulfate monohydrate , manganese sulfate monohydrate , copper sulfate pentahydrate , manganous oxide, sodium selenite

This is an excellent dog food for your dachshunds because it has high-quality ingredients and balanced nutrition. It’s also not so expensive, and you can usually find it for around $20 per bag. The taste is great as well, which is a bonus if your Dachshund has a picky appetite!

FAQs

Q: What is the best dog food for dachshunds?

A: The best dog food for Dachshunds is one that has high-quality ingredients and balanced nutrition. It also needs to be easily accessible, not too expensive, and your Doxie must love the taste of it! Our top choices are Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula, Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Food, and IAMS Lamb and Rice.

Q: How much food do Dachshunds eat?

A: The amount of food your dachshund eats is going to depend on a lot of variables – age, activity level, build, metabolism. In general, however, you should be giving your Dachshund about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food per day.

Q: When do I switch my dog’s food?

A: This will depend on the quality of food you’re using, but usually around 1 year old is a good time to start switching your Doxie over to a different brand or to a different formula of the same brand. Make sure you introduce the new food slowly, though! Mixing it in with your Dachshund’s old food and gradually increasing the proportion of new food over about 10 days is ideal.

Q: Why does my dog eat grass?

A: Most likely, your dog is trying to get some nutrients that he’s missing from his diet. It may also be a sign of an upset stomach or irritable bowel syndrome, so you should speak with a veterinarian if this continues.

Q: How much does it cost to feed a dachshund?

A: A lot of factors play into how much it costs to feed a dachshund. In general, however, you can find a decent food for around $20-$30 per bag, which should last you about 2-3 weeks if you’re feeding your Dachshund the recommended amount of 1/2 to 3/4 cup per day.

Q: What can I feed a dachshund puppy?

A: Puppies between the ages of 6 months and 5 months should be fed 3 times per day. You can look for a puppy formula in your brand’s line – Diamond Naturals, Blue Buffalo, Natural Balance all make different types of food formulated specifically for puppies!

Q: What should I feed Dachshund Puppy with?

A: You can feed a Dachshund puppy with puppy food is usually designed to be fed alongside wet or moistened dry kibble. You can moisten it by adding warm water, and you should only feed your puppy about 1/2 cup of food per day.

Q: I want to switch my Dachshund’s food- what do I need to look out for?

A: When switching your Dachshund over to different food, it’s usually best to mix his current food in with the new one and gradually increase the proportion of new food over about 10 days. This gives your Doxie’s stomach and digestive system time to adjust and allows you to monitor for any negative reactions.