Toy Group Breeds

• The AKC toy group holds several dog breeds of similar proportion to the dachshund breed. These breeds are grouped for their small size which generally ranges between 5 to 22 lbs. For those living in small spaces, such as apartments or condos, these breeds accommodate them well. Pugs have smooth easy-to-groom coats and are a popular companion dog. Breeds offering similar size but with long-haired fur coats are the shih tzu, Cavalier King Charles spaniel and Havanese, which require frequent grooming or close trimming to manage shedding.
  
  

Terrier Group Breeds

• Terriers are a highly active group of dog breeds with small to medium stature. The smaller breeds in this group are similar to the proportion of a dachshund with short legs and a long, low muscled torso. Small Australian terriers used to sheep herd in the Australian outback and have a double coat which sheds minimally if kept groomed. Rare, long-haired Skye terriers, which require grooming and are expert rodent hunters, and also wire-haired Scottish terriers, which love to dig, are two more breeds comparable to the dachshund in size.
  
  

Hound Group Breeds

• Breeds within the hound group are expert hunters with acute sensory attributes for hunting small prey, such as ground vermin, rabbits and fowl. The dachshund is a member of this group and other small stature breeds within it similar in size are basset hounds and beagles. Beagles have a shiny short-haired coat that is weather-resistant. Basset hounds have an exceptional sense of hearing and smell for scent tracking and a low-maintenance short-haired coat. Gentle-natured basset hounds are similar in size to large, regular adult dachshunds, but are heavily muscled, giving them a higher comparable weight.
  
  

Non-Sporting Group Breeds

• Some AKC non-sporting group breeds similar in size to a dachshund are the Lhasa apso, Tibetan spaniel and French bulldog. French bulldogs have a smooth coat which sheds little and they tend to stay very alert in their active home territory. Short-legged, affectionate Tibetan spaniels, which need little exercise, have a double coat and are ideal watchdogs for small homes or apartments. Long-haired Lhasa apso coats must be groomed and styled by daily brushing or shaving and are often floor-length. They make very excitable but loyal canine companions.