Beagle Dachshund Mix: Doxle Breed Information, Facts & More

The hardworking Beagle and the avid digger Dachshund create the Doxle, a combination of both hound dogs. Their boldness, intelligence, and strength are surely the most prized qualities in both breeds. In fact, Dachshunds are frequently compared to Beagles by many owners looking for a family pet. When you combine these popular breeds, you get the Beagle Dachshund mix, often referred to as the Doxle. They are adorable to see, but both breeds can be stubborn, making them more challenging to train for first-time dog owners. Is this hound dog the perfect companion for you? 

Doxle Parent Breeds

A “designer dog” is any mix between two purebred parents. When mixing both the Dachshund and the Beagle, you won’t get a huge dog. Instead, they are of average size or small. Mixed breeds inherit characteristics from both parents and become a unique blend of the two. They can be unpredictable in both appearance and temperament, or they might be more like one parent breed. While the Beagle and Dachshund are often compared, there are some notable differences.

Beagle Overview

The Beagle dates back to England and was primarily used as a hunting dog. Beagles have been around since before the 1500s, and their description was primarily targeted at a specific type of hound breed.  The names of each pup would differ depending on the type of game that they were required to track. Today’s version of the Beagle came about in the 1800s and was standardized.

This breed came into the US and quickly became a favorite of celebrities and other famous politicians.  They’ve been used a number of times in cartoons and other types of media, including motion pictures.  While they are famous on-screen, they are more suited for chilling out in your lap as a family pet.

This breed is extremely diverse and can be used in a multitude of different ways. They are often used by military and law enforcement personnel due to their keen scents of smell. They are extremely intelligent, which means they can be tougher to train for first-time dog owners. Their temperament varies from dog to dog, but overall, most Beagles can be headstrong and stubborn. They are fantastic with kids, though, and tolerate things that usually other calm breeds tolerate when it comes to tail pulling and ear tugs.

Beagles make excellent family companions with a diligent work ethic.  They have a longer lifespan, anywhere from 12 to 16 years, and they usually weigh around 20 to 35 pounds.  Some other popular Beagle mixes include the Beagle Jack Russell mix, the Labrador Beagle mix seen here, and the Beaski.

Dachshund Overview

The Dachshund or Doxie originated in Germany and was used as a hunting dog. There have been traces of the breed as far back as the 15th century. Dachshunds became popular in the 17th century in Germany and were used for hunting badgers. In fact, Dachshund literally translates to “Badger Dog” in German!

The breed was brought to the U.S. in 1885 and was shortly recognized by the American Kennel Club. The 1930s saw a temporary popularity boost until they were ostracized in World War II for being a German dog. They are now super popular among families and are often referred to as “wiener dogs.”

The Dachshund is a medium—to small-sized breed with short legs. It looks adorable walking along the ground. Dachshunds don’t need a lot of exercise and are quite friendly when socialized early. They can be trained to do well with other pets and children. They really like to impress adults. Doxies love to play and bark excessively if not socialized properly.

Loving, energetic, and endearing lap dogs, Doxies are well known for their tiny stature and watchdog qualities. Yes, even though they’re small, you can expect them to be protective of you and your household. They are long-lived at 12 to 16 years and get as tall as 8 or 9 inches for standard and 5-6 for miniature. Dachshunds are a popular mixed breed, and you’ll often see them mixed with a Lab, crossbred with a Corgi, or even mixed with a smaller pup like the Chihuahua.

Beagle Dachshund Mix (Doxle)

Similar to most designer dogs, the origins of this mixed breed are unknown. The Doxle was likely bred around the time most designer breeds came to be, the ’90s and early 2000s.

Both the Beagle and Dachshund are hunters to their core. They have an excellent sense of smell and are great dogs for tracking humans and animals. They are also courageous to the point of being rash, which can get them into some unfortunate situations.

Temperament

The Doxie Beagle mix is a lovely and energetic companion. They are also prolific barkers and make wonderful watchdogs. You will always know whenever someone even walks by with a Doxle on duty.

Doxles love people and are very active. They are happy to accompany you in your daily activities. These pups are very lovable and become attached quickly. Doxles are highly adaptable and make great pets for any family or owner that has time to spend with them.

These pups love to dig, so be sure you have somewhere they can release that energy, or your furniture may suffer.

Size & Appearance

The size of the Doxle varies, but they fall between 16 and 30 pounds and as tall as 15 inches. Their ears are floppy, and their snout can be small or medium-sized. It depends on whether the Dachshund is standard or toy-sized. Doxles usually have brown eyes and back noses.

Your Doxle’s appearance depends on the parent, and there is a variety of colors available. If your Doxle takes after the Dachshund, you could have a black, gold, chocolate, cream, tan, or blue Doxle. If they take after the Beagle, you could have a tri-colored pup of chocolate tri, lemon and white, white and chocolate, red and white, as well as others.

Grooming

Doxles come in three coat varieties, so their grooming needs vary. They could be long-haired, short-haired, or medium-coated. If they are smoothed and short-coated, once per week is more than enough. If they are long, once per day.

Make sure to trim their nails frequently, as their sharp nails could easily scratch up the furniture. It’s also uncomfortable for dogs to have their nails scrape across the ground. Ideally, you should also brush your pup’s teeth twice a day, but that is not realistic for many owners. Aim for three times a week teeth brushing. Learn more about other ways to help keep your pup’s teeth clean, which helps prevent dental disease and keeps their breath fresh.

Trainability

The Doxle follows their parents as active, high-energy, and intelligent. With the right approach, they have high trainability potential. Dachshunds are known for their hardheadedness and independence, so if the Doxle follows that parent, you’ll have a more difficult time training them.

Positive reinforcement is the best training method for any dog. Do not try to slap or scold them when they do something wrong, as your pup grows to resent you, making training and bonding with them much harder. Giving them treats or toys for a job well done is a much more effective approach.

Obedience training and socialization training must start early. Your pup must learn behavior boundaries and how to interact with other dogs, cats, children, and strangers. If this is intimidating or you aren’t having success, consider a professional trainer. Online dog training options like Doggy Dan can be very effective and convenient.

If you plan to harness-train your Doxle, it’s extremely important to start early. These little pups have a higher prey drive based on how they were bred, and they love to pull if they see something exciting.  Getting a harness that’s made specifically for the longer body shape is important.

Exercise & Living Conditions

Although the Doxle is a high-energy dog, they don’t require two hours of exercise every day but still needs to be taken out to play. They enjoy going to the dog park for brisk walks, playing in a large backyard, and multiple rounds of fetch.

You’ll need to exercise them daily for a minimum of an hour, and it’s recommended that you take them out twice daily. They require a lot of space, a lot of time, and a lot of attention. It would be a bad idea to adopt this breed if you can’t fulfill their exercise requirements.

Despite being outdoor workers, Doxles don’t do well outside for extended periods of time. They also don’t have coats equipped for winter months. We always recommend not leaving them outside overnight because they could get sick. Always get your pup a nice, warm place to stay—preferably in the bed beside you.

Health

Many people ask, “Are Beagle Daschund mixes healthy?” As with most designer breeds, the Doxle is less likely to have health problems due to the mix of two purebreds canceling out most health problems they’ll get when they’re older. This doesn’t mean they’re immune, so make sure to watch their weight and feed them a healthy diet.

Dachshunds are prone to musculoskeletal conditions, such as intervertebral disc disease. Because of their small size, they are also prone to obesity, so make sure to feed them smaller portions. Patellar luxation, eye problems, and ear infections are also at risk of developing.

Beagles are at risk for hypothyroidism, eye conditions, obesity, glaucoma, corneal dystrophy, and factor VII deficiency. These issues also come in old age, so it’s best to take care of them while they’re young to prevent issues in the future.

You may be wondering, “What is the life expectancy of a beagle Dachshund mix?” The Doxie Beagle mix has a lifespan of 11 to 14 years. Some may live longer, and each dog’s individual lifestyle, diet, genetics, and level of care play a role in their lifespan.

Pet insurance is worth considering for this mixed breed because of the risk of some of these health conditions. Pet insurance will not cover pre-existing conditions or routine care, but it can be beneficial in the case of an emergency, injury, or long-term illness. In some cases, it can help you access lifesaving care for your pet that you would not otherwise be able to afford. You can learn more about pet insurance, how to get it, and our top recommendations in our best pet insurance guide.

Nutrition

Doxles need a proper diet that mostly consists of protein and fat with low carbs. A Doxle mixed puppy should have a diet of 22% protein, while the adult should have 18%, according to the American Feed Control Officials. It’s also recommended that you feed your Doxle whole meats like fish, beef, and chicken.

The Doxie Beagle mix needs food that is formulated for smaller breeds unless they are over 30 pounds. This is especially important for growing puppies. Smaller dogs need nutrient-dense food and must refuel a few times a day. They burn calories at a much faster rate than larger breeds. Give your Doxle pup a few small meals every day to be sure they have enough energy.

As Family Pets

Doxles are smart and capable hunting dogs, but are they the perfect pup for your family?  There are a number of important things to think through regarding how the Doxle acts as a family pet before you bring them home.  Let’s look at what you can expect when you add them to your family.

1. The Doxle is funny, cheerful, and intelligent.
2. They love attention but don’t require much room, but the more, the better.
3. Grooming requirements are low to high. They might need to be brushed once per day.
4. Doxles aren’t normally shedders.
5. Exercise requirements are an average of an hour per day.
6. Energetic and ready to please, you’ll need to play with them a lot.
7. A personality that’s mainly happy and smart but a little stubborn.
8. Health problems are minimal due to the mix, but watch for mobility issues.
9. Find a breeder that can show you the parent’s health issues.

Breeders & Puppy Prices

With Dachshunds and Beagles being some of the most popular family pets, a good breeder won’t take long to find. A well-bred Doxle could cost you $500-$1,000 or more, which means they can get expensive. The cheaper pups likely won’t have papers for their breeding dogs (watch out for backyard breeders), while the higher-priced ones do.

Always research the breeders you want to buy from. You don’t want to be sold a sick puppy (unless you have the funds to make them better).

Doxle Rescues

If you aren’t interested in buying from a breeder, searching for a rescue in your area is another option. Contact your local Beagle and Dachshund clubs for nearby breeders and rescues.

Dachshunds and Beagles are often surrendered because owners have a hard time training them. this means you have a high chance of finding a Doxle in a shelter.

This option is cheaper, with the only negative being that you don’t know the parents or the full history of the dog. Still, these pets need loving homes and can be amazing companions whether they’re purebred or not. If you are looking for the chance to own a Doxle at a fraction of the cost, check out breed specific rescues to see if they have any Doxle pups who need homes.

Are You Ready For A New Dog?

Adopting a new pup of any age is a big commitment. Be sure you weigh all the responsibilities and costs that come with adopting a new pet. Be sure to talk to other family members, especially children and teenagers, about the role they may play in caring for this new pet and being a responsible pet owner.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Michelle has been a dog owner her entire life and is one of the founders of this website. While she has never owned these two breeds, she has spent lots of time with her sister’s Dachshund, Otto, and her uncle’s Beagle, Charlie. Michelle is also a licensed insurance agent who specializes in pet insurance. She’s part of a team of dog specialists at Canine Journal who have over a decade of experience researching, testing, and writing about everything you need to know to keep your pup healthy and happy.