When looking for the right dog for you, you need to consider first your lifestyle and whether or not the dog’s character and needs match it. This is especially important when you’re eyeing a Dachshund Catahoula mix.
The Dachshund Catahoula mix is a result of crossbreeding two dogs that are practically polar opposites when it comes to their size, coat type, temperament, and more.
Dachshund Catahoula Mix Overview
The Dachshund Catahoula mix is a cross between a male Dachshund Weiner and a female Catahoula Leopard dog. There isn’t much history about this crossbreed since these mixes just appeared in the last few years.
Although one thing’s for sure, the Dachshund Catahoula mix dogs come from a line of hunters. If you’re looking for an excellent watchdog, this crossbreed is perfect.
Dachshund Catahoula Mix Personality and Temperament
Although the Dachshund Weiner dog and the Catahoula Leopard dog have different personalities, they make a great mix. The following are a few personality traits that this crossbreed inherits from its parents.
1. Active
The Dachshund Catahoula mix dogs are known for being active pets. They make great companions for outdoor activities such as walking and hiking.
Keeping them active is important because these dogs tend to get bored easily. You also have to give them enough time for strength exercises.
This way, you can prevent the potential of destructive behavior.
2. Loyal and Friendly
These mixed dogs are loyal to their family. They tend to be unsociable around strangers, but definitely sweet and affectionate to their fur parents. It’s in their nature to keep a close watch on their family.
This breed is also playful, especially with kids. With proper training and socialization, the Dachshund Catahoula mix can also be friendly with other dogs.
Socializing pups while they’re still young will make work easier.
3. Crave Attention
Since the Dachshund Catahoula mix dogs get bored easily, they always seek attention from their family. If they don’t receive the attention they need, they tend to be destructive and even aggressive.
That's why adequate playtime every day is a must to feed this dog's needs for stimulation.
You can also give your pup attention through training. Still, keep in mind that this breed is rather stubborn, so you'll need so much patience when it comes to training!
4. Alert
Alert barking is common in the Dachshund Catahoula mix. These dogs will surely bark if they detect something suspicious in the environment.
That's why we don't recommend getting this pup if you live in an apartment building or so.
If your dog barks excessively, giving him something mentally stimulating will help reduce it. It’s also important to acknowledge him when he barks.
If you ignore him, he'll likely just bark louder.
Dachshund Catahoula Mix Size and Appearance
The Dachshund Catahoula mix usually inherits a combination of both its parents' appearances.
Height and Weight
Dachshund Catahoula mix dogs normally grow to 8 to 22 inches (20 to 56 cm) in height. They can also usually weigh from 35 to 82 pounds (16 to 37 kg).
Their sizes are just between the average measurements of the two purebreds.
Coat Color, Pattern, Length, and Type
Dachshund Catahoula mix dogs have short coats which they inherit from the two parents. They can also have speckles on their coats, just like the Catahoula Leopard breed, in different colors:
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Chocolate
- Tan
- Yellow
Dachshund Catahoula Mix Health and Care
As a dog owner, you want to know how to properly take care of your Dachshund Catahoula mix. Providing proper nutrition, health monitoring, and grooming will keep your dog happy and healthy.
Grooming
The Dachshund Catahoula mix experiences moderate to heavy shedding sessions. Therefore, you should maintain its coat's length on a regular basis to eliminate excessive hair.
You should also clean its ears regularly because it's prone to ear infections.
In addition, the nails need cutting twice a month. This way, you can prevent this dog from experiencing pain when walking and running.
Feeding
You can feed your Dachshund Catahoula mix either dry or wet food, but the best option is a raw diet.
Give him 1.5 to 2.5 cups daily and divide it into 2 or 3 portions. Avoid overfeeding your dog to prevent obesity, which can lead to hip dysplasia.
Health Issues
When owning dogs, it’s important to know the health issues that may arise in their life. Unfortunately, Dachshund Catahoula mix dogs are prone to several hereditary diseases.
These include hip dysplasia, which is a common disease found in medium to large-breed dogs. Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip doesn’t grow properly.
This mixed breed is also prone to diabetes, which causes the dog’s body to break down fats and muscle tissues, resulting in weight loss.
Liver diseases can also occur as this dog gets old. It’s genetic, but infection and trauma to the liver are factors that may lead to this condition.
In addition, the Dachshund Catahoula mix dogs are prone to eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma.
If you notice any unusual behavior in your dogs, it’s important to have them checked immediately by the vet. This is to avoid serious symptoms in the future.
Life Expectancy
The Dachshund Catahoula mix dogs can live for 14 to 17 years.
With proper care and a healthy lifestyle, these dogs can survive until the end of their lifespan. Make sure to keep them active and bring them to the vet regularly to catch early signs of health problems.
Where to Find a Dachshund Catahoula Mix
If you’ve already decided to own a dachshund Catahoula mix, you can first check animal rescue centers for a good candidate. This is a less expensive option than buying, plus you’ll be able to give the dog a second chance in life.
Some shelters also provide medical care including vaccinations and spaying or neutering.
If you’re not able to find one, you can also look for a reputable breeder. However, they usually charge higher prices since they invest a lot of time, energy, and money in breeding dogs.
They take time to socialize their dogs, too, and spend a lot on medical needs so that they can raise a healthy and happy dog.
Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament.com readers with the best answers to their questions.