Brittany Spaniel or Dachshund? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Brittany Spaniel is the heavier at 30–40 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Brittany Spaniel and Dachshund and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and barking, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Dachshund rates 5/5 against 3/5. It is written for the decision rather than the breed history.
Between Brittany Spaniel and Dachshund, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Dachshund is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Brittany Spaniel if this is your first dog, there are young children at home and you already have another dog.
Choose Dachshund if you are in a flat or a smaller home, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.
| Feature | brittany | dachshund | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 30–40 lbs | 11–32 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 5–9 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years | 12–16 years | dachshund |
| Exercise need | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | dachshund |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | dachshund |
| Energy level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| Apartment suitability | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | dachshund |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Very low (1/5) | brittany |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Good with other dogs | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Medium, wavy coat | Short, wirehaired, or longhaired | Equal |
| Origin | France | Germany | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $90–$180 | $80–$150 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,300–$2,500 | $1,200–$2,500 | Equal |
This is about as large a size gap as this site tracks: the Brittany stands 17-20 inches and weighs 30-40 lbs, while the Dachshund tops out around 9 inches tall and 11-32 lbs, built low and long rather than tall. Picking these two side by side is really picking between a mid-size sporting dog and a small, elongated one.
The Brittany's exercise need rates a high 4/5; the Dachshund sits at a moderate 3/5, more than its small size might suggest. Dachshunds were bred to go to ground after badgers, so 'moderate' still means real digging, chasing, and stubborn bursts of energy - just not the all-day stamina a Brittany brings.
Both breeds keep grooming simple, tying at a low 2/5. Shedding tilts toward the Brittany at a moderate 3/5 against the Dachshund's low 2/5, whichever coat type - smooth, wirehaired, or longhaired - you end up with. Neither dog demands a grooming budget, which narrows this particular comparison down to almost nothing.
The Dachshund is the clear apartment pick, rating a very high 5/5 for apartment suitability against the Brittany's 3/5 - its size does most of the work there. It barks noticeably more, though, at a high 4/5 versus the Brittany's low 2/5, and it tolerates being alone the worst of any breed in this comparison at a very low 1/5. Small and adaptable does not mean quiet or independent.
The Brittany rates a 5/5 for trainability and 4/5 for first-time owners; the Dachshund comes in lower on both, at 3/5 and 3/5. Dachshunds have a reputation for independent, sometimes stubborn thinking, and the numbers back that up - a new owner will likely find the Brittany the more cooperative student.
The Brittany scores 5/5 with kids and other dogs and 4/5 with strangers - near the top across the board. The Dachshund rates meaningfully lower everywhere: 3/5 with kids, 3/5 with other dogs, and just 2/5 with strangers. A Dachshund's wariness toward unfamiliar people and its lower kid rating are both worth weighing carefully in a busy household.
The Dachshund actually outlives the Brittany at the top end - 12-16 years against 12-15 - but its health list is dominated by one serious structural issue: intervertebral disc disease, tied to its elongated spine, alongside chondrodystrophy and degenerative myelopathy. Progressive retinal atrophy and hip dysplasia are the two conditions it shares with the Brittany; everything else on its list is spine- and back-related in a way the Brittany's list simply isn't.
The Dachshund is the cheaper dog on paper: $80-150 a month and $1,200-2,500 in year one, against the Brittany's $90-180 and $1,300-2,500. Both land at the same moderate 3/5 cost rating overall, so the day-to-day gap is small - though a Dachshund's back problems can turn into a significant unplanned vet bill if IVDD ever flares up.
Brittany Spaniel weighs 30–40 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Dachshund weighs 11–32 lbs and lives 12–16 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, barking and good with kids and 3 other rated axes. They are level on cost level and grooming need, so those cannot decide it. In the table, a "winner" means easier for an ordinary household — not better. Size, coat and origin are recorded without a verdict. Because both breeds are scored the same way, the gaps are reliable even where the absolute numbers are rough.
Substantially - a Dachshund tops out at 32 lbs and 9 inches tall, while a Brittany runs 30-40 lbs and stands up to 20 inches. Their builds differ as much as their size: long and low versus athletic and leggy.
The Dachshund, at a low 2/5 versus the Brittany's moderate 3/5. Grooming effort is tied between them at 2/5.
It's workable but rates only a moderate 3/5 for first-time owners, versus the Brittany's 4/5. Its independent streak (3/5 trainability) means a bit more patience is required than with the Brittany.
The Dachshund, clearly - it rates a very high 5/5 for apartment suitability against the Brittany's 3/5. It does bark more (4/5 vs 2/5) and struggles more with alone time (1/5 vs 2/5), so it's not without apartment-specific downsides.
The Dachshund, slightly - $80-150 a month versus $90-180 for the Brittany. First-year costs are close: $1,200-2,500 versus $1,300-2,500.
Only two conditions overlap: progressive retinal atrophy and hip dysplasia. The Dachshund's other risks are largely spine-related - IVDD, chondrodystrophy, and degenerative myelopathy - which don't appear on the Brittany's list at all.
The Dachshund, at up to 16 years versus the Brittany's 15-year maximum, though both share the same 12-year floor.
The Dachshund, if space is the main constraint - it rates 5/5 for apartment life versus the Brittany's 3/5. The Brittany wins on trainability and sociability if you have more room to work with.
The Dachshund, at $80-150 versus the Brittany's $90-180 - a modest but real difference.
The Dachshund, rated a high 4/5 versus the Brittany's low 2/5 - a real consideration for shared walls.
The Dachshund's range tops out at 16 years versus the Brittany's 15, though the difference is only meaningful at the high end.
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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