Living
Dachshund or Rottweiler Mix?
These serve very different needs — the Dachshund suits small-space, low-experience households, while the Rottweiler Mix needs room, exercise, and an owner with some dog-handling experience already.
Dachshund vs Rottweiler Mix: Which Suits Your Home?
Dachshund or Rottweiler Mix? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Rottweiler Mix is the heavier at 80–135 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Dachshund and Rottweiler Mix and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and tolerates being alone, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Dachshund rates 5/5 against 2/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.
Quick verdict
Between Dachshund and Rottweiler Mix, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Dachshund is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose dachshund if...
Choose Dachshund if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and shedding is a problem in your house.
Choose rottweiler secondary if...
Choose Rottweiler Mix if the dog will be alone during the working day, you want a dog that picks up training quickly and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | dachshund | rottweiler secondary | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | small | large | Equal |
| Weight | 11–32 lbs | 80–135 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 5–9 in | 22–27 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–16 years | 9–10 years | dachshund |
| Exercise need | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | dachshund |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Shedding | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | dachshund |
| Energy level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | rottweiler secondary |
| Apartment suitability | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | dachshund |
| Good for first-time owners | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | dachshund |
| Tolerates being alone | Very low (1/5) | Moderate (3/5) | rottweiler secondary |
| Trainability | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | rottweiler secondary |
| Good with kids | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Good with other dogs | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | dachshund |
| Friendly to strangers | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | dachshund |
| Coat | Short, wirehaired, or longhaired | Short, dense double coat | Equal |
| Origin | Germany | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $80–$150 | $110–$240 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,200–$2,500 | $1,700–$3,200 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
This pairing has no size overlap whatsoever: the Dachshund at 11-32 lbs and 5-9 inches against a Rottweiler Mix at 80-135 lbs and 22-27 inches. A Rottweiler Mix can outweigh a Dachshund by more than 100 lbs — this is as extreme a size mismatch as you'll find in a small-versus-large comparison.
Energy and exercise
The Rottweiler Mix rates a high 4/5 for exercise need against the Dachshund's moderate 3/5, and given its size, that translates into real daily commitment — long walks or a yard to burn off energy, not a quick lap around the block. Both list a moderate energy level, but the physical scale of exercising an 80-135 lb dog is a different undertaking entirely.
Grooming and shedding
Grooming need ties at low 2/5 for both, but shedding tips toward the Dachshund, low 2/5 against the Rottweiler Mix's moderate 3/5. Given the size difference, that moderate shedding rating still means considerably more hair by volume than the Dachshund produces.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
The Dachshund rates 5/5 for apartment suitability; the Rottweiler Mix rates a low 2/5 — size is doing most of the work in that gap. Barking runs the opposite direction: the Dachshund hits a high 4/5, the Rottweiler Mix a low 2/5. If noise is your main apartment concern rather than space, the mix is actually the quieter option.
Training and owner experience
The Rottweiler Mix rates high 4/5 for trainability against the Dachshund's moderate 3/5, but first-time-owner suitability favors the Dachshund, moderate 3/5 against the mix's low 2/5. A trainable dog isn't automatically a beginner-friendly one — at this size and with this breed's guarding instincts, experience matters more than raw trainability.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
Kids ratings tie at moderate 3/5, and stranger-friendliness ties at low 2/5 for both. Where they split is other dogs: the Dachshund rates moderate 3/5, the Rottweiler Mix low 2/5. If you have multiple dogs or plan to, that gap is worth weighing alongside the Rottweiler Mix's higher trainability.
Health and lifespan
Lifespan favors the Dachshund substantially, 12-16 years against just 9-10 for the Rottweiler Mix — a gap tied to its large size, since bigger dogs generally live shorter lives. The mix's five listed conditions include osteosarcoma and cruciate ligament tears, both size-related risks. The Dachshund's ten conditions run longer but center on a single system, its spine.
Cost to keep
The Rottweiler Mix costs more to keep: high 4/5 cost level against the Dachshund's moderate 3/5, $110-240 monthly against $80-150, and $1,700-3,200 in year one against $1,200-2,500. Feeding a dog that can weigh over 100 lbs alone accounts for a real chunk of that gap.
Dachshund vs Rottweiler Mix at a glance
Dachshund weighs 11–32 lbs and lives 12–16 years; Rottweiler Mix weighs 80–135 lbs and lives 9–10 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, tolerates being alone and barking. They are level on energy level, grooming need and good with kids, so those cannot decide it. The table below marks a winner only where one breed is genuinely easier for a typical owner; size and origin are facts rather than merits and stay level. Ratings come from one source applied to both breeds, so they are meaningful against each other rather than as absolute scores.
Frequently asked questions
How much bigger is a Rottweiler Mix than a Dachshund?
Dramatically bigger — 80-135 lbs and 22-27 inches against the Dachshund's 11-32 lbs and 5-9 inches. There's no overlap in size at all between the two.
Which barks more?
The Dachshund, rated a high 4/5 against the Rottweiler Mix's low 2/5 — a somewhat counterintuitive result given the size difference.
Is a Rottweiler Mix good for a first-time owner?
No, it rates low (2/5) against the Dachshund's moderate (3/5) — its size and guarding instincts call for more handling experience.
Which fits an apartment better?
The Dachshund clearly, rated 5/5 against the Rottweiler Mix's low 2/5. Size alone drives most of that gap.
How much more does a Rottweiler Mix cost?
About $30-90 more per month and roughly $500-700 more in the first year, driven largely by its larger size.
Do they share health risks?
Both lists include hip dysplasia. Beyond that they diverge — the Dachshund toward spine problems, the Rottweiler Mix toward joint and bone cancer risks tied to its large size.
Which lives longer?
The Dachshund by a wide margin, 12-16 years against the Rottweiler Mix's 9-10 — one of the largest lifespan gaps in any comparison on this site.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the monthly cost difference?
The Rottweiler Mix runs $110-240 against the Dachshund's $80-150 — size drives most of the gap.
Training
Which needs more exercise?
The Rottweiler Mix, rated high (4/5) against the Dachshund's moderate (3/5), and its size makes that exercise a bigger daily commitment.
Health
Which lives longer?
The Dachshund, by a wide margin — 12-16 years against 9-10 for the Rottweiler Mix.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Dachshund breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Dachshund before deciding.
- Rottweiler Mix breed guide – The same for Rottweiler Mix, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Dachshund vs Brussels Griffon – Brussels Griffon is the closest breed to Dachshund on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
- Rottweiler Mix vs Rottweiler – Rottweiler sits closest to Rottweiler Mix, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
- What Dachshund costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
- Rottweiler Mix health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.
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Important reminder
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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