Learn More About the Shih Tzu Dachshund Mix aka Schweenie

The Shih Tzu Dachshund mix is more commonly known as Schweenie among breeders. This is a small lovable dog that makes the perfect family pet as it is kind and easy to look after.

This mix has a great personality that brings out both parent breeds best traits, such as loyalty, affection, and its outgrowing personality.

If the mix is trained from puppyhood, it will like other animals and enjoy the company of other dogs or cats in the home.

This low maintenance dog will be fine living in a house or even a small apartment as it doesn’t need much room to be comfortable.

Are you ready to learn more about the adorable Schweenie? Check out everything you need to know about this designer mix breed below.

Shih Tzu Dachshund Mix History

It is hard to determine when exactly this mixed breed was first mixed together. This is a very rare breed to find as not many breeders breed these two mixes together.

Let’s learn more about the history of the Schweenie parents, the Shih Tzu, and the Dachshund.

Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu was first seen in Tibet, where it would guard monasteries. Also, royal emperors loved the Shih Tzu breed and kept them around the palace as lap dogs.

The only way someone could even acquire a Shih Tzu is if the Dalai Lama gifted you a dog. After a while, more Shih Tzu’s were bred, and some poorer quality dogs were made that ended up on the streets of China.

The breed eventually bred is way all around the world and became an extremely popular dog breed in the United States. The Shih Tzu got recognized into the American Kennel Club in 1969.

Dachshund

The Dachshund dates back as far as the fifteenth century. The Dachshund seems to have originated from Germany.

It was used as a badger dog, which means the breed could fit inside small dens and hunt the animals living inside the den. These animals include foxes and rabbits.

This breed was used for this skill largely back then and is still used today for these talents. By the 1800s, the breed got transported to England, where the breed became hugely popular.

Eventually making its way to American and registered with the American Kennel Club in 1885.

Shih Tzu Dachshund Mix Appearance

Generally, this dog is small in height like the Shih Tzu and longer in length like the Dachshund. It has a sweet, endearing face and big floppy ears.

This dog’s eyes usually resemble those of the Shih Tzu and tend to be quite big and dark in color.

It has broad, muscular shoulders, and it’s quite a strong dog despite its small stature.

These dogs usually have a medium-length coat that can sometimes look a little scraggly, and they have a beautiful rusty color.

Shih Tzu Dachshund Mix Temperament

The Schweenie is a loving and extremely loyal dog, and for a small dog, it has a big personality. Because of their intelligence and their eagerness to please, they are very easy to train.

They get used to their surroundings very quickly and sometimes rely too much on their owners, and if they are separated for too long, they have a tendency to suffer from separation anxiety.

While they are sweet dogs, they can sometimes be a bit moody, so it is best to socialize them with children from when they are young.

Dachshund Shih Tzu Coat

Depending on the traits the dog acquires, for which parent will determine the coat of your new puppy. Your puppy can either have a short coat or a medium-length coat.

If your dog does take on the Shih Tzu parent’s traits, the coat will be rather long, and it will need to be groomed more often.

It will be much easier for your dog to develop tangles and mats in the hair, so you may want to invest in a detangling spray to help crush those mats out.

This mixed dog breed does not shed very much, which is great news if you have allergies to shedding dogs.

You will find a list of color options that your Dachshund Shih Tzu mix puppy may possibly come in.

What Colors Do They Come In?

Here are some of the color variations that this breed might come in:

• Black
• Gray
• Brown
• Brindle
• White
• Gold
• Rusty Red

The Schweenie may have one or more of these colors in its coat. The nose of the Schweenie will be traditional black.

Dachshund Shih Tzu Size

These small toy dogs do not grow to be very big and the average weight can be anywhere between 9-20lbs (4-9kg) when fully grown.

The average height is about 11-20 inches (27-50cm)

A male Dachshund Shih Tzu mix can weigh between 15-20 lbs, and a female can be between 9 to 15 lbs.

Schweenie Health Problems

Overall this mixed breed has good health, and they do not suffer from bone or hip problems like their parents. They also do not suffer from the same spinal problems as the Dachshund, as they are quite a bit shorter than them.

There most typical problem would be susceptibility to fleas and ticks due to its long coat, which can be prevented with the use of topical flea treatments.

If cared for properly, these dogs can enjoy a long life due to their lack of health problems, and the life expectancy is anywhere between 10-14 years.

Life Expectancy of a Dachshund Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu Dachshund mix has one of the longest life spans I have researched on when it comes to a mixed breed dog.

If your dog stays perfectly healthy and gets the proper nutrition it needs to stay healthy; then the Shih Tzu Dachshund mix can live up to 16 years.

They do have a life expectancy range of 12 to 16 years, but if your dog has no underlying health issues then there is a possibility of a very long life.

You can always get more information on how to keep your dog the healthiest it can be.

Living Conditions

This dog is versatile and can adapt to different homes.

However, because it gets quite attached to its owners it is not a good idea to change owners; therefore buying this particular kind of breed needs to be thought about as dogs that switch owners can suffer from depression and anxiety.

This is perfect for apartments as it is so small.  It should never live outdoors, and it needs its own bed in a warm area of the house.

Schweenie Exercise

Although small, the Schweenie needs daily exercise, and about 20 minutes should be enough.

When it’s raining you can have your dog running up and down the hall playing fetch to help it release its energy.

This breed does like to lay around the house a lot so it is very important that you get your dog outside for at least a small amount of exercise.

Try new fun things with your dog like taking it to a dog park or even to the beach.

Shih Tzu Dachshund Mix Feeding

The Schweenie is a small dog breed so it won’t need as much dog food as a larger breed. One cup of high-quality dog food will be sufficient enough to sustain your dog.

Depending on the dog food, your purchase could cost you between $0.85 to over a $1.00.

Dividechshund-mix

the food into at least two meals. Give your dog 1/2 a cup in the morning and in the evening.

This mix tends to get overweight easily so it is very important not to overfeed your dog as it could lead to obesity.

Please make sure the food is designed for small dog breeds as it will be formulated with the things small dog breeds need in their diet.

Schweenie Grooming

The only grooming requirement for the Shih Tzu Dachshund mix is regular brushing.

It is recommended to brush this dog 2-3 times a week to keep its long coat tangle-free.

Remember always to check your dog’s ears and teeth regularly look for any signs of redness or irritation. Your dog cannot talk to you so it is up to you to investigate your dog’s overall health.

This dog breed is not as active as others so if your dog is not trimming down its nails regularly, you can see a groomer to have this done or purchase a pair of nail clippers.

Shih Tzu Dachshund Mix Training

When training you need to be committed to doing it and not stop. It takes a lot of effort to get a well-trained dog and consistency is the key.

The Schweenie is an intelligent dog breed, but it can get distracted easily so a firm trainer will be the key to success with this mix.

You also need to make sure you are providing your dog with the right amount of encouragement that way it doesn’t feel scared during training.

One way to show your dog that you are round of what it did is through treats or puppy hugs.

Always start with the basics when training. If your dog is a puppy start with potty training.

You can then move on to socialization with people and other animals as well as commands for hunting if you are planning on using your dog in that way.

Shih Tzu Dachshund Mix Puppies

The Shih Tzu Dachshund mix is still in its first stage of breeding which means it is a first-generation mixed breed.

Breeders will be using a Shih Tzu and a Dachshund to create these puppies instead of two Shih Tzu Dachshund mixes.

With that being said this mix is still in the works, and it has not risen to a lot of popularity yet, so finding a breeder will be a very difficult task.

Shop around for a few different breeders as they will get you the perfect puppy you are looking for.

Avoid puppy mills at all cost and only purchase a puppy from a breeder who you feel like you can trust and one that has a lot of experience breeding

How Much Does a Schweenie Cost?

The price of a Schweenie puppy will depend on the breeder’s experience that you found and if they are using champion dogs to breed.

You can expect to pay an estimated price between $1,200 to up to $2,000. Some breeders may charge less than this estimated cost, it just all depends.

Shih Tzu Dachshund Mix Litter Size

This is a small dog breed, so either a female Shih Tzu or Dachshund parent will not yield as many puppies as a large dog would.

I would expect a female to carry between one to three puppies in a single litter.

The female could have more, but this is about the average litter size for this size of dog.

Suitability

This dog loves people, and it needs to be around people a lot.  It likes to cuddle and often prefers to sleep in the same room as its owners as it craves a constant human touch.

This is the perfect dog for children as it is calm and does not have an aggressive nature; however, it does need to be socialized from a young age.

Close relatives of the Schweenie

Here are a few breeds that will act a lot like the Schweenie, they are:

• Dachshund
• Shih Tzu
• Pomeranian Shih Tzu Mix
• Shih Tzu Lhasa Apso Mix