If you’re looking for adorable pets you’ve probably seen lots of dachshund mixes. But how about the Schnauzer weenie dog mix – the fun and lovable Schnoxie? This love child of two awesome hunting breeds is just as good of a family pet as they are. The Schnoxie itself isn’t used as a hunting breed, however. Instead, this cross is viewed as a designer breed that’s exclusively meant as a family pet.
So, below we’ll go over the basic characteristics, temperament, looks, and other curious facts about the Schnauzer weenie dog mix.
What Does A Schnauzer Weenie Dog Mix Look Like?
As the offspring of two small-to-mid-sized breeds, the Schnoxie is of a similar size too. The exact proportions will depend on the parents but most of the time a Schnoxie won’t be taller than 14 inches (35 cm) or heavier than 30 pounds (13.5 kg).
Coat-wise, this mixed breed will usually take the wiry coat of the Schnauzer. Even if the dachshund parent had a short and slick coat, the Schnoxie will almost always be wire coated. The length can be short or medium and on very rare occasions you can get a smooth-coated Schnoxe.
As for the colors, these can vary greatly. The breed will usually be bi-color with gradients of the following colors – black, brown, white, or silver. Another cool thing is that these dogs don’t shed too much. They are not hypoallergenic but with good grooming, their moderate shedding shouldn’t be a problem for most people.
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What About The Legs and Body Shape Of The Schnauzer Weenie Dog Mix?
The Schnauzer weenie dog mix will usually be short-legged but not as much as a standard dachshund. Instead, the leg length will be somewhere between that of a Schnauzer and a Doxie. That being said, Schauzers’ legs aren’t exactly “long” either.
The body shape will usually be a bit elongated, similar to that of a dachshund. As with the legs, it typically won’t be disproportionate as that of a purebred dachshund.
The muzzle shape will usually resemble that of a Schnauzer more so than that of a dachshund. There’s still some variation, of course. But, especially for dogs with wiry coats, the snout will look more like that of a Schnauzer. There is a reason why these dogs are called that way – their name is literally “snout” or “beard” in German.
What’s The Temperament Of A Schnoxie?
Fortunately, Schnauzers and dachshunds are very much alike when it comes to their personality and temperament. Both breeds were bred in Germany as scent hound breeds after all, although there’s a bit of difference here.
Dachshunds were used as badger, fox, and rabbit hunters. Schnauzers, on the other hand, were mostly used to hunt down rats on farms. This meant that Schnauzers were used with more people around them while Doxies usually attach to a single family member.
What does this mean for your Schnoxie? The Schnauzer weenie dog mix will almost always be social and very playful. These dogs won’t mind being in large families as well as in two-person or single-person households.
As for their intelligence, Schnoxies are very smart like most other scent hound breeds. They are excellent problem solvers and love to play games or to play with puzzle toys. They do have quite a bit of separation anxiety, however, so leaving them home alone is usually a bad idea.
The cross seems very good for families with kids too, especially when the dog is properly introduced to the child. Schnoxies are gentle, careful, and protective with their family members, including kids. At the same time, the dogs are small enough to avoid accidents while also being sturdy enough to not get hurt themselves. And, thanks to their high energy levels, Schnoxies can give a kid lots of playtime.
Exercise Needs Of A Dachshund Schnauzer Mix
Dachshunds and Schnauzers are both pretty energetic for their size and so is the Schnoxie. About an hour of active playtime outside per day is a must if you want this breed to stay healthy and happy. That should usually be divided into two half-hour walks or jogging sessions.
Yard time is typically not required but can be great for the dog if it’s possible. Otherwise, you can expect quite a bit of playtime indoors too.
Overall, this breed isn’t too energetic compared to other breeds but is more than playful enough for its size. It can even work as a nice exercise buddy if you want to introduce two half-hour jogging sessions to your day.
Health Specifics Of The Schnauzer Doxie Mix
These dogs are relatively healthy as they are a good mix between two similar and healthy hound breeds. Still, bad genetics and improper care can lead to some issues such as:
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
- Obesity
- Kidney stones
- Urinary tract infections
- Progressive retinal atrophy
To avoid these you should also get your pups from reputable breeders who offer genuine health certificates. After that, it’s all a matter of good food, regular exercise, and routine vet visits. A healthy Schnoxie can easily live up to 15 years or even more.
Pros and Cons Of The Schnauzer Weenie Dog Mix
Pros:
- This is a fantastic family pet that gets along with kids
- The Schnauzer weenie dog mix makes for an excellent watchdog too
- Great choice if you’re looking for a canine exercise companion
Cons:
- Stubbornness can make them hard to train
- You’ll have to provide lots of physical activity
- This is considered a “high-maintenance” breed
What About The Miniature Schnoxie?
It’s worth mentioning that a Schnoxie can be bred out of standard Doxie and standard Schnauzer parents or out of the mini variations of these breeds. A common mix is that between a standard Doxie and a mini Schnauzer because of their similar size. However, a mini dachshund can also be bred with a mini Schnauzer. The size of the resulting Schnoxie will always be somewhere between that of the parents.
Either combination works, as long as you know who the parents are and that they are healthy.
Are Schnoxies the right breed for you?
If you want a pretty energetic, social, and playful small dog for your family or child, the Schnoxie is an excellent choice. As long as you never let these dogs succumb to separation anxiety or deprive them of exercise, they will grow healthy and happy.
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