Small but filled with character, the Dachshund is a popular breed for many dog lovers. Admired for their distinctive sausage-like body shape, markings, and fur lengths, these dogs are unique and personable. As long as they’re with their favorite people, they do well in apartments and family homes.

Fun-loving personality aside, the Dachshund’s popularity makes them one of the more expensive dogs to purchase. Their initial cost isn’t the only expense that you should plan for, though. You also need to consider one-time costs for supplies like food and water bowls, along with monthly costs for food and preventive care treatments for fleas, ticks, and worms. Optional expenses, such as pet insurance and professional grooming, should be considered too.

Owning a Dachshund isn’t one of the cheapest responsibilities, but it is a rewarding one. You can expect to pay $150–$650 when adopting a Dachshund, or $1,200–$4000 when you buy one from a reputable breeder. Caring for a Dachshund can have a monthly average cost of $45–$300.

We’ve compiled all the information that you need into this guide to help you plan for your newest family member’s arrival.

Bringing Home a New Dachshund: One-Time Costs

It can be easy to believe that the only upfront cost that you’ll need to meet when you purchase a Dachshund is how much the adoption or breeder fee is. While this might be the case if you have other dogs and already have the supplies that you need, first-time dog owners will need to buy several supplies along with their puppy.

Some one-time costs can be put off until later, but others will need to be handled immediately, such as food and water bowls, a collar, harness, and leash.

Free

The likelihood of finding a pedigree Dachshund for free is low, but it is possible. Shelters and rescues can be a great place to start looking for free animals, but you do have to keep in mind that these places won’t know the dog’s health history or past experiences with humans. They might even be a mixed breed rather than a pure Dachshund.

Adopting a Dachshund for free means they’re also likely to have not had health checks or vaccinations or been spayed or neutered.  The costs for these will fall on you.

Adoption

Shelters and rescues are often the cheapest options when it comes to finding a Dachshund. Although it does still require paying for the adoption fees, these cover the shelter’s expenses for the dog’s veterinary care, vaccines, medication, training, and even spaying or neutering.

It’s less likely that you’ll know whether your Dachshund is a pedigree, but the dogs in shelters are in need of loving homes to go to. Adopting not only gives an animal in need a home, but it also helps the shelter rescue more homeless animals in the future.

Breeder

If you’re set on owning a pedigree Dachshund, visiting a breeder is the more expensive but most reliable option. This price range can change due to things like the color, age, sex, and lineage of the puppies. Breeders with a better reputation will also be more expensive.

Unfortunately, not all breeders can be trusted. When you visit a Dachshund breeder, remember to ask the right questions, and double-check their reputation before purchasing from them. Reputable breeders will be happy to answer your questions and provide any veterinary and pedigree paperwork that you need to see.

Initial Setup and Supplies

If you already have a dog, the initial cost for your new Dachshund won’t be that high. You’ll need ID tags and a collar and to pay for veterinary expenses, but most of the supplies that you need, you’ll likely already own.

For a first-time dog owner, however, you’ll need to spend more than just the purchase price of your new puppy. You’ll need to ensure that your Dachshund gets the best possible care from the start.

List of Dachshund Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Dachshund Cost Per Month?

Depending on how often you spoil your dog with toys, treats, and top-of-the-range accessories, the cost of your monthly expenses will change. What you’re capable of spending on your Dachshund will be different from other dog owners, and it’ll be difficult to accurately estimate your monthly costs until you’ve had your dog for a while.

Your monthly costs could include only medicine and food, or you might decide that pet insurance is the right choice for you and that a professional groomer is required regularly. Here are a few factors that will change how much you spend on your dog per month.

Health Care

Despite their overall good health, the Dachshund is susceptible to several common health issues. The most common one is disc damage to their spine due to the length of their back. They can also be prone to obesity if overfed — which can increase the risk of them developing back injuries — and age-related illnesses like arthritis.

To keep them healthy, regularly visit a veterinarian for wellness checks, and keep up with routine medical care. The most common monthly medical expenses for most dogs are flea-and-tick prevention and dewormers, but your Dachshund might have other health issues to treat.

Food

Along with healthcare, food is another important and repeating cost to consider. If your budget is limited, cutting corners to lower the cost of dog food is too easy to do. Unfortunately, the cheaper the brand of dog food you choose, the more likely it’s not the healthiest option for your Dachshund.

High-quality dog food might be expensive, but it’s also the best choice for your dog’s health. It’ll contain the right nutrients that your Dachshund needs to maintain their energy and health.

Grooming

Most, if not all, of your Dachshund’s grooming requirements can be handled by you at home. Dachshunds can have short, wiry, or long hair, and you’ll need a brush suitable for their fur type. You’ll also need nail clippers, a canine toothbrush, toothpaste, and an ear-cleaning solution to keep every part of your Dachshund clean.

In this case, you’ll only need to spend money on the supplies for your grooming kit. However, you can also pay a professional groomer to tend to all your Dachshund’s needs. It’ll cost more depending on the groomer, their location, and their experience.

Medications and Vet Visits

Dachshunds are relatively healthy as a breed, but it’s important to keep up with their healthcare to ensure that they stay as healthy as possible. After visiting the vet for their first vaccinations, your Dachshund might only need one or two wellness checks a year.

It’s not just routine visits to the veterinary clinic that you should prepare for, though. You also need to consider the cost of medications such as flea-and-tick prevention and dewormers, along with teeth cleanings, vaccine boosters, and any future treatments for illnesses.

Pet Insurance

One of the optional monthly expenses of caring for your Dachshund is pet insurance. While it can be helpful if you can’t afford expensive veterinary bills, whether you purchase a policy comes down to personal preference. The cost of the policy can also vary depending on the provider that you choose; the annual coverage limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate; where you’re located; and the age of your Dachshund.

Environment Maintenance

Many of the costs that you’ll need to budget for are for one-time purchases, especially if you choose durable supplies that are likely to last a long time. There are a few things that you’ll need to keep stocked up, though, including the necessities for maintaining your home, garden, and walking route.

Fortunately, Dachshunds aren’t high-maintenance dogs, and you won’t need many supplies to keep their environment tidy. For example, keeping a supply of dog waste bags on hand will enable you to pick up your dog whenever you need to.

Entertainment

Dachshunds can be independent and stubborn, but they’re also well known for their friendliness. Above all else, they’ll be more than happy to spend time with their human family members. Regular walks and playtime together are free activities and will build a bond between you.

If you’re worried about them getting bored with their toys or treats, you can try signing up for a subscription box. This will keep your stock of treats topped up, and you can receive several new toys every month that your Dachshund can try. You can find subscription boxes that can cost anywhere between $10 and $50 a month, depending on the contents.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Dachshund

Whenever you take on the responsibility for another living creature, like a dog, you need to consider more than just the initial cost. The monthly expenditure for caring for a Dachshund can range between $45 and $300, if not more. You need to consider all the possible expenses that you’ll need to budget for throughout the 12–16 years that your Dachshund will be with you.

The monthly costs will include food, vet visits, healthcare, and environmental maintenance, with optional choices like pet insurance, grooming, and entertainment.

Additional Costs to Factor In

We covered all the most common expenses, so let’s consider a few costs of pet ownership that don’t immediately come to mind. These are:

These costs are often overlooked, but you should keep them in mind just as much as the essential supplies. At some point, you may need to budget for some, if not all, of these things, and being prepared can help you keep a bit of money back for all eventualities.

Owning a Dachshund on a Budget

Dachshunds, like any other pet, can be expensive. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t own one if your budget is a little tight. If you’ve carefully considered the costs of the essentials, like food and veterinary care, your Dachshund will be just as happy as they would be if you could afford more expensive supplies.

Dogs are happiest when they’re around their favorite people. As long as they’re with you, they won’t care that their collar doesn’t match their leash or what their bed looks like. Focus on the necessary expenses first, and remember to keep a few funds aside for emergencies.

Saving Money on Dachshund Care

Your Dachshund won’t mind if they don’t have the fanciest, state-of-the-art accessories and supplies. While it can be nice to spoil them with a professional spa session or new toys, they’re not necessary, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

You can cut down on most of the costs mentioned here with a few simple tricks. For example, handling your Dachshund’s grooming at home will save you money on visits to the groomer. You should also choose accessories by how useful and durable they are rather than how much they sparkle to ensure that they’ll serve you well for years.

Conclusion

Purchasing a new Dachshund puppy can cost anywhere between $150 and $4,000, depending on whether you visit a shelter or choose a reputable breeder. Adoption fees are generally lower and will cover the costs for vaccines, spaying, and neutering, along with any training or rehabilitation that the Dachshund goes through before they’re rehomed. In general, shelters are the cheapest option.

Breeders charge based on their reputation, the age and sex of the puppies, and whether the parents are well-known champions in official show circuits. By visiting a breeder, you’ll have the benefit of a health history and the certainty that your Dachshund isn’t a mixed breed and can be registered as a show dog.

Beyond the initial purchase price, you can also expect to spend between $95 and $1,500 or more on supplies for your new dog. These are often one-time costs and aren’t part of the ongoing monthly expenses, which can be around $45–$300.

Before you make the final decision to buy or adopt a Dachshund, remember that their care goes beyond the initial purchase price. You need to make sure you can afford to keep them happy and cared for throughout their lifetime.

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Featured Image Credit: David Pecheux, Shutterstock