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Mauxie (Maltese & Dachshund Mix): Pictures, Complete Guide, Info & Care

Written by: Oliver Jones

Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by Oliver Jones

Mauxie (Maltese & Dachshund Mix): Pictures, Complete Guide, Info & Care

If you want a small mellow pup with the softest coat ever, you can’t go wrong with the Mauxie. This feisty and irresistible designer dog is a mixed breed, a cross between the short-legged Dachshund and the tiny and fluffy Maltese.

The resulting dog from the two parent breeds is the adorable little fluff balls, with bold soulful eyes and personality galore. Born of two parents that stay small even in maturity, Mauxie, also known as Moxie, Duchtese, or Maltese Dachshund Mix, stays petite forever. Ideal if you’re looking for an apartment dog!

Breed Overview

Height:

7 – 9 inches

Weight:

4 – 32 pounds

Lifespan:

12 – 15 years

Colors:

Black, white, grey, lemon, chestnut, yellow, tan, cream, fawn

Suitable for:

Owner looking for a small, cuddly, and active dog, people who live in apartments, family with older children

Temperament:

Energetic, affectionate, adaptable, prone to separation anxiety

Everything about Mauxie dogs is appealing, especially their striking looks. Although they can be headstrong and wary of strangers, these pups are generally sweet and affectionate pets. They are also fiercely loyal to their families and often bond profoundly with the people they love.

The only problem is that they can get too attached to their humans and don’t like staying home alone. You may want to give your Mauxie relentless attention if you want it to thrive. This dog breed isn’t too common, and often, prospect owners plunge into bringing them home without researching extensively.

Here’s everything to know about these fluffiest cuddle buddies.

Energy
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

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Mauxie Puppies

You might decide that Mauxies are the most adorable thing in the world just by looking into their eyes. However, it cannot be stressed enough how cuteness shouldn’t be the basis for picking the right puppy.

Always consider aspects like the puppy’s physical health and lifespan before getting technical about any particular disease. Are you ready to accommodate a dog with a pretty long lifespan?

Also, assess Mauxie’s behavioral tendency, and check whether you can match its social, energy, and training needs.

They require owners who don’t mind putting some extra effort into socializing and training them. The reason is that they are prone to separation anxiety and destructive behavior due to attention deficit.

If you can measure up to this dog’s standards, get it!

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Image Credit: Left-  Pixabay | Right – JeebyJeeby, Pixabay

Temperament & Intelligence of Mauxie

Mauxie dog breeds look cute as heck, but it’s not just their features that make this designer pup everyone’s favorite. This dog flaunts an affectionate, courageous, friendly, active, and playful demeanor that warms up every home it gets into.

Dachtese breeds are quite mischievous and curious, though, poking their nose where they shouldn’t. However, you can never be sure how your Maltese will turn out as it can take on one of the parent breed’s temperaments more than the other’s.

Others might be the mix of both! For this reason, it would be best to get to know both its parent breed and close in on the most likely trait your pup will inherit.

The Maltese have been human’s favorite lap dogs for centuries. However, they are also brilliant, making them perfect at manipulating their owners.

A Mauxie with a Maltese temperament can be a bit clingy if you allow them, so it would be best to establish some ground rules with your dog as early as possible.

On the other hand, Dachshunds are also incredibly smart but with a robust independence streak on the side. This makes it highly likely for a Mauxie to come out a bit stubborn, bold, but bossy and territorial.

They are prone to snapping and excessive barking at unfamiliar faces, so training and socialization are mandatory.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Mauxie dogs enjoy endless snuggling and attention and prefer to stay around the people they love all the time. These dogs are a family’s best pet choice, of course, with a few caveats.

First, you should ensure that someone should always be at the house to keep your dog company. A Mauxie is prone to separation anxiety, so it won’t thrive being alone for long. Pet sitters and dog care can help you to sit your pooch.

A Mauxie always thinks that it’s a big dog trapped in a small dog’s body and will always act like one. It is quick to nip when provoked, and teaching your dog not to bite when provoked will do you and your family great.

Socialization and behavioral training are necessary, especially if there are young kids in the home. It’s vital to know that Mauxies are suitable families with older kids. These dogs are intolerant and impatient, quick to snap and defend themselves if a kid bothers them.

You should teach your kids not to tug on the dog’s tail, disturb, or pick the Mauxie up when it would rather be left alone.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

As a big dog in a small dog’s body, a Mauxie often engages big dogs in play and can be quite bossy.

It’s also a territorial breed with a high prey drive. This means that this dog tends to react to anything in its space, including squirrels, cats, or other small pets like bunnies and hamsters.

However, a Mauxie generally thrives in a multi-pet household, as long as it was adequately socialized and under close supervision. Therefore, only ensure that the initial interactions among your pets are short.

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Things to Know When Owning a Mauxie:

Bringing a Mauxie home is a decision that will change your family’s life for the better, but you shouldn’t treat it lightly. Owning a Mauxie requires money, time, and other things, including:

Food & Diet Requirements

Like other dogs, Mauxies are not picky eaters, which is a good thing. However, this breed’s tendency to get fat is higher than other small dog breeds, so it needs a careful diet plan for optimum health.

You need to provide high-quality dog food designed for small dogs. Offer your pet between 3/4 of a cup and 1½ cups of nutritious kibbles a day, split into at least two meals.

You risk your dog becoming overweight and developing stress at the joints and spine, especially if it takes after its Dachshund heritage.

Exercise

Mauxies are small dogs but require plenty of activity, just like any other pet. However, due to its lineage, this dog needs more physical stimulation than other petite dogs for its health and happiness.

Two 20-minute walks, one in the morning and the other in the evening, plus its regular playtime, are sufficient. You can adjust its activities depending on its behavior, though. First, however, you must base your Mauxie’s activity levels on the fact that it has a long back that’s easily injured.

It would be best not to allow your pup to jump on and off the furniture or use the stairs multiple times a day. This can strain the vertebrae.

It’s either you carry your Mauxie or install a puppy gate to restrict how much it uses the stairs.

Training

A Mauxie’s inherent willfulness, bossiness, and short attention span inherited from its Dachshund bloodline make this pet quite challenging to train.

They tend to get easily spoiled and stubborn, the more reason you should start training it early, so it grows up correctly. You should also be firm and consistent to ensure the Mauxie understands your concerns.

However, your training regime depends on the trait the dog inherits from its parent breeds. It might require a little more effort if it takes most of a Dachshund’s independence.

Grooming ✂️

A Mauxie that inherits a Maltese’s long-haired coat requires much more grooming than the one with a Dachshund’s short coat.

However, Mauxies generally tend to have long and slightly wiry coats that need more maintenance. In addition, their coats tend to matt easily, so you might need to make regular trips to professional groomers to help detangle and trim your pup.

A light groom once a day should help to tease out the tangles. Give the coat a thorough brush once a week, though.

It would be best only to bathe your dog when it’s smelly and dirty rather than doing it every day. Bathing your dog too often will deplete its natural oils and leave the skin bare.

Also, check your pup’s teeth and ears when grooming. Finally, cut its nails when grooming, although you should be careful not to cut them too short as it’s painful and it can bleed.

Health & Conditions

Mauxies are generally a healthy breed with fewer health concerns to look out for. However, these dogs are hybrids, which means their health issues are not attributed to them alone.

They can inherit either of their parent’s health issues, including Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), diabetes, deafness, obesity, epilepsy, patellar luxation, and liver problems.

Mauxies are also prone to Shaker Syndrome, cryptorchidism, reverse sneezing, glaucoma, cataracts, and reverse sneezing.

You’ll only manage to avoid these health threats if you buy your dog from reputable breeders and can access your dog’s parent breed medical history. Also, ensure that your dog has complete vaccination.

Minor Conditions
  • White Dog Shaker Syndrome
  • Obesity
  • Cataracts
  • Deafness
Serious Conditions
  • Cryptorchidism
  • Glaucoma
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Reverse Sneezing
  • Liver Problems
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Epilepsy

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Male vs. Female

Mauxie dog’s temperaments depend on individual dog upbringing, training, and inherited traits and not gender.

The only way to find the best dog is to allow it to pick you. Try spending time with the litter you are interested in because it’s impossible not to fall for a particular puppy.


3 Little-Known Facts About the Mauxie

1. Mauxies Are Registered Hybrid Dogs

The American Kennel Club only recognizes purebreds, so it’s the only place you won’t find the hybrid Mauxie. However, so many other bodies, including the Designer Dogs Kennel Club, the Dog Registry of America, and the Designer Breed Registry, gladly recognize this breed.

You can be sure to find this dog highlighted by the American Canine Hybrid Club and the International Designer Canine Registry too.


2. Its Parent Breeds Are Among the Most Ancient

This dog’s Maltese heritage dates up to 8,000 years back! Archived reports place this breed across Italy, Egypt, Greece, and even Malta, where it gets its name.

The Maltese were among the first breeds to grace New York’s first Westminster show in 1877. Plus, it is among the top 50 breeds registered by the American Kennel Club, recognized as the 42nd breed in 1888.

Dachshunds might not be as old as the Maltese, but they are equally an old breed, starting in Germany over 600 years ago. The American Kennel Club featured them in their registry in 1885.


3. You Can Never Be Sure of This Dog’s Size and Temperament

Mauxies are hybrids, which means you can never predict which parent breed it’ll take after.

Hybrid puppies are a little more variable, unlike purebreds. It’s so much so that you can find part of the litter resembling their Maltese Parent, while the other siblings take after the Dachshund parent.

Your dog might combine the best from either parent. For instance, you can end up with a pup with a Maltese’s appearance but a Dachshund’s temperament and vice versa.

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Final Thoughts

If you enjoy a pet with some individuality and spirit, find a Mauxie. These dogs might be small, but they certainly pack loads of personalities.

Only ensure that you socialize it early and train it to your liking. Its tendency to snap is something you should be ready for just in case.

See also:


Featured Image Credit: David Clarine, Shutterstock

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