You bought a teckel. The breeder said miniature. The vet says he is big for a miniature. Your neighbour says he is a kaninchen. Your mother says he is just a sausage dog. Everyone is wrong in a different way.
Here is how to actually know.
The one measurement that matters
The FCI — the international canine federation that governs the breed standard across Europe, including France — classifies dachshunds by chest circumference. Not weight. Not back length. Not height. Chest.
This is the point most owners get wrong. They measure the back from neck to tail and conclude their dog is a nain because the back is 35 cm. That measurement tells you nothing about which type he is. Back length determines your clothing size. Chest circumference determines your breed classification.
The measurement is taken with a soft tape measure wrapped around the deepest part of the ribcage — just behind the front legs — snug but not tight. You should be able to slip one finger underneath. And it is only official when taken at 15 months or older, because dachshunds are not fully grown before then.
The three types — by the numbers
The FCI standard n° 148 defines three sizes. The measurements below are the official standard, confirmed by the World Union of Teckel Clubs and used by the LOF in France for breed confirmation.
Standard (Teckel)
Chest circumference: over 35 cm
Weight: up to approximately 9 kg
This is the original dachshund — the one bred to hunt badgers underground. Most standard dachshunds have a chest circumference between 37 and 47 cm. They are substantial dogs, more athletic than people expect.
Miniature (Teckel Nain / Zwerg)
Chest circumference: 30 to 35 cm, measured at 15 months minimum
Weight: approximately 4 to 6 kg
The most common type in France. Bred smaller than the standard for hunting fox and rabbit in narrower burrows. If your dachshund's chest measures between 30 and 35 cm at 15 months, he is a nain — regardless of what the breeder told you or what his parents were registered as.
Kaninchen (Teckel Kaninchen / Rabbit)
Chest circumference: 30 cm or less, measured at 15 months minimum
Weight: approximately 3 to 4 kg
The smallest type. The name means rabbit in German — these dogs were bred to enter rabbit burrows. A kaninchen is not a miniature who came out small. It is a distinct classification with its own breeding lines. If your dachshund's chest is under 30 cm at 15 months, he is a kaninchen.
Why weight is not the answer
This is the second most common mistake. Owners weigh their dachshund, Google the breed weights, and conclude their type from the number on the scale.
Weight varies enormously within each type depending on muscle, bone structure, diet, and whether the dog is intact or neutered. A muscular standard male at 8 kg and an overweight nain at 7 kg look very different but weigh almost the same. Weight tells you about condition, not classification.
The FCI mentions weight only as an approximate guide for the standard type (up to about 9 kg). For nain and kaninchen, no official weight standard exists. The measurement that matters — the only one used for breed confirmation in France — is chest circumference at 15 months.
A tolerance you should know about
The World Union of Teckel Clubs (WUT) allows a tolerance of 2 cm during confirmation measurements. This means a dog measured at 36 cm might still be confirmed as nain if the measurement is borderline and within tolerance. But a dog at 38 cm is a standard, no discussion.
This tolerance exists because measurements vary slightly depending on the dog's breathing, posture, and the judge's technique. It is not a loophole — it is a recognition that biology is not a ruler.
How to measure at home
You will need a soft measuring tape — the kind used for sewing, not a metal one from the toolbox.
Stand your dog on a flat surface. Let him stand naturally — do not stretch him, do not compress him. Wrap the tape around the deepest part of his chest, just behind the front legs, at the point where the ribcage is widest. The tape should be snug against the body — touching the fur, not compressing it. You should be able to slide one finger underneath.
Read the number. That is his chest circumference.
If your dog is under 15 months, this measurement is not official. He is still growing. Wait until 15 months and measure again — that is the number that counts.
The three coat types — in all three sizes
Each of the three sizes exists in three coat types, making nine official varieties recognised by the FCI:
Smooth-haired (Poil ras) — short, dense, glossy, close to the body. The original coat. Minimal maintenance.
Long-haired (Poil long) — soft, shiny, longer on the ears, neck, and underside. Elegant, requires regular brushing. The silky hair should extend beyond the ear tips.
Wire-haired (Poil dur) — dense, rough outer coat with a finer undercoat. Gives the dog a bearded, rustic look. The most weather-resistant coat. Typical of hunting lines.
Coat type does not affect size classification. A long-haired kaninchen and a smooth-haired kaninchen are measured and classified the same way.
The official coat colours — recognised by the FCI and inscriptible au LOF
Colour is where the most confusion — and the most marketing — happens. Not every colour you see on Instagram is recognised by the breed standard. Here are the official colours, confirmed by the FCI standard n° 148 and inscriptible au LOF in France.
Solid colours (unicolore)
Fauve (Red) — from pale cream-red to deep mahogany. The most valued solid colour according to the FCI standard. Can appear with or without slight black tipping. This is the classic golden dachshund.
Jaune-rouge (Yellow-red) — lighter than red, more golden. Recognised but red is preferred by the standard.
Bicolour
Noir et feu (Black and tan) — the original, historic dachshund colour. Black base with tan markings above the eyes, on the muzzle, chest, paws, and under the tail. Classic, timeless.
Chocolat et feu (Chocolate and tan) — brown base with tan markings in the same pattern. The chocolate gene is recessive — both parents must carry it.
Wire-haired specific
Sanglier (Wild boar) — a mix of black, grey, and tan hairs creating a dark, grizzled appearance. The most typical and traditional colour for wire-haired dachshunds. This colour only exists in wire-haired coats.
Pattern modifiers (admitted under conditions)
Arlequin (Merle / Dapple) — irregular patches of lighter colour on a dark base, always with tan markings. Recognised by the FCI and inscriptible au LOF. Important: breeding two arlequin parents together is prohibited — the double merle gene causes deafness and eye malformations in puppies.
Bringé (Brindle) — dark stripes on a red or fawn base. Recognised but less common.
Colours NOT recognised — not inscriptible au LOF
Noir unicolore (Solid black) — without tan markings, this is an eliminating fault.
Bleu dilué (Blue / Isabella) — grey or pale beige coats caused by colour dilution. Associated with colour dilution alopecia — chronic hair loss and skin problems. Not recognised by FCI. Often marketed as rare and sold at inflated prices.
Crème / Blanc (Cream / White) — not recognised. Associated with genetic health problems.
Piebald (Panaché blanc) — large white patches. Not recognised by FCI (though accepted by AKC in the United States).
If a breeder is selling a dachshund as rare because of its colour — and that colour is blue, isabella, cream, or piebald — the colour is not rare. It is not recognised. And in many cases, it is associated with documented health problems. The standard colours exist for a reason.
The kaninchen confusion
One thing that causes real confusion for French owners: the kaninchen does not exist in British or American breed standards. The AKC and the Kennel Club UK recognise only two sizes — standard and miniature. A kaninchen FCI dog would be judged as a miniature in the UK or the US.
This matters if you import a puppy from a British breeder. The dog may be sold as a miniature under UK standards but measure as a kaninchen under FCI rules. The reverse is also true — a French kaninchen shown at an FCI show in Germany would be classified as kaninchen, but if you moved to the UK, he would become a miniature overnight. Same dog. Different system.
The summary
Measure the chest. Not the back. Not the weight. The chest, at 15 months, with a soft tape.
Over 35 cm — Standard.
30 to 35 cm — Nain.
Under 30 cm — Kaninchen.
Three sizes. Three coats. Nine varieties. And a handful of official colours that have been refined over centuries of breeding for health, function, and beauty.
Everything else is marketing.
