Why Do Dachshunds Have So Many Nicknames?

For Dachshunds, nicknames are just another part of being a dog. From Doxie-do's to Weiner dogs, there are a plethora of names Dachshunds have earned over the years. So, why do Dachshunds have so many nicknames? Let's find out!

Types of Dachshund

Dachshund Nicknames

One thing that often surprises people about this dog breed is the sheer number of nicknames they have acquired over the years. Here are just some examples of dachshund nicknames:

Doxies
Doxie-dos
Dachsies
Badger Dogs
Sausage Dogs
Wiener Dogs

Let's discover the origins behind some of these popular nicknames:

Dachshund Nickname: Badger Dog

To be frank, (wiener pun intended) the name Dachshund is the German name for the breed and is a very literal translation of two German words that have been smashed together. Dachs translates to "badger" and hund translates to "dog," so Dachshund translated from German means "badger dog."

This is the simplest nickname to explain - "badger dog" is just the English translation of Dachshund.

Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers and other small burrowing animals, which is why they look the way they do. Their powerfully built bodies and short, stubby legs allow them to maneuver nimbly through narrow passages. Dachshunds have a deep chest, thin waist and are well-muscled for optimum hunting performance.

long haired dachshund

Dachshund Nickname: Wiener Dog/Sausage Dog

Dachshunds gained the nickname "wiener dog" because they resemble hotdogs. Dachshunds even come in their own tiny "buns," but they're attached to their butt!

There isn't a consensus about where the nickname wiener dog comes from. Still, it's fair to say there's a link between the visual appearance of their stout cylindrical bodies and the tubular nature of a frankfurter.

This isn't the only connection between the nickname though. Americans were introduced to both the sausage and the proverbial sausage dog at the same time at the end of the 19th century when German immigrants brought both over. People would associate the delicious tubes of meat sold by vendors who also kept the cute tubular dogs as pets. As a result, sausages and sausage dogs were inevitably and irrevocably linked.

Dachshund leaning against tree stump

Dachshund Nickname: Doxie

Yet another common nickname for the Dachshund is "Doxie." Doxie is a relatively new nickname, but Doxie Dogs have been popular since the late 1800s.

Doxie is short for Dachshund, simply as a cute shorthand reference to the Dachshund breed. Doxy, Doxi, Doxie: it doesn't matter what you call them because they're all a part of the Dachshund family.

Whatever nickname you call them, Dachshunds are adorable little tubes of fun, love, and joy! We have a variety of Dachshund designs for every type of sausage dog - browse our full Dachshund collection today.