You know that neighbor with the dog who barks at 6 a.m. every single morning, and you’ve sworn you’d never be that person? Yeah. There’s a decent chance that person owns a dachshund. The breed wasn’t designed for quiet compliance—it was built to crawl into badger holes and raise hell until something died. That prey drive and independence don’t vanish just because you live on the fourth floor.
But here’s the thing: thousands of dachshunds thrive in apartments, including a long-haired miniature I know in a 650-square-foot one-bedroom in Chicago. The breed can do apartment life. It just requires honesty about what you’re getting into, realistic expectations, and a solid plan to manage the traits that make neighbors hate you.
The Space Question: Smaller Than You Think, But Attitude Bigger Than Everything
Dachshunds are genuinely small. Even a standard dachshund—the bigger of the two size varieties—tops out around 32 pounds and measures maybe 9 inches tall. A mini dachshund dachshund (yes, there’s technically overlap in naming, and breeders argue about it endlessly) runs 8–11 pounds. So from a physical footprint perspective, they need less actual square footage than most people think.
A 600-square-foot apartment is plenty of room. A studio? Still manageable. What matters isn’t the size of your place—it’s what you do with the space. A dachshund needs a designated zone: a crate or bed where they know they belong. Long dogs (they’re literally called “sausage dogs” in German) appreciate length over height. A narrow hallway is actually ideal. They like their spine supported and their surroundings cozy.
The real problem isn’t space. It’s exercise and mental engagement. A dachshund sitting alone in a 1,500-square-foot apartment for eight hours is the same bored, destructive, barking nightmare as one in a studio.
Dachshund vs. Mini Dachshund: Which Size Fits Your Apartment?
If you’re choosing between a standard and miniature, apartment living tips toward the mini. They require less food, less space in your bed (spoiler: they will be in your bed), and generally burn out faster on shorter walks.
The trade-off: minis can be more fragile and more prone to spine issues—talk to your vet about whether a particular line has IVDD (intervertebral disc disease) predisposition. They’re also easier to carry around, which sounds nice until you realize you’re carrying a 10-pound dog up three flights because the elevator is broken at 11 p.m.
Standard dachshunds are sturdier, less likely to need specialized lifting, and actually somewhat less yappy (slight advantage). But they need more food, more exercise, and take up more real estate on the couch—which, again, they will claim.
Neither size is intrinsically “better” for apartments. Pick based on your actual lifestyle, not cuteness. Both will break you if you’re not ready.
Barking: The Honest Truth
Dachshunds bark. Not all the time, but meaningfully. They were bred to alert hunters to prey underground—that instinct is deep code. They bark at delivery drivers, neighbors’ doors opening, birds outside, leaves blowing, the refrigerator humming, and your own footsteps if they think you left them for too long.
Some dachshunds are quieter. Some are absolutely relentless. Genetics, socialization, and individual personality all matter. But if you’re choosing a dachshund expecting a silent apartment dog, you’re setting yourself up to fail and your neighbors up to hate you.
Here’s what actually helps:
Tire them out first thing. A 20–30 minute walk (or two shorter walks) before you leave for work dramatically reduces barking during the day. This is non-negotiable. You can skip your breakfast, but not this.
Don’t reward the bark. If you come running when your dachshund barks, congratulations: you’ve just taught them that barking makes you appear. Ignore the noise. Leave the room. Let them learn that barking doesn’t work.
Manage triggers. Close curtains so they can’t see people passing. Use white noise or a dog-specific podcast (yes, they exist—check out “Through a Dog’s Ear” on Spotify). Some owners swear by bark collars, but talk to your vet and trainer first; there’s mixed evidence on effectiveness and real potential for stress.
Accept background noise. You cannot eliminate all barking. What you can do is manage it to a level where it’s a dog-normal sound, not a disruption. That’s the actual goal.
If you live in a place with noise restrictions or thin walls, get a pre-adoption trial if possible. Bring the dog to your apartment for a weekend. See what actually happens.
What Do Dachshunds Like to Do (And How to Do It in an Apartment)
This is where understanding the breed becomes tactical.
Dachshunds like to:
- Dig. Provide a sandbox or digging box. Seriously. It’s $40 and saves your furniture.
- Burrow. They love blanket forts, under-bed access, and cozy enclosed spaces. Build them one. Your apartment becomes more dog-friendly and they become calmer.
- Follow scent. Hide treats around your apartment and let them hunt. Mental exercise counts as much as physical exercise.
- Chase. Play fetch in hallways or use a flirt pole indoors. Ten minutes of chase-play is worth a 20-minute walk in terms of actual tire-out.
- Bark and alert. Channel this: teach them a “quiet” cue and reward heavily for silence.
Things to do with dachshunds near you probably includes local dachshund events, breed meetups, or even dachshund-specific groups. Search “[your city] dachshund meetup”—they exist in almost every urban area. Denver, Portland, and Austin have thriving dachshund communities with regular park days. These are genuinely fun and good socialization. They’re also a chance to learn from other apartment-dwelling dachshund owners.
Sleep, Routine, and When They’re Actually Quiet
How long do dachshunds sleep? Roughly 12–14 hours a day, like most dogs. How often do dachshunds sleep? All day, in scattered naps. But here’s what matters for apartment living: when they sleep is negotiable.
A dachshund’s sleep cycle responds to routine. If you establish a morning walk, they’ll often crash from 9 a.m. to noon. Lunch + afternoon enrichment, then a second wind from 5–7 p.m. If they have a solid evening routine (dinner, walk, play), they can be truly quiet from 9 p.m. onward.
The problem is the 5–7 a.m. window. Dachshunds are morning dogs. They wake early. In an apartment, this means potential barking before your neighbors expect noise. Mitigate by:
- Walking them first thing (yes, really first thing).
- Feeding them after the walk—a meal settles them briefly.
- Using a crate or bedroom door to contain them if you’re not awake yet.
Yeah, it’s harder than having a backyard. That’s the trade-off of apartment living.
Potty Training and Cleanup
Dachshunds are notoriously difficult to housetrain. They’re stubborn, they have small bladders (minis especially), and they’ll pee on your rug out of spite or boredom or just because Tuesday.
Talk to your vet about realistic timelines. Some dogs nail it by 6 months. Others take 18 months. In an apartment, this means:
- A enzymatic cleaner is non-negotiable (Nature’s Miracle or Rocco & Roxie).
- An outdoor spot that’s reliably accessible matters. If you’re on the fourth floor, you have to be willing to do an extra elevator trip. Non-negotiable.
- Pee pads aren’t a long-term solution, despite what the internet says. They teach the dog that indoor peeing is sometimes correct, which creates confusion.
The Real Verdict
A dachshund in an apartment works if you’re ready to actively manage the breed’s worst traits rather than hope they disappear. It requires daily exercise, consistent training, noise tolerance from neighbors (or serious noise management), and an honest acknowledgment that you’re not getting a quiet, low-maintenance pet just because it’s small.
But if you’re someone who walks regularly, works from home or has midday dog-walker access, can tolerate some barking, and genuinely like the dachshund personality—stubborn, loyal, ridiculous, and all—then apartment living is completely viable. Just don’t expect it to feel effortless, and don’t buy from a breeder or mill that hasn’t thought through whether their lines fit urban living. Your neighbors (and your sanity) will thank you.
