How much exercise does a Dachshund need?

An adult standard usually does well on 45 to 60 minutes a day, split into two walks with plenty of time to sniff. Miniatures can cover similar distances; they simply take more steps. Scent games suit the breed perfectly: hide treats in a rolled towel, lay a short food trail across the garden or join a beginner scentwork class. Earthdog trials, where dogs work through tunnels toward a safely caged quarry, run in several countries and give the hunting drive a proper outlet.

Too little activity shows up as barking at every sound, digging, chewing and creeping weight gain. Too much looks like lagging behind, sitting down mid-walk or stiffness the next morning. Avoid repetitive high-impact games such as leaping for frisbees, and roll balls along the ground instead of throwing them high.