Doxie-Pit (American Pitbull Terrier & Dachshund Mix)

Doxie Pits are a cross between Dachshunds and American Pit Bull terriers. These dogs look like an even mix, as they have the low, long body of a Dachshund and the boxy head and stout body of a Pit Bull.

They’re unique pups, that’s for sure — and they make pretty fantastic pets too. The guide below will fill you in on everything you need to know about these dogs, so you can make an informed decision about adding one to your household.

Doxie Pit Puppies — Before You Buy

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Whenever you’re dealing with a fairly new designer dog breed, such as a Pitbull Dachshund mix, you never know what the final result will be. Sometimes the dog ends up a fair mix of both their parent breeds, and sometimes you wind up with something completely different.

The Doxie Pit manages to be an almost perfect blend of both forebears. They’re energetic, intelligent, and love to cuddle, so you’d better not have an aversion to puppy kisses if you bring one home.

They have a distinctive look, especially as puppies, and it can be easy to fall in love with them at first sight. However, you shouldn’t just bring one home without doing any research, because they’re not a perfect fit for every household.

These dogs don’t like to be alone, so unless you’re willing to spend most of your free time by their side, it would be unfair to both of you to adopt one. They also have fairly high exercise needs, so they may not be a great choice for owners who like to relax on the couch when they’re at home.

For those who have the time and energy to keep up with them, though, Doxie Pits make wonderful companions, as they’re incredibly loyal and affectionate dogs.

What’s the Price of Doxie Pit Puppies?

We’ll be honest: It’s going to be hard to find a Doxie Pit. You’re unlikely to find one in a shelter, and there aren’t many breeders out there.

If you do manage to track down a breeder, you can expect to pay somewhere in the $500 range for a puppy. The price is low because these dogs aren’t exactly in demand, and it’s incredibly easy to find Pit Bulls to mate with other dogs. Also, since Doxie Pits aren’t eligible for dog shows, you won’t have to deal with paying for premium bloodlines.

Be careful when going through breeders, though. The sad fact is that Pit Bulls are the most commonly abused dogs in the world, so there’s a good chance that you’ll come across puppy mills, backyard breeders, or other unsavory characters in your search.

If you can, meet the breeder in person and investigate their facilities. You want to make sure that the dogs are well cared for, as both parent breeds can have aggressive tendencies if abused. If the puppies are curious and playful, that’s a good sign (and being fearful and withdrawn is a bad one).

3 Little-Known Facts About Doxie Pits

1. The Breed Enjoyed a Brief Moment of Internet Fame, Thanks to One Dog

In 2015, a video began making the rounds on social media featuring Rami, a Doxie Pit that was available for adoption in Georgia.

Rami’s strange appearance and infectious personality made him an immediate hit, and the video soon went viral. Adoption offers soon poured in, and he even garnered his own Facebook fan page.

Ultimately, though, the shelter decided that instead of adopting Rami out, they’d use him as an ambassador dog for shelter pups everywhere. He’s used as a therapy dog in hospitals and nursing homes, and he’s living proof that amazing, unique dogs are available every day at your local pound.

2. Their Backs Can Be a Source of Problems

Dachshunds have long bodies with low-slung backs, and they’re quite prone to back problems, especially when they’re carrying too much weight. Pit Bulls, on the other hand, tend to have dense, stocky bodies, even when they’re in great shape.

As a result, this can put a great deal of strain on a Doxie Pit’s back. The breed is prone to spinal problems, so it’s important to keep your dog at a healthy weight and get their spines checked out regularly.

Be careful when carrying them too. Always be sure to support their butts, and be gentle when lifting them or setting them down.

3. Both Parent Breeds Are Stubborn

Unfortunately, when you cross a stubborn breed with another stubborn breed, the bullheadedness doesn’t cancel out. Doxie Pits can be extremely headstrong, so it’s important to train and socialize them early.

This can make them challenging pets for first-time owners, and it’s generally recommended that only experienced pet parents bring one home.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Doxie Pit

Doxie Pits are incredibly sweet and affectionate, and they’ll crawl into your lap the moment you sit down. They also love to lick faces, so be careful about getting your mouth too close to theirs.

They’re good at picking up on human emotions, which is one reason that they make such good therapy dogs. However, if you have friends or family members who are fearful around dogs, that can make these pups nervous, which could lead to an unfortunate incident.

Generally speaking, though, they’re welcoming of strangers. They love people, no matter their age. Even so, they’re surprisingly good guard dogs, as they can both raise the alarm and stand their ground as needed.

Pit Bulls are typically much smarter than Dachshunds, and the Doxie Pit seemed to inherit their intelligence from their Pittie parents. They’re intelligent and intuitive, and they pick up on commands easily — when they’re in the mood to learn, that is.

They also know how to use their adorable good looks to their advantage, so try not to let yourself get manipulated by your mutt. They’re especially good at wheedling treats out of their humans, and since obesity is so disastrous for these dogs, you must learn how to say no.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Doxie Pits get along well with children for the most part, but you have to be sure that your kids know how to play with a dog safely. Make sure they’re not roughhousing too much or pulling the dog’s tail or ears, as these pups will defend themselves if abused.

They have a great deal of energy, so they can run around with your kids all day if need be. Once playtime is over, though, their favorite spot is in the nearest lap.

They tend to be extremely clingy, and they’ll follow you from room to room so as not to be too far away at any time. If you value having your own space, this isn’t a great pet for you.

Unlike many other lap dogs, though, these mutts aren’t prone to favoring one person over another, so they’re not likely to get protective of any one lap.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Neither Pit Bulls nor Dachshunds are well-known for being accepting of other dogs, and true to form, Doxie Pits can show aggression as well. However, if you socialize them at a young age and train them well, there’s no reason that they won’t accept a canine sibling.

It’s understandable if you don’t want to take the chance, though. Regardless of how accepting they are of other dogs, they’ll always prefer the company of their humans instead, so you may not witness much playing together.

They also have a high prey drive, so having cats, gerbils, and other small pets around isn’t a good idea. That’s especially true considering that they can get under beds and in other tight spaces where those animals would naturally hide.

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Things to Know When Owning a Doxie Pit

Chances are, you don’t know anyone who’s ever owned a Doxie Pit. That can be a problem, as these dogs can be challenging to own, but the rewards are well worth it.

Still, it’s a good idea to know what you’re getting yourself into ahead of time, so the information below could come in handy before you start the adoption process.

Food & Diet Requirements

Feeding the correct diet to a Doxie Pit is extremely important, as you don’t want to overfeed them and have them grow fat. Obesity is bad for any dog, but it’s especially disastrous for Doxie Pits.

Since these dogs are highly energetic, you’ll want to give them a kibble that’s high in protein. Look for one that uses high-quality meat sources, and avoid any that lists animal by-products on the label.

It’s important to avoid empty calories as well. Foods like wheat, soy, and corn offer almost nothing in the way of nutrition, but they can definitely plump a dog up quickly. Many pooches have difficulty processing them as well, so they could give you interesting messes to clean up.

Limit the number of treats you give your Doxie Pit, and try to avoid offering them human food at all. Again, it’s vital that you monitor their caloric intake as much as possible.

To that end, we recommend giving them two small meals a day rather than allowing them to free-feed. These dogs will eat until they pop, so don’t give them the chance to gorge themselves.

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Exercise

Doxie Pits have a great deal of energy that needs to be burned off to avoid destructive behavior, so you’ll have to give them their fair share of exercise.

Luckily, their stubby little legs make it difficult for them to exercise too much, and a long walk should be more than enough to tucker them out. They’ll also have a ton of fun chasing your kids around the backyard.

If you don’t have a backyard, don’t worry, as they make great apartment dogs. Just be sure that you’re available to take them on their daily constitutional or failing that, arrange to have a dog walker do it for you.

Be careful about pushing them too hard, however. Their stocky bodies can put a great deal of strain on their backs, so you want to avoid high-impact exercise. That includes running or jumping on hard surfaces, so catching Frisbees or jumping through hoops are both bad ideas.

They do well with task-oriented play, so puzzle toys, games of hide-and-seek, and the like are all excellent ways to exhaust them both mentally and physically.

Training

Doxie Pits can be stubborn animals, so training can easily devolve into a battle of wills if you’re not careful. That’s one reason it’s generally recommended that only experienced owners adopt one of these dogs.

They don’t respond well to harsh training methods, so criticism, shock collars, and similar methods are likely to have the opposite of their intended effect. However, they can take advantage of kindheartedness, so you have to be careful not to let them walk all over you.

You’ll need a firm hand and plenty of discernment to train these dogs. Yes, you should rely on positive reinforcement — praise and treats — to reward a job well done. Just don’t get suckered into rewarding them every time.

If you’re not capable of training the dog yourself, you should consult a professional, as these mutts can be prone to all sorts of bad habits if not taught proper manners. However, be aware that they may learn that they need to respect the trainer but ignore you.

Group classes can come in handy as well, but only if you’ve socialized the dog to accept other pups. Otherwise, you could spend the whole class trying to keep your dog from launching themselves at the other students.

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Grooming ✂️

Both Pit Bulls and Dachshunds have short, wiry coats, and the Doxie Pit does as well. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to brush them, however, as they do shed a fair amount.

Taking a slicker brush to them every few days should be all you need to keep their hair loss under control. While you’re brushing them, check their skin for irritation, as Pit Bulls are notorious for suffering from skin allergies.

That means that you should keep bathing to a minimum as well. Generally speaking, you should only bathe these dogs if they really need it, such as if they’re visibly dirty or if they rolled in something smelly.

Bathing them too frequently will strip their skin of natural oils, which will lead to a higher chance of skin infections. You can just wipe them down with a damp cloth if you feel that they need a touch-up.

Other than that, grooming is fairly basic. Trim their nails as needed, brush their teeth several times a week, and clean out their ears weekly.

Health and Conditions

Mutts tend to be healthier than purebred dogs, but Doxie Pits are something of an exception to that rule. That’s not to say that they’re as prone to health issues as some other purebred animals; it just means that their particular genetic combination lends itself to a few health concerns.

If you own one of these dogs, be on the lookout for the following issues.

Male vs. Female

There isn’t much difference between males and females in this breed, at least not yet (it’s still a developing breed, after all).

They’re roughly equal in size and their temperaments are similar. However, females may be a bit more independent.

If you decide to introduce a Doxie Pit into a household that already contains dogs, be careful about same-sex arrangements, especially with females. While these dogs aren’t that accepting of other dogs in general, they’re more likely to be aggressive toward members of their own gender.

Final Thoughts on the Doxie Pitt

Doxie Pits are unusual dogs, to say the least. With their low, long bodies and boxy heads, they look like a perfect mix of Dachshund Pitbull mix and act like it too.

That’s not always a good thing, though. They’re prone to stubborn behavior and can be aggressive toward other animals, so they’re not ideal for novice owners. Also, their high exercise requirements make them a poor fit for less-active households.

That being said, if you’re capable of handling these dogs, you’ll have an incredibly loyal, loving, and affectionate companion on your hands. You’ll also have a Velcro dog that’s the perfect height for tripping over, so be sure to watch your step.

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