dogage.co
Comparison

Dachshund vs Rottweiler

Side-by-side comparison from peer-reviewed sources. Lifespan and health figures draw on Royal Veterinary College VetCompass and AKC breed data.

At a glance

Side-by-side

The numbers that most change day-to-day care. A citrus border marks a meaningful advantage.

Medium

Dachshund

Lifespan13.2 yrrange 13–14
SizeMedium
Weight11–32 lb5–14.5 kg
Height5–9 in12.7–22.9 cm
Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11
AKC groupHound
Energy3/545 min/day
Trainability4/5
Shedding2/5
With kids3/5
With other dogs4/5
Giant

Rottweiler

Lifespan10.6 yrrange 10–11
SizeGiant
Weight80–135 lb36.3–61.2 kg
Height22–27 in55.9–68.6 cm
Senior at5 yrgeriatric at 8
AKC groupWorking
Energy3/545 min/day
Trainability5/5
Shedding3/5
With kids3/5
With other dogs3/5
Health

Common health issues

Top 3 prevalence-ranked conditions for each breed. See each breed's full health profile for screening schedules and source data.

Dachshund

  • High prevalencetypical onset ~5 yr

    Intervertebral Disc Disease

    Description and veterinary guidance for Intervertebral Disc Disease land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Moderatetypical onset ~6 yr

    Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram)

    Description and veterinary guidance for Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram) land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Rottweiler

  • High prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr

    Elbow Dysplasia

    Description and veterinary guidance for Elbow Dysplasia land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Moderatetypical onset ~7 yr

    Cataracts

    Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Moderatetypical onset ~2 yr

    Osteochondritis Dissecans

    Description and veterinary guidance for Osteochondritis Dissecans land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Synthesis

Which is right for you?

The Dachshund tends to live about 2.6 years longer on average than the Rottweiler (13.2 vs 10.6 years).

Size gap is meaningful: the Dachshund is medium-sized and the Rottweiler is giant. Expect different considerations for housing, travel, and vet-care costs.

Both breeds have similar energy requirements — roughly 45 minutes of daily activity keeps either satisfied.

Both carry 1 high-prevalence breed-specific health risks — see the health section above for condition-by-condition detail.