The 6 Best Dachshund Dog Foods Australia: Tested & Evaluated 2024

Dachshunds sure love to eat! But some of them can be picky eaters too.

It’s incredibly important to get their diet right to keep the correct weight on their sausage shaped and easily stressed bodies. 

To help you determine which brands in Australia can provide your Dachshund with a balanced meal, our team collaborated with veterinarians and canine nutritionists to form a panel of independent experts. In doing so, we tested and studied various dog foods on the market. After months of research, we came up with a list, including all the necessary information that you will need to make the right choice for your dog.

So how does one find the best Dachshund food? This guide is here to help you find suitable food for your beloved sausage dog.

Related: The Best Dog Food Australia.
Related: How To Choose The Right Dog Food?
Related: How Is Australia’s Dog Food Industry Regulated?
Related: What is AAFCO? The Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Related: What Is the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA)?
Related: AAFCO vs PFIAA: Dog Food Standards Comparison Australia.
Related: Understanding Guaranteed Analysis Levels in Dog Food.
Related: Real Meat vs Meat Meal.

Australia's Best Food for Dachshunds Reviewed

Ready to learn about the best dog food formulas for Dachshunds available in Australia? Look no further. These are the Doxie-friendly foods that impressed our team of independent experts the most.

The most convenient form of dog food is dry kibble, and with Petzyo, you can also be sure that you are feeding your pup the best ingredients. The Kibble That Counts range offers three different formulas all featuring a single high-quality protein as the main ingredient.

We’ve chosen the Roo recipe as our suggestion for Dachshunds because kangaroo meat is one of the leanest meats. Rich in protein and iron but low in fat, it works well for dogs who are at risk of obesity (but not only).

We prefer this brand over Eureka, our number two choice ahead, because it contains a healthy balance of protein, fat, and fibre, which is especially important for canine diets. For sausage dogs with food sensitivities, these proteins are a safe bet.

Besides the roo, which is the first ingredient, this Petzyo recipe also contains a range of fruits, veggies, and superfood additions that will ensure your pup gets all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and fibre.

Another thing we like about the Petzyo dry food is the relatively small kibble size. Each individual kibble is between 11 and 13 mm long, which we noticed is totally manageable for Dachshunds.

We chose this brand since it's made in Australia and cheap, so you can feed your dog a healthy meal without breaking the bank.

As an added bonus, it is suitable for canines of any age, so you won't have to worry about switching brands.

One nice thing about small dogs is that we get to spoil them with super premium dog food without breaking the bank. Eureka dog food is on the pricier side, especially when compared to our number one choice by Petzyo and our number four option ahead. However, also note that an average Doxie will only need approximately 100g of it per day, so that’s something to keep in mind when making your decisions.

Why choose Eureka? It’s miles away from your average kibble. This is dry dog food, but it’s been gently air-dried without too much heat to keep as many nutrients as possible while making the food safe to consume.

Because of its higher protein content, which is appropriate for the lifestyle of Dachshund, Eureka is better than Petzyo, which came in at number one. Everyone on our panel of independent pros, as dog owners who have active canines, think about these things since they assist in meeting the canine companions' nutritional requirements.

But the main reason to choose this brand is the ingredients. Namely, meat, organs, and bone make up over 90% of this food. it’s not just any meat but wild-caught boar and free-range chicken, all sourced right here in Australia, it cannot get much better.

Besides the meat, the food contains select healthy additions. These include salmon oil, flaxseed, and green-lipped mussel, which are all rich sources of Omega fatty acids and turmeric, which is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

We really like that they offer a free delivery service in Australia, particularly for people who are able to pay for a subscription. This is quite helpful if you are too busy to go to the store or if you are ordering a large number of items since it saves you time and money.

We also appreciate that they use only the finest ingredients in their goods and never any fillers, so their dog food is extremely nutrient-dense.

Doxies can be picky eaters. Not only that, but as they get older, sometimes their dental health suffers which makes it difficult for them to crunch on dry kibble. The solution to both problems can be switching to wet food. And there is no better option in this range than Ziwi Peak.

Unlike the second option, Eureka, Ziwi Peak offers a wet food option, which is great if your sausage dog needs or prefers this type of food. The quality of their wet food is superior to all the other wet foods in the market in terms of ingredients, variety, and nutrition.

I especially love how more than 90% of the contents of each Ziwi Peak wet food can is only meat, organs, and New Zealand green-lipped mussels. In short - pure goodness. Ziwi not only uses high-quality locally and sustainably sourced meat, but it also ensures your dog gets a healthy dose of organs.

In the case of this specific recipe, this includes lamb lung, kidney, liver, and tripe which are all clearly listed on the ingredient list. The extra additions on top of the ingredients we mentioned are mainly some water, chickpeas, and selected vitamin, mineral, and amino acid supplements.

Our independent team of experts appreciated how this brand chooses only the best ingredients for our dogs, especially for our Doxies who need high-quality protein. 

Also, we like how they do not include any additives, fillers, or other unhealthy ingredients to make the food safe and nutritious for our fur companions.

LifeWise is a relatively new feed on the Australian market, but it appears to be a very good option. All of their recipes feature a clearly named source of protein as the first ingredient and are focused on providing balanced nutrition for every type of dog.

Compared to Ziwi Peak, this option has a higher fat content. Doxies need healthy fats. According to our team of experts, when it comes to a dog's nutrition, fat is second only to water. Fats offer energy while also being crucial to good health. Unsaturated fats like Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are necessary for normal cell growth, division, and function.

The LifeWise Ocean Fish Small Bites formula seems like the perfect choice for Dachshunds. The first two ingredients are wild tuna and Australian lamb, followed by a selected mix of grains, veggies, and herbs.

Some of the LifeWise recipes have very high levels of protein and fat, which is great for active dogs, but usually not for Dachshunds. However, this specific recipe has 21% of crude protein and 13% of crude fat which is enough (at least according to the AAFCO recommendations), but not too much.

We like how this dog food is formulated for our Doxies to have a well-rounded diet that helps them have a good balance of hormones, adequate fuel for the brain and learning, decreased inflammation, and healthy skin, eyes, and nervous system.

Related: What is AAFCO? The Association of American Feed Control Officials
Related: What Is the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA)?
Related: AAFCO vs PFIAA: Dog Food Standards Comparison Australia

When it comes to puppy-specific recipes, Savourlife offers a nice option, especially if you are looking for food made locally in Australia.

Let me start with the main part - the protein. In this case, the first ingredient is chicken meal. While chicken meal might not sound as appetising as actual meat, it is a decent source of protein. Essentially a concentrated form of chicken meat and skin (with the moisture taken out), the chicken meal will ensure a puppy gets a healthy helping of necessary quality proteins.

We chose this as our fifth option because, unlike our number four choice by LifeWise, this has a higher protein and fat content, especially for puppies that have a very active lifestyle and need enough nutrition for their muscle and bone development.

This formula is grain-free, so the carbs come mostly from peas, tapioca, and potato. Not the most glorious ingredients, but a decent choice. Those are accompanied by nutritious veggies like sweet potato and broccoli and some other healthy additions like fish oil and glucosamine.

We recommend this for our baby Doxies because it contains enough healthy ingredients that can meet their needs to support their growth.

Also, we like how this dog food is grain and gluten-free. As our team of independent experts note, this can be important since puppies might not be able to digest it well and can possibly have stomach problems.

The Hill’s Science Diet range has been around for a long time. No, we wouldn’t say it’s the best dog food out there, but it does get recommended often and it rarely gets a bad review.

And hey, the packaging has a picture of a Dachshund! Does this mean this is the perfect feed for your Doxie? Well, it depends. As mentioned, this is not the highest-quality kibble available on the market. But if your dog is overweight, it can do a great job at helping keep the weight down.

Compared to the previous option, this dog food is better in terms of fat content, especially if your dog needs to lose or manage weight. A high-fat content might not be beneficial for Doxies who are older or have health issues, which is something several members of our team of independent experts have to deal with with their own dogs.

So what’s the secret? Well, this specific formula is low in fat and full of fibre. The dietary fibre is what will help your dog feel more full while consuming fewer calories.

I like the fact that there is a named protein (chicken) at the beginning of the ingredient list, but some of the 28% of protein mentioned in the guaranteed analysis also comes from chicken meal (ok) and corn gluten meal (not the best sources of protein for dogs).

This formula also contains a nice mix of vitamin and mineral supplements which are all clearly named. On the other hand, the ingredient list also includes things like “pork flavour” which makes us a bit suspicious about what that is.

In the end, we wouldn’t choose this food as our top picks, which Petzyo and Eureka deserve hands down. But if you need to help your Doxie keep the weight down, Hill’s Science Diet might work.

We appreciate how this dog food is specifically designed for senior Doxies. The ingredients are selected to help our sausage dogs lose weight.

Also, this is a brand that is affordable for most people. It's not the most expensive dog food available, like Eureka and Ziwi, but we find it to be just right. Size-specific kibble is hard to come by at this pricing bracket, so we appreciate that this option is available.

 Dachshund Diet Considerations

What do Dachshunds eat? Just like any dog, Doxies will thrive on a diet that’s rich in protein. If buying ready-made dog food, whether dry or wet, always look for wholesome sources of protein at the top of the ingredient list - that’s the most important part.

In the rest of the ingredient list, our team of independent experts recommend you look for whole foods and easily identifiable ingredients. It’s best to avoid things like sulphite preservatives or various ‘colours’ and ‘flavours’.

But is there anything special about Dachshunds we need to know about their diet? Well, not really. A Dachshund will probably thrive on any high-quality diet for dogs.

However, there is one thing to keep in mind - Dachshunds can be prone to getting overweight. Even though they are active and curious by nature, they often live a sedentary lifestyle where they don’t get that much exercise.

Obesity can be a problem in itself, but for Doxies, being overweight is more dangerous than usual. Namely, due to their elongated body shape, these dogs are extremely prone to spinal injuries like herniated discs. Being overweight makes it much more likely that problems with the spine will occur (1).

That’s something to keep an eye on. Dachshunds are also relatively prone to hypothyroidism which can exacerbate the problem with weight gain (2).

So what should a good Dachshund diet contain? Here is a quick breakdown.

Protein

As mentioned, protein is the most important part of a dog’s diet. They are carnivores, after all (at least most people would agree with that). In any case, quality protein is key, and it’s what we want to see on the first (or the first couple of) spots in the ingredient list.

The best kinds of protein include meat from specific sources as well as offal. A good second place could be meat meal (but not meat by-product meal), as a dehydrated version of meat.

However, also keep in mind that there is such a thing as too much protein.

Foods that are extremely high in protein also contain a lot of calories, which might not be good for all Dachshunds. While every dog is individual, a moderately high protein content between 20 and 25% in dry dog food should work well.

What Else?

While the protein is most important, our expert panel wants to remind you that other ingredients matter too. If you look at the guaranteed analysis on the back of every dog food package, the next item after protein will be fat.

Dogs need a decent amount of fat in their diet for their bodies to function properly. Somewhere between 10 and 15% of fat is considered a moderate amount and will work for most dogs, but it all depends on individual differences. However, diets that are extremely high in fat should probably be avoided for Dachshunds as they do have a tendency of getting overweight, as mentioned.

Carbs might be the least important part of a dog’s diet, but choosing a formula with nice whole food additions, like sweet potato, spinach or blueberries (rather than corn or white flour) can ensure your pup gets a healthy dose of vitamins and other nutrients.

What’s the Best Dachshund Puppy Food?

While there is no perfect formula for choosing the right dog food, it is important to choose something appropriate for your dog’s age. Puppys need more calories than adults do, and it’s also important to get the appropriate balance right.

This is especially important in the case of small breed puppies, like Doxies:

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that a dog food marketed specifically for puppies is always better than other options. While choosing a puppy formula is perfectly fine, there are also high-quality foods that are suitable for all ages, including puppies, like Petzyo and Ziwi. If you opt for one of those, the only thing you need to do is adjust the dosage to the needs of a puppy.

My Final Verdict

What is the best dog food for Dachshunds? Of course, it should be one that keeps your dog happy and healthy. When it comes to dry dog food, Pezyo Kibble That Counts is the Australian favourite with every member of our team of independent experts. Their Kangaroo & Sweet Potato formula might just offer the perfect mix of lean protein and superfoods for your long dog. We highly recommend this dog food because it is the best in various aspects!

However, we know Doxies can be picky eaters too. If you are looking for a special treat, then we think you should consider the wet food line from Eureka. It's top-of-the-line!

References

1. PetMD Editorial. September 12, 2008. “Dachshund”. PetMD. Retrieved August 1, 2022. https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_dachshund
2. “Hypothyroidism in Dogs” Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM. November 08, 2020. FETCH by WebMD. Retrieved August 2, 2022. https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/hypothyroidism-in-dogs
3. Gallagher, A. August 20, 2013. “The Dangers of High Protein Dog Foods”. PetMD. Retrieved August 2, 2022. https://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/evr_dg_dangers_of_high_protein_dog_foods
4. Hoffman, H. September 1, 2020. “How to Keep Small Dogs Healthy, From Puppy to Senior Dog”. PetMD. Retrieved August 2, 2022. https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/how-keep-small-dogs-healthy-puppy-senior-dog