A pocket-sized dachshund has been melting hearts after his owner said she thinks he might be the tiniest miniature sausage dog ever.
Emily, who lives with 2-year-old dog Axell in the U.K., took to TikTok to share the miniature canine's irresistible charm.
"We got him in October 2021 after seeing pictures of this tiny little sausage dog and knew we couldn't let him go to someone else," Emily told Newsweek.
At almost a year old, he only weighed 3 pounds. Emily explained why: "He's so tiny due to his breed, 'rabbit dachshund.' It's not recognized worldwide, but you have standard, miniature, and then rabbit dachshund."
A rabbit dachshund, also known as a kaninchen dachshund, is a smaller size of the dachshund breed. Not officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), it is acknowledged as a third, smaller size of a dachshund by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI)—the largest international federation of national kennel clubs and purebred registries.
Rabbit dachshunds are characterized by low short legs and extra compact build, and were said to be specially bred to hunt small prey like rabbits.
Axell's petite stature becomes even more apparent when compared to his larger siblings. Emily explained: "His brother and sister were massive compared to him." Despite approaching the two-year mark, Axell's size often leads people to question if he's a still a puppy.
"He loves to dig and play with footballs. He's very territorial and will bark at anything or anyone who knocks on our door," Emily said. "He sits on our window like a cat and watches the world go by."
Emily shared Axell's story on her TikTok page @emily.lewie, where she said: "I'm convinced he's the smallest doggo ever. And in the comments people were instantly in love.
"Omg he's adorable," said TikToker Elaine. While another viewer said: "What a darling!"
Another fellow pet owner joked: "Doesn't matter how small he actually is, he still thinks he's a Doberman."
Despite his small size, Axell is full of personality and a big part of the family, proving that great things can come in super small packages. "He loves being carried and cuddled," Emily said. "And he is obsessed with climbing into our bed and getting under the sheets like he's a human."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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