Craft Your Own Adorable Amigurumi Dachshund Dog Crochet Pattern!

If you’ve ever scrolled through a craft fair, browsed an Etsy shop, or stumbled upon a crochet enthusiast’s Instagram, chances are you’ve fallen head over heels for a tiny stuffed animal with oversized personality. Amigurumi — the Japanese art of crocheting or knitting small, stuffed yarn creatures — has captured hearts worldwide, and for good reason. These little figures combine the satisfaction of handmade craft with the undeniable charm of miniature animals. And few animals make for a more irresistible amigurumi subject than the dachshund: those short little legs, that dramatically elongated body, and those soulful, floppy ears. Whether you’re a seasoned yarn artist or someone who has just learned their first single crochet, this pattern guide will walk you through everything you need to create your very own amigurumi dachshund dog.

Get ready to fall in love twice — once when you start, and again when you finish.

Why the Dachshund Makes the Perfect Amigurumi Subject

Before we dive into hooks and yarn weights, let’s take a moment to appreciate why the dachshund is such a beloved choice for amigurumi makers. The “sausage dog,” as it’s affectionately known, has one of the most distinctive silhouettes in the canine world. That long, low body paired with stubby legs creates a natural tension in form that translates beautifully into crocheted sculpture. Where most dog breeds can look similar when rendered in yarn, a dachshund is immediately recognizable.

The dachshund’s long snout, barrel chest, and dramatically pendulous ears offer wonderful opportunities to play with shape and proportion — and in amigurumi, exaggerated proportions are not just accepted, they’re celebrated. Add a pair of glossy safety eyes, a tiny embroidered nose, and a tail that curls ever so slightly upward, and you’ve got a fiber art piece that will have everyone asking where you bought it.

Beyond aesthetics, dachshunds also carry a lot of emotional weight for many crafters. They’re a beloved companion breed, and creating a yarn version of someone’s pet (or your own) is one of the most heartfelt handmade gifts you can offer. These little crocheted pups make wonderful gifts for dog lovers, nursery decorations, stuffed animals for children, and keepsakes to commemorate a beloved pet.

Materials You’ll Need

Gathering your materials before you begin will make the whole process smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s what you’ll need to complete this amigurumi dachshund pattern:

Yarn: Choose a worsted weight (size 4) yarn in your preferred dachshund color. Classic dachshund colorways include chocolate brown, tan, black and tan, or a warm red-brown. You’ll want a main color for the body and a lighter color (cream or tan) for the underbelly, inner ears, and paw pads if you want added detail. About 100–150 yards of your main color and 20–30 yards of your accent color should be more than sufficient.

Crochet Hook: A 3.5mm or 4mm hook works beautifully with worsted weight yarn for amigurumi. The tighter gauge you achieve with a slightly smaller hook than the yarn label recommends will help prevent the stuffing from showing through the stitches.

Safety Eyes: Two 9mm or 12mm black safety eyes are ideal for capturing that signature dachshund expression. For gifts intended for small children under three years old, consider embroidering the eyes instead for safety reasons.

Polyfill Stuffing: A good quality polyester fiberfill stuffing is essential. You want your dachshund to feel firm but not stiff, with a satisfying weight in the hand.

Yarn Needle: For sewing pieces together and weaving in your ends.

Stitch Markers: These are a crocheter’s best friend when working in the round. They help you track the beginning of each round, which is critical in amigurumi where the stitch count must be precise.

Scissors: A sharp pair for clean cuts.

Optional Extras: Small amounts of black yarn for embroidering the nose and toe details, craft wire for internal armature if you want poseable legs, and a small piece of felt for the tongue.

Understanding Amigurumi Basics

If you’re new to amigurumi, there are a few foundational concepts to understand before you begin.

Amigurumi is almost always worked in continuous rounds rather than joined rounds. This means you don’t slip stitch and chain at the end of each round — you simply keep crocheting in a continuous spiral. This technique creates a seamless, smooth fabric and is what gives amigurumi its characteristic look. Using a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round will help you keep track of your progress.

The magic ring (also called a magic circle) is the standard way to start amigurumi pieces. It allows you to close the center of the piece completely so no hole shows at the top of the head or bottom of the body. If you’re unfamiliar with the magic ring, take a few minutes to practice it before beginning — it will become second nature very quickly.

Most amigurumi stitches are single crochets. Increases are made by working two single crochets into the same stitch, and decreases use an invisible decrease (crocheting two stitches together through the front loops only) to maintain a tidy appearance.

The abbreviations used throughout this pattern are standard: MR (magic ring), SC (single crochet), INC (increase — 2 SC in same stitch), DEC (invisible decrease — SC2TOG through front loops), and SL ST (slip stitch).

The Pattern: Step by Step

The Head

Start with the head, which anchors the entire piece and is where you’ll place the safety eyes.

Round 1: MR, 6 SC into ring. (6 stitches)
Round 2: INC in each stitch around. (12)
Round 3: SC 1, INC repeat around. (18)
Round 4: SC 2, INC repeat around. (24)
Round 5: SC 3, INC repeat around. (30)
Rounds 6–10: SC in each stitch around. (30)
Round 11: SC 3, DEC repeat around. (24)

Before you continue decreasing, this is the time to insert your safety eyes. Position them between rounds 7 and 8, about 8–9 stitches apart. The spacing gives the dachshund its characteristic wide-eyed, endearing look. Once the eyes are secured, begin stuffing the head. Continue to add stuffing as you decrease — it’s much easier to do this gradually than to try stuffing through a small hole at the end.

Round 12: SC 2, DEC repeat around. (18)
Round 13: SC 1, DEC repeat around. (12)
Round 14: DEC around. (6)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the head to the body later. Use your yarn needle to close the final 6 stitches if any gap remains.

The Snout

The snout is one of the most charming features of the dachshund and gives it that distinctive profile.

Round 1: MR, 6 SC. (6)
Round 2: INC in each stitch. (12)
Round 3: SC 1, INC repeat around. (18)
Rounds 4–6: SC around. (18)

Stuff lightly and fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Position the snout on the lower front of the head, centered below the eyes, and sew it securely into place. Once attached, use black yarn or embroidery floss to stitch a small oval or heart-shaped nose onto the tip of the snout. A few small vertical stitches beneath the nose create a simple, expressive mouth.

The Body

The body is where the magic of the dachshund really comes to life. You want it noticeably longer than it is wide — that torpedo shape is everything.

Round 1: MR, 6 SC. (6)
Round 2: INC in each stitch. (12)
Round 3: SC 1, INC repeat around. (18)
Round 4: SC 2, INC repeat around. (24)
Round 5: SC 3, INC repeat around. (30)
Rounds 6–18: SC around. (30)

That’s 13 rounds of straight single crochet, which gives you the body’s signature length. If you want a slightly pudgier dachshund, feel free to add two to four more rounds here — this is your creation, and artistic liberty is always encouraged.

Round 19: SC 3, DEC repeat around. (24)
Round 20: SC 2, DEC repeat around. (18)
Round 21: SC 1, DEC repeat around. (12)

Stuff firmly as you go. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Set the body aside while you make the legs and ears.

The Legs (Make Four)

The dachshund’s famously short legs are crocheted as small tubes, slightly wider at the paw end.

Round 1: MR, 6 SC. (6)
Round 2: INC in each stitch. (12)
Rounds 3–4: SC around. (12)
Round 5: SC 2, DEC repeat around. (9)
Rounds 6–10: SC around. (9)

Stuff lightly — you want the legs to have some substance but still be flexible enough to pose slightly. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. For added detail, use black yarn to stitch three or four small lines across the paw end to create toe divisions. This tiny touch makes an enormous difference in the finished look.

You’ll make four identical legs: two front legs and two back legs. The back legs can be attached slightly further back on the body and angled very slightly outward to capture that characteristic dachshund stance.

The Ears (Make Two)

Those long, floppy ears are the crowning glory of any dachshund amigurumi. Work them flat in rows to get that teardrop shape.

Chain 4.
Row 1: SC in 2nd chain from hook, SC, INC. Turn. (4)
Row 2: INC, SC 2, INC. Turn. (6)
Row 3: SC across. Turn. (6)
Row 4: INC, SC 4, INC. Turn. (8)
Rows 5–8: SC across. Turn. (8)
Row 9: DEC, SC 4, DEC. Turn. (6)
Row 10: DEC, SC 2, DEC. Turn. (4)
Row 11: DEC, DEC. (2)
Fasten off.

Work a single crochet border around the entire ear if you’d like a neat, finished edge — this also helps the ear hold a gentle curve. Attach the ears on either side of the head, positioned about mid-way up and angled so they drape downward and slightly forward. The way you position the ears will define your dachshund’s personality more than almost any other element, so take your time pinning them before you sew.

The Tail

Round 1: MR, 4 SC. (4)
Rounds 2–8: SC around. (4)

Do not stuff the tail. Fasten off and sew it to the back end of the body, angling it slightly upward for that perky dachshund expression.

Assembly

Now comes the most satisfying part: bringing all the pieces together into one unified, adorable little creature.

Begin by sewing the head to the body. Position the head so it sits at a very slight forward tilt — this gives the finished dachshund an alert, curious look. Use your yarn tail and a yarn needle to work small, secure whip stitches all the way around the join, making sure there are no gaps.

Next, attach the front legs to either side of the body, near the front (roughly below where the head attaches). The back legs go toward the rear of the body. Take care to position all four legs at the same level so your dachshund sits evenly when placed on a flat surface. Pin them in place before sewing to double-check the balance.

Attach the ears to the sides of the head. The ears should hang down past the jawline — dachshund ears are famously long and expressive. A few extra stitches at the base of each ear will keep them lying flat and natural.

Finally, sew the tail to the back of the body. Give everything a final inspection, tighten any stitches that look loose, and weave in all your yarn ends thoroughly.

Customization Ideas

One of the greatest joys of making your own amigurumi is the freedom to personalize. Here are some ideas to make your dachshund uniquely yours.

You can change the color scheme to match a specific dog — if you’re making a memorial piece or a gift for someone who has a miniature dachshund, matching the yarn color to the actual dog makes the gift extraordinarily meaningful. A dapple dachshund effect can be achieved by holding two strands of yarn in different colors together as you work, creating a marbled appearance.

Adding a tiny crocheted collar around the neck is a delightful detail that takes only minutes and instantly adds personality. Work a short chain long enough to fit around the neck, slip stitch to join, and you’re done. You can even add a small jump ring and charm for a miniature dog tag.

For a miniature dachshund, simply drop down to a fingering weight yarn with a 2mm hook. Everything will scale proportionally and the finished piece will be endearingly tiny. A standard dachshund in worsted weight comes out roughly 7–8 inches long, while a mini version in fingering weight will be closer to 3–4 inches.

If you want to create a wire armature to make your dachshund poseable, cut two pieces of craft wire to length for the front and back leg spans, fold them in a U-shape, thread them through the body before closing it up, and wrap the exposed ends inside each leg before stuffing. This lets you bend the legs into different poses for display, though it’s not appropriate for toys intended for children.

Tips for Amigurumi Success

Working in amigurumi requires consistent tension above almost everything else. If your tension is too loose, the stuffing will show through and the finished piece will look lumpy. If it’s too tight, the fabric will be stiff and difficult to work with. Most experienced amigurumi makers crochet slightly tighter than they would for a garment or home accessory project — this is intentional and produces the best results.

Count your stitches at the end of every round. It takes only a second and saves you from discovering a miscount five rounds later. A stitch marker at the first stitch of each round is your most valuable tool.

Don’t rush the assembly phase. The way you sew your pieces together will determine whether the finished amigurumi looks polished or haphazard. Pinning everything in place before committing to stitches is always worth the extra time.

Use good quality stuffing. Cheap polyester fiberfill can clump and leave lumpy spots in your finished piece. A good stuffing distributes evenly and holds its shape over time. Stuff firmly but not so tightly that the piece becomes rigid — you want a soft, squeezable quality that makes the amigurumi irresistible to hold.

Finishing and Caring for Your Amigurumi Dachshund

Once your dachshund is fully assembled, take a few minutes to style it. You can use a pin or toothpick to adjust the positioning of the eyes if they feel slightly off, tug the ears into their perfect drape, and use your yarn needle to hide any last stray yarn tails.

For storage and care, most worsted weight acrylic yarns are surface washable or hand washable in cool water. If you’ve used safety eyes and polyfill stuffing, avoid machine washing, which can distort the shape. A gentle spot clean is usually all that’s needed to keep your amigurumi looking fresh.

Display your finished dachshund somewhere it can be admired, give it to someone who will love it, or add it to your growing collection. There’s something profoundly satisfying about a finished amigurumi — it’s small enough to hold in one hand but carries the full weight of creative effort and intention.

Share Your Makes!

There is a wonderful community of amigurumi enthusiasts online who would love to see your finished dachshund. Share your photos on Instagram with hashtags like #amigurumi, #amigurumidachshund, #crochetdog, and #