Free Dachshund Amigurumi Crochet Pattern (Step By Step Instructions)

There’s something irresistible about a dachshund’s long body and stubby little legs — and that same charm translates perfectly into amigurumi.

This free dachshund crochet pattern walks you through every stage of the process, from the first magic ring to the final stitch, so you end up with a soft, huggable wiener dog you’ll want to make again and again.

Whether you’re crocheting this as a gift, a shelf decoration, or just for the joy of finishing a project, this pattern is written to be easy to follow even if you’ve only made a handful of amigurumi before.

What You’ll Love About This Dachshund Amigurumi Pattern

This pattern keeps the dachshund’s signature features — long body, short legs, floppy ears, and a two-tone color saddle — without overcomplicating the construction.

The head and body are worked separately and joined at assembly, which makes the color-change saddle much easier to control than an all-in-one construction.

You’ll finish with a dachshund that actually looks like a dachshund, not just a generic dog shape in brown yarn.

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Skill Level and Finished Size

Skill level: Upper Beginner. You should be comfortable with magic rings, single crochet, increases, and decreases before starting. No advanced stitches are required.

Finished size: Approximately 11 inches (28 cm) long and 4 inches (10 cm) tall, using the yarn and hook listed below.

Materials and Tools You’ll Need

Yarn and Color Suggestions

• Worsted weight (#4 Medium) yarn in tan or golden brown (main body color) — about 60g
• Small amount of black or dark brown yarn for the saddle marking and nose detail
• A small scrap of white or cream yarn if you’d like to add chest markings (optional)

Hook Size and Substitutions

• 3.5mm (E-4) crochet hook is recommended for a firm, tight stitch that holds stuffing well
• If you can’t find the exact yarn listed, any worsted weight acrylic or cotton-acrylic blend will work — just make sure your hook is one size smaller than the yarn label recommends, which keeps your stitches tight enough that stuffing won’t show through

Safety Eyes, Stuffing, and Notions

• 2 x 9mm black safety eyes (or embroider eyes with black yarn if making this for a small child)
• Polyester fiberfill stuffing
• Tapestry needle for sewing pieces together
• Stitch marker (a scrap of contrasting yarn works fine)
• Scissors

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Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• mc — magic circle
• ch — chain
• sc — single crochet
• inc — increase (2 sc in same stitch)
• dec — invisible decrease
• sl st — slip stitch
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• ( ) — total stitch count at end of round
• [ ] — repeat instructions the number of times stated

Step-by-Step Dachshund Crochet Instructions

Crocheting the Head

Using tan yarn:

1. 6 sc in mc (6)
2. [inc] x6 (12)
3. [sc, inc] x6 (18)
4. [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)
5. [3 sc, inc] x6 (30)
6. 6–10. sc around (30) — 5 rounds even
7. [3 sc, dec] x6 (24)
8. [2 sc, dec] x6 (18)

Insert safety eyes between rounds 8 and 9, spaced 6 stitches apart, and begin stuffing firmly.

1. [sc, dec] x6 (12)
2. [dec] x6 (6)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to the body. Finish stuffing before closing.

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Crocheting the Body and Saddle Color Change

The body is the part that gives a dachshund its shape, so take your time with the length here.

Using tan yarn:

1. 6 sc in mc (6)
2. [inc] x6 (12)
3. [sc, inc] x6 (18)
4. [2 sc, inc] x6 (24)
5. 5–8. sc around (24) — 4 rounds even

Switch to black yarn for the saddle marking:

1. 9–16. sc around (24) — 8 rounds in black

Switch back to tan yarn:

1. 17–24. sc around (24) — 8 rounds even
2. [2 sc, dec] x6 (18)
3. [sc, dec] x6 (12)

Stuff firmly as you go, adding fiberfill in small amounts so the body stays smooth rather than lumpy.

1. [dec] x6 (6)

Fasten off and close.

Crocheting the Legs (make 4)

Using tan yarn:

1. 5 sc in mc (5)
2. inc around (10)
3. 3–6. sc around (10) — 4 rounds even

Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Stuff lightly — legs should be soft, not firm, so the dachshund can “sit” naturally.

Crocheting the Ears (make 2)

Using tan yarn:

1. 6 sc in mc (6)
2. [inc] x6 (12)
3. sc around (12)
4. [sc, inc] x6 (18)
5. 5–7. sc around (18) — 3 rounds even

Fold the ear flat and sc across the opening to close it, rather than stuffing. This keeps the ears soft and floppy like a real dachshund’s.

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Crocheting the Tail

Using tan yarn:

1. 5 sc in mc (5)
2. 2–8. sc around (5) — 7 rounds even, decreasing gradually isn’t needed here — the tail should taper naturally as it’s stuffed lightly

Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Assembling Your Dachshund

1. Sew the head to the front of the body, positioning it so the black saddle sits centered along the back.
2. Attach the four legs evenly along the underside of the body — two front, two back — so the dachshund can stand or sit.
3. Sew the ears to the sides of the head, angled slightly forward and down for that classic floppy look.
4. Attach the tail to the back of the body, just above the saddle’s end point.
5. Embroider a small black nose using satin stitch, and add a few straight stitches for the mouth if desired.

How to Size Your Dachshund Up or Down

• Smaller (about 7 inches): Use a lighter weight yarn (DK or sport weight) with a 3mm hook, following the same stitch counts.
• Larger (about 16 inches): Use a bulky weight yarn with a 5mm–5.5mm hook. You may want to add 1–2 extra “even” rounds to the body to keep proportions looking right, since bulkier stitches naturally shorten the body length.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• Ears won’t lie flat: This usually means too many stitches were closed across the opening. Try sc-ing across just the last round rather than sewing it shut, which keeps the fold soft.
• Saddle marking looks crooked: Make sure your color change round starts at the same stitch each time — use a stitch marker at the start of every round to keep your color blocks aligned.
• Body looks lumpy instead of smooth: Add stuffing in small pinches as you go rather than stuffing everything at the very end — this is the single biggest fix for lumpy amigurumi.
• Legs won’t support the body when standing: Stuff legs just slightly firmer at the top where they attach to the body, and keep the bottom softer so they can flex.

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Care Tips for Your Finished Amigurumi

Spot clean with a damp cloth rather than machine washing, since safety eyes and stuffing can shift or warp in a washing machine. Keep finished amigurumi out of direct sunlight for long periods, as bright colors — especially the black saddle marking — can fade over time.

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