
Dachshund in Heat? 3 Things You Need to Do Now!
For many years, my husband and I have raised several male Dachshunds. My puppy Gretta, is my first female Dachshund that I have had the pleasure of raising.
She is a precious little sweetheart who knows how to hold her own, let me tell you.
My vet recommended that I hold off on getting her fixed (desexed) until after her first heat. Well, that time arrived when she turned 9 months old.
I thought it would be helpful to share my experience with all of you so you know what to expect when your Dachshund has their first heat.
Below are 3 things you can do to help your Dachshund in heat.
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Table Of Contents
This post contains a video.
What Age Do Dachshunds Go in Heat?
A female Dachshund puppy can go in heat anywhere between the ages of 6 – 14 months old.
How Long Will My Dachshund Be in Heat?
Your Dachshund’s heat cycle can last anywhere between 2-4 weeks. It will vary depending on the doxie.
My Dachshund, Gretta’s cycle lasted three weeks.
How Often Are Dachshunds in Heat?
Small dog breeds, like Dachshunds, can go in heat 3-4 times per year.
How Do I Know When My Female Dachshund is in Heat?
Days or weeks before your doxie goes in heat, you may notice the following symptoms.
Pre-Heat Symptoms:
Dachshund Heat Symptoms
While your Dachshund is in heat, you may notice the following symptoms.
What Happens When a Dachshund Goes in Heat?
My Dachshund puppy, Gretta, was 9 months old when her first heat began. Here’s what I observed.
Day 1: Swollen vulva and some red spotting on her dog blankets and dog bed.
Day 2: More red drips on the floor and her dog bedding. Gretta also did a lot more self cleaning.
[see spotting pictures below]
Days 3-10: Gretta’s flow started. It wasn’t a lot, but it was constant. I used female doggie diapers to help out with the mess. More details on those below.
Days 11-20: Vulva still swollen, noticeably larger nipples, no spotting or flow.
Day 21: Back to normal.
3 Things to Do When Your Dachshund is in Heat
#1 Guard Them From Other Dogs
While your female Dachshund is in heat, keep her away from public dog parks and other dogs that are intact (not neutered).
Your doxie has literally become a “magnet” to other male dogs, stay away and keep them safe.
#2 Contain The Mess
Keep your Dachshund in an easy-to-clean, gated area. A puppy playpen works perfectly!
Since there is a little more mess during your Dachshund’s heat, throw some puppy pads down to help out too.
Here are some nice puppy pad choices:
#3: Dachshund Heat Diaper
I grabbed some super cute female dog diapers for Gretta’s special occasion.
While using dog diapers, it’s important to keep your doxie clean and allow for self-cleaning (non-doggie diaper time) each day.
Inside the Dachshund heat diaper, I used one half of a women’s ultra-thin pad so I could constantly change it out and keep my puppy clean.
I do work from home, so I’m able to let my dogs outside throughout the day.
Every time Gretta went outside for potty time (every couple of hours) I changed out the ultra thin pad in the doggie diaper.
As I got more used to this daily routine, I prepared all doggie diapers (they come in a pack of three) the night before with the precut pads all ready to go.
Self-Cleaning Time
Always allow for self-cleaning time each day to prevent infection.
Gretta was free to self-clean in the evening, all night long and in the morning. I would only put the diaper on in the afternoon and I change out the diaper’s disposable pad every time she went outside to go potty.
If you work outside the home:
Don’t leave the doggie diaper on your doxie while you are away!
Have your pup just hang out in their gated area with some puppy pads and clean dog blankets.
Only use the diaper if you can change the pad several times throughout the day. If a dog diaper just won’t work for you, that’s ok.
Keeping your Dachshund in an easy-to-clean, gated area and providing plenty of clean dog blankets or towels will work.
Female dogs are prone to TSS if they aren’t kept clean during their heat. Change dog diaper pads often and provide clean blankets.
Providing Care To Your Dachshund In Heat
Lap time: Take some special one-on-one time to just sit with your pup. Put a heating pad (on low heat) between a dog blanket or towel on your lap for some heated rest.
Patience: If your pup is acting more irritable or tired, be extra patient. Your poor pup isn’t feeling well. Give some extra love and treats during this time.
Gretta’s heat lasted for about 3 weeks before everything went back to normal. Overall, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. She did awesome!
Hello, We had to rescue my sisters 2 year old dachshund because My sis is going to pass from cancer. She’s only had Susie for almost 2 years, bought, errr, as a puppy, never spayed although she’s scheduled since she’s in heat & we’re counting for the Vet, this would be her 2nd or 3rd heat cycle, plus she’s 2, so it’s safe. But she’s Never been trained & goes anywhere & everywhere she feels like it, including in our bed. Now we’ve had mattress protectors but still, can’t keep going thru this in middle of night, so she’s definitely going to have to stay Out of Our Bed to Sleep, it’s been almost 2 months we’ve had her, shes done this 3 times now plus we have 3 other rescues, also small, not dachshunds, & they WERE All Trained, Until Susie Came, Now We’re “Finding” Accidents All Over & Susie Also Never knew a Yard, So Now we really have a mess. Have to watch them all the time. Going to make a lot of changes now, with all 4. Two of our rescues are because they lost their mom, 1 sister of husband & my sister. So, didn’t plan on 4 but now all also seniors except for Susie. Susie acts like the yard is just a place she wants to get out of & at 1st she acted like she knew what those washable pads were for & all of a sudden ignores them. I’ve even tried putting her P on them, hasn’t worked, Sometimes She’ll poop on 1 but always pees in front of behind it, everywhere but ON it. Thinking of diapers. She’s 2 though. Not sure what’s going to happen. We’re older & can’t walk her all day & night. Any suggestions? Ty. Debbie Ciolli Melbourne Fl
Hi Debbie,
First, I just want to say how sorry I am to hear about your sister. It sounds like you’ve been through so much, and I truly admire how you’re stepping up to care for Susie and your other rescues. It sounds like you’re juggling a lot, so I’m happy to offer some suggestions that might help with Susie’s training and behavior.
It’s great that you’re getting her spayed — this can help with some behavioral issues down the road. As for the potty training, I know how frustrating it can be when a dog isn’t getting the hang of it, especially with accidents happening in your bed. Here are a few tips:
1. Create a designated potty area: Since Susie seems unsure of the yard, try creating a small, safe space in the yard just for her to do her business. You can even try leash-walking her to this area so she associates it with potty time.
2. Supervised potty breaks: Until she gets the hang of it, try to take her out frequently, especially after meals, naps, or playtime.
3. Playpen: If she isn’t used to being in a puppy playpen, it might be helpful for setting boundaries, especially at night. Having her in a playpen when you’re not able to supervise could prevent accidents while she learns.
4. Positive reinforcement: Celebrate the small victories! Every time she uses the pad or goes outside, reward her with praise or a treat. This can help her understand where she’s supposed to go.
4.5. Caught in the act: If you catch her going potty in the home, take her right outside to the designated potty spot…even if she is still ‘going’ this is the best way to help her realize that outside is the place to do it. Don’t use any negative punishments when this occurs, praise her positively when she finishes her business outside in the designated area.
5. Diapers: If you’re considering diapers, they can be helpful as a temporary solution while you work on training. Just be sure to take them off when she’s outside so she can still learn to go potty in the right spot.
6. Patience & consistency: It can take time for dogs to adjust, especially when they’ve had little to no training in the past.
Also, I wanted to share that dachshunds can be particularly challenging to potty train, especially after the age of one. In situations like this, I recommend starting potty training as if Susie were a brand-new puppy. Take her out every hour at first and gradually increase the time between breaks as she improves.
I completely understand that potty training around the clock might be a big task for you, especially with other senior dogs to care for. I hope you don’t mind me offering the option of rehoming as a consideration – it’s always an option, especially with her being so young. Potty training challenges aren’t where it all ends…She will need lots of daily walks to burn off her energy and prevent any destructive behavior in the house, and a new home might be better equipped to meet those needs.
If her energy and potty accidents are still too much to handle, there are many dachshund rescues across the United States that might be able to help by finding her a new home. Many doxies are surrendered because they weren’t potty trained, and the new foster family works on training them.
You’re doing such an amazing job with all your rescues, and I truly wish you the best of luck with Susie and the rest of your dogs.
Hi my name is Jackie and I have a beautiful black dachshund she is only 7 months and she is in heat and feel terrible because I don’t know what to do but hold her!!! She is spotting on me but I don’t want to let her go cause I feel like she is in pain… she want even play with the kids
Hi Jackie, your sweet girl is lucky to have such a loving and attentive mom. It’s normal to feel a bit unsure during her first heat, especially when she’s not acting like herself. If she feels better being held and taking it easy, that’s what you can do for her. I used a nice soft blanket to hold my Gretta when she just wanted to be held. Some doxie parents use a very ‘low heat’ heating pad with a soft blanket on top to make sure it doesn’t get too hot.
Here are a few things you can do to make her more comfortable:
>Provide a cozy, quiet space: She might just need some extra rest and a place to relax away from too much activity.
>Use doggy diapers or a towel: This can help manage the spotting and keep things clean while she snuggles with you.
>Offer her favorite treats or toys: Even if she’s not playing much, it might help lift her spirits.
>Keep an eye on her mood and health: If she seems unusually uncomfortable, or if something feels off, don’t hesitate to check with your vet for advice.