Complete Dachshund Puppy Guide: 10 Tips for New Puppy Parents

Dachshund Proof Your Home

When a new puppy is set free in the home, they Will have accidents and they Will get into everything – guaranteed!  Many owners feel this is a behavior problem…when in fact, it is a lack of puppy proofing.  Unfortunately, that is one of the biggest reasons so many Dachshunds end up in dog shelters.

Post You May Like: Top 90 Dachshund Rescues In The USA

Puppy-Proofing Check List

1. Hide Chewable Items:

Get down on the floor and look through your new puppy’s eyes, what can they get into?  Because they will!

Cords and Strings:

Hide the electrical cords. If your puppy chews on an electrical cord, this can result in a severe burn or a deadly shock. Tape down all your loose cords and also secure your window shade strings.

Small Toys:

Keep small bouncy balls and child toys away from your pup.  They can easily block your pup’s airway, causing suffocation.  Hide the school supplies.  Pencils and colorful erasers are attractive, choking hazards for dogs.

Household Items:

Puppies love to grab, run, and chew everything on the floor to get some attention.  They also love to chew on furniture (especially while teething).  Some pet stores sell a bitter no-chew spray that can deter dogs from chewing the special items you want to protect.

Guard The Following Items:

• Socks
• Shoes
• TV remotes
• Game controllers
• Jewelry
• Furniture
• Pillows
• Houseplants
• Cat litter
• Dryer sheets

2. Use Puppy Gates:

If there are rooms in your house where there are too many things to hide, install a baby gate in the doorway.  Don’t allow your dog into the garage or the shed where there are a lot of dangerous objects that are hard to avoid.

3. Create A Designated Puppy Area:

Your designated puppy area should have an easy-to-clean floor (vinyl or tile) and a puppy play yard or baby gates.
Keep the puppy area away from your walls, cords, or any wooden corners where they might chew.

Dachshund puppies love to chew and pee on Everything. 

If you aren’t able to be your puppy’s shadow, put them in the designated puppy area.  It is meant to be a safe and cozy place for your puppy to go when you aren’t able to watch them.  Also, a great place for nap time.

Dachshund Puppy Housetraining Tips

1. Puppy Potty Clues:

You can start potty training your Dachshund puppy around 8 weeks of age.  Take your puppy outside frequently for potty breaks to prevent them from having to use the puppy pads in the house.  Use puppy pads only as a backup, not as the potty trainer.

Puppies have predictable elimination times.  Always take them out to go potty during the following events:

• When they wake up
• After They Eat
• After Exercise or Play
• Before they go to bed at night

If you spot your puppy doing any of the following, it’s time to let them outside.

• Sniffing the ground
• Turning around in circles
• Looking nervous
• Acting worried
• Whimpering

2. Designate House Area

Keep your puppy in a gated section of the house that has easy to clean floors. Use newspapers or puppy pads at the beginning of your training, but they are not to be used exclusively.

Sometimes it is hard to cover all of your entrances, so I like to use those large science fair project boards or thicker craft project poster boards from Walmart to secure those hard to cover areas.

Having a designated play area for your pup allows you to put them in a safe space when its time to take a nap or when biting and chewing gets out of hand.

3. Designate Yard Area

It is recommended that your puppy use a designated section of the yard as their potty spot.  They will start to understand what they need to do when you take them to that spot for pees and poos.

This is not only a big benefit to your yard, but also your shoes!  Dog poo is a pain to clean off sneaker treads.  Don’t let them roam the entire yard during the training process, this may cause confusion and delay the potty training process.

If you take your puppy outside to go potty and they don’t eliminate after 5-10 minutes, put them right back into their play area or crate and watch them closely.  When they show signs of having to go, take them outside quickly.

4. Watch Carefully And Move Quickly

Watch your puppy constantly when they aren’t in their designated area! If you notice your puppy showing any of the potty clues above, move that puppy outside quickly.

If you catch them mid pee or poo, pick them up and take them outside…even if they are still going.  Try not to get upset, just put them outside in the potty spot and give them praise.   This will help them realize where they are supposed to go potty.

When an accident happens in the house without you noticing, don’t get upset.  Puppies don’t understand why they can’t go potty in the house.  Your puppy loves you and is very capable of learning. 

Accidents are a part of the learning process, be patient.  It is up to you to keep on top of them to make this training successful.

Training Tip: Puppies aren’t fully in control of their bladder until about 6 months old. Understand that when they have an accident prior to this age, they aren’t able to hold their bladder for more than a couple of hours.  So, it really isn’t their fault.

Punishing during the house training phase may prolong training time and make it more difficult than it has to be.  The old methods of sticking your puppy’s nose in it are gone!  Use positive reinforcement instead.

5. Praise and Reward

When your pup goes potty outside, praise them with “Good” and give a small treat.  Then, take the dog immediately inside the house.  Your Dachshund will begin to connect your designated potty yard spot with getting a positive reward and returning to the house.

6. Hired Help

If you are unable to let your dog out during the day, get some help.  Your dog (puppy or adult age) should Never be crated for more than 4 hours. 

Ask your friendly stay-at-home mom if they want to earn some extra money for letting your dog out during the day.  Or, you can search online for some local dog walkers in your area.

Whether you are potty training your new pup or leaving your trained dog at home while you are gone most of the day, getting someone to let them out will prevent accidents.  It will also help your dog remain calm while you are away and lower the risk of Separation Anxiety Issues.

Potty Training Steps:

Potty Training Video Guides

Looking for more of a visual step-by-step puppy potty training video to follow?  Look no further. 

Here is our complete Dachshund puppy potty training playlist on our YouTube Channel.

Make sure to subscribe while you are there!

Tips For Crate Training A Dachshund Puppy:

Crate training allows you to limit your doxie’s access to your home while you are away or during potty training.  A medium-sized metal crate is a good choice for your full grown dachshund.  You want to give them plenty of room to be comfortable but not too much room to feel they can have accidents.

Training Tip: Never use your crate as a punishment.  Crates are designated as the dog’s safety zone.

1. Crate Placement

Place the Dachshund puppy’s crate near the most active room in your home.  Your pup wants to see you and your family and not feel all alone.  Put a safe chew toy in the crate with your pup to help them stay entertained and calm.

While house training, avoid putting any towels or blankets in the crate with your pup.  You can give them a blanket or towel to lay on when potty training comes to an end or just for bed time at night.

2. Entering The Crate

To entice your dog to enter the crate, place a small treat inside the crate and let them grab it and exit.  Be patient and never force the pup inside the crate.  It may take several tries over the next couple of days to get comfortable with their crate. When they do enter the crate, give lots of verbal praise and treats.

3. Food Bowl in Crate

Replace the treats with small bits of dog food in the crate.  Then, place their food bowl near the crate for feeding time.  Over the next few days, gradually start putting the food bowl inside the crate towards the front entrance. 

Your pup will start to feel more comfortable during mealtime in the crate.  Keep the crate door open during this phase.  The ultimate goal is to have the bowl move towards the back of the crate and having the dog comfortable eating inside the crate. 

Once they are inside the back of the crate and eating without trying to escape, shut the door of the crate.  Sit near the crate and watch your pup eat to make them feel safe.  Let your pup out when they are done eating.

4. Repeat

Repeat this training over the next several days leaving the door shut on the kennel for a little longer each time while you are nearby.  Finally, start leaving the room while they are in the kennel for a few minutes at a time. 

Your training is complete when you are able to leave the room for about 30 minutes without your dog getting upset.  Set a timer so that you can keep track of time.

Why Is My Dachshund Still Peeing Inside?

Is your puppy still having accidents indoors?  Your new doxie pup needs to be watched the whole time they are loose in your home.  If they aren’t being watched closely, they need to be in their kennel or a playpen area.  Let your pup outside often for potty breaks and keep visiting the same potty spot in your yard to stay consistent.   Reward your dog when he goes potty outside.

Using A House Lead:

During the potty training stage, it is recommended to have your puppy wear a “House Lead” when roaming around inside your home.  You can have your pup use just a regular leash and it can be attached to your pants belt loop or free to drag behind them.  It is helpful to have a lead to grab onto in case your dog starts to go potty inside or tries to grab a pill or food off the floor.

If your pup is still having accidents indoors, consult your vet. Your Dachshund may have a UTI or another medical issue causing them to have more frequent accidents that they can’t help.

How To Socialize Your Dachshund Puppy

Why Socialize Your Puppy?

Socializing your puppy will help them become familiar with new sounds, smells, and sights in a positive way.  Correctly socializing your pup will prevent them from becoming frightened of other animals, people, or traveling to new places.  Dogs who are not socialized at the correct age are often fearful and aggressive. 

The best time to socialize your Dachshund is between 10-16 weeks old.

Tips For Socializing Your Dachshund

Once your doxie has received their initial vaccines from the vet, it’s a good time to start introducing some new furry friends.  Here are some great tips to help your Dachshund become socialized:

• Introduce New Friends
• Car Rides
• Walks on a Leash
• Introduce New Sounds
• Gentle Behavior
• Don’t force a scared dog
• Reward for good experiences

Introduce New Friends

Introduce new people and animals gradually. Too much exposure to new animals or people can cause your Dachshund to become overwhelmed. Plan small doggie play dates and introduce your dog to your neighbors (with or without dogs).

Get Down To Their Level

When people are introducing themselves to your dog, ask them to get down to the dog’s eye level. Allow your dog to approach them slowly.  If they are not comfortable, don’t force it, try again another time.

Car Rides

Take your doxie on car rides. Whether it is a brief ride to the park or to grandma’s house, allow your dog to tag along. Dachshunds love bye-bye rides.

If your dog is prone to getting car sick, try shorter trips in the car and be prepared with some cleanup gear in case.  Also, check with your vet to make sure your Dachshund doesn’t have an ear infection.  Sometimes this can cause inner ear dizziness which can lead to getting sick in a moving car.

Walks On a Leash

When you first hook up your pup to a harness and leash, they probably won’t have a clue what to do. Help your Dachshund feel safe wearing this new gear – don’t pull too hard on the leash, always be gentle.  Start off with brief walks around the block.  Your pup won’t go too far at first.

Make sure to secure the leash around your wrist. When a Dachshund spots another animal, they will try to bolt, so hold on tight.  If you encounter another dog walker on your path, you can let the dogs sniff each other if they seem friendly enough, but keep in mind not all dogs are friendly.

Introduce New Sounds

Gradually introduce some new sounds to your Dachshund.  When indoors, sound off a couple microwave beeps, a brief fire alarm, or a couple minutes of the vacuum cleaner – one each day, space it out.  Allow them to lay in a nice comfortable spot a safe distance away from the loud sound. 

While outside, listen for the fire engines or a distant passing train, allow them to listen and let them know they are ok.

When your Dachshund experiences a loud and unfamiliar sound, stay calm and comfort them.  You can even offer them some small treats.  You are helping them understand that there is no need to freak out.

Gentle Behavior

Keep small children away from your Dachshund if they play too rough or make them nervous. Allow your doxie to escape and find a safe place to hang out.

Try to keep socialization experiences positive. Whether it is a quick introduction with your neighbor or attending a puppy play date, keep things safe and positive – with small treat.  A bad experience is hard to erase from any dog’s mind. 

Always keep watch and protect your dog when socializing with others.

Don’t Force A Scared Dog

If there is ever a situation when your dog acts scared towards another animal, person, or place, don’t force them. Dachshunds have a special intuition that allows them to keep themselves guarded against others.

It may be just a new face to them, allow them to make the decision for a friendly introduction or skip it.

Forcing your Dachshund into a frightening situation will cause them to become defensive and skittish. They could possibly develop harsh instincts like biting or warning others when they feel threatened.

Reward Good Experience

Set up a puppy play date with other small dogs – close to your doxie’s size.  Keep in mind, some dogs play rougher than others.  It helps to match up puppy play styles to keep the experience safe and positive.

Afterwards, if your pup got along with the other dogs, give them a treat on the way home.  This positive behavior is an incentive to continue being an obedient Dachshund.

Dachshund Training Commands

Teaching your Dachshund some basic training commands is easy to do and can be fun too.  It doesn’t matter if your dog is young or old, learning a new command just takes a little time, patience, and some yummy treats to achieve great success.

Only work on 1 training command per week.  Too many all at once will confuse your doxie.

Dog Training Preparation:

Your training sessions will be more effective if you do some light prep work ahead of time.  There are 2 Key Steps you must do before your dog training session begins.  You must find the Right Location and have the Right Treats.

Location:

Some dogs have a very low attention span.  Whether you have a young puppy or an older dog, focus is key.  You can use a quiet hallway or a small enclosed space in your home (with no media distractions or noise) to do your dog command training. 

I would not recommend going outside for your pup’s initial training.  There are a lot of smells and noises that will keep your dog’s attention away from you.

Dog Treats:

Purchase some dog training treats that your dog can’t resist. A dog treat that is soft and can be broken up into smaller pieces is perfect for a good training session.  Don’t give your doxie huge chunks to chew.  These treats will need to last long enough to make it through a 2-5 minute session.

Sit:

Let’s start with the “Sit” training command.  Have about one or two tablespoons of dog treats cut into small pieces and ready to go.  Position your Dachshund directly in front of you.  Hold the treat at nose level and slowly move it to the back of their head.

If they sit down, make sure to say “Sit.”  If your dog doesn’t sit automatically, give a gentle push on their hindquarters and say the “Sit” command.  Verbally praise with “Good” and give a small treat. 

Don’t put the treat too far above their nose, you want it reachable, so they don’t have to jump.

During the first couple of training sessions, try to have your dog remain in the “sit” position for a couple of seconds before rewarding with a small dog treat.  Then, gradually work your way up to having them sit for 10 seconds if you can.

It is recommended to do this training a couple of times per day for about 2-3 minutes per session.

Down:

After your Dachshund has mastered the “Sit” command, move on to the “Down” command.  Start the dog in the sit position directly in front of you.

Hold the small treat in front of their nose, and move the treat down to the ground, then give the command “down”.  Your Dachshund should lean forward and follow the treat down. 

While training this command to my puppy, Eko, I had to move the treat down to the floor and a little under his chest to get him to lay down.  Once his stomach touched the ground, I said “Good”, and gave him a small treat.

It is recommended to do this a couple of times per day for about 2-3 minutes per session.

Stay:

Start with your Dachshund in the sit position, facing you.  Then, hold your hand up, showing the palm of your hand to your dog (like a stop sign) and say “stay”.

If your pup stays in that position for a couple of seconds, verbally give praise and a small treat.  Each time you practice this command, back away from your dog a little further and have them “stay” a few more seconds as you give the “stay” command. 

Here is a really good video on YouTube from McCann Dogs that can help you and your dog learn the “Stay” Command.

Come:

When teaching the “Come” command, have your dog in the sit and stay position.  Take a step or two away from your dog (still facing them) and say “Come”.  If your dog comes to you, verbally give praise and a small treat.

It is recommended to do this a couple of times per day for about 2-3 minutes per session.  Over time, increase the distance between you and your dog little by little.

Dachshund Behavior Training

Many Dachshund owners would agree that doxies are the most loving family dog, but they can sometimes act out of spite and have choosey listening skills.  It can be frustrating when experiencing behavioral issues with your doxie.  Here are some tips that can help.

Keep your veterinarian in the loop of any behavior issues you are experiencing with your Dachshund.  You are not alone, there are many dog owners and veterinarians out there who can share tips with you.

The Most Common Dachshund Problems

1. Dachshund Separation Anxiety

It is important to understand Separation Anxiety in your Dachshund.  You want to help your pup be comfortable and content when you have to leave your home.  Separation Anxiety training is needed to help your doxie learn that you will be back and they don’t need to panic or destroy something in your home while you are away.

Tips for Treating Separation Anxiety:

Leaving

To avoid triggering a separation anxiety episode, make sure to not makeover or have direct interaction with the dog right before you leave.  Certain noise triggers like getting your keys out and saying “Good-bye” can set them off.

Walking

If your dog has accidents in the kennel or playpen when you leave, make sure to take them on a 20-minute walk before you head out the door. They will usually empty themselves on the walk and last longer in the house without an accident.

If you are unable to let your dog out during the day, hire some help.  Your dog (puppy or adult age) should never be crated for more than 4 hours. 

I know…hiring a dog walker probably wasn’t on your mind when thinking about getting a dog.  Nowadays, our 9-10 hour work days are just too long for a dog to have to “hold it.”  I certainly can’t hold it that long! 

Having someone come and let your doxie out 1 or 2 times per day for a 20 minute walk can make a big difference!

Catching Them In The Act

If you catch the dog in the act of destroying something in the home (through the window or remotely on a doggie camera), don’t go back inside your home!  This will reinforce the behavior and they will believe that all they have to do is to destroy something to get you to come back home.

Keeping Occupied

Give your dog some food or scatter some broken-up soft dog treats around their kennel or playpen right as you are leaving to keep them occupied and not panicking.

Consult A Vet

For more severe cases of separation anxiety, consult your vet for some help.  They may recommend some medications that can help keep your dog calm.

Natural Antidotes

You can use natural methods to calm dog separation anxiety too. Did you know that the use of CBD oil is an effective solution for dog anxiety? You can also check out your local pet store for lavender based treats or diffusers that will release a calming lavender scent in the air to help keep your dog feeling safe and calm.

Sleeping Habits

Make sure your pup is getting enough sleep.  Give them a comfortable bed and blanket to feel safe and warm at night or during nap time.  How Much Sleep Do Dogs Need?

2. Barking

Why do Dachshunds bark so much? Excessive barking can occur when your dog is bored, requesting more attention, or just cause they feel like it.

How To Stop Excessive Barking:

• Attention: When your Dachshund insists on barking at you, avoid responding verbally or physically to the dog. If you give them attention, they will continue barking to get more attention, starting a bad habit.  Give more attention to your dog when they are behaving and not barking to give them the love and attention that they need.  Praise the good behavior.

• Exercise: Dogs that constantly bark in the evening may be doing so out of boredom. They need to have some playtime and more walks during the day to tire them out and help promote a good night’s sleep.

• Distractions: Dachshunds have “super senses.”  They can hear, smell, and see everything!  Dachshunds were originally bred for hunting – it’s in their blood.  Their goal in life is to protect what is there’s – that’s you and their home.  When your doxie barks at the door or window at something outside, tell them thank you (for keeping you safe), and lead them away from the area of distraction.  This allows them to use their bark alarm a couple of times, but helps stop it from carrying on too long. 

3. Eliminating Indoors

Many Dachshunds (puppy and adult) have accidents indoors.  If it is cold, windy, or rainy outside, your doxie will most likely refuse to go out or put up a fight before peeing outside.

Other reasons for accidents may include needing to revisit their potty training, too much excitement (submissive pee), or they may not be feeling well.  If your dog has an accident right in front of you, that may indicate a UTI.  In that case, visit your vet.

4. Digging:

Why do Dachshunds dig?  Usually, it’s because they are bored.   Dachshunds not only need daily walks to keep them physically fit,  they also need some mental stimulation to work their brain too.  Here are some dog toy boredom busters that work really well!

Another reason for digging may be that their hormones are raging.  Of course, the solution to this would be visiting your vet to discuss getting them spayed or neutered.

Your doxie may also be too hot on a summer day and wants to dig and lay in the cool dirt.  Some Dachshunds just enjoy burying their favorite toy, dig in their food bowl, covering their food with a blanket or toy.  It’s a Dachshund thing.

5. Chewing

As young puppies, Dachshunds, use their mouths to explore their surroundings. They need plenty of chew toys and bones that they are Allowed to chew, so they don’t target something important to you and your family.  Excessive chewing can also be caused by Separation Anxiety issues.

6. Aggressiveness:

Aggressiveness is the most unacceptable behavior in any dog.  If your Dachshund shows their dominance towards other people or dogs, this may be from a lack of Socialization Training.

In other situations, it may be caused by their sex hormones, like high testosterone levels. Neutering is a strong recommendation for Dachshunds that assert their dominance because of strong hormones.

Reasons Your Dog May Be Showing Aggressive Behavior:

How To Resolve Aggressive Behavior Issues:

1. More Exercise:

Adding some more exercise to your dog’s daily routine will help keep your dog calm.  By walking, you are treating your dog’s physical and mental needs.  If they are cooped up all day, they may become aggressive, bored, or depressed.  They need to get outside and move, just as much as you do.

2. Training:

It helps to revisit your doxie’s command training every so often.  Your Dachshund craves one-on-one time with you.  Training exercises with yummy dog treats help keep things happy and positive.

If you find that revisiting training isn’t working for your Dachshund, seek professional help.  Schedule a visit to your vet for some recommendations on specialized behavior trainers in your area.

Dachshund Puppy Teething

Teething is a tough stage for our little Dachshund pups because their mouths can be very sore and they NEED to chew, chew, and chew to relieve the pain.

At What Age Do Dachshunds Lose Their Baby Teeth?

Dachshund Puppies can start losing their baby teeth around 12-14 weeks of age.  These little pin-like sharp teeth are finally on their way out, Hooray!  But, now what?  Well, during this stage, puppies need our help to relieve their sensitive gums and teeth.

How Can I Tell If My Puppy Is Teething?

Do Puppy’s Teeth Hurt When They Are Teething?

Yes, losing 28 little puppy teeth can cause a sore mouth. To help reduce teething pain, puppies need lots of things to chew.  During this phase, some puppies may eat less food than they usually do because of the discomfort of losing their teeth.

Be on the lookout for dangerous items in the house that the puppy may try to chew: electrical cords, toys, and furniture.  Anything they can get their little mouth on, they will chew.

During the puppy teething stage, take a look inside your pup’s mouth every couple of days.  Gently rub your fingers along the gums for a few seconds to get them used to being touched in the mouth. This will help them get ready for brushing their teeth and mouth exams by their vet.

Do Puppies Get Aggressive When Teething?

Yes, puppies can become aggressive during the puppy teething phase.  The puppy is working through this uncomfortable phase the best he can.  Have some patience and give your puppy some space during this time.  It hurts to get new teeth!

Do Puppies Swallow Their Baby Teeth?

Yes, sometimes your little pup will be chewing their favorite toy or food and accidentally swallow a baby tooth.  You may find little puppy teeth on the floor or in their food bowl as well.

How Long Does Teething Last In Puppies?

The Puppy Teething Stage is usually complete around 5-6 months of age.  But, wait, the next stage of chewing is called the development phase and that usually begins around 7-8 months old.  This phase can last up to 2 years.

Should I Soften My Puppy’s Food?

If your puppy is having a hard time crunching through their dry puppy food, you can moisten your dog’s food with a little water for 5-10 minutes to see if that helps.  Another option would be to mix their regular dry puppy food with some moist canned food.  But, make sure to start this dog food change gradually to avoid an upset tummy.

Helpful Tips For Easing Puppy Teething Pain:

What helps a teething puppy? Here are a few tips to help make the puppy teething phase a little easier for you and your Dachshund puppy.

1. LOTS of Chew Toys
2. Frozen Snacks
3. Prevent Unwanted Chewing

Chew Toys:

Look for safe chew toys that are BPA free and are appropriate for your dog’s age and size.  Some puppy chew bones come in sets of multiple bones for different stages of teething.  Also look online for reviews before purchasing a dog chew toy to make sure it is safe for your doxie.

Frozen Snacks:

Cold Carrots: Try giving your puppy a large chilled carrot (not baby carrots) to chew on.  Carrots are full of vitamins and can also soothe your sore puppy’s mouth during the teething phase.  Always supervise your puppy while he is chewing on the carrot and don’t let them eat too much, this may give your pup a tummy issue.

Frozen Treats: Freeze some low-sodium chicken broth in a dog treat freezer tray.  Here are some more DIY frozen puppy treats from rover.com.

Frozen Washcloth: My puppy’s vet recommends tying an old washcloth into a couple of knots, wetting it, and putting it in the freezer overnight.  This creates an easy to chew cool treat for your pup’s sore gums. Always supervise your pup while chewing on it, don’t let them eat it.

Prevent Unwanted Chewing:

When your puppy starts to chew the furniture or any personal household belongings, it helps to have them on a House Lead or leash that you used during Potty Training to redirect them to a toy that they are allowed to chew.

My Dachshund puppy, Eko, would chew on my couch corners and sliding glass door frame, so I had to block off those items with puppy gates, or science fair project boards where the gates wouldn’t fit.