Setting Up Your Dachshund for a Calm, Confident Life
Bringing home a dachshund puppy is 50% joy, 50% jellybean chaos. The first months shape habits, confidence, and spine-safe movement that last a lifetime. This guide focuses on routine, socialisation, toilet and crate training, gentle exercise, nutrition, handling, and safety—all tailored to the long dog’s unique build and big personality.
Week 1: Routine Beats Willpower
Puppies relax when life is predictable. Create a simple daily rhythm:
- Wake → toilet → breakfast → calm play/training → nap
- Mid-morning toilet → play → nap
- Lunch (if still on 3 meals) → toilet → enrichment → nap
- Evening toilet → dinner → quiet play → bedtime toilet
Use a timer—young pups need a toilet break every 30–60 minutes awake, and always after eating, drinking, playing, or napping. Keep nights low-key: outside, praise for toileting, back to bed.
Toilet Training: Fast Tracks and Fixes
Success is about prevention + praise.
- Supervise or contain. When you can’t watch, use a crate or playpen (with a bed on one side and a designated toilet area like a grass mat if needed).
- Take them to the same spot and use a cue (“Toilet”). Reward immediately after success with a small treat and warm voice.
- Expect accidents. Interrupt gently (clap once), whisk outside; clean with enzymatic cleaner to remove odour cues.
- Night routine: Most pups need 1–2 toileting trips for a few weeks. Keep lights low and interactions quiet.
Crate Training: Your Calm Zone
Think of the crate as a puppy seatbelt + bedroom, not a punishment.
- Make it cosy: Soft bedding, a safe chew, and a stuffed Kong at bedtime.
- Gradual introductions: Feed meals at the doorway → inside the crate → door closed for a minute → build to longer naps.
- Short, positive reps: Do multiple 1–3 minute sessions daily.
- Back-friendly setup: Non-slip mat inside, low step or ramp to enter if needed, and lift with chest + hind support when placing your pup.
Socialisation: Calm Curiosity Over “Flooding”
Aim for quality over quantity between 8–16 weeks (the prime window). Your goal is calm, positive exposures to:
- People of varied ages, hats, glasses, and mobility aids
- Friendly, vaccinated dogs (size-appropriate, gentle play)
- Common sounds (traffic, vacuum, thunder tracks at low volume)
- Surfaces and environments (grass, gravel, ramps, shops with permission)
- Use treats and space. If your pup freezes, yawns, lip-licks, or tucks the tail, increase distance and try again later. One good, calm exposure beats five overwhelming ones.
Bite Inhibition & Teething
Puppies mouth to explore and relieve sore gums. Teach soft mouths:
- Redirect to an appropriate chew or toy the moment teeth touch skin.
- Yelp or “Ouch!” once, then remove attention for 3–5 seconds; return and reward gentle play.
- Provide a rotation of safe chews (size-appropriate, vet-recommended).
- Chill damp washcloth twists or rubber toys in the fridge for relief.
Exercise: Small Body, Big Limits
Dachshund pups don’t need distance; they need controlled exploration:
- Rule of thumb: 5–10 minutes of gentle activity per month of age, 2–3 times daily.
- Prioritise sniffy walks, short training games, and floor-level play.
- Avoid stairs, jumping on/off furniture, and fetch with hard stops. Use ramps early so safe movement becomes habit.
- Finish with 2–3 minutes of slow strolling to cool down.
Early Strength Without Risk
Build spine-supporting muscles with micro-movements:
- Cookie stretches: Lure nose to shoulder/hip; 3 gentle reps each side.
- Paws up on a stable 5–8 cm step (front paws only), hold 2–3 seconds.
- Figure-8s walking around two cones/cushions.
- Keep sessions under 2 minutes, on non-slip surfaces, and stop if your pup wriggles or tires.
Feeding the Growing Sausage
Choose a complete and balanced puppy food and stick to measured meals.
- Three meals/day until ~6 months, then transition to two.
- Monitor Body Condition Score—you should feel ribs easily with light pressure. Pudgy pups tax their developing spines.
- Introduce new foods slowly over 7–10 days.
- Treats ≤10% of daily calories; use part of the meal ration for training.
Vet Care, Parasites, and Microchip
Work with your vet for a vaccination schedule, parasite prevention, and microchipping/registration requirements in your area. Keep a simple health log: dates of vaccines, preventatives, weights, and notes about behaviour or tummy upsets. If you notice diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy, persistent itch, or pain when handled, call your vet—small dogs can slide downhill quickly.
Handling & Grooming Foundations (Cooperative Care)
Your future groomer and vet will thank you. Train consent cues:
- Chin rest: Pup rests chin on your hand or a towel for stillness while you inspect ears and eyes.
- Paws up: Touch and briefly hold each paw, reward calm.
- Mouth peek: Lift lips, touch gums, finger along teeth for 1–2 seconds; pair with a dot of enzymatic toothpaste.
- Brush moments: One or two gentle strokes, treat, release.
- Nail intro: Tap the clipper or grinder near the paw, feed; build to a single tiny snip per day.
Short, 30–60 second sessions, several times a day, create lifelong tolerance without battles.
Training Foundations: Tiny Sessions, Big Payoff
- Name game & recall: Say the name once → pup looks → treat. Recall = happiest party every time.
- Marker word (“Yes!”) to pinpoint the moment they get it right.
- Sit, down, stand with food lures; keep reps slow to protect joints.
- Leash skills: In quiet areas, reward for a slack leash and checking in.
- Alone-time training: Start with 10–30 seconds behind a barrier, return before distress, and build to a few minutes. Prevents separation issues later.
Home Setup: Safer by Design
- Ramps to couch/bed; block stairs.
- Non-slip runners on slick floors to stop micro-slips.
- Playpen/crate in a social spot so your pup can rest near the family.
- Chew station: Basket of safe chews and toys; rotate daily.
- Hide wires, meds, and small objects (socks, coins, batteries) out of reach.
Car, Travel, and the Outside World
- Use a crash-tested carrier or secured crate on the back seat; never let a pup roam or ride in laps.
- Start with engine-on, driveway sessions—treat for calm; progress to short trips.
- Bring a toilet pad/grass mat, water, and a familiar blanket for new places.
Red Flags: Don’t “Wait and See”
Call your vet if you observe persistent diarrhoea, vomiting, refusal to eat, pain on handling, limping, hind-end wobble, or extreme lethargy. For behaviour, early help prevents entrenched habits—seek a force-free trainer if you see constant fear, guarding, or panic alone.
A Simple First-Month Checklist
- Predictable toilet schedule and rapid rewards
- Crate/pen comfort with short, cheerful reps
- Daily socialisation log (1–2 calm exposures/day)
- Measured meals, weekly weigh-ins, treats ≤10%
- Back-safe home (ramps, mats, blocked stairs)
- Micro training (name, recall, leash, handling)
- Vet plan for vaccines, parasite control, and check-ups
The Big Picture
Raising a dachshund puppy isn’t about perfection; it’s about small, repeatable wins. Keep sessions short, protect that growing spine, and pair new experiences with food and safety. You’ll end up with a confident, cooperative little long dog who naps hard, learns fast, and glides up the ramp like a pro.
