That first night can feel enormous. Your tiny new dachshund has left their mum, littermates and familiar smells, and your home is suddenly full of big noises, exciting people and unexplored corners. A calm dachshund puppy first week home is not about getting everything perfect. It is about helping your puppy feel safe while you begin the routines that will support their health, confidence and long back for years to come.
Set up a safe dachshund-sized space before arrival
Dachshunds are clever, curious and remarkably determined for such small dogs. They can fit beneath furniture, chew an unexpected cord and launch themselves off a lounge before you have had time to blink. For the first week, make their world pleasantly small and easy to supervise.
Set up a quiet sleeping area away from busy foot traffic, with a supportive bed, water, a safe chew and a puppy pen or gated space if that suits your household. A crate can also work well when introduced gently as a cosy resting place, never as a punishment. Put the bed on the floor and keep all climbing furniture out of reach.
Back protection begins now. A puppy may look light enough to carry everywhere, but the habits formed early matter. Prevent access to stairs, sofas and beds unless you are lifting them safely. Use barriers rather than relying on repeated verbal corrections. If your puppy needs to get onto a low, approved surface later on, a properly sized ramp is a much safer long-term option than jumping.
Before your puppy arrives, do a floor-level scan. Remove small objects, secure electrical cords, check houseplants and keep shoes, children’s toys and rubbish bins out of reach. It is also wise to choose a harness rather than relying on pressure around the neck during walks and outings.
The first 24 hours: keep it quiet
A puppy does not need a house full of visitors to feel loved. The first day is best kept gentle, with immediate family only if possible. Let them sniff their new space at their own pace, then show them where to sleep, eat and toilet.
Aim to cover four simple needs on arrival:
- a toilet trip in the spot you want them to use
- a small drink and their usual meal at the expected time
- a quiet chance to rest after the journey
- brief, positive connection with each person in the home
If you have other dogs, introductions should be calm and managed. Start in a neutral outdoor area where practical, keep leads loose, and give both dogs space. Short, positive interactions are better than forcing them to share a bed, toy or meal straight away. Feed separately and supervise all early contact, particularly with larger dogs.
Sleep is not a luxury for a new puppy
Young puppies commonly sleep 18 to 20 hours across a day. When they miss that sleep, they often become bitey, frantic or noisy, which can look like a training problem when it is really exhaustion.
Plan regular quiet naps in their safe area. Children should be shown that a sleeping puppy is not to be woken for a cuddle. If your puppy falls asleep beside you, gently move them to their bed when you can, so they learn that their own space is safe too.
Night-time can be the hardest part of the first week. Many puppies settle better with their bed close to you initially, perhaps beside your bed, so they can hear and smell you. This is not spoiling them. It is a sensible response to a very young animal adjusting to a major change.
Take them out for a quiet toilet break before bed. If they wake and cry overnight, keep the interaction boring and calm: carry or lead them to the toilet area, give them a few minutes, then return them to bed without playtime. A warm blanket and an item carrying the scent of their previous home can help, if the breeder has provided one.
Feeding without upsetting a small tummy
For the first several days, continue the food your breeder was feeding unless your vet has advised otherwise. Moving home is stressful enough, and a sudden diet change can cause diarrhoea or a refusal to eat. Ask the breeder for feeding times, portions and whether your puppy has been used to dry food, fresh food or raw food.
Most young puppies need several small meals each day. Follow the food guide as a starting point, then adjust with your vet or breeder’s guidance as your puppy grows. Their body condition matters more than chasing a number on a packet.
Fresh water should always be available. Keep meals calm and separate from other pets. This is also a useful time to begin gentle handling around the bowl, adding a tasty treat as you approach, so your puppy learns that people near food predict good things rather than something being taken away.
Avoid offering a parade of new treats during week one. Use a few tiny pieces of their usual food or one simple, puppy-appropriate treat for training. Rich chews, table scraps and sudden food changes can all make toilet training more difficult when a sensitive tummy is involved.
Toilet training starts with repetition, not scolding
Your puppy has not arrived knowing where the toilet is. Take them to the same outdoor spot after waking, eating, drinking, playing and every short nap. In the early days, that can mean very frequent trips.
Stand quietly and give them time. The moment they finish in the right place, offer warm praise and a small reward. The timing matters: reward within seconds, not once you are back inside.
Accidents will happen, especially in a new home. Do not punish, rub their nose in it, or tell them off after the event. They will not connect the correction to the puddle, but they may learn to hide when they need to go. Clean thoroughly with an enzyme cleaner and tighten supervision next time.
At night, a young puppy may need one or more toilet trips. This stage passes faster when you respond consistently. Keep a simple note on your mobile for a few days if it helps you spot their natural routine.
Gentle training for your dachshund puppy’s first week home
Dachshunds are often labelled stubborn, but most respond beautifully when training feels rewarding, clear and worthwhile. Start with their name, a happy recall from a few steps away, and rewarding four paws on the floor. Keep sessions under a minute or two, woven into ordinary life.
Mouthing is normal puppy behaviour, but it is easier to manage from day one. Keep suitable chew toys nearby. If teeth touch skin, calmly stop interaction and offer a toy instead. Avoid rough hand games that teach your puppy that fingers are fair play.
Socialisation is not about meeting every dog or person in the first seven days. It is about safe, positive exposure at your puppy’s pace. Let them hear the vacuum from a distance, walk on different safe surfaces, see people wearing hats, and enjoy short car rides secured in an appropriate travel restraint.
Follow your vet’s guidance on public ground and contact with unknown dogs until vaccinations are complete. You can still safely build confidence by carrying your puppy, using clean private spaces, inviting healthy vaccinated dogs you know well, and letting them observe the world without pressure.
Handle their body kindly from day one
A dachshund puppy should become comfortable with gentle, regular handling. During quiet moments, briefly touch paws, ears, chest and collar area, then reward. This makes future grooming, nail trims and vet checks less stressful.
When lifting, support both the chest and hindquarters so the spine stays level. Never lift a puppy by the front legs, scruff or collar. Encourage everyone in the household to use the same technique, including older children who may need to sit on the floor for cuddles rather than carry the puppy.
Book a vet check soon after bringing your puppy home, even if they appear well. Take vaccination records, worming details and any breeder paperwork. Your vet can check growth, discuss parasite prevention, answer feeding questions and help you make a sensible plan for vaccination, desexing and long-term IVDD risk reduction.
Give yourself permission to go slowly
The first week is not a test of whether you are a good dachshund parent. There may be broken sleep, tiny accidents and moments when your puppy seems to have forgotten everything they learned yesterday. Keep the home calm, protect their back, reward the behaviour you want and let routine do the heavy lifting.
Soon, the puppy who arrived unsure of every sound will trot towards their bed, wait hopefully by the door and curl up beside you as though they have always belonged there. That quiet trust is the best thing you can build in week one.