Welcome to your puppy knowledge base!

Bringing a miniature dachshund puppy into your life is an exciting and heartwarming adventure. These little dogs have big personalities. They’re intelligent, affectionate, and more-than-a-little stubborn! Their long backs mean it's important to learn how to handle them carefully and build good habits early. 

Written by vets, this guide will help you every step of the way to create a happy, healthy routine and give your puppy the very best start in life.

Establishing routine

Structure brings calm to the chaos! A consistent routine helps your puppy to learn when it’s time to eat, play, and snooze.

• Feed, play, and toilet train at the same time each day to provide structure.

• Puppies have small bladders. Take them outside after meals, naps, and play sessions.

• Miniature dachshunds can take a little longer to master toilet training, so patience and consistency are key.

• Set up a cosy bed or crate in a quiet area to help your puppy feel secure.

• Puppies can sleep up to 18–20 hours a day. It’s when their bodies grow, their brains develop, and they process everything they’re learning. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability, poor learning, and even health issues.

• Avoid letting your puppy jump on or off furniture and beds. It can damage their long backs.

Socialisation and training

Socialisation and training are essential foundations for raising a confident, well-behaved miniature dachshund. Start early, keep it fun, and help your puppy learn that their world is safe and exciting.

• Gradually introduce your puppy to new people, environments, sounds, and gentle, vaccinated dogs of varying sizes. Gradual and positive experiences help them gain confidence without becoming very vocal, excitable, or anxious.

• Teach basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come”.

• Keep training sessions brief (5–10 minutes) and fun.

• Consistency in praise, treats, or play is key to learning. Dachshunds are intelligent but can be rather ‘independent’! 

Did you know? The golden window for socialisation is between 3 and 16 weeks, a short but vital period for building your puppy’s confidence and curiosity.

Teething and chewing

Chewing is a normal (and important) part of your puppy’s teething stage. Here’s how to protect your furniture and help soothe those sore gums.

• If your puppy is drooly or irritable, teething might be the cause. Baby teeth appear around 3 weeks and are usually all in by 8 weeks old. Adult teeth replace them between 3 and 7 months.

• Offer a variety of puppy-friendly chew toys, including small, appropriately sized ones that can be chilled to soothe your dachshund’s sore gums and protect their teeth.

• Gently redirect your puppy from furniture or hands to their chew toys, rewarding them when they chew the right things.

Health and veterinary care

Healthy puppy = happy puppy! Give your puppy the best start in life with regular vet check-ups, vaccinations and parasite prevention.

• Arrange a vet check within the first few weeks to ensure your puppy’s healthy and discuss vaccinations.

• Vaccination is vital to protect your puppy from serious infectious diseases. Essential vaccines cover distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis.

• Puppies usually have their first vaccinations at 8 weeks old, then 1–2 further injections at 4-week intervals to complete the initial course.

• Ask your vet about flea, tick, and worm prevention suitable for your puppy.

• Make sure they’re microchipped. By law, all puppies must be microchipped by eight weeks old.

• Miniature dachshunds are prone to back problems (IVDD) and obesity. Keep their weight and body condition healthy and avoid letting them jump on or off things.

• Talk to your vet about diet and safe exercise to reduce the risk of back problems.

Grooming basics

Grooming isn’t just about appearance. It keeps your puppy’s skin and coat healthy, prevents matting, and makes handling easier if it’s started early.

Coat types and care:

• Smooth: Brush weekly.

• Long-haired: Brush 2-3 times per week to prevent tangles.

• Wire-haired: Brush weekly; consider professional grooming.

General:

• Bathing: From 8–12 weeks if needed. Use gentle puppy shampoo and warm water.  Avoid getting water in their ears and eyes, and dry them thoroughly afterwards.

• Avoid over-bathing, which can dry their skin.

• Start trimming nails early so your pup gets used to it.

• Check ears regularly, especially long-haired dachshunds.

• Long- and wire-haired dachshunds may benefit from professional trimming or hand-stripping every few months.

• Start early and make grooming positive with treats and praise to keep your puppy happy.

Tips for success

1. Patience: Dachshunds are clever, but often strong-willed. Stay calm, patient, and consistent.

2. Focus: Keep training sessions short, engaging, and reward-based.

3. Socialisation: Positive introductions during the first 3 months help prevent the infamous dachshund barking and nervousness.

4. Exercise: Daily activity is essential. Start with gentle walks, gradually increasing as they grow.

5. Professional help: Speak to your vet as soon as possible if you notice behavioural or health issues.

Quick checklist for the first month

• Establish a consistent routine

• Begin basic training and socialisation

• Monitor teething and provide appropriate toys

• Organise a veterinary check-up

• Start grooming routines

• Supervise play and discourage jumping to protect their back

FAQs

Q: How often should I feed my miniature dachshund puppy?
A: Three to four small meals a day. Measure out meals carefully. Dachshunds can gain weight easily.

Q: When can I start taking my miniature dachshund puppy on walks?
A: Once vaccinations are complete (around 14 weeks). Start with short, gentle walks to avoid putting strain on their back.

Q: How can I stop my miniature dachshund puppy from biting or barking?
A: Provide them with suitable chew toys, redirect their biting behaviour, encourage gentle play with positive reinforcement and socialise early.

Q: Is it normal for my miniature dachshund puppy to sleep so much?
A: Absolutely! Puppies sleep 16–20 hours a day. Provide a quiet, comfortable area, at ground level, to protect their back.

Come back next month for tips on training and helping your puppy grow into a confident, well-behaved dog!