- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Dachshund puppies are famous for their long, low bodies, spirited personalities, and big-dog barks. From an early age, these pups are strong-willed and affectionate. With the right care, they grow up to be bold, spunky dogs with a strong sense of loyalty to their people.
Though most Dachshunds love a good cuddle, they haven’t forgot their origins as expert badger hunters. As a result, Doxie puppies come with a strong desire to dig, chase, and alert their owners with a loud bark. In fact, as Dachshunds get older, their enthusiasm for these behaviors may even intensify!
Dachshund puppies come in several styles. Standard Dachshunds typically grow up to weigh between 16 and 30 pounds, while Miniature Dachshunds don’t grow larger than 11 pounds. Then there’s coat type: you’ll find short-, long-, and wire-haired Doxies in a range of beautiful colors.
Considering adopting a Dachshund puppy? Read on to learn where to find one, what to expect, and what to know about the first months of their care.
Key Puppy Dachshund Facts
Raising Dachshunds from puppyhood requires a lot of attention, but once you get a Doxie puppy in your arms, there’s no going back.
- Litter size: Dachshund litters are often on the smaller side, typically consisting of only 4 to 6 puppies per litter.
- Puppy weight: At birth, Dachshunds are very tiny, weighing just 6 to 12 ounces. By 10 weeks, the time when puppies begin going home to their forever families, most weigh around 4 to 5 pounds, and miniature puppies even less.
- Puppy temperament: Dachshund puppies are fearless explorers and comedians. When it comes to training, they can be headstrong, which makes trying to curb instinctive behaviors like barking, digging, chewing, and resource guarding especially challenging.
- Energy levels: Dachshund puppies are bundles of energy. They might not look like traditional canine athletes, but their short legs need a surprising amount of activity, and mental stimulation is a must to avoid destructive behavior.
- Maturity: While a Doxie’s “puppy energy” will eventually settle down, this breed’s enthusiasm for going on walks, playing games, and barking to alert their owners never fades away. Dachshunds retain their sense of playfulness and desire to protect their families well into their senior years.
- Unique traits: These puppies take bravery to a whole new level. They’re especially prone to launching themselves off high surfaces—which poses a huge danger to their fragile backs. It’s your job to save them from themselves.
- Bonding likelihood: Dachshunds are ultra-affectionate and have earned their reputation as Velcro dogs because of their strong bond with their favorite person (although they’re likely to be appreciative of all of the members of their human pack, especially the family members who are generous with treats or back scratches).
Where To Find Dachshund Puppies
Thanks to their long bodies and spunky attitudes, Dachshunds have become one of the most popular dog breeds in the US. That popularity means that responsible breeders often have long waitlists.
Ethical breeders will have in-depth insight into their puppies’ lineage, temperaments, and medical history. The latter is crucial for Dachshund puppies, since irresponsible breeding can increase the risk of back conditions like IVDD. You might expect to pay between $1,200 and $3,500 for a Dachshund puppy from a good breeder, and more for dogs from show lines.
You can also consider starting your search at a Dachshund-specific rescue. Rescue organizations will have expert knowledge of the behavior and health challenges of Dachshunds and can help match you with the right pup. Costs will be more on the order of $150 to $650 for a puppy.
Although it’s less common, you may also be able to find a Dachshund puppy at an animal shelter, so it’s worth checking with your local shelter, as well.
Recommended health tests
When adopting or purchasing a Dachshund, consider the following screening tests for your new puppy.
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IVDD Screening (Spinal Calcifications): This test assesses a Dachshund’s risk for intervertebral disc disease.
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Patella Evaluation (Knees): This OFA test checks for knee joint issues.
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Ophthalmologist Evaluation (Eyes): THis OFA/ACVO test is important for detecting eye conditions like Progressive Retinal Atrophy (especially in Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds).
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Cardiac Exam (Heart): This OFA screening identifies any hereditary heart problems.
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Lafora Disease Testing: This DNA test is recommended for Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds to screen for a genetic neurological disorder.
Asking the breeder for health information about your puppy’s parents can also help you understand any potential genetic risks or potential for hereditary health issues.
Dachshund Puppy Physical Characteristics
| Age | Approx. height | Approx. weight | Tips |
| 8 weeks | Standard: 4-5 in.
Miniature: 3-4 in. |
Standard: 5-11 lbs
Miniature: 2-5 lbs |
Begin potty training and socialization |
| 12 weeks | Standard: 4-5 in.
Miniature: 3-4 in. |
Standard: 7-14 lbs
Miniature: 5-6 lbs |
Offer puppy-safe chew toys as teething begins |
| 18 weeks | Standard: 5-6 in.
Miniature: 4-5 in. |
Standard: 8-17 lbs
Miniature: 6-9 lbs |
Introduce loose leash walking and short training sessions |
| 6 months | Standard: 7-9 in.
Miniature: 4-6 in. |
Standard: 11-25 lbs
Miniature: 6-11 lbs |
Coat starts to develop distinctive feathering for long-haired Doxies and furnishings for wire-haired Doxies |
Raising a Well-Adjusted Dachshund Puppy
Like any puppy, Dachshunds need patience, consistent training, and socialization to be well-adjusted and healthy. They also have some unique, breed-specific needs.
Breed-specific training needs
Dachshunds have a strong tendency to bark when they feel on guard or alert. Starting with basic obedience cues and working your way up to the “quiet” or “settle” cue can help curb this natural tendency. (After all, most pet parents don’t need their Dachshund to alert them every time a squirrel wanders past a window or a mail carrier drops off a package.)
Destructive behaviors like digging and chewing are also easier to address when your dog is a puppy rather than later on. Resource guarding is another behavioral challenge typical in Dachshunds. Gently touching your pet during their mealtimes and occasionally hand-feeding meals can help rein in this behavior.
Lastly, young Dachshunds should be trained to use ramps, since jumping off a couch or another high piece of furniture can cause them significant injury over time. For puppies prone to separation anxiety, crate training is also a great idea.
Socialization
Although Dachshunds are generally friendly, they can also be cautious of strangers and unfamiliar dogs and have an ingrained tendency to bark when they feel on guard. That’s why it’s important to socialize a Dachshund puppy early, especially with new people, animals, as well as to commons sights and sounds where you live, so that their default behavior isn’t to bark at anything unknown to them.
Short, calm outings around your neighborhood can be a great way to introduce your puppy to new experiences without overwhelming them. Make sure to take treats along to help your puppy make positive associations and build their confidence interacting with new people, places, and things.
Potty training
Due to their independent nature and high metabolism, potty-training Dachshund puppies can be challenging, says Dr. Bernadine Cruz, DMV, CVJ. Fortunately, Dachshunds respond well to a consistent routine, especially when paired with treats and verbal praise.
Since they have smaller bladders, Dachshunds need to go out more frequently than larger dogs. When you’re first starting out, you may even want to take your puppy to potty every hour or so. Even with the best of efforts, Dr. Cruz advises that accidents are inevitable, and she recommends stocking up on cleaning supplies so you’re prepared when they happen.
“Rubbing their noses in their messes does not help. Anyone planning on getting a new puppy needs to purchase a small portable carpet cleaner, a good odor neutralizer, a crate, and headache reliever for the owner…it is a process!” she explains.
Dressing your puppy in a dog sweater or coat can also be a good idea for outdoor potty breaks in colder weather.
Crate training
Some Dachshund puppies can be prone to developing separation anxiety, so crate training can be a good idea to create a calm “safe space” for your puppy when you’re away or can’t supervise them. As a plus, crate training a puppy can also make potty training easier.
The most important aspect of crate training is to build positive associations with the crate. You don’t want to use it as a punishment or leave a puppy in there for long periods of time. It’s best to start slow with short sessions while you’re still at home and reward your puppy before and after.
Lifestyle exercise and activities
Dachshund puppies benefit from daily low-impact exercise. Short puppy walks and playtime sessions are a great way to add physical activity into their routines. Start with 5-10 minutes of activity, twice per day, and build up to longer sessions as your puppy grows.
Some fun puppy activities to try include sniffing games, soft fetch toys, and interactive toys such as puzzles and snuffle mats. But any activity that offers a physical or mental stimulation without putting any strain on your Dachshund’s back or joints can be a good choice.
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Gorlov via iStock
Grooming Routine for Dachshund Puppy
Dachshund puppies tend to start life with a very similar puppy coat. It’s often not until the six-month mark that long- and wire-haired Doxie puppies start to develop their distinctive feathered tufts and furnishings.
But that doesn’t mean you can skip the grooming. Starting a gentle grooming routine early on will help your puppy get comfortable with being handled and desensitize them to the loud sounds of grooming tools. Regular toothbrushing with a puppy-safe toothpaste is especially important for Dachshund puppies, since this breed is prone to dental issues as they age.
When it comes to maintaining their coats, smooth-haired Dachshund puppies only need a weekly brush out, while long-haired and wire-haired Dachshunds need much more frequent brushing to keep their coats detangled and to prevent mats. At six months old, long-haired and wire-haired Dachshunds will also need regular hair trims every 6 to 12 weeks.
Here’s a grooming schedule for Dachshund puppies:
- Gently brush teeth daily with dog-safe toothpaste and soft toothbrush
- Brush short coats 1–2 times each week, and long or wire-haired coats 2–4 times per week
- Bathe every 3–4 weeks (or as needed) with a puppy-safe shampoo
- Introduce a blow dryer after baths on low, cool settings, especially for longer coats
- Trim or grind nails monthly (consider using a nail grinder for dark-colored nails where it’s harder to see the quick)
- Gently touch paws, ears, and mouth during grooming sessions to help prepare for adult grooming
Health Considerations
Although Dachshund puppies are generally healthy, it’s essential to protect their backs and joints from an early age, and you may want to consider investing in pet insurance due to the potential for back issues later on.
“Dachshunds—all sizes and varieties—have elongated bodies that make them prone to spinal disc disease (IVDD). Even a simple jump can cause serious injury. It is essential to keep them slim, take great caution with stairs, and no high jumps up or down,” says Dr. Cruz.
To help protect a Dachshund puppy’s developing spine, consider using dog ramps for any furniture, like a couch or bed, that your dog may be tempted to jump on or off.
Regular exercise and proper puppy nutrition (avoiding too many treats) will also help keep your Doxie lean and at a weight that avoids putting too much pressure on their joints.
Essential Dachshund Puppy Checklist
Dachshund puppies need a lot of supplies to stay happy and healthy. Here’s what to consider stocking up on:
- Dog ramps for the couch and other furniture
- Orthopedic dog bed with a washable cover in case of accidents
- Small dog crate with padded crate mat or bed
- Small-breed puppy food
- Water and food bowls (ask your vet about the pros and cons of elevated bowls for this breed)
- Harness to avoid pressure on the trachea during outdoor walks
- Lightweight leash
- ID tag for your puppy’s harness
- Poop bags and a dispenser
- Gentle, tear-free puppy shampoo
- Dog brush
- Dog toothbrush and dog-safe toothpaste
- Nail clippers or a nail grinder to keep your puppy’s nails trimmed
- Puppy treats, including soft training treats and dental chews
- Small, puppy-sized toys, including simple fetch toys and interactive toys like snuffle mats for mental stimulation
- Sweaters or blankets for warmth
- Dog car seat and seatbelt harness
Having the right essentials from the start will make it easier to keep your Dachshund puppy comfortable and healthy as they settle into their new home with you.
