I still remember the drive home with my first dachshund puppy. Tiny paws, huge ears, asleep before we reached the end of the street. Then we walked through the front door and I realised what I had forgotten.
That is why I keep a checklist now. Not a shopping spree list, just the things that stop week one turning into a scramble. Love is not the problem for most new owners, preparation is.
If you have not settled the puppy itself yet, sort that first. Our comparison of male vs female dachshunds helps, because expected size changes the crate and gear you should buy. Buy once, buy right.
Do These Two Things First
Ask the breeder or rescue what food the puppy is eating today. Buy a small bag of exactly that food, even if you plan to change later. A sudden swap on day one is a quick route to a sore tummy and a messy night.
Book the first vet visit for the first three days at home. Do it before pickup day, while you are still calm and organised. That visit checks the record the breeder gave you and gives you a vet who knows your puppy from the start.
For the health side in more detail, PetMD has a solid new puppy checklist you can read before the appointment. I keep it bookmarked for friends. It covers the basics without scaring you half to death.
The Kit I Actually Use
This is the list I hand to friends, word for word. Everything here earned its spot in my house. Set it up before pickup, so you are not building a crate with a puppy chewing the instructions.
- A crate big enough for an adult dachshund, with a divider so a puppy cannot turn half of it into a toilet
- A washable crate pad or blanket, plus a spare for the accident you know is coming
- The same puppy food the breeder feeds, enough for about two weeks
- Two heavy stainless steel bowls that will not skate across the floor
- A light harness and a 6 foot lead, rather than relying on a collar alone for this breed
- An ID tag with your phone number on it from day one
- Enzymatic cleaner, because normal soap leaves the smell that pulls a puppy back to the same spot
- Puppy pads or a clear outdoor toilet plan, whichever suits where you live
- Three to five safe chew toys in different textures
- A soft blanket or worn t-shirt that smells like you, for the crate on night one
- Puppy shampoo, small nail clippers and a soft brush for your puppy coat type
- Baby gates for stairs and off limit rooms, because dachshund backs and stairs are a bad mix
- Small, soft training treats, about pea sized
- Poop bags by the front door, where you will actually grab them
Get on the Floor First
Puppy proofing sounds dull until you do it from puppy height. Get on your hands and knees and crawl a room slowly. You will see cables, coins and cleaning bottles you walk past every day without noticing.
Move cords out of reach and lock away medicines and cleaning products. Pick up anything small enough to swallow, because a dachshund puppy will test it with their mouth first. Check your houseplants too, as some common ones are toxic to dogs.
The AKC walks through this room by room in its guide to puppy proofing your home and yard. I followed it for my kitchen and found two hazards I had missed. The AVMA gives similar common sense advice for new owners: keep hazards shut away and supervise early exploring.
Gate the stairs from day one. A clumsy puppy falling down steps can hurt a back that is already built long and low. A cheap gate at the top and bottom removes that worry while they are small.
The First Two Days
Keep them quiet. I know everyone wants to meet the puppy, but your puppy just left their mum, their littermates and the only home they knew. A house party on night one helps nobody.
Show them three things and stop there: the crate, the water bowl and the toilet spot. Then sit on the floor and let them come to you in their own time. Week one is for settling, not for showing off tricks, and calmer puppies learn faster later.
Pick a name on day one and use it the same way every time. Short names are easier for a puppy to pick out in a sentence. If you are stuck, browse our list of 150 best dachshund puppy names and test a few out loud.
Routine Starts Night One
Puppies settle when the day looks predictable. Feed at the same times, and take them out after meals, after naps and after play. Every two hours in the day is normal for a young puppy, not a sign you are doing it wrong.
Night one will probably be noisy. I put the crate in my bedroom, close enough that the puppy can hear me breathing, with that worn t-shirt inside. Most of mine cried less by night three and slept properly within the week.
Be ready for house training to take time. Dachshunds have earned their stubborn reputation here, and shouting does not speed it up. Our guide on why dachshunds are hard to potty train sets out the timeline I wish someone had given me.
That First Vet Visit
Take every paper the breeder or rescue gave you. That means vaccination notes, deworming dates and any health records, in a folder you will not leave on the kitchen counter. Write your questions down too, because you will forget half of them in the room.
Ask about the vaccination plan, parasite checks, flea and tick cover, feeding amounts and when to talk about spaying or neutering. The AKC and the AVMA both describe puppy vaccines as a series in the early months, not a single visit. Please confirm the exact schedule with your own vet, because it depends on your puppy age, history and where you live.
If you can, bring a fresh stool sample in a sealed pot. Intestinal parasites are common in puppies and are usually simple to treat once the vet finds them. Note the food brand and amount you are feeding as well, so the vet can check portions against expected adult size.
Use this visit to judge the clinic, not just the puppy. A vet who handles your puppy gently and answers plain questions without rushing is worth a longer drive. You will see a lot of this person in year one.
Meeting the World, Slowly
The weeks from about 8 to 16 weeks shape how a dachshund copes with life. New sounds, floors, people and calm vaccinated dogs all count, in small doses. One kind new experience a day beats a frantic afternoon of ten.
I carry treats everywhere in this phase. Vacuum cleaner appears, treat lands, puppy learns the noise pays well. Keep it short, finish while it is going well, and never drag a scared puppy toward the thing scaring them.
Wait on dog parks and busy crowded places until your vet says vaccinations are far enough along. Let the puppy watch the world from your arms or a blanket at a distance instead. For what to teach first, our dachshund puppy training tips put the early lessons in a sensible order.
See It Done on Video
Sometimes watching helps more than reading. This walkthrough shows the full setup, from supplies laid out to the first day routine at home.
Mistakes I See Every Time
Overfeeding is top of my list. Those eyes are very good at their job, but extra weight on a puppy puts strain on a growing back. Follow the bag guide for now and change portions only if your vet advises it.
Giving up on the crate on night one is next. The crate is not a punishment, it is their bedroom, and most dachshunds end up choosing it for naps. If crying gets them lifted out and into your bed, night two will be louder.
Shouting over accidents backfires too. A puppy who gets told off for a puddle learns to hide the next one behind the sofa. Clean up quietly, praise the outdoor wins like they won a prize, and the lesson lands much faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is needed on day one?
Bowls, the same food the breeder used, a crate with bedding, a toilet plan and a quiet corner. That covers comfort and routine. Toys and extras can wait a day or two.
How much does setup cost?
Most owners I know spent about $200 to $500 to start, depending on what they already owned. The crate, food and first vet visit are the big costs. Leave a little spare for the thing you forgot.
When is the first vet visit?
Within the first three days home, even with breeder records. The vet checks vaccinations and parasites and sets the next dates. Confirm the vaccine schedule with your own vet at that visit.
Can my puppy sleep in my bed?
Start with a crate beside your bed instead. Puppies can fall and hurt their backs, and bed sharing makes house training harder. Many owners share later, once the dog is grown and trained.
How long until they settle?
Most show their real character in one to two weeks. The first three nights are usually the worst for whining. With a steady routine, many are sleeping through and following the house rhythm by week two.
That is the whole list, and honestly the mindset matters more than the shopping. A calm owner copes better with a 3am cry or a rug accident, and puppies copy that calm. Get the basics ready, gate the stairs, book the vet, then enjoy how short this tiny phase actually is.
