Long Haired Dachshund Puppy: Complete Week-by-Week Care Guide

Long haired dachshund puppies are a special subset of the iconic wiener dog world. Bred originally with spaniel and Irish setter blood to produce that signature silky coat, these dogs carry the same bold, tenacious personality as their smooth and wirehaired cousins — but raising one comes with distinct grooming demands, back-protection protocols, and a socialization window that closes faster than most new owners realize.

This guide walks you through every critical stage from week 4 through month 12, with exact feeding amounts, vaccine dates, crate-time limits, and the realistic potty training timeline that breeders rarely mention upfront. Whether you're picking up your puppy at 8 weeks or preparing for their arrival, here's what you actually need to know.

Bringing Your Long Haired Dachshund Puppy Home: Timing and First 48 Hours

When should you bring your puppy home? The AKC recommends that toy and small-breed puppies stay with their littermates until at least 10–12 weeks of age. For long haired dachshunds — a breed prone to anxiety-related behaviors and resource guarding — the extra two weeks of litter socialization can meaningfully reduce fear-based reactivity later. Many responsible dachshund breeders hold puppies until 10 weeks for this reason.

If your breeder releases at 8 weeks, you'll need to compensate with structured socialization (covered below). Here's your first-48-hour protocol:

• Hours 0–4: Confine puppy to one puppy-proofed room with crate, water, and potty pads. Let them decompress. Limit handling to gentle petting.
• Hours 4–12: Introduce family members one at a time. Offer a small meal (¼ of their daily portion). First potty outing on leash to a designated spot.
• Hours 12–24: Begin crate training with door open. First night: crate beside your bed with a Snuggle Puppy heartbeat toy (approx. $35) to ease separation distress. Expect whining — this is normal.
• Hours 24–48: Establish feeding schedule. Schedule vet wellness exam within 72 hours of pickup.

Age-Specific Milestones: What to Expect Week by Week

Long haired dachshunds mature slightly slower than smooth coats in terms of coat development, but their behavioral and physical milestones track closely with the broader breed standard. Adult weight for miniature dachshunds is under 11 lb (5 kg); standard dachshunds typically reach 16–32 lb (7–14.5 kg). Use the puppy's current weight and the breeder's projected adult size to track growth.

Feeding Schedule: Exact Portions by Age and Weight

Dachshunds are prone to obesity, which directly increases the load on their elongated spines and raises the risk of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Overfeeding a long haired dachshund puppy is one of the most consequential mistakes you can make. Use this schedule as a starting point and adjust based on body condition score (BCS) — your vet can teach you to assess this at each visit.

How often should you feed at each age? Four meals daily until 12 weeks prevents hypoglycemia, which small-breed puppies are susceptible to. Drop to three meals at 12 weeks and two meals by 6 months. Never free-feed a dachshund — their food drive and tendency toward weight gain make measured meals essential.

Vaccination Schedule: What Your Puppy Needs and When

Your long haired dachshund puppy's immune system is still developing during the first four months, and maternal antibodies from the dam gradually wane during this period. The AVMA core vaccination guidelines recommend a series of shots timed to close the immunity gap as those maternal antibodies decline.

When can your puppy go outside and meet other dogs? This is one of the most common — and most consequential — questions new owners ask. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, puppies are not fully protected until approximately 2 weeks after their final DHPP dose at 14–16 weeks. That means full outdoor freedom should wait until roughly 18 weeks of age.

However, the critical socialization window closes around 14–16 weeks. To balance disease risk with developmental needs:

• Before full vaccination: Carry your puppy in a sling or stroller for exposure to traffic sounds, strangers, and novel environments. Arrange playdates only with fully vaccinated, known-healthy dogs in private yards.
• Avoid: Dog parks, pet store floors, and public sidewalks where unknown dogs have been until 18 weeks.
• Puppy kindergarten classes: Many veterinary behaviorists support enrollment starting at 8–10 weeks if the facility requires proof of at least one DHPP dose and maintains sanitized floors. Ask your vet for their recommendation on local classes.

Socialization Window: The 3–14 Week Critical Period

Long haired dachshunds have a well-documented tendency toward wariness of strangers and same-sex aggression if undersocialized. The spaniel ancestry that gave them their coat also contributed a softer temperament compared to smooths — but "softer" does not mean "automatically friendly." Structured exposure during the 3–14 week window is non-negotiable.

For long haired dachshunds specifically, early grooming desensitization is critical. Their adult coat will require brushing 3–4 times per week to prevent matting behind the ears, under the front legs (armpits), and along the feathering on the legs and belly. A puppy who isn't comfortable being brushed by 16 weeks will make grooming sessions a lifelong battle.

Potty Training Timeline: Realistic Expectations and Troubleshooting

When will your long haired dachshund puppy be fully potty trained? Realistically, expect 4–6 months for reliable house training, with some dachshunds taking up to 8 months. This breed's small bladder capacity, combined with a stubborn streak inherited from their badger-hunting ancestors, makes potty training one of the most commonly cited challenges among dachshund owners.

The general bladder-hold rule: a puppy can hold it for roughly one hour per month of age, plus one. So a 3-month-old puppy can hold for approximately 4 hours — but that's a maximum, not a target. Take them out far more frequently.

Troubleshooting common dachshund potty problems:

• Rain refusal: Dachshunds notoriously hate wet weather. Invest in a covered potty area or use an indoor grass pad (e.g., Fresh Patch, approx. $30/subscription) as a rainy-day backup. A lightweight dog raincoat can also help.
• Submissive/excitement urination: Common in dachshund puppies. Greet calmly, avoid direct eye contact on arrival, and take puppy outside immediately upon entering the house.
• Regression at 4–5 months: Often coincides with teething stress or a fear period. Return to higher-frequency outings for 1–2 weeks. Never punish accidents — it increases anxiety and worsens the problem.

Crate Training Progression and Time Limits by Age

A crate is essential for dachshund puppies: it protects your home during teething, provides a safe den that reduces anxiety, and is the single most effective potty training tool available. But dachshunds' long spines mean they need adequate space to stretch when resting, and excessive crating can contribute to stiffness.

Always provide a flat orthopedic pad rather than a puffy bed in the crate — dachshunds need spinal support, and elevated or uneven bedding can encourage awkward sleeping postures. A Kuranda Cot-style pad or a thin memory foam insert (approx. $25–$45) works well.

Teething Timeline: Relief Strategies and Safe Chew Recommendations

Long haired dachshund puppies begin losing their 28 deciduous (baby) teeth around 12–16 weeks, with all 42 adult teeth typically erupted by 6 months. The peak discomfort period is 3–5 months, and this is when destructive chewing and puppy biting peak simultaneously.

Safe chew options by age:

• 8–12 weeks: Frozen washcloth (knot a clean cloth, soak in water, freeze); soft rubber teethers like the Kong Puppy (XS, approx. $8)
• 3–4 months: Bully sticks (6-inch, supervised only — remove when under 2 inches to prevent choking); frozen carrots; Nylabone Puppy Chew (small breed size)
• 4–6 months: Benebone Wishbone (small size, approx. $14); Yak cheese chews (supervised); frozen Kong stuffed with plain pumpkin and kibble

Avoid: Rawhide (choking and blockage risk), cooked bones (splinter hazard), antlers (too hard — can fracture puppy teeth), and any chew smaller than the puppy's mouth. If you can dent a chew with your thumbnail, it's an appropriate hardness for puppy teeth.

Common Puppy Problems: Biting, Whining, and Chewing Solutions

How do you stop puppy biting and nipping? Dachshund puppies are mouthy — their hunting heritage means they were bred to grab and hold prey. Nipping at hands, ankles, and clothing is normal but must be redirected early using force-free methods.

1. Redirect to a toy: When teeth touch skin, say "oops" calmly, withdraw attention for 3–5 seconds, then offer an appropriate chew toy. Reward enthusiastically when they bite the toy instead.
2. Time-outs, not punishment: If nipping continues after 2–3 redirects, calmly place puppy in their crate or a playpen for 30–60 seconds to reset. This teaches that biting ends play — not that you're angry.
3. Bite inhibition training: Allow gentle mouthing during play but yelp or say "too hard" when pressure increases. Puppies learn to modulate jaw pressure through feedback. This is how littermates teach each other.
4. Manage the environment: During peak biting times (early morning, evening "witching hour" around 6–8 PM), have chew toys pre-positioned and engage in structured play before nipping starts.

Whining and crying: Crate whining is nearly universal in the first 2–3 nights. Differentiate between distress whining (sharp, panicked, escalating) and protest whining (intermittent, lower pitch). For protest whining, wait for a 10-second pause before rewarding with attention or release. For distress, check for physical needs (potty, temperature, pain) and comfort briefly.

Destructive chewing: Puppy-proof at dachshund eye level — baseboards, table legs, electrical cords, and shoes are all targets. Use bitter apple spray (approx. $8) on furniture legs, and rotate 4–5 chew toys weekly to maintain novelty. If chewing intensifies suddenly at 4–6 months, it's teething, not misbehavior — increase appropriate outlets.

First-Year Cost Breakdown: Budgeting for Your Long Haired Dachshund

Dachshund ownership costs are moderate compared to giant breeds but higher than many owners anticipate due to breed-specific health needs. Here's a realistic first-year budget based on 2026 US pricing:

Pet insurance is strongly recommended for dachshunds. IVDD affects an estimated 25% of dachshunds during their lifetime, and surgical treatment routinely costs $5,000–$10,000. Enroll during the puppy wellness period before any back-related symptoms appear — pre-existing condition exclusions are standard across all major pet insurance providers.

Frequently Asked Questions