Caring for a Dachshund
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As with any other breed, Dachshunds need to be groomed on a regular basis to make sure their coats and skin are kept in top condition. They also need to be given a regular daily exercise to ensure they remain fit and healthy. On top of this, they need to be fed good quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives.
Caring for a Dachshund puppy
It’s important to set things up properly in the home before bringing a Dachshund puppy home and it’s also a good idea to get the timing right too. This means making sure that someone will be at home for a few days and even up to a week to help settle a puppy into their new environment. Puppy-proofing the home is essential and it’s a good idea to limit the amount of space a puppy can roam around in. Electric wires and other things that a puppy might chew should be put out of their reach and fitting child gates on doors to prevent a puppy from having free access to the whole house is also a good idea. Another option is to invest in a well-made playpen which is a great way of ensuring a puppy cannot get into trouble and it makes it easier to keep an eye on them.
It’s also important to set up a quiet area where the puppy can nap when they need to, bearing in mind that puppies need to sleep a lot which can be up to 21 hours in a twenty-four hour period. With this said, it should not be too out of the way because a new puppy needs to know someone is around and they are not on their own while at the same time, owners can hear their new pets should they get anxious or in trouble.
It’s also important to set up an area where puppy training pads can be placed which can be in the playpen or near the “quiet” area a puppy takes their nap in. With this said, a puppy’s housetraining must begin as soon as possible which means keeping an eye on when they need to go to the toilet and making sure they are either let outside to do their business or placed on a puppy pad, always making sure a puppy is well rewarded when they get it right. It can take a little more time and patience to train a Dachshund, but with gentle perseverance, they can be taught to do their business in the right places.
The documentation a breeder provides for a puppy must have all the details of their worming date and the product used as well as the information relating to their microchip. It is essential for puppies to be wormed again keeping to a schedule which is as follows:
- Puppies should be wormed at 6 months old
- They need to be wormed again when they are 8 months old
- Puppies should be wormed when they are 10 months old
- They need to be wormed when they are 12 months old
Things you’ll need for your puppy
Getting the house ready for a new puppy’s arrival is only part of the process because there are certain items which should be purchased well in advance and this includes the following:
- Food and water bowls making sure they are not too deep and ideally they should be ceramic rather than metal or plastic
- A collar of the right size. All dogs should be trained to walk without pulling, but for dachshunds, it is particularly important as it could put extra pressure on their neck and spine. Some owners prefer to use a harness, but this can make training more difficult as dachshunds can be very stubborn!
- A well-made playpen
- Child gates to fit on doors
- Dog specific toothpaste and toothbrush
- Grooming tools which include shampoo specifically formulated for use on dogs
Keeping the noise down
All puppies are sensitive to loud noises which can stress them out more especially when they first arrive when they are naturally already quite worried having just left their mothers and littermates. It’s important not to play loud music and to set the volume of a television or other device at a quieter level so it does not disturb a puppy’s sensitive hearing.
Keeping vet appointments
As previously mentioned some puppies are given their first shots before being sold, but it’s important for them to have their follow-up shots at the right time with the schedule being as follows:
- 10 -12 weeks old, bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away, but would only be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination
When it comes to boosters, it’s best to discuss these with a vet because there is a lot of debate about whether a dog really needs them after a certain time. However, if a dog ever needed to go into kennels, their vaccinations would need to be
What about Dachshunds when they reach their golden years?
Because Dachshunds are prone to suffering from spinal issues, when they reach their golden years, some dogs develop arthritis so it’s important for them to be routinely checked over by a vet. Older dogs have weaker immune systems which put them more at risk of catching an infection so it’s important to keep a close eye on their health when they reach their golden years. Other changes that affect an older dog include the following:
- Dogs start to get grey around their muzzles and faces
- Their eyes might look a little opaque which can be age-related or it could be because of an underlying health issue that would need investigating by a vet
- The hearing might not be as good as when they were young which often means a dog does not respond as quickly as they once did
- Older dogs tend to sleep a lot more during the day
- They often get a little pickier about their food which is why it’s important to rethink a dog’s diet and to discuss things with the vet if there are any concerns about the condition of an older dog’s overall health and well-being
- Older dogs often seem disoriented which can be put down to the fact their cognitive function is not as sharp as it once was
- An older Dachshund’s immune system might not be as strong as it once was which puts them more at risk of infection and developing diseases and illnesses which is why they need to be seen more often by a vet