The Dachshund is a celebrity among dogs due to his distinctive long, low profile, alert appearance, and outgoing, lively nature. The coats of Dachshunds can be one of three different types, and they can be two different sizes. The word “icon” is overused, but the Dachshund, with his distinctive long back, short legs, and big personality, is an exception. Let’s read about getting a Dachshund puppy.
Dachshunds come in three different coat varieties—smooth, wirehaired, and longhaired—and two different sizes (typically 16 to 32 pounds or under). Dachshunds aren’t the most athletic dogs, so they shouldn’t be expected to run long distances, jump high, or swim vigorously. Due to their intelligence, alertness, and intimidating bark, they make excellent guard dogs.
Despite their sometimes brash bravery and stubbornness, millions of people around the world have fallen in love with these magnificent creatures, which have been bred to be solitary hunters of dangerous prey.
You may also want to read about the care for a Rottweiler puppy.
Feeding
It is crucial that a Dachshund not be allowed to gain excess weight. This is for the dog’s own well-being, of course, but also so that his or her long back doesn’t get strained, which can cause painful disc problems (herniated or slipped).
Don’t give in to the pleading stares; instead, feed your dog the amount suggested by the label on the high-quality dog food you’ve chosen. Avoid feeding your pet fatty or cooked scraps from the table unless absolutely necessary. Always keep food out of the Dachshund’s reach because of his sensitive nose.
Getting a Dachshund puppy
Whether you should get your new dachshund from a shelter or a breeder is a personal decision that calls for some investigation on your part. You can find healthy, ethically sourced dachshund puppies through a variety of resources, including shelters and breeders.
Getting a dachshund puppy is a big commitment, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into beforehand. Whether you plan to adopt or find a breeder you can trust, you should be ready for a playful and social new family member.
Adopting a Dachshund puppy
It may be surprising to know, but adopting a dachshund puppy is possible. Most breed rescues report that a majority of their rescue dogs come from individual owner surrender, with the most common reasons being a change in lifestyle or the breed not being right for them. This means that there may be many dogs and puppies out there that are looking for a new forever home.
The main difference between a breeder and a rescue is that a rescue may not always have young puppies to choose from. The benefit, however, is that most are mandated to only adopt out dogs that have been microchipped and spayed/neutered. This means you may end up with a dog that’s already been housebroken, and doesn’t need these common medical procedures. You may also find a dachshund mix that has all the traits you want from the breed, but with a little extra thrown in.
Neonatal
Your Dachshund pup should hang out with mom and the rest of the litter for the first four weeks of its life. It’s unusual for a puppy’s owner to take care of them during this time, so it’s best to trust the job to a reliable breeder. The growth in size of your puppy’s muscles, organs, and bones will cause their total body weight to increase by about twice as much.
When they are very young, Dachshund puppies get the majority of their nutrition from their mothers’ milk. If your vet gives you the all-clear, you can start introducing your puppy to a mush of minced protein like beef at around 4 weeks of age.
Keeping an eye on your Dachshund during this time can help detect any preexisting conditions or new infections early on. When puppies are first born, they can’t urinate or defecate on their own. Their mother helps them, but you may need to as well.
Make sure the number to your veterinarian is easily accessible, and read up on this developmental stage in your puppy’s life. Because your puppy will be mobile and eager to explore its environment through its mouth by the end of this period, it is important to make sure that all potential sources of harm, such as small parts and poisonous foods, are kept safely out of reach.
Your Dachshund puppy will likely be sleeping or otherwise inactive for the majority of this time, but will soon begin to interact socially with its littermates. They will have experienced as much sensory growth in those three to four weeks as a human infant does in the first few months of life. Keep in mind that the mother of the puppies will likely be very protective of her young, so it’s best not to disturb her if you want to play with the puppies until she calms down.
Weaning
After bringing your Dachshund puppy home (at about 8 weeks old), it’s important to keep them active and entertained. Your puppy’s early months are crucial to their development; it’s during this time that they’ll learn to walk, play, bite, control their bladder, and socialize. Dogs that spend the majority of their time indoors need to have well-defined boundaries between their outdoor play areas and the rest of the house, where they should be quiet and not destroy anything.
Introduce a complete and balanced dog food that is formulated for a dog of your Dachshund’s size and age gradually during the weaning process. Your puppy will be less likely to experience post-meal bloating and lethargy if you feed it several small meals throughout the day. Since they will be spending most of their time indoors, you need to take extra precautions, so familiarize yourself with lists of toxic foods and plants to avoid.
During this time, make sure your puppy has access to a shallow bowl of clean water and give it frequent refills. Due to their massive size, airflow is restricted in your Dachshund puppy’s ears, greatly increasing the likelihood of ear infections. Even though Dachshund puppies may look like they’d rather lounge around all day, they still need regular exercise to prevent obesity, which can cause fatal damage to their delicate backs.
Your Dachshund will experience considerable stress as a result of the transition. Your puppy will not develop fear-based aggression if you give them lots of love and attention and introduce them to as many new people and animals as possible during their formative years. Because dachshunds were developed to sniff out rodents and rabbits hiding in burrows, it is imperative that you secure your yard against digging.
