we are getting a miniture daschund puppy, can you help?

Question

we will be gatting a miniture daschund puppy near christmas time. it's a girl and she will be about 8 weeks old. is there anything we must or must not do to keep her healthy???

Answer 1

I have owned dachshunds my whole life. I currently have a 1 year old female that we rescued. The best advice I can give you:

1. Keep her at a normal weight. Most of the dachshunds you see are above their normal weight. It can be a huge contributing factor in back and neck issues. It's especially difficult because they tend to be "eating machines!"

2. Take her to obedience classes and socialize her. Dachshunds have a unique personality. They are very intelligent and very headstrong. They also very loyal and very lovable! A lot of people think that small dogs should be babied and sheltered from things. Train her to do the same things that larger dogs are expected to do. Sit, stay, come, etc. Have control over her just as if you were walking a big dog. Don't let her misbehave because she is small and cute. She may be a squirt, but she has mindset of a big dog. (Most dachshunds think they are actually rottweilers! LOL!) Expose her to a lot of different situations and people. When your vet says it's safe to expose her to other dogs, get her used to dogs of all shapes and sizes.

3. Be consistent with her housebreaking. Just because she is tiny, she needs to learn to go potty outside. You see a lot of little dogs these days being carried around, not being treated like dogs. Our neighbor has two fluffly mixed breeds who mess all over the house (and anyone else's house), because they were never housebroken.

4. Use a harness on her instead of a collar. Dachshund's necks and backs are very prone to injury, as I said above. Our veterinary chiropractor recommends this harness. I've used them for years. I've had dachshunds who have had neck and back problems. One of them required surgery.

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5. Feed her a good quality dog food. I like the more natural brands without the by products and additives. I use Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance, but some others I would recommend would be Wellness, Innova, Solid Gold, California Natural, to name a few. Starting out with a good food young can help to alleviate future medical problems.

6. Crate train her. I've found it is the best thing you can do for any size dog. Our dogs (dachshunds and German shepherds) were crate trained as puppies. It doesn't mean they have to use a crate the rest of their lives. We don't even use the crates anymore. It DOES mean that if you need to confine your dog for any length of time, they are not going to go crazy and hurt themselves trying to escape. It also helps when they are at the vets office and have to be hospitalized in a cage. Using a crate in the car helps to keep them safe from injury, too.

I hope this helps. Dachshunds are awesome dogs. Mine is the most loving, cuddly crazy little thing. Her personality is strong, and we're trying patiently to undo some of the things her former owners never taught her. Good luck!

Answer 2

Christmas is a terrible time to get a puppy.. remember how stressful it can be and make sure you take it easy on the little on.. NO people food.. NO mauling by kids

crate training is great - look into that...she is too young to understand but you should look into it now

what you must do - VACCINATE, VET CHECK, DEWORM - ideally all will be done BEFORE you get her.. I sure hope she isnt from pet store - NEVER buy from a pet store.. you will pay too much for a low quality pup
must do - Spay at 6 months.. spayed females have fewer health risks
must do - license as your city requires
must do - feed her the same food that she is currently on.. gradually switch if you are planning on changing foods....

strongly suggest - at 3 months old I suggest you look into taking her to PUPPY OBEDIENCE classes.. this is for socialization which is often over looked in smaller breeds which is why there are so many nasty small dogs...

must NOT do - DO NOT take your puppy off your property until she is FULLY VACCINATED.. I know you might want to show her off.. but PARVO is extremely deadly and she can easily catch it....
must NOT do - DO NOT use the crate for punishment - a crate is a pups safe place, a place to go when it wants to get away from everybody

Answer 3

Used to have one when I was a kid. They are great dogs. Very affectionate. They do need a lot of attention, which can be good or bad depending on the owner. One thing is that because of their body structure, long body, short legs, it is not good to let your miniture duschund to jump high places. Although they can, with effort, in the long term, can cause back problems. Ask your vet for more info.

Answer 4

Stick to a good Puppy dog food like Eukanuba. It has a higher protein and fat content. Keep corn syrup and a syringe around if her blood sugar drops due to overplaying. Search on the Internet for foods that poisons dogs and puppy proof your house.Start her early on potty training.Use the pads! Get her comfortable with a collar and a leash(let her drag the collar around under supervision) eventually you will need to sit in the car with her to get her use to driving later) Get her a couple good strong chew toys. Dachshunds love calve hooves so get her a couple along with treats for reward system. They are very intelligent, the more words you speak to them and identify they will retain.

Answer 5

Regular vet checks for her booster shots (yes, just like a baby, but I think more frequently).

Don't feed her human food, as puppies stomachs can be delicate. Keep her away from puddles outside that might have anti-freeze in it or other harmful substances around your house or property.

Most of all the best thing you can do is be patient with your pup. There might be long nights of whimpering, plenty of "messes" to clean up, and lots of weird behavior to address.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I have a mini dachsy, he is 11 months old now, named Buster. In the begining they seem to be a bit clingy and whiny but great family dogs. Just remember though...she will still be a hunting dog so make sure to get plenty of exercise!!! They are great house dogs but can get pretty wild if you don't give them the attention they need. Also try mixing a little bit of wet food with the dry food, it seems to help them digest and chew it better, she will have baby teeth in the begining so chewing might be hard...they are just like children...they theethe, whine and play. Try to give them a soft blanket at night or a toy that reminds them of the mother. It will help keep them calm. After awhile she will fit right into the family. They are so cute and make good pets, I hope you have lots of fun with yours.

Answer 7

yeah-what she said, but also, because of their body type they are very prone to back problems. try to keep it from getting overwieght and be careful when picking up. ANd, they can be very spiteful little dogs.. if the pup gets in trouble or you give it any reason to be mad at you, anticipate a mess somewhere!

Answer 8

Maybe if you prepare your house and household items for a new puppy to prevent any disaster from occuring.