Puppy Supplies You Will Need:
1. Puppy Food
2. Two Small Bowls
3. Crate with a Divider
4. Collar and Harness
5. 6-Ft. Leash
6. ID Tag
7. Dog Bed
8. Puppy-Safe Toys
9. Small Treats
10. Nylon Bones
11. Puppy Shampoo
12 Nail Clippers
13. Carpet Stain Remover
14. Lots of Paper Towels
15. Newspaper or Puppy Pads
The first thing to do after you pick up your new baby is take him/her to a veterinary office for an exam and to set up a health care plan (vaccines, heartworm and flea prevention, etc.). Their health and well-being should be your number one priority. Your vet can also help answer any additional questions you might have. Do not let your new puppy walk on the ground at pet stores or play in a park where lots of other dogs visit until he receives the necessary vaccinations. Young puppies are not fully protected and can easily pick up diseases or illnesses at these places. Unlike older dogs, their bodies cannot fight the infections as well, so you want to make sure they are vaccinated first.
After your puppy is vaccinated, I strongly suggest enrolling your puppy in a puppy class. It helps in learning basic manners and training as well as providing socialization for your new puppy so he can get used to other dogs and humans. You and your puppy will both have fun learning while meeting other pets and people! I've taken my puppies to PetsMart and recommend their program because they believe in teaching with positive reinforcement. This involves rewarding puppies when they do something correct, but not punishing them for doing something wrong. Puppies learn better this way, and they will also be happier not getting yelled at or being physical punished often. Your vet should be able to recommend places for puppy training.
I also highly recommend using a crate to housetrain. This is NOT cruel, dogs like having their own little place and they like to burrow, so maybe even throw a blanket over the top so it can feel like a den. Most dogs will not soil their sleeping place, so this comes in handy if you want a safe, clean place for your dog when you can't watch them. It also helps tremendously during housetraining. Do not make the crate a place for punishment, it should be a pleasant place to go. They will cry and whine for the first week or so, but you must ignore them or they will think crying gets them out of the crate. However, make sure your puppy has eliminated a few times after food and water before you put them in the crate at night. I take water away a couple hours before bedtime for my young puppies. You don't have to worry about this for older, more trustworthy dogs. Make the crate just big enough for your puppy to turn around and lay comfortably, this will prevent them from using one end of the crate as a bathroom and the other end to sleep.
If you still decide not to use a crate, just pick one method for housetraining and stick with it. Don't confuse your puppy by doing something different each day. Consistency is the better way to teach a puppy.
Start training on day one! Pick a specific location for your puppy's bathroom area and use the same spot every time. Take him out every hour or two and immediately after eating, drinking, playing, and napping. Don't wait for him to tell you he has to go, because with these tiny puppies it is usually too late. Keep an eye on him at all times and never leave a puppy unsupervised to prevent accidents and injuries.
EXPECT LOTS OF ACCIDENTS! Puppies live in the moment and unless you catch them in the act, any punishment will be pointless If you find an accident, just clean it up and forget about it. If you catch them in the act, say "no" and take them to the appropriate place to finish. Dachshunds have been known to take awhile to be fully trained, but I've had some that were excellent and others that took over six months. My best advice is be PATIENT and CONSISTENT. Your hard work will pay off eventually and you will have a wonderful, trustworthy family companion for many years to come.
Read as much as possible about training before you pick up your new baby. There are several wonderful books on Dachshunds which include everything you need to know. Also, like I said before, I am always here for assistance whenever you need it.
Remember that a young puppy, especially Dachshunds, have very short attention spans. Keep training session very short, such as 5-10 minutes a couple times a day. When a puppy gets restless or distracted, he is not learning anything and it's a waste of time. PUPPIES ARE BABIES, NOT ADULT DOGS! Keep this in mind when you are starting to lose your patience. Puppies want nothing more than to make you happy, but unfortunately they don't always understand how to make that happen. Give them time to learn and lots of love! Read as much as possible about puppies and training before you pick up your new baby. There are several wonderful books on Dachshunds which include everything you need to know. And like I've said before, I am always here for assistance whenever you need it.
This page was last updated: April 22, 2009
New Puppy Tips
