My Dachshund Wouldn't Stop Peeing in the House — Here's What Actually Worked

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I’m not going to sugarcoat it — Oscar was absolutely terrible at potty training.

But the first month felt like Groundhog Day. So I’d take him out at 6 AM, stand in the cold for fifteen minutes, he’d sniff around and do nothing. Then we’d walk inside, I’d turn around to grab my coffee, and there it was — a puddle on the rug. And he’d look me right in the eye while he did it too.

If you’re reading this with a similar story, you’re not doing anything wrong. But dachshunds are genuinely harder to housebreak than most breeds. Here’s why, and what I learned over six months that finally worked.

Why Dachshunds Are Different

Dachshunds were bred 300 years ago to hunt badgers — alone, underground, making independent decisions. Still, that stubborn streak isn’t a personality flaw, it’s selective breeding for self-reliance. And it’s also why generic potty training advice fails with this breed.

Three things that make dachshund potty training uniquely hard:

• Small bladder. A mini dachshund’s bladder holds roughly a quarter of what a golden retriever puppy’s does at the same age. They physically cannot hold it as long.
• Cold-weather avoidance. Dachshunds have short coats and low body fat. When it’s cold or rainy, going outside feels punishing to them. They’d rather hold it — until they can’t.
• Selective hearing. Your dachshund probably knows he’s supposed to go outside. He just doesn’t always see a good reason to cooperate in the moment.

Fair warning upfront: I’m not going to promise a “2-week miracle” method. Full reliability took us about five months. But it was steady progress, not two steps forward and one back.

Phase 1: Set Up for Success (Weeks 1–2)

The first two weeks are about building a routine your dachshund can predict. And honestly, structure matters more than anything else at this stage.

The Schedule

So I set an alarm on my phone for every 2 hours and stuck to it even on weekends. Because consistency is what teaches the brain-body connection.

The Treat Strategy

Here’s what made the biggest difference for us: not all treats are created equal for training.

For everyday potty successes, I use Zuke’s Mini Naturals (affiliate link) — they’re only 2 calories per treat, so I can reward every single successful potty trip without blowing through Oscar’s daily calorie limit. (If you want the full breakdown, I reviewed these in detail here.) Plus, the small size also works well because my dachshund finishes it in one bite and stays focused on training, not chewing.

For the big wins — first morning potty, potty in the rain, going on command — I pull out the heavy artillery. Bil-Jac Little Jacs (affiliate link) have a strong smell that drives dachshunds crazy. I call these the “jackpot” treats. Oscar learned fast that if he pottied in bad weather, he got the good stuff.

The key is timing: reward within 3 seconds of them finishing. And dachshunds have short attention spans — a delayed reward doesn’t connect to the action.

Phase 2: Lock In the Pattern (Weeks 3–8)

Once your dachshund understands where to go, Phase 2 is about making it automatic.

Dealing with Weather Refusal

This was our biggest battle. Oscar would step outside, feel the cold, and immediately back up toward the door.

Here’s what worked:

• Shorter route, same spot. I chose a spot just 10 feet from the door with a bit of overhead cover. A predictable path creates a predictable habit.
• Jackpot rewards for bad-weather potties. Every successful trip in rain or cold earned a Bil-Jac immediately. Within two weeks, Oscar started running to the spot faster on rainy mornings.
• Never chase or scold for refusing. If they don’t go in 5 minutes, go back inside, wait 15 minutes, try again. Panicking or yelling makes them more anxious and less likely to go.

Crate Training the Right Way

Now, a lot of dachshund owners report that crate training backfires — their dog screams or soils the crate. If your dachshund is crate-resistant like Oscar was, try making the crate a positive space first.

I stuffed a KONG Classic Small (affiliate link) with a mix of his kibble and a teaspoon of peanut butter, then froze it overnight. I’d give it to him inside the crate with the door open for a week before I even tried closing it. And by the time I started shutting the door for short periods, he associated the crate with “that’s where I get the good frozen thing.”

Phase 3: Proofing & Real World (Months 3–6)

This phase is about generalizing — your dachshund now knows the routine at home, but needs to apply it in new situations.

Expanding Territory

So gradually give access to more rooms, but only if they’ve stayed accident-free in the current zone for at least two weeks. But adding too much space too fast is the most common regression trigger.

Common Setbacks

Visiting a new place. We visited my parents’ house and Oscar had two accidents on day one, despite being fully reliable at home. And honestly, this is normal. So go back to the 2-hour schedule in new environments for at least 48 hours.

Changes in weather. A sudden cold snap can cause regression even in month 5. I bumped up the jackpot treat frequency whenever a cold front came through.

New family member or pet. Any disruption to routine can trigger accidents. But be patient — it usually resolves in 3-5 days if you stay consistent.

The $17 Solution That Helped

If your dachshund seems to hate their crate or won’t settle, consider a cave bed as an alternative. The JOEJOY Hooded Cave Bed (affiliate link) has a covered top and a soft interior that mimics a den. But Oscar actually prefers it to his crate now. It’s not a replacement for a proper potty-training crate setup, but for the “safe space” element of Phase 3 where your dachshund needs to feel secure enough to relax and hold it, it works really well.

Product Summary

The Bottom Line

Honestly, potty training a dachshund takes longer. But that’s not your fault and it’s not a sign of failure — it’s 300 years of badger-hunter breeding working against you. The three-phase approach (Set Up → Lock In → Proof) took us five months to full reliability, but Oscar has been accident-free for over a year now.

So be consistent with the schedule. And use high-value treats strategically. But don’t punish accidents — they don’t connect punishment to the act, they just learn to be afraid of you.

If you’re looking for more training help, I also wrote a broader dachshund training guide covering leash walking, crate training, and basic obedience.

You’ve got this. And if you’re frustrated right now, I’ve been there. It really does get better.