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I bought a pet camera specifically to check on Oscar when I went back to the office. Day 1: he stood by the door for 45 minutes. Day 3: he discovered the corner of my new couch. Week 2: I found scratch marks on the door frame. The camera became a window into his anxiety — and a motivation to find something that helped. So that’s when I stumbled on the JOEJOY Hooded Cave Bed. So a bed with a blanket attached to it. Honestly, the idea made sense on paper: dachshunds were bred to chase badgers into underground tunnels. A hooded bed is basically a man-made badger den. Would Oscar actually use it? And would it make a difference? ...

Three days before bringing Oscar home, I stood in a pet store with a breeder’s list — “bed, food, bowls, crate, leash, collar, toys, treats” — and zero idea what a dachshund actually needed. But I bought a fluffy bed too soft for his spine, kibble too big for his mouth, and a harness that slid off his shoulders within seconds of our first walk. Oscar taught me what he needed, one expensive mistake at a time. ...

Training a dachshund is basically a negotiation. You want them to sit. They want that piece of cheese you’re holding. And somehow, they always win. So when I stumbled onto Open Farm Be Good Bites — soft training treats with a transparent supply chain and under 2.5 calories per piece — I was skeptical. Another “healthy” option my picky eater would sniff once and walk away from. ...

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Quick overview of tested beds: For maximum spine support, the Big Barker 7" Orthopedic Bed is my top pick after months of testing with Oscar. Burrowers love the SnugTail Dachshund Tunnel Bed (Flower Design). The Furhaven Egg-Crate Bed (~$40-55) is a solid entry-level orthopedic option, and the Bedsure Bolster Bed is perfect for mini dachshunds. For daytime naps, the JOEJOY Hooded Cave Bed is a cozy favorite. Scroll down for the full breakdown and my honest pros/cons for each. ...

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend products I’ve personally tested with my dachshund. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The day I brought Oscar home, I stopped at PetSmart and grabbed a matching blue collar-and-leash set. It was cute. It was cheap. And two weeks later, my vet took one look at him wearing it and said, “If you keep walking him with that, you’re going to be back here with a spinal problem.” ...

I’ll never forget the first time I cut Oscar’s nails. I bought a $6 pair of guillotine clippers from PetSmart, watched a YouTube tutorial, and felt confident. One wrong clip later — blood, yelping, and a dachshund who hid under the couch every time I brought out the clippers for months. That’s when I started looking for something safer. So what makes dachshund nails so hard to trim? Three things. Their nails are completely black — you can’t see the quick at all. They’re tiny and narrow, so clippers tend to crush rather than cut clean. And the dog itself was bred to fight badgers — good luck holding still. Nail day was a nightmare. ...

The first week with Oscar, I filled his bowl with the same kibble my neighbor’s golden retriever ate. I didn’t know dachshunds have notoriously sensitive stomachs. By day three, I was cleaning up soft stool and Oscar was refusing his bowl. I tried three different brands before I learned what works for a long-backed dog — and that’s why I’m writing this guide. Here’s the thing most new dachshund owners don’t realize: your wiener dog isn’t an average small breed. That long spine, deep chest, and short legs aren’t just cosmetic — they come with specific nutritional needs that generic small-breed recommendations don’t cover. Dachshunds are prone to obesity (which puts 4-5x pressure on their spine), pancreatitis (fat-sensitive digestion), and dental crowding. So what you feed them matters differently than it does for, say, a beagle or a shih tzu. ...

Disclosure: I may earn a commission if you purchase through links in this post (at no extra cost to you). All opinions are my own — Oscar tested this bed for 3 months before I wrote a word. I almost bought the Big Barker. $299.99. Had it in my cart, credit card ready. Then I stopped — I’d just adopted Oscar, a 3-year-old dachshund I barely knew. What if he chewed through a $300 bed in week one? ...

But the first winter with Oscar, my standard smooth-coat dachshund, I didn’t think he’d need a coat. Sure, he’s a tough little guy — chases squirrels, digs through frozen dirt, acts like he owns the backyard. So one morning walk in November, temperature around 40°F, he stopped after about 50 feet. Started shivering. Looked up at me like what did you do to the weather. Still, he refused to walk another step. So I carried him home, ordered three sweaters that night, and returned two of them because they didn’t fit his long back. ...

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. — DachshundOwner If you’ve ever watched your dachshund step right out of a $15 harness from PetSmart and bolt after a squirrel, you know the problem. Collars put pressure on a long-backed breed’s cervical spine. Cheap harnesses either slip off the narrow waist or chafe the armpits. The Ruffwear Front Range keeps popping up in recommendations — but does a $44 harness actually fit a deep-chested, long-bodied dog better than the generic stuff? ...