This checklist is what I wish someone handed me before that trip. Organized by what you need before the puppy arrives (Must-Have), what can wait (Nice-to-Have), and what to skip.

Not a vet — just a dachshund owner who learned the hard way. Consult your vet for personalized advice.

Before You Buy: What Makes Dachshund Puppies Different

A dachshund isn’t a Labrador in a smaller body. Look, every purchase should pass: “Does this work for a dog with an 18-inch spine and a 3-inch jaw?”

• Long back — So spine protection matters more than for any other breed I’ve owned
• Small mouth — Kibble, toothbrush, and treat sizes all need to match a tiny jaw
• Burrowing instinct — Bred to chase badgers. Your puppy will want to burrow
• Stubborn streak — But training isn’t optional. The right treats make everything easier
• Cold sensitivity — Short coat + low clearance = cold dog. Plus a sweater isn’t a luxury

Must-Have (Buy Before Puppy Arrives)

1. Bed — Spine Protection Starts Here

Furhaven Orthopedic Dog Bed Egg-Crate Foam (Small) — Oscar’s first bed was a fluffy Target donut bed with zero support. And he woke up stiff. A developing dachshund spine needs firm support, and the Furhaven’s egg-crate foam hits the sweet spot for a 5-pound puppy: supportive but not hard. Plus the small size (~30" x 20") fits for 6-12 months, and the cover is machine-washable — essential for puppy accidents.

More detail in my orthopedic bed guide.

If your puppy is a burrower: Snoozer Cozy Cave Small (~$60-80). My friend’s dachshund refused open beds — the Cozy Cave solved it.

2. Food — Tiny Kibble for Tiny Jaws

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition X-Small Puppy — Oscar weighed 4.5 pounds at 8 weeks. Even “small breed” kibble was too big — he’d drop pieces and stare at me. Royal Canin X-Small’s pea-sized kibble was easy for him to eat, with precise calcium and phosphorus ratios for controlled growth (important for a breed prone to joint issues — check with your vet on the right feeding schedule for your puppy).

Alternative: Blue Buffalo Puppy Small Breed (~$18-22) if Royal Canin isn’t available.

Bowl tip: Use shallow, wide ceramic bowls. And dachshund ears drag in deep bowls.

My nutrition guide covers feeding at every life stage.

3. Harness + Leash — Spine-Safe Walking

Ruffwear Front Range Small — Oscar’s first collar pressed on his neck whenever he pulled. And for a breed with a vulnerable spine, that’s risky. The Ruffwear’s Y-shaped front avoids the trachea, with two connection points (back + front clip for pulling). And four adjustment points let it grow with your puppy. Plus three years of daily walks later, it’s still going strong.

FLEXI Comfort Tape Retractable Small — Dachshunds sniff every 6 inches of ground. But a fixed 6-foot leash means stopping every 3 seconds. So the FLEXI gives 16 feet of range when safe and a one-hand brake when you need control.

My harness guide compares six harnesses I tested.

4. Crate & Potty Supplies

Size: 24" x 18" x 19" — standard dachshund adult size with a divider panel. So don’t buy a tiny “puppy crate.”

Oscar’s setup: Crate in our bedroom, Furhaven pad inside, washable pee pad under it, blanket over the top. So he cried the first 3 nights until I put a warm water bottle (wrapped in a towel) and a ticking clock next to his crate — simulating littermates. And he stopped by night 4.

Buy washable puppy pads — cheaper than disposables over the first 2 months.

5. Training Treats — Key to a Well-Behaved Doxie

Bil-Jac Little Jacs Small Dog Training Treats — The only treats Oscar would work for during his first week. I tried three other brands — he’d sniff and walk away. But the chicken liver base is irresistible to picky dachshunds, under 2 calories per treat, and small enough for rapid-fire training rewards. ~$10-14 per bag.

Alternative: Open Farm Be Good Bites (~$12-15) — under 2.5 cal/treat, single-ingredient proteins.

6. First Toy — Channel the Chewing

KONG Classic Small — Fill with xylitol-free peanut butter and a few Bil-Jac treats. And your puppy spends 30 minutes working to get everything out — 30 minutes of not chewing your shoes. The small size fits a dachshund puppy’s mouth, and natural rubber holds up to puppy teeth.

7. Collar & ID Tag — Safety Basics

So wear it from day one, even indoors. And Oscar wore his from day one — by his first walk, it felt normal.

Get lightweight nylon (not leather — too heavy for a 4-pound neck). Two-finger gap rule. Lesson learned: Oscar’s first buckle collar slipped off his narrow head in the driveway. Switch to a martingale (limited-slip) collar for slender necks. Microchip when your vet recommends it.

Nice-to-Have (First 2 Weeks)

8. Grooming Starter Kit

Dremel PawControl 7760-PET (~$30-40) — So start nail grinding week 1. I waited until Oscar was 6 months old — huge mistake. And it took 3 weeks of daily desensitization.

Desensitization routine: At 8 weeks: let them sniff it off. Run it nearby during meals. Touch one nail, reward, stop. Two-minute sessions. Cordless, quiet, safety guard included.

Vet’s Best Dental Kit (~$10-15) — 42 teeth in a tiny space means plaque builds fast. At 8 weeks, Oscar just licked toothpaste off my finger. By 12 weeks, full brushing was routine. Finger brush + dual-headed brush included.

9. First Wardrobe

SCMQZöial Sleeveless Dachshund Sweater (~$19-23) — Oscar’s first sweater didn’t cover his long back. But the SCMQZöial is shaped for a dachshund: extra length, sleeveless to avoid restricting movement. Measure back length before ordering.

What NOT to Buy

I made all these mistakes. Each cost $15-40.

Budget Summary

First Week Timeline

Bottom Line: Dachshund Puppy Checklist Takeaways

The right gear makes the first weeks exponentially easier — and it’s not about spending more. Still, a $40 orthopedic bed saves more in vet visits than a $20 flat bed. And a properly fitted harness prevents years of spinal strain.

Yet Oscar is three now. And he still sleeps on his Furhaven, still goes nuts for Bil-Jac, and still drags his KONG around hoping it’s been refilled. Still, the gear I bought with intention is the gear that lasted.

So have the crate set up, the bed in place, the food in the pantry, and the KONG ready before your puppy arrives. When that tiny, wiggly, impossibly cute dachshund walks through your door, the last thing you want to think about is what you forgot to buy.

Already published deep dives on PetCare:

• Dachshund Orthopedic Bed Guide
• Dachshund Nutrition Guide
• Dachshund Harness & Leash Guide
• Dachshund Dental Care Guide
• Dremel PawControl Quick Review
• KONG Classic Small 3-Month Test
• Winter Clothes for Dachshunds Guide

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This checklist contains affiliate links to products I’ve personally used with my dachshund.