Dachshunds need more patience and consistency than many breeds, but they can be housetrained

Dachshunds are intelligent but independent, which means they learn housetrain commands faster than some dogs but resist following them longer. The breed was bred to hunt alone underground, so they naturally want to make their own decisions. Successful housetraining depends on establishing a routine they cannot ignore, catching them in the act when they break it, and rewarding the behavior you want so often that it becomes automatic.

Most dachshunds can be reliably housetrained by 4 to 6 months old if you start at 8 weeks and stay consistent. Some take longer — particularly rescues or dogs with a history of indoor accidents. The difference between a dachshund that housetrain in weeks and one that takes months is usually the owner's willingness to interrupt their own schedule, not the dog's capability.

Key Takeaways

  • Dachshunds need to go outside when ready after waking, after eating, after playing, and before bed — at least four times daily for puppies, three times for adults.
  • Take your dachshund to the same spot each time so the scent tells them what to do there, and stay outside until they go, then reward with praise or a small treat.
  • Crate training works because dachshunds naturally avoid soiling their sleeping space, making the crate a tool that prevents accidents when you cannot watch them.
  • Accidents happen indoors — do not punish them after the fact, because your dachshund will not connect the punishment to the act and will only learn to hide.
  • Paper training or pee pads teach dachshunds that indoor elimination is acceptable, which directly conflicts with housetraining and should be avoided.

Establish a schedule your dachshund cannot ignore

Dachshunds have small bladders and fast metabolisms, so they need to urinate frequently. A puppy under 4 months old typically cannot hold urine for more than two hours. An adult dachshund can usually hold it for four to six hours, but waiting that long regularly will cause accidents and slow housetraining.

Take your dachshund outside at these times: when ready after waking (even from naps), within 15 minutes of eating, after play sessions, and before bed. For puppies, this means at least four trips daily. For adults, three trips daily is the minimum, though four is more reliable. Set phone reminders if you tend to forget — consistency is what teaches the dog, and skipping a scheduled trip resets progress.

The schedule matters more than the specific times. If you take your dachshund out at 7 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., and 9 p.m., their body will learn to need the bathroom at those times. Varying the schedule confuses them and causes accidents because they cannot predict when the opportunity will come.

Use the same outdoor spot and wait for results

Take your dachshund to the same location in your yard or on the same street corner every time. The scent of previous urine and feces tells them what that spot is for, which triggers the urge to go. A new spot every time removes that signal and makes housetraining take twice as long.

Stay outside with your dachshund until they eliminate — do not go back inside after five minutes if nothing has happened. Some dachshunds will hold it indefinitely if they sense you are impatient. Stand quietly nearby, avoid playing or talking, and let them focus. Once they go, when ready praise them enthusiastically or give a small treat (a single piece of kibble counts). The reward must come within seconds so they connect it to the act.

If your dachshund does not go within 10 to 15 minutes, bring them back inside and put them in a crate or confined space for 30 minutes, then try again. Do not let them roam freely indoors after a failed outdoor trip, because they will find a corner and go there instead.

Crate training prevents accidents when you cannot watch

Dachshunds naturally avoid soiling their sleeping space, which makes a properly sized crate a powerful housetraining tool. The crate should be large enough for your dachshund to stand, turn around, and lie down, but not so large they can eliminate in one corner and sleep in another. A crate that is too big defeats the purpose.

Put your dachshund in the crate whenever you cannot actively watch them — while you shower, work, run errands, or sleep at night. This is not punishment; it is a management tool that prevents accidents and teaches bladder control. Most dachshunds will hold their urine rather than soil their crate, so you can be confident they will not have an accident while confined.

Remove your dachshund from the crate and take them directly outside on schedule. If they go outside, praise and reward. If they have an accident in the crate, clean it thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner (regular cleaners do not remove the scent that tells them to go there again), but do not scold them. The accident happened because you left them crated too long, not because they are misbehaving.

Interrupt accidents in progress, never punish after the fact

If you catch your dachshund eliminating indoors, interrupt them when ready with a sharp "no" or clap, then take them outside to the designated spot. If they finish outside, praise them. If they have already finished indoors before you notice, do nothing — punishing them after the fact teaches them to hide from you when they need to go, not to go outside.

Dachshunds do not understand that an accident that happened an hour ago is the reason you are angry. They only learn that you become upset when they are near the spot, which teaches them to eliminate in a closet or under furniture where you cannot see them. This is the opposite of what you want.

Clean all accidents with enzymatic cleaner, which breaks down the urine compounds that tell your dachshund "this is a bathroom." Regular cleaners leave the scent behind, so your dachshund will return to that spot repeatedly. Enzymatic cleaners are sold at most pet stores and online under names like Nature's Miracle or Rocco & Roxie.

Avoid paper training and pee pads

Paper training or pee pads teach your dachshund that eliminating indoors is acceptable, which directly conflicts with housetraining. Once a dachshund learns that a pee pad is a bathroom, they often generalize that rule to other soft surfaces — rugs, blankets, and furniture — because they cannot distinguish between a designated pad and the rest of your home.

If you cannot take your dachshund outside frequently enough during the day, hire a dog walker or use a doggy daycare rather than setting up pee pads. The cost is higher upfront, but housetraining will be faster and more reliable, and you will not spend months retraining your dachshund to stop using your bedroom rug as a bathroom.

The only exception is if you live in a high-rise apartment with no yard access and cannot go outside frequently. In that case, designate a single pee pad in a bathroom or laundry room, take your dachshund there on schedule, and understand that housetraining will take longer and may never be completely reliable.

Handle stubborn resistance and slow progress

Some dachshunds housetrain quickly; others test your patience for months. Resistance usually means one of three things: the schedule is not consistent enough, the outdoor spot is not established (you are changing locations), or the dachshund has learned that indoor elimination is sometimes acceptable (usually because of pee pads or inconsistent enforcement).

If your dachshund is still having frequent accidents after two months of consistent scheduling, take them to a veterinarian to rule out urinary tract infections or other medical issues. A UTI can cause urgency and accidents even in a housetrained dog. Once medical causes are ruled out, the problem is almost always inconsistency in the routine or the environment.

Rescue dachshunds or dogs with a history of indoor living may take three to six months to housetrain because they have learned that indoor elimination is normal. These dogs need the same schedule and crate training as puppies, but with extra patience. Progress will be slower, but it will happen if you remain consistent.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can I start housetraining a dachshund?

You can start introducing the routine at 8 weeks old, but puppies cannot physically hold their bladder for long periods until around 4 months. Expect frequent accidents before that age. Consistency during these early weeks teaches the routine, even if accidents continue. By 4 to 6 months, most dachshunds can be reliably housetrained if you have been consistent.

How long should I expect housetraining to take?

Most dachshunds housetrain reliably within 4 to 6 months if you start at 8 weeks and stay consistent. Some housetrain in 8 to 12 weeks; others take longer. Rescue dogs or those with a history of indoor living may take 3 to 6 months. The timeline depends on your consistency, not the dog's intelligence.

What if my dachshund has an accident in the crate?

An accident in the crate usually means you left them crated too long for their age or bladder capacity. Puppies under 4 months should not be crated for more than two hours at a time. Clean the crate with enzymatic cleaner and adjust your schedule so they have more frequent outdoor breaks. Do not punish them.

Can I housetrain a dachshund without a crate?

Housetraining without a crate is possible but much slower and harder. You must watch your dachshund constantly and interrupt every accident when ready. Most people find a crate makes the process faster and more reliable because it prevents accidents when supervision is not possible. If you choose not to use a crate, expect housetraining to take significantly longer.

Why does my housetrained dachshund suddenly have accidents?

A sudden change in a housetrained dog usually signals a medical issue like a UTI, digestive upset, or age-related incontinence. Take your dachshund to a veterinarian. If medical causes are ruled out, the change is usually stress-related (a move, a new pet, a change in routine) or a sign that the schedule has become inconsistent. Return to the strict schedule that worked before.