Dachshunds learn fastest with a routine tied to their body clock

Dachshund puppies have small bladders and need to go out frequently — typically every two to three hours during the day, plus once during the night until they are four to six months old. The key is taking your puppy out at the same times each day: first thing in the morning, after meals, after naps, before bedtime, and whenever you see sniffing or circling indoors. Dachshunds are stubborn but food-motivated, so reward with a small treat and praise the moment your puppy finishes outside, before coming back in.

Crate training works well for this breed because dachshunds naturally avoid soiling their sleeping space. Use a crate just large enough for your puppy to stand, turn around, and lie down — not so large that they can eliminate in one corner and sleep in another. When you cannot watch your puppy, keep them in the crate. When you let them out, take them directly to the designated potty spot outdoors.

Accidents will happen. Do not punish your puppy or rub their nose in it. If you catch them mid-accident, calmly interrupt, take them outside to finish, and reward. If you find an accident after the fact, clean it thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner to remove the scent — dachshunds will return to spots that smell like urine.

Key Takeaways

  • Take your dachshund puppy out every two to three hours, plus after meals, naps, and playtime, and reward when ready when they finish outside.
  • Crate training prevents accidents by using your puppy's natural instinct not to soil their sleeping area.
  • Clean accidents with enzymatic cleaner so your puppy does not return to the same spot.
  • Dachshunds respond better to food rewards and praise than to punishment, which can create fear and slow progress.
  • Most dachshund puppies are reliably housetrained by five to six months old if you stick to a consistent schedule.

Set up a potty schedule your puppy can follow

Write down the times your puppy eats, sleeps, and plays, then plan outdoor trips around those events. A typical day for a three-month-old dachshund looks like: outside first thing (7 a.m.), breakfast, outside again (7:30 a.m.), playtime, outside (9 a.m.), nap, outside when they wake (11 a.m.), lunch, outside (12 p.m.), playtime, outside (2 p.m.), nap, outside (4 p.m.), dinner, outside (6 p.m.), playtime, outside (8 p.m.), bedtime routine, outside one final time (10 p.m.). The exact times matter less than the pattern — your puppy learns to expect a trip after certain events.

Dachshunds are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as puppies, so feed them three to four times daily until four months old, then move to twice daily. More meals mean more potty trips, but this also means more chances to reinforce good behavior. Once your puppy is reliably going outside after meals and naps, you can begin spacing trips further apart.

At night, most dachshund puppies cannot hold it through an eight-hour sleep until four to six months old. Use a crate in your bedroom so you hear when your puppy wakes and whines. Take them out when ready — do not wait for them to cry harder. A puppy who learns that whining brings a trip outside will signal you when they need to go, rather than having silent accidents.

Choose a potty spot and stick with it

Pick one area of your yard or a nearby patch of grass and take your puppy there every time. The scent of previous urine and feces signals to your puppy that this is the right place to go. If you rotate between different spots, your puppy has no clear signal and may choose random locations instead.

Use a command like "go potty" or "do your business" each time you arrive at the spot. Say it in a calm, matter-of-fact tone — not excited or playful, which can distract your puppy. Once your puppy finishes, when ready praise and give a small treat. This teaches your puppy that finishing in that spot leads to reward.

If your puppy does not go within five to ten minutes, bring them back inside and put them in the crate. Try again in thirty minutes. Do not let them play or explore until they have gone — otherwise they learn that the trip outside is for fun, not for elimination.

Recognize the signs your puppy needs to go

Dachshund puppies often show the same behaviors before they eliminate: sniffing the ground in circles, whining or barking, pacing, or suddenly leaving the room. Some puppies squat without warning, while others give you a few seconds of notice. Watch your puppy closely during the first few weeks and learn their individual signals. The moment you see these signs, take them outside when ready.

Puppies also need to go after specific events: within fifteen minutes of waking from a nap, within thirty minutes of eating, and after vigorous play. If you time your trips to these events, you will catch most eliminations before they happen indoors.

As your puppy gets older and bladder control improves, the signals may become less obvious. A four-month-old dachshund might straightforward walk to the door and wait, rather than circling and sniffing. Stay alert to these quieter cues so you do not miss them.

Handle accidents without punishment or shame

Punishment — yelling, hitting, or rubbing your puppy's nose in urine — teaches your puppy to fear you, not to understand where elimination is appropriate. A frightened puppy may hide to go to the bathroom, making accidents harder to prevent and clean up. Some puppies become so anxious they cannot eliminate on command, even when they need to.

If you catch your puppy mid-accident, calmly say "no" or "outside," scoop them up gently, and carry them to the potty spot. If they finish there, reward. If they do not, return them to the crate and try again in thirty minutes. This teaches your puppy that the correct place to go is outside, without creating fear.

For accidents you find after the fact, straightforward clean them up with enzymatic cleaner and move on. Your puppy cannot connect a punishment hours later to an accident they no longer remember. Enzymatic cleaners break down the urine compounds that attract your puppy back to the same spot — regular soap and water do not.

Transition from frequent trips to longer intervals

At three months, your dachshund puppy can hold it for about three to four hours. At four months, four to five hours. At five months, five to six hours. By six months, most dachshunds can hold it through a full workday, though some take longer. Do not rush this process — pushing your puppy to hold it longer than their bladder can manage sets them up for failure and frustration.

Once your puppy has gone two to three weeks without accidents indoors, you can begin spacing trips slightly further apart. If your puppy has been reliably going out every two hours with no accidents, try extending to two and a half hours. Watch for signs of stress or accidents. If accidents return, go back to the shorter schedule for another week or two.

Dachshunds can be stubborn about change, so introduce longer intervals gradually. Some puppies housetrain by four months; others take six to eight months. Consistency matters more than speed.

Manage common housetraining setbacks

Regression — when a housetrained puppy suddenly has accidents — often happens during stress, illness, or change. A move to a new home, a new person in the household, or a bout of diarrhea can trigger accidents even in a puppy who was doing well. Return to the frequent-trip schedule and the crate until your puppy settles. Do not assume your puppy has forgotten; they are usually responding to something in their environment.

Dachshunds are prone to urinary tract infections, which cause frequent urination and accidents. If your puppy suddenly has many accidents after being housetrained, or strains to urinate, contact your veterinarian. A urine test can rule out infection.

Some dachshunds mark territory indoors, especially males. Marking is different from elimination — your puppy may squat or lift a leg and release only a small amount of urine on furniture, walls, or doorways. Neutering or spaying usually reduces marking, and thorough enzymatic cleaning of marked spots helps prevent repeat marking.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I stop using a crate at night?

Most dachshund puppies can sleep through the night without a potty break by five to six months old. Watch for a week where your puppy wakes dry every morning. At that point, you can try leaving the crate door open or moving the crate to another room. If accidents return, go back to the crate for another month.

What if my dachshund puppy refuses to go outside in bad weather?

Dachshunds dislike rain and cold because their bellies are close to the ground. Create a covered potty area if possible, or use a dog raincoat and booties. Some puppies will go faster in bad weather if you stay outside with them rather than leaving them alone. Reward heavily for going in unpleasant conditions.

Can I use puppy pads indoors while housetraining?

Puppy pads can confuse your puppy about where elimination is acceptable — they may think any soft surface indoors is appropriate. If you must use pads, place them only in the crate and transition away from them as soon as your puppy can go outside more frequently. Most trainers recommend skipping pads and going straight to outdoor training.

How long does it usually take to housetrain a dachshund?

Most dachshund puppies are reliably housetrained by five to six months old with consistent training. Some take until eight months. Dachshunds are independent thinkers, so they may housetrain more slowly than other breeds, but they are not harder to train if you use food rewards and stick to a schedule.

What should I do if my puppy has an accident in the crate?

Crate accidents usually mean the crate is too large, your puppy has been crated too long, or they are sick. Check that the crate fits snugly — your puppy should not be able to eliminate in one corner and sleep in another. Make sure you are not leaving your puppy crated longer than they can hold it. If accidents continue, have your veterinarian rule out urinary tract infection or other health issues.