Mini dachshunds are harder to housetrain than larger dogs, but consistency and patience work
Mini dachshunds have a reputation for being difficult to potty train, and that reputation is earned. They are small enough that accidents feel less urgent to owners, they have small bladders that fill quickly, and they are independent-minded dogs who see no reason to follow your schedule instead of their own. The good news: they can be housetrained reliably. It takes longer than with many breeds—often four to six months instead of two or three—and it requires you to stick to a routine even when it feels tedious. But it works.
The core method is the same for any dog: take your mini dachshund outside on a predictable schedule, reward heavily when they go in the right place, and prevent accidents indoors by confining them when you cannot watch them. With mini dachshunds, the difference is that you need to be more rigid about the schedule, more generous with the rewards, and more patient when progress stalls.
Key Takeaways
- Take your mini dachshund outside first thing in the morning, after meals, after naps, before bedtime, and every two to three hours in between—missing even one trip sets back progress by days.
- Use a crate or small pen when you cannot supervise, because mini dachshunds will soil anywhere if given the chance, and one accident in a spot teaches them that spot is a bathroom.
- Reward with high-value treats (small pieces of chicken or cheese) the moment they finish going outside, so they understand what earned the reward.
- Expect setbacks around four to five months in, when your mini dachshund may suddenly have accidents after weeks of success—this is normal and does not mean you failed.
- Never punish accidents after the fact; your dog will not connect the punishment to the act and will only learn to hide when they need to go.
Set a strict schedule and stick to it
Mini dachshunds do not housetrain well on a flexible schedule. You need to take yours outside at the same times every day, and you need to do it more often than you would with a larger dog. A typical schedule for a puppy under four months old is: first thing after waking, fifteen to thirty minutes after eating, after playtime, after a nap, and before bed. That is a minimum of six to eight trips a day.
Once your mini dachshund is four to six months old, you can stretch the intervals slightly—to every three to four hours during the day—but do not skip the morning trip or the bedtime trip. The morning trip is when their bladder is fullest and most likely to produce results. The bedtime trip is your final note to empty them before they sleep.
Write the schedule on a calendar or set phone reminders if you live with other people. If one person takes the 7 a.m. trip and another person forgets the 10 a.m. trip, your mini dachshund learns that sometimes they can go inside. One missed trip can undo a week of progress.
Use a crate to prevent accidents when you are not watching
A crate is not punishment—it is a tool that works with your mini dachshund's natural instinct not to soil where they sleep. Choose a crate just large enough for your dog to stand, turn around, and lie down. If it is too large, they will use one corner as a bathroom and sleep in another.
When you cannot watch your mini dachshund—when you are in the shower, on a work call, or cooking dinner—put them in the crate. The moment you can watch them again, take them directly outside. This prevents the random accidents that teach your dog that your living room is also a bathroom.
Do not leave your mini dachshund in the crate for longer than they can hold their bladder. A three-month-old puppy can typically hold it for three to four hours; a six-month-old for five to six hours. If you work a full day, you will need a dog walker or a family member to let them out midday, or you will need to come home at lunch. There is no way around this in the early months.
Reward the moment they finish, not when you get inside
The reward needs to happen within seconds of your mini dachshund finishing their business outside. If you wait until you are back indoors, they will not connect the treat to the act. Use small, high-value treats—a pea-sized piece of chicken, a small piece of cheese, or a commercial training treat they do not get at other times. Praise enthusiastically at the same time.
Some mini dachshunds are food-motivated and some are not. If treats do not work, try when ready play with a toy, or a few seconds of intense attention. The point is that something good happens the moment they finish going outside, and nothing good happens when they go inside.
Once your mini dachshund is reliably going outside (usually after two to three months), you can start spacing out the treats—reward every other time, then every third time—but in the early weeks, treat every single success.
Recognize and interrupt accidents in progress
If you catch your mini dachshund starting to go inside, interrupt them with a sharp "no" or a clap, scoop them up, and take them outside when ready. Do not yell or act angry. The goal is to redirect them, not to scare them. Once they finish outside, reward as usual.
If you find an accident after the fact—a puddle on the carpet, a pile in the corner—do nothing. Your mini dachshund will not understand why you are upset. They will only learn that you are unpredictable and scary, and they may start hiding to go to the bathroom. Clean the spot thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner (one made for pet urine) so the smell does not draw them back to that spot.
Expect a setback around four to five months
Many mini dachshunds who have been reliably housetrained for weeks will suddenly have accidents around four to five months old. This is normal. It often happens when they are teething, when they are going through a growth spurt, or straightforward because their brain is developing and they are testing boundaries. It does not mean you failed or that they forgot.
When this happens, go back to the basics: more frequent outdoor trips, more supervision, more rewards. Do not punish. The setback usually lasts a few weeks, and then progress resumes. If accidents continue past six months, or if your mini dachshund is having multiple accidents a day, talk to a veterinarian to rule out a urinary tract infection or other medical issue.
Know when to call a veterinarian
If your mini dachshund is having frequent accidents despite a consistent routine, or if they are straining to go or going more often than normal, see a veterinarian. Mini dachshunds are prone to urinary tract infections, which cause urgency and accidents. A vet can also rule out other issues like diabetes or kidney problems that affect housetraining.
If your mini dachshund is older than six months and still having multiple accidents a day, a vet visit is also the right first step. At that point, a behavioral issue is less likely than a medical one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it usually take to housetrain a mini dachshund?
Most mini dachshunds are reliably housetrained between four and six months old, though some take longer. Consistency matters more than speed—a mini dachshund on a rigid schedule will housetrain faster than one on a flexible one, even if the flexible schedule starts earlier.
Can I housetrain a mini dachshund to use pee pads instead of going outside?
You can, but it usually takes longer and creates confusion. Your mini dachshund learns that it is okay to go inside on a pad, then struggles to understand why the bathroom rug is not also acceptable. If you must use pads, keep them in one consistent spot and treat them like you would an outdoor spot—reward when your dog uses them, clean accidents thoroughly, and eventually transition to outdoor-only.
What if my mini dachshund will not go to the bathroom outside?
Some mini dachshunds are distracted or anxious outside and will not go, then go inside an hour later. Stay outside longer—ten to fifteen minutes—and go to a quiet spot away from distractions. If they still will not go, bring them back inside, put them in the crate, and try again in thirty minutes. Eventually they will go outside because they have to.
Is it okay to use a puppy pad if I work full time?
Puppy pads can help prevent accidents when you cannot be home, but they slow housetraining because your mini dachshund learns that going inside is acceptable. If you work full time, a dog walker or a family member to let them out midday is a better solution. If that is not possible, use pads as a temporary measure and plan to transition to outdoor-only once your schedule allows.
My mini dachshund was housetrained and now has accidents again. What happened?
A sudden return to accidents usually means a medical issue like a urinary tract infection, or a change in routine or environment. A vet visit is the first step. If the vet finds nothing wrong, look for changes: a new person in the house, a move, a change in feeding time, or increased stress. Once you identify the trigger, you can address it and usually the accidents stop.