So you think your sweet little dog couldn’t make too much of a mess? You’d be surprised. Do you really love your collection of antique teacups or crystal vases? Then either display them well above the level any Dachshund can reach or put them away for a while. Puppies are exuberant and curious, and they haven’t yet learned what areas are off limits to them. It’s not the puppy’s fault if he jumps onto that end table to see just what’s up there and breaks something valuable. Imagine that you have a toddler in the house and pack away the fragile stuff accordingly.
Also, although a Dachshund is small, he has a pretty big mouth, and I don’t just mean he barks a lot. He can also chew to the point of major destruction. Really. No two ways about it, Dachshunds love to chew. In fact, they not only love it, but they also consider it their dog-given right. Your Dachshund will consider anything that looks chewable to be his own personal property. So you thought that slipper was yours? Think again. As far as your new puppy is concerned, if he sees it and decides he wants to chew it, it’s his.
The best way to combat the loss of some of your more valuable pairs of shoes, not to mention your furniture, is to have a good one is always within reach. Look for sturdy chew toys without small parts that could break off. If you’re consistent about enforcing the house rules, your new puppy will soon learn what is okay to chew and what isn’t. Then, eventually, he’ll develop enough selfcontrol to stop himself from chewing that juicy-looking, brand-new sneaker.
Avoid giving your Dachshund cat toys, even if you have a Mini. Dachshunds are more enthusiastic chewers than cats and they have larger mouths and stronger jaws. Cat toys often have small pieces like bells, feathers, or felt that a Dachshund can easily swallow or choke on. The best way to discourage this sort of destruction in the early stages is to offer a firm “No” when your Dachshund is in the process of chewing or clawing; then immediately redirect him to an acceptable but similar activity. For example, if your Dachsie is chewing your shoe, say “No!” and then take away the shoe, replacing it with a chew toy in his mouth. If he chews the chew toy, heap on the praise.
If you have a piece of furniture or other object that your Dachshund just won’t leave alone, buy a bottle of chew-deterrent spray, like Bitter Apple brand spray, and follow the directions. This spray makes the object taste horrible, and your Dachshund will probably learn quickly to leave it alone. If this doesn’t work, you may also try wrapping the area in aluminum foil or keeping a spray bottle filled with water on hand to deter the behavior. Or you can keep a can filled with pennies nearby to startle your Dachshund away from the forbidden area.
If you have a digger, you may want to consider purchasing a few carpet squares or remnants that are reserved for your Dachshund. He can dig and scratch on them to his heart’s content. If he scratches and digs on your carpet or wall, move him immediately to his carpet — even help move his paws in a digging motion over it. If he gets it, praise him for all you’re worth. He’ll get the idea . . . eventually.
Poisons
Want another thing to worry about with a chew-happy puppy? Poisons. Even if you keep the drain cleaner and the bleach out of reach, plenty of other household items and substances can poison your puppy, from ibuprofen (like Advil) or aspirin tablets to rotten food in your trashcan. Here are some common household poisons that you should keep well out of reach from your puppy:
- Cleaners of all types. Some are more toxic than others, but who wants to wait and see which ones may be okay?
- All human and pet medication. Even if you’re not sure that a specific medicine is toxic to pets, keep them all out of reach.
Some medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil), are highly toxic to pets.
- Pesticides of any type. Even your pet’s flea control product can be toxic if gobbled up. Don’t let your puppy play with or chew any insect traps or bait, like rat, mouse, or roach traps.
- Certain foods. Dogs can be poisoned by chocolate, onions, grapes or raisins, and even sugarless gum. Even small amounts can be fatal.
- Some houseplants. They’re poisonous to varying degrees. Keep your plants above Dachshund level.
- Some miscellaneous items. Many seemingly innocuous items can be extremely toxic to a dog, such as potpourri oil, coffee grounds, fabric softener sheets, dishwashing detergent, batteries, cigarettes, and alcohol.
While doing poison control, don’t forget the yard. Keep your puppy off the lawn if you’ve recently sprayed it with insecticides or fertilizer. Keep all lawn and garden chemicals out of reach (not to mention sharp objects). Keep your puppy out of the garage, too. Gasoline, oil, and antifreeze can kill your puppy. Also, the following common outdoor plants are poisonous to dogs:
-Azalea
-Oleander
-Castor bean
-Sago palm
-Yew plant
One tablespoon of antifreeze can kill a 20-pound dog, so imagine how little it would take to harm your Mini Dachshund. Antifreeze smells and tastes yummy to dogs. So Dachs-proof your garage and driveway in the winter by keeping antifreeze out of reach. Even leaking or spilled puddles on the driveway can mean death to your dog. (Note that you can now buy antifreeze that’s advertised as
safer for pets, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still do everything you can to keep your pet away from it.)
The Stairs
A big thing to consider when Dachs-proofing your home is how to make your stairs Dachshund-friendly. Stairs are hard on Dachshund backs, especially for the Minis because each step is a lot bigger to a 7-pound dog than to a 30-pound dog. If you have stairs in your home, that’s no reason to give up your Dachshund dreams. But you do need to take a few precautions. If you have the space and the resources, a ramp is great for Dachshunds. A ramp is most practical outside, where you can offer
your dog an alternate route off the deck. The problem is that some Dachshunds ignore that carefully constructed ramp and take the stairs anyway. (Some gladly use the ramp, though. You just never
know.)
You can install a gate so the ramp is the only way down for your pet, but now you’re getting pretty fancy. Some gates, made for small children or pets, bolt onto walls or decks and have an easyopen
swinging mechanism for the convenience of adults. This option is worth it if you can afford it, but it’s not for everyone.
Inside is a different story. Most people don’t have the space to build a ramp over half their staircase. The best solution is to install those pet gates (or baby gates) at the top and bottom of all staircases.
The newer ones bolt to the wall and swing open so you don’t have to take the whole gate off to go up and down. Most can be operated easily with one hand. Then, when your Dachsie has to go upstairs, you can pick him up and carry him. And when he’s ready to go back down? Pick him up and carry him again.
Some people aren’t willing to do this task, of course, and others argue that Dachshunds are built to be natural athletes and should be able to climb stairs. I won’t argue. Some Dachsies race up and down the stairs all day long, every day, and never suffer from a back problem. Others may develop back problems, and you won’t know whether or not it had anything to do with daily jaunts up and down your staircase.
Deciding whether or not your Dachsie is allowed to climb the stairs comes down to risk assessment. Going up and down stairs can be hard on those Dachshunds who’ll probably have back problems anyway, and climbing the steps may trigger an incident. Other dogs, though, will be fine. You can play it safe but expend more effort, or you can expend a lot of effort to prevent something that may never happen. As long as you recognize that you’re taking responsibility for your pet, you can make the decision.