The First Day
The very first day that you bring your adopted dachsie home is going to be an adjustment for him. If he came from a shelter or pound, he has been living in a crowded, noisy, busy environment. When he hits the quiet of your home, he might be physically and emotionally exhausted. If you've adopted from a breed rescue, the dog's foster home was most likely much calmer than the surroundings of a shelter; however, don't expect the dog to immediately settle in. Most likely, your dachshund will show quite a bit of anxiety when he first enters your home, no matter where he lived before. You can expect him to pant, pace, and sniff everything. The dog may also experience some intestinal upset from anxiety, too.
Housetraining Basics
Your adult dog may be housetrained, but she is not yet accustomed to your house. Make sure you keep her in a comfortable crate. Watch her movements when she's outside the crate, and limit the area of the house she can roam in to one room that is easily cleaned, such as the kitchen.
If you've adopted an adult male, it's especially important to keep an eye on him. If he's intact, he will most likely want to mark his territory. This urge to mark will subside substantially once he's neutered, but even a neutered dog may attempt to claim part of your house for his own, so stay alert!
Submissive dogs — male or female — may urinate when you reach down to pet them. Do not yell at this dog! This urination is not an accident. Instead, it's the dog's way of saying, “You're boss!” Wipe up the spot, and continue on. As your dog becomes more comfortable with you, this submissive urination should stop.
A Familiar Diet
Find out from the shelter or rescue what your adopted dog has been eating, how much he was being fed, and how many times a day — even what times of day. Make sure you have an ample supply of the same food, and follow his customary feeding regimen. Some adults can be extremely sensitive to dietary changes. If you change your dachshund's food suddenly, you're likely to have a dog with diarrhea for days or even a week or more.
If you want to feed a different brand of food or prepare a holistic diet, work the changes in gradually, over a period of ten days to two weeks. Before you make any dietary changes, however, check with your veterinarian that the food you want to use is appropriate for your dog's age and for any health issues your dog might have.
Safe Place
Give your dachshund a safe place, an escape that she can access at all times. This is best done with a crate. Make sure the crate is comfortable (outfitted with a pad or soft blanket) and the door is open. Keep the crate in a busy place, such as the kitchen or breakfast room, where she can see what's going on and won't feel left out or secluded.
Use the crate for all car rides, too. This will keep your dachshund safe, and your car will stay cleaner. Even if your adopted dog appears calm riding in her crate, don't be tempted to let her ride free. The dachsie may want to climb in your lap, crawl under the brake pedal, hit the window button and open it (which has happened), or any other number of distracting and potentially dangerous acts. Additionally, if your dachsie panics, she might even bite you.
Rescued dachshunds make great playmates and are eager to be your enthusiastic companion.
Cleanliness
If you are rescuing your dachshund from a shelter or pound, you may be bringing home a very dirty dog. Make an appointment with a reputable groomer for this job — at least the first time. If a dachsie is not used to being handled or has been abused, he may try to give ou a bad time by struggling fiercely growling, snarling, and even biting. This dachshund is not a bad dog; he just needs to learn that no one will hurt him.
Be sure to tell the groomer when you make the appointment that the dog is newly adopted and you don't know how he will behave. The groomer will take extra precautions and will use a muzzle if necessary. As the dog becomes more accustomed to regular bathing and nail clipping, trimming, or coat stripping, these sessions will be easier, and you should be able to handle them on your own.
It is very common for dogs from the shelter or pound to have a few fleas or ticks. Check your dog's coat thoroughly for signs of any infestations, and treat accordingly. If your dog has slept on any bedding before being treated, wash the bedding in very hot water so it doesn't serve as a temporary nest for adults and eggs that can rein-fest your dachsie.
Health Check
Have your veterinarian give your adopted dachshund a complete physical examination within the first few days of bringing her home. If you've adopted from a dachshund rescue, the dog will be up-to-date on her vaccinations and current on her heartworm preventive. The rescue will advise you of any current health conditions and counsel you on how to care for her. When you see your regular veterinarian, be sure to bring a complete copy of health records.
If you've adopted from a shelter or pound, it is likely that your new dog will need a complete physical exam, a blood test for heart-worm, a fecal test for worms, and also need to be brought up-to-date on her vaccinations. If the dog is showing signs of any illness, the veterinarian may want additional tests, too.
