Dachshund puppies are some of the most adorable creatures on the planet, but they can be a lot of work, too with undesired behaviors such as excessive barking. Not only do you have to housetrain them and make sure they get enough exercise, but you also have to make sure they’re eating right.
So what’s the best way to feed a Dachshund puppy?
In this article, I have provided detailed guidelines on Dachshund puppy’s feeding milestones week by week and highlighted what you need to watch out for. I have also listed and reviewed the best dog food designed to meet Dachshund puppy’s needs.
Let’s start with some basics to get you an idea of how these breeds are;.
Table of Contents
Here is Some Overview of the Dachshunds Breed
Dachshunds are miniature or standard-sized dogs and were recently accepted to AKC in 2017. The miniature Dachshunds weigh 11 lbs or below and grow between 5-6 inches tall. The standard Dachshund, on the other hand, weighs between 16 lbs to 32 lbs and stands between 8-9 inches at maturity. Dachshunds have a life expectancy of between 12-16 years.
Dachshunds’ appearance, activity level, size, growth, and health risk determine what and how much to feed them.
DachShunds also have three coat varieties; smooth, wirehaired, and long-haired. The coat demands a diet with fats to maintain its proper growth and healthy appearance.
Originally bred for hunting, Dachshunds require the regular exercise of two walks of average length every day to keep them fit, develop strong muscles, and protect their long back from rupturing when overweight. Moderate exercising requires proper feeding to provide the puppy with sufficient energy.
Besides, Dachshunds need to eat foods that promote their health as the breed is susceptible to some illnesses. Dachshunds are prone to suffering dental disease, obesity, bleeding disorders, kidney stones, neurological problems, and diabetes, which nutrition can prevent or promote treatment.
Read on to understand the nutritional requirements of a Dachshund puppy, how much to feed them, and when to feed them.
What are the Nutritional Needs of a Dachshund Puppy?
Dachshund puppies, both miniature and standard, are regular-sized because they weigh below 50 lbs when they mature. Dachshund puppies’ nutritional needs are foods with 22-35% proteins, 0.7-1.7% calcium, 0.6-1.3% phosphorus, and 10-25% fats.
Proteins
Feeding your Dachshund puppy with high-quality protein foods of between 22% and 30% is critical to their healthy growth. Proteins are a source of energy that fuels your Dachshund puppy sufficiently for their necessary exercises.
Proteins also maintain and repair cells and skin, muscle, bone, and hair tissues, which are paramount in keeping the Dachshund puppy’s coats healthy and protecting their back from breaking.
Above all, proteins enhance the Dachshund’s immune system, a critical role because the breed’s prone to illnesses such as infections, kidney stones, diabetes, and bleeding diseases.
Fats
Adequate fats are essential in puppy food because they are a source of energy and facilitate the normal development and function of body cells, nerves, body tissues, and muscles. Dachshund puppies benefit from foods especially because they are active and are susceptible to several diseases such as neurological disorders and back pains
Fats also keep a dog’s coat shiny and healthy, making them essential for Dachshund puppies in keeping their coats beautiful and healthy. Fats would minimize a Dachshund puppy’s risk of hair loss that usually occurs on the throat, belly, chest, and inside of the legs areas. Insufficient fats, on the other hand, will cause your puppy to suffer a dry, itchy skin and a dull coat.
Fats also reduce inflammation by producing prostaglandins which are hormone-like substances. Fats also improve the taste and smell of your puppy food, motivating them to eat. Finally, fats increase the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), promoting your puppy’s healthy development.
Ensure that you do not feed your Dachshund excess fats (above 25%) to prevent obesity, acute pancreases, and vitamin E and A, and linoleic acid deficiency because it destroys them.
Calcium
Sufficient calcium is significant to your Dachshund puppy because it aids in its healthy growth, healthy bone and teeth development and maintenance, muscle building and functioning, a strong heart, and a healthy nervous system. The Dachshund are susceptible to back problems because of their long backs and short legs; adequate calcium is essential to minimizing the back problems. Calcium also manages the Dachshund’s risk of heart disease because they strengthen the heart.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is essential in the diet of Dachshund puppies because they enable healthy kidney functioning to flush out toxins, aids in muscle contractions, maintains a normal heart rate, helps in calcium breakdown, and facilitates calcium breakdown. Healthy kidney functioning will boost the puppy’s health because they are prone to infections, supports their motor functions, and strengthens their hearts.
How much should I feed a Dachshund puppy?
The amount of food that your Dachshund puppy eats depends on their age, size, activity level, and health. A Dachshund puppy’s feeding frequency reduces as they grow, starting from four times in their second and third months, switches to three times in the fourth, fifth, and sixth months, and feeds 2 times only thereafter.
An overweight Dachshund puppy will eat less food than a healthy one, and an underweight puppy will eat more food than a healthy or overweight puppy.
A more active Dachshund puppy will also eat more food than an inactive one to replenish their energy levels.
To understand the exact amount you need to feed your Dachshund puppy in a day, multiply its resting energy requirements (RER) by two. You calculate the RER by multiplying the puppy’s body weight in kilograms to the power of ¾ by 70.
For instance, a Dachshund puppy weighing 1 kg lbs, their RER is 70 (1 kg) ¾ =52.5
To get the amount of calories the puppy needs, multiply RER 52.5 by 2= 105 calories per day.
Dachshund Puppy Feeding Chart
Birth-8th week:
Ideally, Dachshund puppies should breastfeed or take formula until 8 weeks when they start their weaning journey. However, some Dachshund puppy owners start weaning them earlier, at 4 or 6 weeks. If you do start weaning your puppy at 4 or 6 weeks, feed the puppy with mush (a mixture of kibble and water/formula) to make it easier for them to swallow and digest.
8th week:
At 8 weeks, your Dachshund puppy should now rely on puppy food fully for its nutrients. If you got the puppy from a breeder, continue feeding them what they were consuming. If not, give them high-quality puppy food that meets all its nutritional requirements. The ideal amount of food to give your puppy is 6-12 ounces in four days each day. If you have just begun weaning your puppy, mix the kibble with water to make it easy for your puppy to swallow and digest the food.
9th week:
continue feeding your Dachshund puppy 6 to 12 ounces of puppy food spread over feeding times in a day. You can also continue giving your puppy the mush, but reduce the amount of water to get the puppy ready for dry food.
10th week:
continue feeding your puppy 6-12 ounces of food in four regular feeding times a day. Reduce the water amount further as the puppy becomes accustomed to kibble in swallowing and digesting.
11th week:
the Dachshund puppy is still taking 6-12 ounces of puppy food in four regular feeding sessions. By the end of the week, the puppy should eat dry kibble.
12th week:
your Dachshund puppy should still eat four meals a day regularly, but the food amount increases to 7-15 ounces. The puppy will continue eating 7-15 ounces a day in four regular meals until it reaches 4 months.
16 weeks:
the puppy still eats 7-15 ounces per day, but its meals reduce to three times.
18-22 weeks:
the Dachshund puppy eats between 7-16 ounces of food every day, spread over 3 regular meals.
7-8 months:
the amount of food decreases to 6-12 ounces, and so does the meal frequency. The puppy eats less food in two sittings because a lot of growth has already occurred, preventing overeating and obesity risks.
9-10 months:
the Dachshund puppy eats even less, requiring only 5-11 ounces shared evenly between 2 regular meals.
10-12 months:
Your Dachshund puppy will need 4 to 11 ounces of food each day, eating in 2 regular meals. The puppy then switches to adult food in the 13th month.
Best Dachshund Puppy Food: Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Puppy
Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your highly active small breed puppy. With real chicken as the first ingredient, it’s great-tasting food that provides high-quality protein for growth and development. Plus, Purina Pro Plan Puppy Small Breed features guaranteed live probiotics to help support your puppy’s digestive and immune health.
This improved formula used to be known as FOCUS Chicken and Rice Formula
Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Puppy food is fortified with probiotics to support digestive and immune health. It is made with high-quality protein sources like chicken meal and rice, plus essential vitamins and minerals to help your pup grow up big and strong.
Purina Pro Plan Small Breed Puppy food is specially crafted for the nutritional needs of growing small breed puppies. This premium dog food contains DHA from omega-rich fish oil to nourish your pup's developing brain and vision development, antioxidants to support his developing immune system, and calcium, phosphorus and other minerals to build strong bones and teeth. Plus, this kibble is enriched with vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids to nourish your puppy's skin and coat.
Pros:
- - Made with high-quality protein sources like chicken meal and rice
- - Fortified with probiotics to support digestive and immune health
- - Contains DHA from omega-rich fish oil to nourish your pup's developing brain and vision
- - Enriched with vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids to nourish your puppy's skin and coat
Cons:
- - Some puppies may not take to the taste
- Contains gluten and some Dachshunds puppies may be allergic to them
Dachshund puppy weight to maintain and recommended feeding chart
| Age in months | Weight to Maintain | Daily Food Amount |
2 months | 6-12 ounces | 4 |
| 3 months | 7-15 ounces | 4 |
| 4 months | 7-15 ounces | 3 |
| 5-6 months | 7-16 ounces | 3 |
| 7-8 months | 6-12 ounces | 2 |
| 9-10 months | 5-11 ounces | 2 |
| 10-12 months | 4-11 ounces |
Dachshund Puppies Feeding Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Dachshund puppy grow each week?
A Dachshund puppy grows steadily from birth to 12 weeks, and then rapidly from 12 weeks to 24 weeks. The puppy’s growth then slows down from the seventh month to 11 months, after which the growth curve flatten the Dachshund reaches adult stage.
The tables below show the miniature Dachshund puppy and standard Dachshund puppy monthly growth in weight and height.
| Age | 3 months | 6 months | 9 months | 12 months |
| Weight | 5-6 lbs | 8-9 lbs | 10-11 lbs | 11 lbs |
| Height | 3 inches | 4-5 inches | 5-6 inches | 5-6 inches |
Miniature Dachshund puppy growth
| Age | 3 months | 6 months | 9 months | 12 months |
| Weight | 7-14 lbs | 11-25 lbs | 14-30 lbs | 16-32 lbs |
| Height | 4-5 inches | 5-6 inches | 7-8 inches | 8-9 inches |
Standard Dachshund puppy growth
Wet or dry dog food for a Dachshund puppy?
While you can feed your Dachshund both wet and dry puppy food, kibble is the better choice among the two. Kibble helps clean the puppy’s teeth by preventing tartar buildup, a critical grooming tactic for a Dachshund dog because it is prone to tartar buildup that causes dental disease. Also, unlike canned food, kibble does not cause loose stool, an increased risk in Dachshunds because of their sensitive metabolisms.
Grain-free vs grain-inclusive dog food for a dachshund puppy
Grain-free and grain-inclusive puppy food is good for a Dachshund puppy. However, the best grain-inclusive puppy food is one that contains whole grains such as oatmeal, brown and wild rice, and barley because they are high in protein and fiber. Avoid food with grains such as wheat, corn, and soy because they are just fillers that spike sugar levels, a risk to Dachshund's susceptibility to obesity.
Switching dog food for a Dachshund puppy
You will need to switch food for your Dachshund puppy shortly after getting them from a breeder, when the puppy is allergic to the current food, or when you want your puppy to transition from puppy food to adult dog food. Whatever the reason, the transition is gradual to avoid digestive diseases.
The switch happens over 7 to 10 days, adding a small amount of the new diet to the current one until the puppy can eat the new food entirely without stomach upsets.
During day 1 and day 2, you will mix 25% of the new diet with 75% of the old diet. On day 3 and 4, you will mix 50% of the new diet with 50% of the old diet, and on days 5 and 6, you will feed your puppy a mixture of 75% new food and 25% of the old diet. From day 7 onwards, you will give your puppy 100% of the new kibble.
Should you feed a Dachshund puppy supplements?
Supplements are unnecessary for a Dachshund puppy as long as its food meets its nutritional needs of 22-35% proteins, 0.7-1.7% calcium, 0.6-1.3% phosphorus, and 10-25% fats. You may only need to give your Dachshund glucosamine and chondroitin supplements when they become adults or at 12 months to prevent joint pains, a common condition with the breed.
What if my Dachshund puppy won’t eat?
You will need to identify why your Dachshund will not eat to manage the situation to avoid unhealthy growth and development. Illness, dental disease, recent vaccination leading to loss of appetite, unfamiliar environments, and picky eating and behavior are some reasons why your Dachshund puppy won’t eat. Each cause calls for a unique solution.
For instance,you should feed your puppy a fitting wet food or mush if a pain-causing dental disease is a reason why the young will not eat. The mush or canned food is easier to eat and swallow because it requires minimal chewing. If your Dachshund puppy’s sickness causes them not to eat, seek vet services immediately to help them regain their appetite. If the puppy will not eat as an effect of vaccination, give them time as they will eat as soon as the effect is over.
Can you free feed a Dachshund puppy?
You should not free-feed your Dachshund puppy because it is harmful to the puppy’s physical and behavioral health. Dachshund puppies have a high food appetite and will always behave hungry, risking developing an overeating problem. Overeating could lead to overweight and obesity, high risks with the Dachshund breed. Being overweight and obese increases the risks of joint and back pains and heart diseases in dachshund puppies.
How much water does my Dachshund puppy need?
The amount of water your Dachshund puppy needs depends on their body weight. The American Kennel Club recommends that weaning puppies should take between ½ an ounce and 1 ounce of water per pound of their body weight every day. A Dachshund puppy that is still relying on breastfeeding only, however, will need a ½ cup of water every two hours.
Dachshund Puppy feeding habits
Dachshund puppies are highly motivated by food, requiring a regular feeding schedule to prevent them from overeating and possessive behaviors over their things. A Dachshund puppy should eat regularly between 2 to 4 times a day, depending on their age; 2 and 3 months puppy have 4 meals, a 5, 6, and 7 months old puppy eats thrice, and an 8 month and older puppy feeds twice only.
Regular feeding times are necessary to stabilize the puppy’s sugar levels as the breed is prone to diabetes. Also, a Dachshund puppy should have dinner at least 5 hours before their bedtime to allow digestion because the breed has a high risk for stomach upsets.
Other times, a Dachshund puppy will not because they are anxious about their feeding environment. When this happens, relax your puppy, feed it in a familiar bowl, and stick to the same feeding area.
Understanding food portions/measurements to feed a Dachshund puppy
The age, size, activity level, and wellness will determine the food portions of a Dachshund puppy, either a miniature or a standard. At 2 months, the puppy takes 6-12 ounces of food per day. The amount of food increases on the 3rd, 4th, and 6th months to 7-16 ounces, 7-15 ounces, and 7-16 ounces respectively to facilitate the rapid growth the puppy experiences during this period.
The daily food intake then decreases from the 7th to the 12th month, 6-12 ounces, 5-11 ounces, and 4-11 ounces respectively, as only minimal development occurs then. The bigger, older, and more active,the more the Dachshund puppy feeds. Underweight puppies should also eat more and overweight/obese puppies should eat less to get to a healthy weight. Age, on the other hand, determines a Dachshund puppy’s meal frequency.
The younger the puppy, the more times it feeds in a day to replenish energy and nutrient levels for its rapid growth and active lifestyle. At 2 and 3 months, the puppy eats 4 regular meals every day, during the 5th, 6th, and 7th months, the Dachshund puppy has 3 regular meals per day, which decrease to 2 meals each day from the 8th to the 12th month.
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Hi there! My name is Alex Landy, one of the co-founders here at Our Pets HQ and a parent to a small-breed Yorkie. I am a published author of two books on dog breeding and currently write on various pet-related blogs about caring for dogs. I am a parent of two daughters and live outside Boston where I spend a lot of time with family and serve in different breeding clubs. You can reach me at alex@ourpetshq.com
