As for training… Find a good, positively based (does not have to be clicker training, there are other positive ways to train that do not include clickers, I have worked with dogs TERRIFIED of the clicker sound and humans who could not manage the clicker, leash, treat and dog with two hands) training program that is ideally not in a pet supple store at least for a beginning dog. Also, at least locally, it is hard to find an even halfway decent trainer at one of these stores. I have observed many classes with different trainers in several regions and would not recommend one at all. Try as a first resource: http://www.apdt.com Association of Pet Dog Trainers, even if there is no member close to you, find the closest and use them to network and try to find someone closer. Also, I highly recommend you getting: Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson – http://www.Amazon.com or http://www.dogwise.com. This is a book I recommend to all my students as it is well written, short and easy to understand. Next for food. Get a quality kibble. Those sold at grocery stores are lesser quality foods – yes, even the supposed high quality foods sold at stores have come under fire for changing their formulation. There is no ideal food and what one dog does great with another may not… So, give a food 4 – 6 weeks and see how the dog is doing, if you like the results, keep it. Look for a brand from a feed and grain store or pet supply store (and if the same brand is carried at your local grocery store, do not buy it). Though a bit more expesive, the ingredients are often better quality and the food easier digested by the dog. If a dog is on a quality food, there is often no need for vitamin supplements. In fact, too many vitamins can be a bad thing. There is such a thing as too much supplementing that can throw the dog’s nutrition off. A few brands to look for are: Nutro (naturals or max) Innova Wellness Royal Canin Solid Gold (NOT PET GOLD!!! – do not confuse the two) California Naturals Breeder’s Choice Bil Jac Now for bedding, I would crate train the dog – Dachsies are a hunting breed and actually technically terrier and not hounds – they just have been put in hound groups. But they are more terrier-like in many respects. Hund actually means dog in German and NOT hound as misinterpreted many decades ago… A bored Dachsie can get destructive. They are a dog bred to work and hunt all day. When you are not home to supervise the dog or awake, the safest place is in either a crate or a dog-proofed room. A good dog bed made of fleece with a padding inside should be fine. It does not have to be elaborate, just comfy. Some dogs prefer beds they can curl up in with raised sides, others like to stretch out. I would offer both types of bed for now. And please, learn all you can about Dachsies – obesity is extremely bad for them – not only are there the general health worries, but also due to their build, excess weight increases the chance of back issues. Also watch the jumping, the back can be easily hurt due to the structure of the dog. ( the Dachsie is considered a dwarfed breed and carries the dwarf genetics, this why they look like they do: http://www.dogstuff.info/dwarfism_lanting.html great bit on this…) http://www.dachshund-dca.org/ this is the USA national breed club and will be a good starting place