Back care is the entire brief
Open a Dachshund sitter's notes with the handling rules, because one careless jump can matter more for this breed than a missed walk. State them plainly: he uses the ramp onto the sofa and bed rather than jumping, stairs are carried or blocked, never done at a run, and nobody encourages him to leap for a toy or a greeting. When lifting, the sitter should scoop him with one hand under the chest and the other supporting the rear, keeping the spine horizontal, never picking him up by the front legs or letting the back end dangle. A sitter who has never handled a long-backed dog will not guess these rules, so write them as if they are new information, because they are.
Walks on a harness, at Dachshund pace
Explain that walks use his harness, not a collar, so pressure never lands on his neck and spine when he lunges at a squirrel. Give normal walk lengths and routes, and note that he may refuse in rain, in which case a short garden break and a later retry beat dragging a planted Dachshund down the street. Warn about his hunting streak: he will chase small animals and can slip a loose harness when committed, so the fit should be checked before leaving. Mention keeping him away from boisterous big-dog play, since a collision or rough tumble is exactly the kind of knock his back does not need.
Feeding and the weight rule
Give measured meals and be blunt about weight: every extra ounce a Dachshund carries loads a spine that is already long for its size, so the sitter's kindness must not arrive as food. List approved treats and where they are kept, note that he will beg, steal, and counter-surf given any chance, and say that dropped food should be picked up rather than left as a prize. Describe his normal eating enthusiasm so a sitter can judge a change: a Dachshund who refuses dinner, especially alongside quietness or reluctance to move, is telling you something is wrong and that combination deserves a prompt call to you and the vet.
Back warning signs that cannot wait
Write the red-flag list in plain words: crying out when picked up or touched, a hunched or tense back, wobbly or dragging back legs, knuckling paws, sudden inability to jump he could manage before, or loss of bladder control. Any of these means a vet the same day, immediately for dragging legs, and the dog should be kept still and carried in the meantime rather than walked to see if it passes. Leave the vet's number, the emergency option, your number, and a backup decision-maker. Also note where his crate or a small confined pen is, because strict rest in a small space is usually the first instruction while veterinary advice is arranged.
Home routine and character
Close with the ordinary day: feeding and walk times, his burrowing blanket and where he sleeps, his favourite games that stay low to the ground, and his personality, whether bold, barky at the door, or shy with visitors. Note his toilet habits and any indoor signals he gives. Recording all of this in KinsLe's Care Pass hands your sitter his lifting rules, harness walks, and back warning signs in a single clear summary they can check throughout the stay.