The Complete Guide: How To Care For Dachshunds

Why Raising a Dachshund is so Important?

Dog training should neither be a demonstration of human strength and superiority nor should it be understood as a competition with the dachshund.

The use of force against the dog should therefore never take place.

However, common sense and having fun should play a huge role in raising the Dachshund.

After all, that’s what keeping a dog is all about: The fun of living together with the dachshund. To ensure this, there must be a solid upbringing. Right from the start. If you let the training slide, however, you risk an uneducated dog, which can later cause all sorts of problems.

A dachshund who just never learned to listen to his people becomes a daily nuisance. And frustration and dissatisfaction (on both sides!) Are inevitable. Humans actually have no right to be angry, because the cheeky dachshund is always a “homemade” problem.

Pros of Raising Dachshunds

• It’s fun to teach the dachshund new things and celebrate training successes.
• It strengthens the bond between you.
• If you are a confident and consistent pack leader, this deepens trust. Your dog can rely on you and accepts your position as a senior family member.
• A trained dog can take advantage of more freedom. He can walk without a leash or be taken anywhere.
• Your dachshund is a welcome guest with friends, in a cafe, or at the lake. He knows how to behave.
• It is also possible for you to receive visitors without any problems.
• Your communication improves when you train together.
• If the dachshund is sufficiently socialized, it not only accepts people of all ages but also remains easy-going and relaxed when meeting dogs.
• Going for a walk with dragging and pulling dachshund three times a day is little fun. With a dog on a leash, on the other hand, walks are a highlight.
• Your neighbors will thank you if your dog doesn’t keep yapping.
• The dachshund can also stay alone for several hours without destroying everything.
• A trained and sufficiently busy Dachshund is simply content and happy.
• Trained dogs are far less likely to develop bad habits.
• The basic commands help to cope with everyday life and can even protect your dog from dangerous situations (e.g. “stay” on a busy street or “Don’t” with poisonous bait).

Can You Raise a Dachshund? Are Dachshunds Difficult to Train?

It is no coincidence that the dachshund is said to be stubborn and therefore difficult to train. Courage and self-confidence are firmly anchored in his being. After all, he had to make independent decisions underground and get along without the help of his owner or hunter. However, this does not mean that a dachshund cannot be trained. You just need a little more consistency and perseverance, because every dog can be trained and educated.

Train your crooks with the help of a dog school, train the dachshund according to his predispositions and remain a reliable pack leader for him. In other words: You always react in similar situations with similar actions. Stay tuned with your upbringing, especially if you hit puberty. If you have a dachshund, you have to be even more stubborn than your four-legged friend.

Training Tips for the Dachshund

1. Training environment

Just as you cannot concentrate if you are distracted, the dachshund is similar. Ensure a quiet training environment without loud background noise, environmental influences, or other people and animals around you.

Start exercising in the living room and slowly increase the level of distraction. Then go into the garden or find a quiet dirt road. The goal is of course that the dachshund will always orientate itself towards you later, even if there is a lot of distraction.

2. Motivation

The dachshund is pretty stubborn at times. He is not as willing to bond as other races and is also quite self-confident. That is why he is sometimes not necessarily willing to cooperate and obey people. But don’t worry: practically every dachshund can be trained and educated with consistency and the right motivation.

Most dogs accept food as an incentive to participate. But this is not always necessary. Some four-legged friends are just as happy about enthusiastic praise (“fine”), a caress, or a great toy. If your dachshund prefers treats, watch out for low-calorie and small snacks.

3. Positive reinforcement and punishment

Punishment, beatings, yelling … something like that has no place in dog training. This only promotes fear, indignation, and your dachshund will lose their trust in you. If you want to reprimand your four-legged friend, use short and concise words such as “No”. Use it sparingly. For example, if you catch him doing something inflagranti. By the way, you can also punish the dachshund by ignoring it. However, it is most effective to ignore unwanted behavior as far as possible and otherwise work with a lot of praise.

4. Timing

Accurate praise is very important in dog training. Your dachshund can no longer associate a late treat with something from the past but always relates praise and punishment to the current situation. So there is no point in scolding the dog when you come home and discover a chewed sofa cushion.

5. Patience and practice

Just as you didn’t learn to read and write overnight, your dachshund won’t understand everything right away. It takes a lot of repetitions and you need to be patient. It often becomes really strenuous when the dachshund enters the flaccid phase of puberty. Limits are tested here and learned behaviors like to be “forgotten”. Perseverance is the order of the day!

6. Stay consistent!

What can the dachshund and what not? Think carefully about what you allow him because the dachshund will not want to give up a right once won. Make sure everyone in the household obeys the rules; it’s always easier to loosen up rules later than tighten up an overly loose upbringing afterward.

Don’t let wrongdoing get away with just because the little dachshund puppy is so cute. Unfortunately, only too many dog ​​owners make this mistake, but then get permanent problems with adult four-legged friends. Then it is no longer cute when the dog pinches the toes or chews on the slipper.

So ask yourself:

• Can the dachshund go to bed or on the sofa?
• Do I tolerate him licking my hands and face?
• Is it okay if someone jumps up to greet me?
• Would you like a bite to eat from the table or is begging ignored?
• Do I find it okay for the dachshund to do its business in the garden or is the lawn free of piles and streams?
• I would like the dachshund to briefly give a loud sound to visitors or not to “register” any guests in principle.

7. Dog language

Dogs express their mood through facial expressions and body language. Learn to read these. A dog school can help you with this, there is also plenty of reading and online material. If you know the dog’s language, you can understand the dachshund better and this will help you to correctly assess situations (e.g. dog encounters).

The Puppy Moves In

First of all, the dog owner has to know that every dog and of course every dachshund has its own personality.

There are dogs that are easily distracted, others are very dominant and self-confident or insecure and submissive.

Of course, the easiest way to raise dachshunds is that they are trusting and cooperative.

The behavior of a Dachshund puppy is primarily determined by its littermates, its mother, and the way these dogs treat one another.

The experiences that the young dachshund has between the third and twelfth week of life are therefore very decisive for his personal development.

You should therefore make sure that the puppy comes into contact with as many people as possible as soon as it has moved in with its new family. Dogs and children are also a good place to start when introducing social behavior to the new family member. At best, the dog should only have positive or at least neutral experiences. Unfortunately, negative experiences also become firmly established during this time. Attempts should therefore be made to avoid bad experiences.

When Do I Start My Education?

Start training as soon as the puppy has moved in with you. In the best case, you have already thought about what the dog is allowed to do and what is not and the home is prepared for arrival and safe for puppies.

The dog is usually a few months old when it moves in. This is a very sensitive phase in which your puppy internalizes everything very quickly. You can make great use of this. However, it should be remembered that the young dog not only internalizes positive experiences particularly deeply but also negative ones. That is why it is important to let the puppy have only good or at least neutral experiences as far as possible.

So now would be the right time to familiarize him with everything that he will come into regular contact with later.

What Kind of Tasks Does the Dachshund Get?

• Show him his sleeping place;
• Establish a permanent feeding place;
• Teach him his name;
• Work on the leash guide;
• Continue the socialization that was started with the breeder;
• Trains the basic commands;
• Familiarize the dachshund with your daily routine;
• Get him used to the transport box;
• Practices the retrievability;
• House train the puppy;
• Works on bite inhibition;
• Your dachshund should learn to stay alone from time to time;
• Teach him the rules of living together.

Exploit Exploratory Behavior and the Instinct to Play

The young dog can be taught a lot by playing. So, a good start is to tell him the word “sit” every time the Dachshund sits down during the game.

So after a while, he will understand what the word means. If the dachshund puppy then obeys an order, it should be rewarded immediately, for example with gentle words or petting.

Bad habits, such as frequent carrying, should definitely not be taught to the puppy, because they will stay.

The puppy learns by imitating its mother’s behavior. If he is in a family, only one person should be responsible for bringing up the children at a time.

In this way, limits can be set for the young dachshund. He also learns his name while playing, if it is pronounced frequently.

After a short time, he will become vigilant and prick up his ears when he hears his name. If the dog responds to its name by lifting its head or wagging its tail, it should be reinforced in its suspicion that it was meant.

Teaching the Dachshund Its Name

Each dachshund puppy is given a name by the breeder, which is also noted on the dog’s papers. However, the new owners do not always like this name. But this is not a problem. Puppies and even adult dogs can be taught a new name very quickly.

You can train in two ways. As always, treats are helpful:

1. You want to get your dog’s attention with the name

• Do the first few exercises in a low-irritant environment.
• Call your little dachshund by name. Do this in a friendly voice.
• Is the puppy looking at you? Hand him a treat or toss it to him (depending on the distance to you).
• Does he not pay any attention to you? Try again. But only 1-2 times. Avoid calling the puppy on a loop. This dulls.
• Have a few bites ready in your pocket so that you can practice over and over again throughout the day.
• Increase the distraction and move the training outside.
• As soon as the dachshund hears reliably, you can gradually reduce the treats. Now and then it can still be a bite to eat.
• Your puppy will learn that when you call them by name, it pays to pay attention to you.

2. Your dachshund should come to you at the sound of the name

Always call the puppy by name when something great or pleasant happens. Is there food in the morning? Say, for example, “Muffin (use any name), this is your little dog” or something similar. Would you like to go to the garden or go for a walk with him? Is there a visitor? Do you have a new toy? Is there a treat or a caress? Make it clear to the dog that it pays to call out.

Extra tip: Most dog owners want their four-legged friend to give the dog handler their full attention when giving their names. As soon as the dachshund focuses on the owner, further commands can follow; however, others want the dog to come running if the owner is named. However, you can also insert the command “Come” or “Here” separately.

How Does the Dachshund Puppy Get House Trained

Some dogs get house trained quickly, while others can take a little longer.

The dachshund should never be punished if he forgets himself in the apartment.

Scolding makes the dog shy and nervous. Man’s foresight applies here. After sleeping, eating, and playing, the puppy should always be taken outside to get its business done.

If he then does so, a phrase like “Hurry up” can help ensure that whenever the dog hears you afterward, he will do his business.

The dachshund will remember this saying and then know when to do his business.

In addition, preventive measures can be taken by taking the dachshund outside as soon as it starts looking for a suitable spot in the apartment.

As a keeper, you make a decisive contribution to house training. By paying attention to your dog’s signals and generally going outside with him more often. This way successes come faster and you can praise more often if it works.

At the very beginning, it can therefore be helpful to give the puppy the opportunity to loosen up briefly every 2-3 hours. Either you let him into the garden or you go to the door together for a short while.

More tips:

• First thing in the morning, take the puppy out briefly.
• It should also be a few minutes before going to bed in the evening.
• If you can get by, you can go out into the fresh air once at night with the dachshund.
• Put a tall box next to your bed that the dachshund cannot jump out of. Puppies don’t like to dirty their sleeping quarters, and the dog will usually show up when he has to.
• If you don’t want the dog to sleep in the bedroom later, you can move yourself to the sofa for a while, as long as the puppy has to go out at night.
• A puppy toilet can be useful, especially if you have to leave the dog alone for a few hours.
• However, puppy pads sometimes make house training difficult.
• Keep a journal for a week. Make a note of the feeding times and the times when the puppy piles or brooks. If the dachshund does its business at inconvenient times, you can feed it a little earlier or later to adjust this.

When you catch the dachshund in the act

Don’t punish the dog. Don’t nudge him in the pile either. Instead, take him outside immediately. If you catch him lifting his leg, you can say “no”.

But if the mishap has already happened, take the dachshund to another room and wipe away the remains without comment. If the puppy notices that you are very angry or angry, this may frighten him and he will later look for better places to loosen up or may not be able to relieve himself or only very poorly in your presence (on walks).

Make yourself aware that the puppy has to mature physically and learn to control the bladder and intestines in order to be house-trained.

How Can I Get My Dachshund Used to Our Baby?

Up until now, the dachshund has usually been the center of the world in childless households. He had the full attention of his people and maybe even privileges like sleeping in bed or cozy hours on the sofa.

If a baby soon enriches the family, many dog ​​owners rethink the situation at home and have to reorient themselves and possibly also show the dachshund new limits. A dachshund in the family bed? D rather not. If the four-legged friend was allowed to sleep between them beforehand, it must be deprived of its right to do so before the birth. Otherwise, there may be jealousy and rejection of the little biped.

Would you say your dachshund is well behaved or is he the master of the house? Your dog should respect all family members and classify them as a senior. If he is playing the boss or if he is simply naughty, work on the problem before the due date. Visit a dog school or practice for the companion dog test or the like. Be more consistent at home and set clear rules.

So don’t wait until the baby arrives, because if the dachshund is deprived of all of its usual privileges in one fell swoop, he may associate this with the newcomer. That would be a negative association. So if the dachshund was always King and you were available for him 24 hours a day, reduce your attention step by step.

Tips and Tricks:

Get the dachshund used to a lockable, spacious, and comfortable transport box, folding box, or lattice box. He should like and accept the resting place as a place of retreat. Since you shouldn’t leave your dog and baby alone, you can send the dachshund in there if you have to be out of sight for a moment. In addition, your four-legged friend has a little refuge when a baby screaming or crawling becomes too much for him. Simply close the door and your child cannot reach the dog. By the way, a folding box is ideal because the baby/toddler cannot put their little fingers through the tight mesh.

You will certainly be out and about with the stroller a lot later. Often this is already around in the house beforehand. So why not get the dachshund used to it now? So that walking laps with children and dogs are relaxed right from the start and become daily highlights.

You can also get the dog used to other baby things, such as a playpen, play mat, toys, or bouncer. But don’t let him lie on or play with things like that.

Dogs like to lick babies’ hands or feet. Sometimes the face too. Has the dachshund been dewormed or have the vet tested for an infestation shortly before arrival?

You should declare the children’s room a taboo zone. This way you avoid dog hair there and the offspring’s toys are safe from the dachshund teeth. In addition, the youngsters can play there undisturbed or receive other children as visitors. A baby gate in the door can do a good job here. The dachshund can watch but not disturb.

Full diaper from the hospital? D rather not. The dachshund perceives a strange “heap” in the apartment as marking. It would be better to wear a romper or a hat to sniff at.

If this is your first time out of the hospital or birthing center, have someone else hold the baby and say hello to your dog first. He may not have seen you for a few days. Then sit down and hold the baby in your arms. The dachshund is allowed to sniff for a moment, but shouldn’t be too pushy.

The dog mom doesn’t allow anyone from the pack to be near her puppies, even in the early days. Forbid the dog from licking the baby (parasites). In the coming days, you can gradually allow more contact. So the dog may be allowed to sit next to you on the sofa while breastfeeding or may also sniff more extensively.

Don’t neglect your dog. With all the joy about the new offspring, the dachshund unfortunately sometimes fades into the background. Reserve times every day when everything revolves around your dog and he can also enjoy your full attention from time to time.

How Can I Get My Dachshund Used to a Cat?

Dog and cat are not known to be best friends. Different body languages make communication between the two species difficult. Nevertheless, it is not impossible to socialize the dachshund and velvet paw. However, it cannot be guaranteed whether this will result in a close friendship. Sometimes the four-legged friends just accept each other and it can happen that living together is not feasible at all.

It works easiest when both animals come to you like puppies. At this time everything is new for both of them and socialization and imprinting in this phase set the course for the whole of life.

Also recommended: The dachshund (in the best case a puppy) comes to an already existing cat. Often animals that already live in the household are recognized as pack members.

Tips for keeping dachshunds and cats together:

• Choose animals that match in terms of temperament/character. Bringing a bubbly dachshund puppy to a very old or very reserved cat would not be a good idea. The reverse is of course also true.
• Bring something home that smells like the new animal. For example, have the breeder or the animal shelter give you a blanket or something similar.
• After arriving at the new home, let the newcomer explore the new area without the two of them meeting.
• You can create places of retreat, e.g. with the help of baby gates. A cat can usually easily jump the barrier, but the dachshund cannot. So the velvet paw can “save” itself in another room.
• A scratching post is also a good retreat. It should be high enough and stable.
• Cats are usually more likely to run away than attack. But this does not apply to dachshunds.
• They are hunting dogs and the cat is quite an interesting object. Therefore, keep the dog on a leash when you first meet it to see how it behaves.
• Give the cat an escape route (leave the door open) while the dachshund stays on a leash.
• Assign each animal its own sleeping and eating area.
• Don’t neglect the pet that moved in with you first. Otherwise, there may be scenes of jealousy.
• Before meeting the dachshund for the first time, go for a walk and let both animals eat. This takes some of the tension off.
• Two people should be present to get to know each other.
• Praise peaceful behavior or a calm getting to know each other (don’t forget treats).
• If one of the animals shows aggressive behavior, separate the two and try again later.
• Do not leave the animals alone until they are really used to each other. If you have to be outside the home, it is better to put them in different rooms in the beginning.
• The animals determine the pace of getting to know each other. Don’t force anything and be patient.
• Do not let the dachshund off the leash until no defensive reactions can be seen from both sides (anymore).

How Do I Get My Dachshunds Used to Bark?

Barking can not only strain your nerves, but also those of your neighbors. Constant and baseless yapping should therefore be prevented. This requires a lot of consistency.

Problem 1: The dachshund barks when you come home

Does your dachshund prefer barking when you come home? Clearly, he’s excited and of course, looking forward to seeing you too. Very important: don’t make a big scene when you enter the house. Greet your dog briefly (a hello or petting) and that’s it. If he barks constantly and excitedly, put a popular toy in the hallway. When you come home after work, say hello to the dachshund and hand over the ball or something similar. If he takes it in his mouth, he will automatically fall silent.

Problem 2: The dachshund barks when the doorbell rings

The bell rings and the dachshund stands barking in front of the front door every time, pushing you between your dog and the door and looking at the dachshund when you want to reprimand him (“Off”, “No”) or send him to his seat. If you stand behind him cursing while he is yapping, your dog will only think you are upset with him about the ringing at the door.

By the way, you can proceed in the same way if the dachshund is yapping at the window or garden fence.

It can also help to consistently send the dog to his seat when the doorbell rings. Until he has internalized: Ring the bell = off to the square! You can practice this with a family member or friend who stands outside and keeps ringing the bell. The dachshund should wait in its place until you give an order to dissolve it. Ideally, the dog will still wait after the guests have been in the apartment for a long time.

Problem 3: Your dachshund barks at anything and everyone

Dogs that bark a lot at home are often underutilized. So you have to increase your workload, keep busy or extend your walks. Sounds easy? Is also like that. Above all, ensure that you are physically and mentally busy before you are gone for a long period of time. This makes it less likely that he will hold a Bell concert while you are away.

Barking can also be trained consciously at first in order to interrupt it later with a command (“Psst” or “Stop”). To do this, wait a moment in which your dachshund likes to yap. Gives the command “Loud” or “Bell”. Praise him. Later you can give him the command but then say “Stop” after 1 or two hits. Again, treats for correct execution. So this time is still.

If it just doesn’t work out

If it absolutely doesn’t work out at home, check with your local dog school. These often offer anti-bark training.

Important note: anti-bark collars may be effective, but you are not addressing the root cause of the problem. Your dog will only avoid the penalty by stopping barking but will continue to be under-challenged or insecure, for example. That is why we do not recommend these collars.

Learn Easy Commands

The exercises for the first commands can definitely take place in the apartment. For example, the following exercise can be done in the hallway of the house. The dog has already mastered the word “sit” and will obey this command.

You take a few steps back and have a treat in your hand. If the dachshund puppy becomes aware of this and moves slowly forward, the command “Come” is given to him.

So he learns this word and the meaning very quickly. Once he has arrived, he is rewarded with words in addition to the treat. Once the dachshund puppy has learned a basic term, it can move on to the next.

Walk on a Leash

But also outside, on a long leash, the little dachshund can do his first exercises.

Eye contact with the dog is always very important. It can also make sense to work with small dog-friendly treats for the dachshund puppy.

When it goes outside for the first time, walking on a leash will be a new and exciting thing for the dog.

The leash should therefore be shown to him beforehand so that he can sniff it and make friends with it.

The little puppies often play with the leash, take them in their mouths and chase after them. This should be prevented.

The puppy can be accustomed to being on a leash by receiving praise for simply walking next to the human. Then the term “foot” or “by foot” should always be used.

Eye contact should be with the dog at all times because if the dog is attentive and observes what you want from him, he forgets to play with the leash all by himself.

It is really important that your dachshund walks relaxed on a leash. You should keep in mind that for the life of a dog you will be outside with the dachshund several times a day. Due to its size and weight, the dachshund is still easy to hold as a linen rambo, but walking around is only moderately fun, if at all.

Whether collar or harness. Before you start for the first time, you should just hook the line so that the dachshund can drag it behind him for a while. So he understands that this appendage is harmless. Why does it matter? Imagine you accidentally drop the leash and the little dachshund runs away in a panic. This can end badly.

When training on leash handling, you should better avoid using retractable leashes. These are constantly under tension and the dog MUST pull in order to move forward. This is exactly what should actually be avoided. The goal is a dachshund that is loosely on a leash and that runs next to its master if possible.

How does it work with the leash guide?

This depends on how your puppy reacts to the leash. Some can hardly wait to explore everything outside and throw themselves on the leash with verve to sniff everything here and there. You don’t care about the leash. Others don’t like the restriction at all and shift into reverse gear and try to get away from it by shaking and pulling. Then, finally, there are candidates who tend to be anxious and freeze.

If your dog freezes to a pillar of salt, don’t pull him towards you, but try to lure him. With words, a toy, or a small treat. Praise when he comes to you.

If, on the other hand, he is on strike or pulls away from the front, then standstill. Wait until your dachshund also comes to rest and looks at you. This is the moment when you start walking or move on. If the line is tightened again, you will stand still rooted to the spot. This may look strange to outsiders, but in the long run, it has the advantage that your dog will learn to orientate itself on you and that you give the direction. To make this clear, you can turn around on your heel from time to time during a walk or spontaneously run in a different direction. So the dachshund will always keep an eye on you.

Can You Let a Dachshund Walk Without a Leash?

It is certainly not impossible. This depends on your Dachshund’s character, how well he is brought up, and whether there are any distractions nearby. Because many dachshunds hear extremely well, but not when they have picked up a track or a hare appears on the horizon. As a dachshund keeper, you will always have to keep a close eye on your surroundings. When walking you have to be proactive and recognize potential sources of danger (for the dachshund probably more sources of fun) and react accordingly. In the case of freewheeling, the motto is: better put on a leash!

However, many owners of the small hunting dog actually prefer a drag leash or pulley leash on the walk through nature. Even if the dachshund picks up a trace, forgets his upbringing and everything else around him (including his or her master’s whistle), it can still be well controlled.

My Dachshund Pulls on the Leash – What to Do?

Walks become a challenge when the dachshund barks, barks and pulls on a leash. Although the little bitch is still easy to handle on a leash, such walks are certainly not pleasant. More embarrassing.

Perhaps your specimen lies in wait when another dog comes towards it? Or he stays tense and stares until the other four-legged friend has fallen below a certain distance. Then the dachshund ticks off and pounces on the other four-legged friend like a beast.

The reasons for this line of aggression can be very diverse

• Frustration: Your dachshund would like to greet and sniff the other, but the leash is restricting him. He cannot communicate properly with his counterpart. It is quite possible that the dachshund behaves in an exemplary manner in the free run, but is only so angry when it is on a leash.
• Uncertainty: These are mostly based on bad experiences or the dachshund doesn’t trust you and doesn’t see you as the pack leader.
• Illnesses: Various illnesses and especially pain can lead to such irritable behavior. If your dog has behaved well in the past and is now mobbing on a leash, see a vet.
• Socialization: It is especially important when you are a puppy, but your dachshund should also be allowed to have contact with other four-legged friends later on. Lack of socialization is often a factor in leash aggression.
• Territory behavior: Your dog wants to protect his territory from “intruders”. It may be peaceful in other areas, but it goes nuts near the house.
• Gender Drive: A neighborhood female in the heat makes any other dog a rival for your Dachshund. But even females in heat can suddenly act off their gender mates in the heat.

How Can I Tackle the Issue of Leash Guiding?

Find out the cause of Dachshund’s leash aggression, this is the only way to work effectively on the problem. Before doing this, however, a vet should definitely rule out any complaints.

In very serious cases, the help of a dog trainer should be sought. He can look at the problem on your walk-around and investigate the cause with you. When exactly does rabble occur? Only in your own territory? With members of the same sex? Does the dachshund have an “archenemy”? Does it matter who goes for a walk with him or does he only show this behavior with one specific person?

What you can try as an initial measure:

• Use a harness, not a collar. The choking effect when the dog pulls on the leash can increase aggression.
• Try to stay calm. Don’t yell or frantically pull the leash. This also incites the dachshund even more. After all, you’re upset too. Just like him.
• Train a command that you can use to distract your dog. For example with “look”. You can use it during dog encounters to get past your counterpart without mobbing. Clicker training is great for practicing new commands.
• Take very tasty treats that aren’t otherwise available. If you see another dog, the dachshund should have seen the other dog, but then immediately be distracted with the treats. You can hold as many little mini bites in front of his mouth until you have brought the encounter behind you. Praise the Dachshund! He should learn that other four-legged friends are actually really great because then there are treats.
• Always take your dog to the side facing away from the other four-legged friend. So you are closer to the action because you are in control. The dachshund should run next to or behind you.
• Avoid other owners and their dogs or change the side of the street. Dogs don’t usually meet head-on either.
• Another dog comes and the dachshund lies down or stares? Turn around and go away! Don’t look around for the other four-legged friend. Also, ignore your own dachshund.

Can Dachshunds Stay Alone?

You should never say goodbye to your dog if you want to leave the apartment alone and the dachshund is to stay home alone.

The first thing to do is to teach him to go to his seat and stay there.

You then go out the door without words and no big farewells.

Outside in the hallway, you can hear how the dog behaves, for example, it starts to whine or bark.

After a while, you come back and greet the dog briefly and succinctly as if it were quite natural that he was alone.

This should be repeated several times a day, then the dachshund puppy gets used to being alone more often but not staying. He does not lose trust in his person, because he comes back every time.

A better tip than eavesdropping in the hallway is to use a webcam or a simple surveillance camera. There are also special pet cameras, including a treat dispenser and a speaking device. So you can talk to your dog and also hear whether he is barking.

Why this effort – very simple: The dog notices it immediately when the master is listening in the hallway, and then barking / yowling would be quite normal. Or the reverse is true. The dog simply doesn’t make a sound because he knows very well that his owner is still nearby.

After all, a dog hears and smells many times better than a human.

How Long Can a Dachshund Stay Alone?

It’s great when you are with your dachshund around the clock and he never really has to be alone. Actually … Because there will always be situations in which he just has to stay alone. If you have a doctor’s appointment, for example, or want to go to the cinema or a restaurant, etc. But dog owners often go to work and so it happens that the dachshund alone tends the house. Many Dachshunds don’t mind that much because they are a very independent breed. Even so, it is better to slowly get the dog used to these hours of waiting.

How to Get Used to Being Alone: Tips

• To begin with, don’t allow the puppy in certain rooms, such as the bathroom. The bedroom can also be set up as a taboo zone, especially if he is not supposed to sleep or stay there later anyway.
• Just leave the room more often and close the door briefly. Make sure the puppy sees you go out so he doesn’t panic. For a small puppy, being alone means mortal danger (predators). He can’t know that nothing can happen to him with you.
• If the dog acknowledges your absence with yowling or barking, do not pay attention to this but wait until it becomes calm. Then go back into the room. Otherwise, the puppy will always try to call you back in this loud way.
• Slowly expand the time intervals. If the dachshund is left in the apartment or house when you are not in his field of vision, then take short trips outside. In the garden, to the garbage can, or to the neighbor.
• If you are using the webcam mentioned above, first check whether the dog is calm or even resting in its place before you go back into the apartment.
• Gradually extend the times of your absence.
• Each dog should be able to withstand up to 5 hours alone.

Even more tips:

Two dogs keep each other company and there is always at least one pack member present. This can bridge the times without a master or mistress. But: This is not a free pass to leave your dogs alone from morning to evening. Whether a dog or two: Long times without the two-legged friends are still stupid and besides, the big or small business may have to be done. Imagine if you couldn’t go to the bathroom for 8 hours or more.

Dogs that have previously exhausted themselves are usually calmer and more relaxed when the owners are out of the house. So go for a walk with your dachshund before you are away for a long period of time, play with it and feed it.

Get your dog used to the transport box early on. If he sees it as a safe haven, this can help to cope better with the loneliness. Put in a worn item of clothing.

A baby gate can be clamped in the door and prohibit the dog from entering the kitchen, for example. But he can still see you. This gives the four-legged friend security.

A chew or a proven and robust toy can at least keep boredom away for a while and keep the dachshund busy while you are away.

How many hours are okay?

So how long can you leave a Dachshund alone? As already mentioned, each dog should be able to stay alone for around 5 hours. In the best case, the four-legged friend was briefly outside again shortly before and is allowed to go straight to the door when you come home.
In exceptional cases, it may be okay if it takes longer. However, this should not become the rule.

Anyone who works full time and has a dog should therefore urgently think about outside care. These can be family members, friends, or even neighbors. There are also professional dog daycare centers or dog walker services. After all, it is a very lonely life for the dachshund when he has to spend his days completely alone.

Why Socialization and Habituation are So Important

Usually, a good breeder will take care to socialize their puppies to a certain extent. In addition, the dog children can first explore a puppy room or romp in the garden with mum. You get to know different surfaces and objects, get used to everyday noises, come into contact with dogs and other animals and people of all ages come to visit. This is how the rascals are prepared for a life with their new people.

But: Of course, a breeder cannot cover all eventualities. Every home is different. That is why you have to be active and get the dachshund puppy used to everything with which it will come into frequent contact later. Should he often ride in the car? Are there children in the household? Do you live in the city or in the country? Should the dog go to the office? Are there any other pets in the household? These are just a few questions that need to be answered.

It is also worth getting your dog used to grooming rituals at an early stage or making the transport box attractive to them. So there are no problems later and your dachshund takes such actions for granted.

If the dachshund is not used for hunting later, the often strong hunting instinct should also be steered in the right direction. Especially when he is supposed to live with other pets. If he comes into the house as a puppy, he will certainly accept other animals (that have already been there before him). But that doesn’t mean that it automatically accepts foreign pets.

Dog Schools Support Socialization

There are special puppy play lessons or puppy courses where four-legged friends of different races meet. This can be very valuable for socialization. Provided that the small dogs are not just let loose on each other at random, but the encounters are orderly. No puppy should be harassed or molested by others. If the dog children are simply left to their own devices, your dachshund only learns that it has to assert itself against other conspecifics and that you do not give it any protection.

Even so, of course, your dog doesn’t have to like every other four-legged friend. Just as we don’t have to suffer any other human being. So always be a little wary of dog encounters. No matter how well the dachshund has been socialized. For example, if your dog runs free, but another four-legged friend comes towards you on a leash, then it is advisable to call the dachshund back and put it on a leash as well. This is necessary for the sake of politeness alone. But it can of course also be that the second conspecific is on a leash for a good reason and does not react in a particularly socially acceptable manner.

Do I Have to Go to Dog School with the Dachshund?

It should actually be called a school for dogs and their owners because people often learn a lot more while training their dogs than their four-legged friends. As mentioned above, the lessons support you with the socialization of your dachshund. Even more, it helps you to convey commands correctly, to read and interpret the dog and its body language, and to manifest your position as the pack leader. For dog novices, a dog school is actually recommended in principle. Because mistakes in upbringing are often very difficult to iron out afterward.

Before the dog-child moves in with you and you start your dog school adventure, it can be helpful to first read a good book about raising a puppy and to deal with various training methods. After all, you should choose a method that suits you and with which you feel comfortable.

Advantages of a good dog school:

• Learning with others is often more fun.
• Sometimes friendships develop that also last outside of the dog school.
• You will receive professional guidance and tips and feedback.
• A trainer gives constructive criticism and shows you how you can continue to practice with the dog at home.
• You will be shown how to convey basic commands.
• What are the benefits of correctly interpreting dog body language and how can you use this in training and communication?
• You grow into a team with the dachshund and deepen your bond.
• Errors in the upbringing of a puppy can thus be prevented from the start.
• Valuable for socialization.
• Your dog will be made fit for everyday life and a reliable companion.
• The trainer is the contact person for questions and problems that arise.
• Dog schools have in-depth offers when it comes to training your dog.
• In addition, sports, games, and fun are also on the program.
• Sometimes there are workshops, social walks, or first aid offers.

Which course is recommended for the dachshund?

Most owners choose a puppy course as an introduction to dog school. This is mainly about socialization and the playful learning of basic commands. A young dog course often ties in seamlessly with this. This is recommended, because upbringing is often very exhausting, especially during puberty. The young four-legged friends forget the good puppy room and are now testing their limits. Here you need a lot of stamina and possibly a dog school that will help you navigate this time unscathed.

With the adult dachshund to the dog school?

Granted, a fully grown or maybe a little older Dachshund learns more slowly, but it’s not impossible to teach them new things. It may even be necessary to seek professional help if, for example, bad habits have crept in or there is another problem with the dog. Even four-legged friends from animal welfare sometimes need a little more education and guidance. This is especially true if they have been “inmates” in the animal shelter for a long time or even come from abroad and were never allowed to get to know anything there. So neither leashed, house-trained, or otherwise educated.

The dog school is always helpful if:

• Nothing is known about the dog’s level of training (animal welfare / abroad)
• The dachshund is your first dog.
• You want to work on the undesirable behavior of the Dachshund with the help of the trainer.
• You are unsure of your upbringing and do not know how to convey commands.
• Your dachshund doesn’t rank you higher because you were inconsistent or otherwise made mistakes.
• You have to iron out bad habits that crept in through a lack of education.

When does individual training make sense?

• Intensive training achieves success faster.
• Your dachshund has developed dangerous behaviors, such as biting.
• Training with other dogs is not possible because your dachshund is not socialized enough.
• You don’t want to have group lessons yourself.
• In certain situations, there are problems with the dachshund (at home, on walks, with visitors, etc.) that require tailored individual training on-site.

Clicker Training as an Educational Tool

Clicker training does not require any penalty. On the contrary. This training method only works with positive reinforcement. Not only correct behavior is rewarded, but also any behavior that comes a little closer to the end result. For example, let’s say you want your dachshund to retrieve a ball. In the beginning, you press the clicker even if the dog only looks after the ball or walks a bit in its direction.

In order for the dachshund to understand that “click” is synonymous with “right / well done”, you have to teach him this first. To do this, press the clicker and then hand over a small reward. You repeat this several times. We would also be happy to spread over the day again and again.

Next, you give your four-legged friend a task and only press it when it has been carried out correctly. It has proven useful to use a command that the dog can already do. For example, a simple “seat”. In this way, he will learn that he has to do something to get a tasty bite to eat.

If your dachshund likes this training method, it will probably become very creative after a while and offer various solutions to elicit the coveted sound from the clicker. Dogs that master clicker training thinks for themselves and exert their brains.

Advantages of clicker training:

• Training principle based on rewards.
• Wrong behavior is ignored.
• Very precise rewarding possible.
• Food is a good motivation.
• Clicker training is ideal for frequent trainer changes, as the “click” always sounds the same.
• The human voice, on the other hand, is subject to fluctuations.
• Also works very well at a distance.
• Suitable for problem dogs as no physical contact with the dog is necessary (treats can also be thrown/dropped if necessary)
• Is brain work for the dog.
• Can combine mental and physical occupation with one another.
• All you need is the crackling frog and a few treats.
• Use anywhere.
• Versatile in use.

Which Basic Commands Should My Dachshund Know?

This is about the basics that every dog should master. The basic commands are the basis for a functioning dog-human relationship and are therefore extremely important.

The commands can be conveyed in completely different ways. Most owners rely on the voice or a show of hands. Combinations of the two are also very common. Other owners rely on the clicker alone or prefer a dog whistle. If you would like to attend a dog school with the dachshund, find out in advance what style of upbringing the trainers prefer there and think about whether you feel comfortable with it.

Use short words for your commands. In addition, two different commands should not sound too similar in order not to confuse the dog. For example “fine” and “no”.

Sit

Most dog owners start with this because it is really easy to convey. All you need is a tasty smelling treat and you’re good to go. Show the dachshund the treat and hold it under his nose. Then you move your hand over the dachshund’s head. Usually, the dog will nose and look up at the bite. Most dogs now sit down so that he does not lose sight of them. However, it can also happen that your hunting dog shifts into reverse gear to maintain eye contact. In this case, you start all over again. But if you are lucky and the dachshund sits down, it gives the command “sit” exactly when the dog’s rear part is in contact with the ground. Then hand over the reward.

Place

Your dachshund sits perfectly? Great, then it continues seamlessly with “Place”. First, get the dog into the seat and give praise. Then you show him another bite and hold it under your nose. Now lower the treat towards the floor and then pull it away from the dog. Here, too, most four-legged friends follow the smell and almost naturally lie down in their place. However, some just go after the hand. Just start all over again.

Come

Accessibility is an absolute must if you want to allow the dachshund to run free later. He should be happy to come back to you in any terrain and from any distance. In order for you to achieve this, it must be worthwhile for the dachshund to come to you. You can do this in different ways.

For example, always call the dachshund with “Come” (or “Here”) when something great happens: You go for a walk, there is food, you want to play or something else pleasant is on the program.

Another good way for your dachshund to come running happily is with your favorite treat. A bite that is reserved for the recall, but that is absolutely loved. What can that be? Liver sausage or chicken pieces maybe? Many dogs also like small cubes of cheese. Find out what your dachshund is crazy about and reserve these coveted bites for callback training.

Important: Don’t scold your dog if he forgets himself and arrives (much) too late. The four-legged friend relates your scolding to his arrival at you and not to the dawdling beforehand, because dogs live in the here and now. Also, don’t run after your dog if he doesn’t want to come at all. For him, this is at most a great (catch) game. Switch to stubborn, turn around, and walk away. Many four-legged friends are now prudish and wonder. Well, where does my mistress want to go? Then the crooked dachshund legs often whiz towards the owner. Praise when he comes to you.

Tip: Did your dachshund run free? Now, do you want to leash him and go home? The clever dachshunds know this and may therefore not come. Because “Leash = the fun is over”. Therefore, from the start, always leash the dog, praise it, and then let it run again.

Stay

The dachshund should wait here. Until you cancel this command again (e.g. with Come). But how does this test of patience succeed?

Get your dog to sit. Now give the command “stay” (or “wait”) and wait a short moment. If the dachshund remains in its position, praise is given or a treat is offered. Next, you always have to wait a little longer before giving the command to dissolve.

And of course, the dachshund has to wait well even if you are not standing right in front of him. So gradually move away from your dog. Walk away in any direction and in the end even completely out of your dachshund’s field of vision. Even now he should wait.

Important: It shouldn’t matter whether you give the command “stay” and slowly move away from the dog or run away quickly. The dachshund has to wait.

Stop/Drop it/Don’t do that!

Here the dachshund should learn to release something from its mouth. Some owners also give this command to stop barking and yapping.

To train the command, you should have a cotton rope or old towel ready and start a dragging game with your dachshund. Then gives the command “Drop it”. If the dog does not voluntarily give up its prey, carefully open its mouth and take out the toy. Give praise when you have the item and continue playing right away. This is how the dog realizes that it has no disadvantage if it leaves its prey to you. On the contrary: he gets a treat and you keep playing.

If the dachshund should stop barking when it is “Stop”, have a reward ready and say “Stop” aloud if, for example, it is yapping at visitors. If he does not react immediately, repeat the command and hold the treat near him so that he absorbs the scent. If the dog falls silent, say “Don’t do that!” again at that very moment and give him the treat.

Don’t do that / No

You don’t need to schedule an extra training session for this. Because in order to teach this command, you have to catch the dachshund doing something he is not allowed to do.

Can’t he go on the sofa? Strictly say no! Is he rummaging through the garbage or the flower bed? No! Does he piss in the house? No! Does he pinch your toes? No! Does he chew your shoes? No no no!
If you are consistent, you will have to use this command less and less, because the dachshund learns very quickly which rules apply in the new home and how its limits are set.

Heel!

When walking at foot, the dachshund should trot along next to you and not move away from you. It does not matter whether he is on a leash or not. He is only allowed to sniff and explore at will if you give a disband command. But how do you get the dachshund to run next to you?

The following applies to both methods presented here: Always practice in a low-stimulus environment with little distraction, for example in the garden. Only slowly increase the level of external stimuli. Use a tow leash if you are unsure or if your dachshund is no longer listening to you properly when it comes to a track or other dogs.

Method 1: dog runs free

With this method, the callback has to work well, which is not always easy with the Dachshund. He should also already understand what “no” means and it would be great if he knew a blow-up command. You can train this, for example, by giving him a treat. If he wants to take it without permission, you say “No” out loud. If he now waits obediently, give the command “Go”, “Okay” or another word of your choice after a while and allow him to eat the delicacy.

During the “foot training”, call the dachshund to you later by calling back. If he wants to run away again, say clearly “No” and ask him to come to you again. He should stay with you until you give an order to dissolve it. You just stand around and don’t move at the beginning.

If that works and your dachshund is always waiting for the “go”, next time practice with the same method, but while you are slowly walking. So call the dachshund to you again and when you finally go you say “Heel!” every time. Just take a few steps at the beginning of your training and offer a treat when the dachshund moves forward with you.

Method 2: with a leash

Let the dog sit next to you. You should both be looking in the same direction. Let him sit there and wait. Here you can use the command “stay” to help.

Alternatively, you can also introduce the command “look” or “look”. So when the dachshund is sitting next to you, give the command “look” and wait until you have your dog’s attention (he looks you in the eye). If you go, say “Heel!”. Praise or give a treat when he goes with you. Just take a few steps at the beginning and slowly increase the duration.

The line should always hang loosely. However, if the dachshund always runs away from the front or prefers to sniff at the edge of the path instead of staying next to you, hold him a little behind you with the help of the leash or stand/push yourself in front of him.

Think Carefully About the Consequences Before Getting a Dog

However, before you even buy a little dachshund puppy, you should be aware that dogs can of course stay alone for a few hours during the day, but that this should not be the point and should not become normal.

Because the dog needs social contact with people, he also needs several outdoor walks a day. It takes up time, which should also be given to it.