19/01/2025

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Training a Dachshund – The Reasons Why It Is So Different

Training a Dachshund – The Reasons Why It Is So Different

There’s no doubt about it, the Dachshund is arguably one of the most adorable breeds around. However, there’s nothing cute about training a dachshund as the little hot dog-shaped critters can be quite disobedient. In fact, some people believe that dachshunds need special training to curb their bullheaded attitudes.

What Separates Dachshunds From Other Breeds?

You’re not in for a carefree time of it when you start training a dachshund. From the beginning, you need to keep in mind that your Dachshund is still a dog, forgetting how loving and fun he is, and he deserves to be treated appropriately, just the same as any other animal.

Patience will be a vital quality for training a dachshund the right way, because these little wiener dogs are known to be really independent. They have minds of their own and will decide what they want, then wait for you to go get it.

Once you understand that it’s a tiny, strong-willed dog you’re training and that you shouldn’t treat him like a tiny human friend, you need to make sure you always keep the upper hand in your training sessions. Giving him special privileges because he’s so cute will bite you in the butt, and he won’t think of you as someone who should always be minded.

Because Dachshunds have such strong, determined personalities, they have a tendency to get into difficulties. So you won’t be doing him any favors if you don’t always protect the upper hand in your training sessions. Also, because of the way Dachshunds are shaped, they can hurt themselves if they decide to run off and climb or jump on things – two behaviors that Dachshunds can simply be trained to stop.

The Essential Points in Training A Dachshund

Dachshunds were initially bred to be hunting dogs who would sniff out and dig up vermin. They are bouncing with energy, and so your Dachshund should get lots of exercise from a young age on. A Dachshund with pent-up energy can do some serious damage to your home.

You need to be strict with your dog and create a schedule that gives him lots of exercise, which in the long run will make him much easier to train.

Training A Dachshund: Sessions

Basics – The basic training commands like “sit,” “stay,” and vitally, “down” should be handled first. The physical style of the Dachshund makes it troublesome for him to jump or climb very high, so teach him from the outset not to jump on furniture, and make it obvious that doing so is absolutely forbidden. If required, you can carry your dog up and down stairs.

Training a Dachshund with a clicker – Dachshunds answer well to clickers, so these devices should be added in the training sessions. The Dachshund doesn’t have wonderful hearing, but it can react to fast, sharp clicks. Clicker training is ideal for an animal that has such a small attention span.

Short Sessions – Training a Dachshund should be carried out in 5-minute increments. If you go over 5 minutes in a session, your Dachshund’s attention will be quickly diverted to other things and you’ll have a hard time getting him back on track again. So do as much as you can in the 5-minute periods, and your dog won’t have time to think about various unimportant things.

Rewards – It isn’t simple to punish a Dachshund, because the breed is so strong-willed. If you go overboard on the punishment, your Dachshund may become obstinate and even vicious. Alternatively, positive reinforcement is a wonderful way to train your dog, giving him various rewards when he has behaved well. Dachshunds swim in physical attention, just as they are eager for treats that reward their good behavior.

Clearly, training a Dachshund can be troublesome, even aggravating. To get the results you want, you will need a reserve of energy and patience, not to mention time. The key is not to let your Dachshund puppy get the upper hand in your relationship. Once he does, he gains a lot of ground that will be tough to get back as you both grow older.