How to Train a Dachshund: A Practical Guide

Dachshunds have a reputation for being stubborn, and there is a grain of truth in it. They are intelligent dogs, but they were bred to hunt alone underground, making their own decisions out of their handler's sight. That independent, problem-solving streak is wonderful company, but it does mean they are not the eager-to-please pushovers that some breeds are. Train a Dachshund well and you will be rewarded with a confident, well-mannered little dog. Here is how to go about it, including the back-protection angle that is unique to the breed.

Understanding the Dachshund mind

The key to training a Dachshund is to work with their nature rather than against it. They are a scent hound, driven by their nose and bred for tenacity. Harsh methods do not work, as a Dachshund that feels bullied simply shuts down or digs its heels in. What does work is making training rewarding, consistent and fun. Reward-based methods, where you mark and reward the behaviour you want, get the best from this breed by far. Keep sessions short and upbeat, finish on a win, and be patient. A Dachshund will happily do what you ask once it has decided that doing so is worth its while.

House-training a Dachshund

Dachshunds are notoriously slow to house-train, and owners should go in expecting it to take time. Their small bladders, stubborn streak and dislike of going outside in cold or wet weather all add to the challenge. The principles are the same as for any dog but need applying with extra consistency:

• Take your puppy out frequently — after waking, after eating, after play, and at regular intervals in between.
• Go out with them and reward the moment they go in the right place, every single time.
• Never punish accidents. Clean up calmly with an enzymatic cleaner and resolve to supervise more closely.
• Use a routine so your dog learns when and where toileting happens.

Our step-by-step guide on how to house-train a puppy fast covers the method in full, and it applies just as much to a slow-to-learn Dachshund as to any other breed, with the caveat that you should expect to be patient.

Recall and the prey drive problem

That marvellous nose is also a training hurdle. A Dachshund on the trail of an interesting scent can become temporarily deaf to your calls, and the breed's hunting heritage gives many a strong urge to chase. Build recall carefully:

• Start in a quiet, enclosed space with no distractions and a high-value reward.
• Make coming back the best thing that ever happens — generous treats, praise and play.
• Increase distractions gradually and keep your dog on a long line in open areas until recall is genuinely reliable.
• Never tell a dog off for coming back, even slowly, or you teach it that returning is risky.

A solid set of everyday commands underpins all of this. Our guide to the essential obedience commands is a good companion to this article for building the basics.

Socialisation

Dachshunds can be wary of strangers and bold to the point of feistiness, so early, positive socialisation is important. Introduce your puppy calmly and gradually to a wide range of people, dogs, places, sounds and experiences during their key socialisation window. The aim is a confident, relaxed adult that takes the world in its stride rather than a nervous or reactive one. The puppy socialisation checklist is a practical tool for making sure you cover the ground.

Training with the back in mind

Here is the part unique to this breed. Because Dachshunds are so prone to spinal disc disease, you should actively train against the behaviours that strain the back. Teach your dog from the start not to jump on and off the sofa or bed, and use ramps or steps instead. Discourage stair-climbing and use a gate where you can. Train your dog to be comfortable being lifted correctly, with support under both chest and bottom. This is as much a training task as teaching a sit, and it is worth the effort. Our full guide on Dachshund back problems and IVDD explains why these habits matter so much.

Managing the barking

Dachshunds were bred to bark to signal their handler underground, and they have a deep, persistent voice. Train an alternative behaviour, reward quiet, avoid accidentally rewarding the barking with attention, and make sure your dog has enough physical and mental stimulation. A bored Dachshund is a noisy one.

Keeping the brain busy

This is a thinking breed, and mental work tires them as much as physical exercise. Scent games, puzzle feeders and food-search games play straight to their instincts. A slow feeder or puzzle feeder turns mealtimes into enrichment and is a brilliant outlet for that busy nose and mind.

Train with patience, consistency and a sense of humour, and a Dachshund will surprise you with how much it can learn. The stubbornness is real, but so is the cleverness.

*This is general guidance. Every dog is an individual, and a qualified, reward-based trainer or behaviourist can help with specific challenges.*

Sources

• UK Kennel Club — Dachshund temperament and training (thekennelclub.org.uk).
• PDSA — dog training and toilet training advice (pdsa.org.uk).
• Blue Cross — reward-based training and socialisation (bluecross.org.uk).
• Dachshund Breed Council UK — protecting the breed's back (dachshundbreedcouncil.org.uk).