🐾 Breed Guide
Training a Dachshund? They Were Bred to Ignore You. Here's the Fix.
Dachshunds weren't bred to follow commands — they were bred to hunt badgers underground, alone, using independent judgment. Every behavior problem owners report traces back to this: a dog whose DNA says 'follow your nose, not your handler.'
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Dachshund quick facts
Top challenges
Top 3 training challenges for the Dachshund
A Dachshund's nose is 125 times more sensitive than a human's, and when a scent trail activates, it overrides every other input — including your recall cue. This isn't disobedience. It's the breed doing exactly what it was designed to do. The dog who comes perfectly in the living room and vanishes at the park has learned recall in one environment. Recall in the presence of scent requires systematic proofing.
Build recall on a long line before attempting off-leash work. Every time your Dachshund responds to the recall cue, the reward must be better than whatever they were sniffing. Use high-value food (real meat, not kibble), deliver 5-10 treats in a row, and run backward as they come to you — turning recall into an exciting chase game. A Dachshund who has a 50-rep history of jackpot recalls will outperform one who's heard 'come' 500 times with minimal reward.
Dachshunds bark. Loudly. At strangers, at sounds, at things that may not exist. This was a working trait — underground hunters needed to bark continuously so their handlers could locate them by sound. Your neighbors are less appreciative than a 19th-century German badger hunter. The barking is self-reinforcing: dog barks, stranger/person/threat leaves (or comes to investigate), dog learns barking works.
The solution is teaching an incompatible response: alert → look at you → reward. When your Dachshund barks, the moment they pause (even briefly) to look at you, mark and reward. Build on this with a 'quiet' cue. Simultaneously, manage the environment — block sightlines to triggers, add white noise, crate-train so the dog isn't patrolling the front windows while you're away.
Dachshunds are genetically predisposed to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — a condition where the cushioning discs between spinal vertebrae herniate or rupture. Up to 25% of Dachshunds will experience IVDD in their lifetime. The anatomy that makes them adorable (long spine, short legs) is also a structural liability. High-impact repetitive jumping — off furniture, out of cars — is a primary risk factor.
Ramps and stairs are essential equipment, not optional accessories. Train a 'ramp' behavior early: reward the dog for approaching and using the ramp rather than jumping. Keep training sessions short (5-7 minutes) and low-impact. Avoid exercises that put torque on the spine. Obesity significantly increases IVDD risk — portion control and no 'extra' treats outside of training.
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First week training plan for your Dachshund
Dachshunds need short, frequent sessions with high-value rewards. They disengage quickly when bored or when the reward isn't worth their effort.
Name recognition — earn their attention
Say the name once. When they orient toward you (even briefly), mark and reward with something they love — real meat or cheese, not kibble. Never repeat the name twice in a row. Build 10 successful repetitions before ending the session. Keep it under 3 minutes.
Sit foundation
Lure a sit with a treat held above their nose. The moment their rear touches the floor, mark and reward. Don't push them down — let the lure do the work. Dachshunds respond to lure training fast. Build to 5 reliable sits before adding the verbal cue.
Ramp introduction
Introduce a ramp or set of dog stairs to your couch and bed. Toss treats partway up the ramp. Let them approach at their own pace. The goal this week is a dog who walks up and down without hesitation. This is spine protection, not optional.
Long-line recall foundation
Attach a 10-foot long line. Call the dog once with a new cue word ('here' or 'front' — start fresh if 'come' has been ignored). Back up quickly as you call. When they reach you, deliver 5-7 treats and big praise. Never call them to something unpleasant.
Crate introduction
Dachshunds are burrowers by nature — a crate with a covered top and soft bedding can feel like a burrow. Toss treats inside throughout the day. Feed meals at the crate entrance, then inside with the door open. Don't close the door this week.
Leave-it basics
Hold a treat in a closed fist. Let the dog sniff and paw. The moment they back off, mark and reward with the OTHER hand. This is the beginning of impulse control and will directly help with food stealing and counter surfing.
Socialization exposure
Expose your Dachshund to one new experience per day — a sound, a surface, a person. Keep it positive and brief. Dachshunds can develop fearful barking and reactivity toward strangers if not properly socialized during the first 4 months.
Recommended skills
Best skill order for the Dachshund
These skills, in this order, address the Dachshund's specific challenges — independence, recall, impulse control.
Common behavior issues
Dachshund behavior problems
These are the behavior challenges most frequently reported by Dachshund owners.
FAQ
Common questions about training a Dachshund
Are Dachshunds hard to train?
Dachshunds are not hard to train — they're independently motivated. They were bred to make decisions without human direction while hunting underground. This means they need higher-value rewards and shorter sessions than handler-focused breeds. When training is made worth their effort, Dachshunds learn quickly.
Why won't my Dachshund come when called?
Recall is the hardest behavior to build in scent hounds because their nose overrides all other inputs when a trail is active. Dachshunds need a recall that has been proofed systematically with high-value rewards. 'Come' needs to predict something better than whatever they're sniffing — kibble doesn't cut it. Use real meat and a long line before attempting off-leash recall.
How do I stop my Dachshund from barking?
You can't eliminate Dachshund barking — it's hardwired. You can reduce it by teaching 'quiet' (mark and reward the moment barking stops), managing the environment (blocking sightlines to triggers), and addressing underlying anxiety that drives patrol barking. Expect 3-4 weeks of consistent work before you see significant change.
Should Dachshunds use ramps instead of jumping?
Yes, always. Dachshunds have a genetic predisposition to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Every jump off a couch, bed, or car adds cumulative stress to their spine. Dog ramps or stairs are not optional — they're preventive medicine. Train the ramp behavior early and enforce it consistently.
How long should Dachshund training sessions be?
3-5 minutes, multiple times per day. Dachshunds disengage quickly when bored or when the reward isn't worth their effort. Short, frequent sessions with high-value rewards outperform long sessions with kibble. End every session on a successful rep before they lose interest.