[2024] How to train a Dachshund - Advice that actually works!

So you’ve got your cute little sausage home and now you’re wondering where do I even start in training my Dachshund..

Ok doxie, pawse… Now come!

No one wants a badly behaved dog, no matter how cute. If you have just got a new dachshund or are considering getting one, it is important to make sure they respect and obey you.

We’ve put together some top tips below to help you learn how to train a dachshund as well as some links to some fantastic courses that will really help you master training your four legged friend.

Start training early

Starting training as a puppy will increase the chance of success. That is not to say that it won’t be possible with an older dog, just that it might take some more effort from you both!

Every dog will need to be housebroken but dachshunds also tend to bark and can sometimes be aggressive. If you need to get your dachshund used to being around other dogs, you will want to spend time “socializing” them.

All these behaviors can be taught using the same method.

Dachshunds have a stubborn temperament but respond best to positive reinforcement, so it is time to get those ‘high value’ food treats out!

Cuddles, playtime, and praise also work well as rewards for good behavior.

Respect

The first and most important thing to teach your dachshund is to respect you. Canine psychologist and training expert Michele Welton personifies a lack of respect as a dog’s way of being “rude” so, as with other breeds, you need to immediately establish yourself as “leader of the pack”.

Ways you can do this include sitting higher than your dachshund (do not allow them on the sofa unless invited) and beginning your meals before they do.

As Paul Owens – “The Original Dog Whisperer” says, “if you’re thinking of training your dog, Think Positive!”. Positive reinforcement is the rewarding of good behavior, rather than penalizing bad behavior.

If you repeatedly give your dachshund a high-value treat, such as a small piece of cheese, immediately after he obeys a command then this behavior will be associated with the reward. Your dachshund will then be motivated to repeat said behavior, in anticipation of another piece of cheese.

Obedience

Once your dachshund has accepted his role in the ‘pack’, you can start to teach them some simple tricks. Start with sitting because it is something they will naturally do, so you can reward it easily.

Kaelin Munkelwitz, celebrity dog trainer and founder of All Things Pups, advises to begin training with your dachshund on a lead, to give yourself more control, then move onto the same exercise without the lead.

Munkelwitz also notes that stubbornness is a trait that dachshunds tend to display more than other breeds, so they may need a little more training.

Check out this video to watch her train a stubborn dachshund puppy to “Sit”.

An example of obedience training is using “Quiet” to stop excessive barking. Despite their small size, dachshunds can make a lot of noise. If you don’t train your dachshund to keep quiet, how is it supposed to know that barking at the postman is naughty?

You can use positive reinforcement by rewarding your dachshund when he responds to the “Quiet” command. Begin in a familiar, quiet place where they will feel less anxious and then build up to a more stimulating environment, like Arnold in this video.

Housebreaking your Dachshund

Michele Welton claims that housebreaking – or potty training – can be achieved by following two rules. The first rule is keeping your new puppy confined to one area of the house until he is completely housebroken, and the second is ensuring that he has regular access to somewhere he can use.

If your puppy sometimes has accidents in the house while you are out, this camera allows you to watch and speak to them on the go. This will be useful for reinforcing training techniques when your dachshund thinks you aren’t watching.

It is important to remember that dachshunds are only small dogs, which means that they will not be able to wait as long between toilet trips as other breeds. You should be prepared to take them outside every few hours, even if that means getting up in the night when they are small.

Recommended: How big do Dachshunds get?

Once you have covered the basics, you might be able to train your dachshund to signal when they want to go outside.

Professional help

If training your dachshund yourself seems too overwhelming, or you just don’t have the time, you may want to get a professional in. Use The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) to locate a trainer in your area (use advanced search for outside USA).