Many owners complain that their Dachshunds do not listen well and have some undesirable habits. Although later behavior is indeed related in part to genetics, training after the dog comes home can still make a major difference. So when a Dachshund shows poor habits, the owner should first look for causes in the training process instead of only blaming the dog.
This is a basic training guide for Dachshunds.
Method 1: Understand the Dachshund
Many owners often complain that their Dachshund is disobedient or that bad habits appeared after it entered the home. While some behaviors are indeed linked to inherited tendencies, the owner's later influence can still change the dog significantly. Therefore, when behavioral problems appear, the first thing an owner should do is not complain, but identify the root cause.
If the Dachshund came to your home soon after birth, proper socialization is extremely important. In general, the period before about four months of age is the best stage for socialization. If mistakes happen during this period, the kinds of behavior problems mentioned above are more likely to appear. So how can owners avoid making mistakes during puppy care?
Dachshund socialization does not only mean letting the puppy interact with other Dachshunds. Contact with people and other animals is also part of socialization. In addition, it should include adapting the dog to its living environment, becoming familiar with ordinary things around it, and learning not to fear certain forms of stimulation such as car horns or firecrackers.
Before a Dachshund leaves its mother, it learns many communication skills through play and roughhousing with its mother and littermates. For example, it learns how hard it can bite during play without hurting the other puppy. If a Dachshund leaves its mother and siblings before learning this, it may later injure other dogs while playing. Even if a Dachshund leaves the mother early, the owner can still train bite inhibition. For example, when the puppy puts its mouth on you too hard, firmly tell it no. Dachshunds often understand the owner's meaning fairly quickly.
Method 2: Guide the Dachshund Patiently
Owners must first adjust their own mindset during training. Puppies are like children, and proper guidance can make training much more effective. Take house training as an example. If you come home and see urine or feces in the middle of the living room, it is already too late to drag the dog over and scold it. The dog will not understand why you are angry and will only guess.
Some Dachshunds may think you are simply irritable after work, which can make them afraid to approach you when you come home. Others may think only the middle of the living room is forbidden and decide to choose a more hidden place next time.
In this situation, owners can first observe where the Dachshund most often eliminates, then place pee pads there. When the dog uses the pad, remember to praise it. Once the dog understands that it should eliminate on the pad, move the pad to a fixed location and take the dog there before its usual elimination time. Let it smell the pad. With repeated guidance, the Dachshund will gradually learn to eliminate in the right place.
The same method of guidance can also be used when training a Dachshund not to scratch the sofa, not to jump on people, and not to develop other unwanted behaviors. As long as the guidance is correct, Dachshunds can usually learn the owner's expectations quickly, and relapse becomes much less likely.
Method 3: Use Mild Compulsion When Appropriate
Sometimes patient guidance alone does not make the Dachshund obey immediately. At that point, the owner may need a small amount of firm enforcement. For example, when training a Dachshund not to jump on people, owners often try to lower the dog's front legs repeatedly or step back when the dog is about to jump. But some Dachshunds will continue jumping persistently.
In that case, when the dog jumps on you again, you can push it away directly and tell it in a firm, commanding tone that this behavior is not allowed. If it still continues, the owner may give a light tap on the nose. One important principle is to avoid the pattern of ?hit once, then give a reward,? because that makes enforcement ineffective.
Method 4: Reward With Toys, Treats, and Praise
Training a Dachshund cannot be separated from rewards. Rewards can include toys, treats, and petting. When giving rewards, owners should keep several things in mind. First, rewards should differ according to the difficulty of the exercise. For simple training, praise or petting may be enough. For more difficult tasks, the dog can receive a treat that it does not normally get. Second, rewards should not be given too often. No matter what the reward is, if it is offered constantly every day, the Dachshund will come to view it as ordinary and will be less motivated by it during future training.
1. Training a dog is a two-way process. While your dog is being educated, you are also learning how to help it fit better into human society and live more harmoniously with people.
2. Training means you must spend time with your dog and review learned material every day, ideally at least ten minutes. Both owner and dog will usually find this process enjoyable, which helps strengthen the bond between them.
3. Through training, a dog learns to respect its owner and see the owner as a leader.
4. Training can help dogs overcome common problems, such as becoming overly excited when visitors arrive.
5. Training adds variety to a dog's life and can prevent abnormal behaviors caused by boredom, such as digging or barking excessively.
6. A well-trained dog wins the appreciation of others. If the dogs around you are unruly while your dog obeys commands, you naturally feel proud.
7. A trained dog is also easier to handle during grooming or veterinary treatment and cooperates better with the veterinarian.
8. A well-trained dog behaves appropriately, avoids embarrassing you or disturbing neighbors, and helps you get along better with the people around you.
9. A well-trained dog can even participate in competitions. Even if that was not your original goal, you may gradually become drawn into training more deeply and help your dog qualify for events. The training process is full of fun, and every new goal brings new challenges for both dog and owner.
10. A dog with excellent behavior adds endless joy to your life.