Is It Hard To Train a Dachshund?
We consider ourselves the rulers of the world, and you need to make it clear that you are the leader that we need to follow. How you train us makes a big impact on how disciplined we will be. We’re not necessarily unruly and aggressive; we just tend to take our time before we learn how to follow commands.
Smacking us or yelling at us is not going to give you quicker results.
Remember training time can be a fun process for both of us if you implement innovative ways to achieve desirable results.
Disciplining a Dachshund
Start Training When They Are Young
Clearly, no dog is born trained, but we Dachshunds can sometimes be a handful. We are an independent and willful breed of dog. Start our training early, when we are young and impressionable.
When we are young and bite humans playfully, it does not hurt them. However, unless we are discouraged from doing this at a young age, we do not realize that biting can be harmful and can hurt people.
Patience Should Replace Frustration
While it is natural to get frustrated when you have to clean our pee and poop a few times every day or listen to us incessantly barking at passing vehicles, you must show us patience during our training. If you get frustrated and yell at us, we are likely to respond aggressively or become afraid of you.
Once we learn, we try our best to be obedient and smart.
Use Simple Commands
We are smart dogs, but we have a short attention span. If you want us to learn to respond to a command, make it small and straightforward. When you want us to fetch something, say ‘fetch’. Commands like sit, come, no, eat, stop, etc. are easy for us to understand and follow.
Additionally, your voice should be loud and firm when you’re giving us a command. It helps us determine that we are being asked to do something. We are fast learners, as you will soon realize, and we will soon start listening to your commands.
Calling out to us before giving a command is also an excellent way to get our attention.
Treats And Rewards
The quickest way to our heads is through our stomach. Rewarding us for being a good and obedient doggy is an easy way to help us differentiate between acceptable and destructive behavior. It is also an excellent way of letting us know that we did something right. To please you and earn rewards, we will repeat the same act over and over. Once we understand that the following command makes you happy, we will oblige to be loved and petted.
Consistency
Some guidelines to keep in mind with us:
– Do not take us out unless we agree to be leashed.
– Housebreaking is another training that requires persistence.
– If we know that puppy eyes and incessant barking can stop you from putting us in a crate, then we will be unruly.
– If we behave stubbornly, you need to counter our stubbornness.
Create Distractions
Giving me chew toys that contain treats can help keep me away from things that I shouldn’t be nibbling on. Likewise, distracting me when I try to bite can be a steadfast way to avoid this bad habit.
Taking me on a walk when I’m barking too much or playing with me before asking me to go in my crate are also good ways to help me learn.
Make It A Habit Or Routine
We are creatures of habit. Establishing a routine for us is the best thing that you can do for your peace of mind and to keep us happy and healthy.
If you take us on a walk for a few hours every day after our meal or in the morning during our potty time, we will get used to going potty outside.
Find The Cause Behind An Undesirable Behavior
It is essential to understand the cause of a particular behavior before you try to train us to learn otherwise. For example, many dog owners get easily fed up with our incessant barking. We are quite lovable, but the barking can eventually get on your nerves.
Bred as hunting dogs, a booming bark is part of our nature. We bark to let our owners know our location when hunting prey. However, it is possible to discipline us and get the barking under control.
We often bark when we are scared or anxious. Comforting us can help reduce instances of barking. If we’re barking at every vehicle that passes by and other daily stimuli, then a firm ‘no’ whenever we start to bark can make us stop.
Catch Us During The Act And Not Later
Scolding and hitting us or trying to discipline us for a mistake we made when you were sleeping will not teach us anything. The way we see it, you are angry and taking it out on us for no reason.
If you catch us in the middle of the act and firmly tell us not to do it, then we will learn that the behavior is not acceptable.
For example, waking up in the morning to a wet and dirty carpet can be annoying. But when it comes to housetraining, we don’t know any better than to pee wherever we wish to until we are trained better.
Telling us ‘no’, opening the back door, and motioning for us to go out, or even carrying us out when we were just about to pee on the carpet, can teach us where you want us to go pee.
Do Not Punish Your Dog
Our biting, barking and peeing in the house are often associated with anxiety. Anxiety can make us restless. Being yelled at when we’re already under stress is not an excellent way to train us. You shouldn’t be harsh when correcting us.
Yelling at us could make us more anxious when we need comfort, and it could negatively affect our trust in you. Moreover, being punished harshly and often could trigger our aggression. We will retaliate if we get frustrated and feel that we are being mistreated.
Conclusion
If you try all of these methods, but still find it hard to train us, then you could seek out external help. Hiring a trainer can show you how to train us and teach us habits that you then reinstate at home. A training session could be a fun learning experience where we interact with other dogs and other humans and where learn new things together!
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