10 Steps To Follow When Disciplining Your Dachshund

Floppy says: Clear lessons and a well-timed reward sound much better than a scolding. My owner will walk through ten humane training steps.

The owner’s explanation

Training a dachshund works best when you teach a specific behavior, reward it promptly, and make unwanted behavior harder to practice. “Discipline” should mean clear, humane teaching, not intimidation. Avoid hitting, shouting, leash corrections, and attempts to establish yourself as an alpha. Use reward-based teaching and practical management instead.

Use these ten steps to turn a vague goal such as “behave better” into a plan your dog can understand.

1. Define the behavior you want

Replace “stop being difficult” with an observable action: settle on a mat during dinner, walk beside you on a loose leash, or go outside to toilet. Work on one manageable skill at a time. This makes it easier to notice and reward progress.

2. Check whether a need or health problem is involved

A dog that needs a bathroom break cannot be trained out of that need. Sudden house soiling, reluctance to move, or new sensitivity to touch may need a veterinary assessment. Do not assume a previously comfortable dog has become stubborn overnight.

3. Set up the environment

Put shoes away, secure trash, and block access to places where trouble repeatedly happens. Use gates or a comfortable dog-safe area when appropriate. Management is not a failure of training; it prevents the dog from rehearsing a behavior while learning an alternative.

4. Choose rewards your dog values

Small pieces of an appropriate treat, a toy, or access to sniffing can all be useful. Keep food rewards within your dog's overall diet. Petting is a reward only if your dog enjoys it in that moment.

5. Mark the right moment

Use a consistent word such as “yes,” followed by the reward, when the desired behavior happens. Timing matters: reward the dog for standing calmly, not several seconds later after jumping up again. Begin in a quiet place where success is easy.

6. Use clear cues

Choose one short cue for each behavior and agree on the wording with everyone in the household. Say it once, then help the dog succeed by making the task easier. Repeating a cue more loudly does not explain what it means.

7. Keep sessions short and achievable

Practice a few successful repetitions, then take a break. End before frustration builds for either of you. Add distractions and distance gradually rather than expecting a new skill learned in the kitchen to work immediately beside a barking dog outside.

8. Teach an alternative instead of only interrupting

For chewing, offer an appropriate toy and prevent access to the item you want protected. For greetings, reward four paws on the floor. For a dog that barks at passersby, block the view when needed and practice moving to a mat away from the window.

Do not use a crate as punishment or withhold a needed bathroom trip because your dog has not cooperated with equipment. Make the setup easier and revisit the training step later.

9. Respond calmly to mistakes

If you find an old accident, clean it without a confrontation and revise the bathroom schedule. If you catch an accident starting, calmly guide your dog to the toilet area if you can do so without startling or hurting them. Reward finishing in the right place.

Avoid grabbing, cornering, or punishing a growling dog. Give space and seek help, because suppressing a warning does not make the situation safe.

10. Review progress and get help when needed

Keep a brief record of what triggers the problem and what helps. Look for small improvements, such as settling faster or responding at a shorter distance. If the plan is not working, change the difficulty rather than escalating punishment.

Example: barking at the window

First, reduce access to the view during busy periods. Next, practice a mat cue away from the window when the room is quiet. Reward going to the mat and relaxing. Only then practice with mild distractions at a distance your dog can handle. If your dog is frightened or cannot disengage, ask a qualified reward-based professional for a tailored plan.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward-based methods. Choose a trainer who can explain their techniques clearly and who does not promise to fix fear or aggression through force. See AVSAB: humane, reward-based dog training.