How to Discipline Your Dachshund
Ich bin mein Dackel. This means, “I am my Dachshund,” in German. If you love a Dachshund, you know what it means to be loved unconditionally. Dachshunds are super tough on the outside and as mushy as… mush on the inside. They will defend you like a giant German Shepherd and cuddle with you like a new born baby. Those short little legs run as fast as they can to get to the door and give you the greeting once thought to be for royals only!
What can you do to make your Dachshund’s life a little easier, you may ask? Grooming, proper diet, and gentle discipline are good ways to start. This breed is close to the ground, so being sure they are an appropriate weight is critical. If they become overweight, they can damage their undercarriage and do irreversible damage to their spines. Consult your veterinarian for food suggestions. Take table food off the treat table! No human food, please. Brushing keeps the coat shiny and their skin healthy. Dachshunds can have skin problems, so using dog shampoo is important. A good pet shop will know exactly what will work best for your dog.
Discipline: We can never stress enough – you must NEVER hit your dog. Hitting a dog does NOT correct behavior NOR does it encourage trust. Hitting dogs make them aggressive, fearful, and depressed. IT DOES NOT change the behavior. Consistency, training, and rewards work. If you treat your dog like a human, your dog will act like a human. He or she will get up on your furniture, interrupt you to get picked up when you are talking, and follow around the person with the cookie, (be honest, we’ve all done it…..) These are not good behaviors to instill in your dog and one day you will have to pay the piper.
Set limits. Do not let your Dachshund up on the furniture without invitation. Do not let him or her distract you from a human task or interaction. Do not laugh or show affection when the dog does something he or she not supposed to do. You will be tempted to find everything they do to be absolutely adorable, but be strong. When they do the right behaviors, always, always reward your dog. Treats and praise are wonderful ways to reinforce great behavior. The good news is, Dachshunds are very smart. They learn quickly, are superbly easy to potty train, and have extraordinary ability to remember, (by dog standards). If you are lucky enough to have a Dachshund, or Dackel in their native tongue, then you know true love in a small package.
