The Loveable Dachshund
Stubborn. Bossy. Feisty. Brave. Weird. These are just some of the words used to describe the insanely loveable Dachshund. There are many more words that apply and if you have one, you have probably use some of those words. You may have on occasion mixed them with some four-letter words! The Dachshund is sweet, and smart, and as loyal as they come, but not the breed for everyone. Dachshunds need a lot of work. They need to be trained from the moment they come home with you and it needs to remain consistent for the rest of time. One of the most important aspects of owning this breed of dog is to make sure your children hold a position of dominance over the dog.
The fact is, there are some dogs that recognize inherently that all the people hold the highest spot in the food-chain. They just tow the party-line and seem happy to just share the same air. A Dachshund is definitely not one of those breeds. When they cross the threshold of your home, the crown goes on and his or her majesty assumes power. Now, that’s not to convey that they won’t be thrilled to see you, want to be with you every second, and see the moon in your eyes if you allow them to sleep with you. The problem is when given an inch, they will take ten miles…..And then run with those ten miles and take ten more. This may fly with you because they are so cute, and you are so much bigger, but children are small and don’t have the capacity to understand the emotional subtleties of dogs, let alone the Dachshund.
Most importantly, NEVER, under any circumstances, leave your child alone with a Dachshund puppy. When they are little, these puppies can fit in your adult hand. They are extremely delicate. A small one can be badly injured or perhaps even fatally injured. It’s for the safety of the dog and the child. It should remain an on-going policy to NEVER leave a Dachshund, or any dog for that matter, unattended with your child. Dachshunds have a personality trait which makes them feel superior to, well, everyone and everything! This includes the children they love. Making sure there is a hierarchy with the dog at the bottom is best accomplished with a professional trainer and one with experience in this breed. If you can’t afford a trainer, consult your vet for some tips and read all the, (legitimate,) material you can find about Dachshunds and dog training. And NEVER hit your puppy nor your full-grown dog. It’s an inappropriate method and can make a dog aggressive.
Some basic tips to get you started are as follows: Do not let your puppy or dog eat along side you and your family. Do not feed a Dachshund from the table. Do not allow your dog to jump on the furniture uninvited (nor without assistance.) Do not give your dog love and affection after a bad behavior. Do not let this hunting breed off his or her leash outside. Do not
change the words you use for commands and praise. Do not forget to praise your dog when he or she has followed your commands or had good behavior. Do not leave your small breed puppy or dog outside at night; they will challenge any animal and this could end in an attack by a higher predator.
Best and most fun of all, DO cuddle and carry your new Dachshund puppy. Do touch their ears and nails, and with lots of praise, so they are comfortable when getting their ears and nails clipped and see at as a positive experience. Do brush their teeth and then use treats as a reward so they see it a fun activity. Do *potty train* your dog early and with tons of praise. Do socialize your Dachshund at the earliest age possible, (after shots and their size doesn’t put them at risk.) Do all of these DO and DON’T activities with your children. This teaches the child how to be a responsible dog owner and teaches the dog that the child holds a position of power.
*A potty training method which was recommended to the blog writer by a Dachshund expert worked so perfectly, it was almost unbelievable. Use a potty pad in your home within ten feet of the dog’s main access door to the outside. Put the puppy on the pad often so he or she can make attempts at doing some business. When they finally succeed, use high praise and tons of affection. Each time they use the pad successfully, move the next one a few inches closer to the door to the outside. Eventually, you reach the door. The dog in question would sooner explode than pee or poop in the house!*
