How to Train Your Dachshund?

Richard Thomas
Over 15 years handling, testing, and restoring pocket, fixed-blade, and Damascus steel knives across hunting and everyday-carry disciplines.

How to Train Your Dachshund?

Are you wondering how to train your adorable dachshund, the famous terrier dog with the powerful bark?

With this companion (and hunting) dog, it requires patience and firmness 😜 as this little dog is more stubborn than other canine breeds.

Affectionate dachshunds were bred for their great independence and ability to make decisions for themselves.

These character traits (regardless of coat type) are still present today and, while admirable, make them an intelligent but challenging breed to train.

When you begin your training, keep in mind that sessions should be very short, no more than 5 minutes at a time.

Repeat the sessions 2 to 3 times a day.

For dogs, small pieces of food or treats are a great way to keep their interest.

Dachshund training can also be accomplished with an adult dog, but it will be a bit more difficult, though not impossible. So, if you are planning to expand your family soon with a miniature, kaninchen, or standard dachshund, start their training while they are still a puppy by following a program with an expert behaviorist. 🐶

Dachshund Training: The Basics

😊 Read our article: 19 reasons (not) to adopt a dachshund.

Training your dachshund requires a good dose of patience, firmness, and consistency. You know well that this breed is a bit stubborn. Your breeder or animal shelter must have warned you… 😉

Here are some canine exercises that will show you how to teach your furry friend what they need to know to share your house or apartment.

How often?

Try to limit training to about 5 minutes per session.

Ideally, you should have 2 training sessions per day. Three sessions would be even better.

In each session, work on a different area.

Basic canine obedience commands:

Basic obedience training for all dog breeds starts with learning the leash and walking at heel.

Walking at heel is when your doxie can walk on your left or right without running ahead. Once these basic commands are learned, you can move on to the following points:

– Walking on a leash
– Sit and stay
– Down and stay
– Wait
– Come (recall)

Receive the guide

Using the leash:

The first step of their training is to teach your dachshund the right way to walk on a leash 😇

If you have a young dachshund, they will be reluctant to have their freedom of movement limited by a leash.

Instead of associating the leash with this restriction, teach your dog that the leash is a way to be with you and go to new places together.

Over time, the leash will become a direct bond with the owner, a pleasant event that will excite your pup as soon as they hear the familiar jingle of their walking accessory!

During the first leash training sessions, always do them in familiar places and in a playful way.

👉 Remember that these first sessions must be very brief.

The following assumes you have already familiarized your dog with a fitted collar (you should be able to easily fit one or two finger widths between the collar and their neck so your dog is comfortable).

After attaching the leash to the collar, let your dog guide you and do not pull on the leash. If the leash goes taut and your dog starts to resist, release the pressure and speak in a soothing tone. Always remain calm, positive, BUT firm while trying to control your emotions (your best friend feels all your emotions).

Start moving forward, encouraging your dog to follow you at your leg level. When they do, praise them and give them a little pat on the side. Avoid patting them on the head.

If your dog resists despite all your coaxing, you will need to gently pull them toward you while saying “good dog.” Don’t hesitate to calm them down and have them sit. Reward them with a small treat to positively associate the exercise.

Once your dog feels comfortable on the leash, you can move on to other basic educational activities.

Leash walking:

The correct position for leash walking is to have the dog walk on your left or right, close to your leg (choose and always keep the same side). The dog should not be allowed to run ahead, stay behind, or wander off, regardless of distractions.

Hold the leash in the hand opposite to where your dog is located. Stand next to your dog so that you are both facing forward.

Example: if your dog is on your left. Start walking slowly in a straight line, leading with your left leg.

Always start walking with your left leg, as this will become a visual signal for your dog to move forward.

As soon as your dog starts pulling on the leash, stop and bring the leash toward you. Do not pull the dog toward you. Just stop.

Wait for the dog to stop, praise them (with 1 or 2 kibbles), and continue walking.

No command is necessary for now; you are just teaching basic good manners 😊

Every time you start again, always lead with the left leg and tap your left thigh. As this exercise is mastered, add the verbal command “heel.”

Training Your Dog is an Absolute Necessity

Having a well-trained dog is a real pleasure 💚 for both short walks and long strolls.

An untrained dog can become a real nightmare (and sometimes aggressive)… If you are in this situation, there is still hope, regardless of your companion’s age 😊

Without training, you are actually putting your dog in danger, especially if there are hazardous areas in or around your home, and your vet would agree.

Who doesn’t live near a street with traffic?

Our little four-legged dachshund friends have a very strong will, more than most other dogs. That is why training is an absolute necessity.

Dachshund collars >

Basic rules:

Start today if you haven’t already. Canine training should begin from the very first day the dog arrives in your home, regardless of your age or the dog’s age.
Potty training is the first thing to learn. Whether your dog is a puppy or an older dog, potty training must be introduced and practiced until it is mastered. Puppies can wait until they reach their third month to receive additional training.
Training is based on the alpha leader principle. That is, there is only one authority in the house: you! Your dachshund must understand that you are the authority figure. You must set clear boundaries for the dog and you MUST insist that the dog recognizes you as the alpha leader. If you fail to establish this relationship, your dog will simply refuse to obey.
Be consistent. Always use the same words in your training. This is the only way for your dog to start understanding the meaning of your sounds. For example: Come, sit, stay, no! Do not say “Come here” once and whistle the next time, then “Come.”
Reward and punishment. Always follow commands with one or the other. Punishment can take the form of withholding a reward or treat, or a verbal punishment – usually in the form of a sharp “no.”

Do not use the dog’s name when punishing them. Always use the dog’s name with a reward. This system of reward and punishment establishes a link in the dog’s mind with the events immediately preceding the punishment.

Use a gentle voice for praise, a stern voice for scolding.

The dog must learn that a short, stern “no” means something and requires an immediate change in action. Punishments must not include yelling and must never involve hitting. Punish a dog by taking them by the scruff of the neck and shaking them briefly. This DOES NOT mean lifting the dog off the ground, shaking them violently, or raising your hand against them.

6. Provide your dog with plenty of activities and exercise. They will enjoy the challenges associated with training if they also have plenty of time to play with you.

In other words, do not make all your interactions with the dog just training. There is a time for training and a time for play, and obviously for rest by offering them a deer antler to chew on. 😊

Conclusion

All breeds are different, but training will almost always remain the same for all dogs. Training your adorable dachshund dog requires patience and firmness to be effective.

It also requires consistency, and this is especially true if you have multiple family members (and other pets, dogs, and cats).

It is just as important to train all family members on how to care for your dachshund so that everyone is on the same page, especially your pet 🐶

Finally, we recommend seeking advice from a dog trainer near you and/or following a program offered by qualified professionals for puppies or adult dogs!

The DoxieLife team
– 💚 Last modified on 01/10/26

-> Check out our article: electric dog collar, is it useful?