A sausage dog! How wonderful. Long bodies, big personalities, and full of mischief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for you, we\u2019re happy you made it to the ultimate guide for how to train your new Dachshund puppy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here at ZigZag, we\u2019d love to see you two grow into a dynamic pair. For the first 8 weeks of your time together, we\u2019ve compiled this handy training guide. As sweet as the beginning can be, there\u2019s no doubt that it can get pretty tricky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But no need to worry. We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just remember that everything will be fine. A bright future with clean carpets and unchewed shoes lies ahead of you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should start training your Dachshund puppy as soon as you get them home. Puppy brains are a lot bigger than we think – they soak up so much good information despite their young age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dachshunds can be a rather independent breed of dog. In fact, we sometimes might feel like we need them more than they need us! Because of this, we\u2019ll need to do LOTS of training and rewarding of good behavior when they\u2019re young so they see us as someone worth working with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It might look like a long list. It\u2019s not really – just the basics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We recommend investing in the following equipment to train your Dachshund puppy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll also need to practice a couple of other things on your behalf such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dachshunds originate from Germany – which you probably knew already. Their name literally translates as \u2018Badger Dog\u2019 and are often called Dackels or Teckels – unlike in the US where they are affectionately known as Weiner Dogs. Or Sausage Dogs in the UK. Also just \u2018Daxie\u2019 or \u2018Doxie\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dachshunds were originally bred for hunting badgers – their short legs keep them close to the ground to track scents and their long sleek bodies allow them to crawl into burrows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll see this in the way their legs are shaped around their rib cage which allows them to dig and kick the dirt out of the way when looking for their prize! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can read more about Dachshund history here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a fair question actually. But there is a logic as to why knowing the context might help you train your Dachshund puppy better:<\/p>\n\n\n\n PRO TIP: <\/strong>Often unfairly called stubborn, their determination is an inherited trait – it was essential when hunting. The best way to deal with it is to find out what your Dachshund puppy\u2019s motivators are so that training can be effective. Training outside will be very distracting for your Dachshund puppy at first because of all the colorful birds and buzz, so make sure they get to practice inside your home first.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n I know, it\u2019s a mouthful, but it\u2019s important to think about! Dachshunds have some classic behaviors associated with the job they were bred to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If we look at the predatory motor pattern of a hound (which is what a Dachshund is) it looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n ORIENT\u2192MARK\u2192CHASE\u2192 GRAB-BITE\u2192 KILL-BITE (and often DISSECT)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, we know it sounds kind of morbid, but all dogs have one! Even the teeniest ones. It\u2019s good for you to know this so you don\u2019t get too surprised at their classic behaviors and desire to hunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some classic behaviors you can expect to see in your Dachshund:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dachshunds often love to dig. They enjoy getting their paws in the mud and scratching the earth away, they\u2019re literally born to do it. By giving them a special place to do so, you can save your flower beds or your sofa cushions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to play:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make the game even more fun: <\/strong>Hide the treats and toys when your Daxie isn\u2019t there and then run over to the digging pit and let them dig them up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Problems you might run into: <\/strong>Your dog might get quite dirty \u2013 but that\u2019s nothing doggy shampoo can\u2019t fix. If you\u2019re worried about the mess or don\u2019t have access to a yard, try our foraging pit or swap out the soil for balls to make a ball pit! Have fun trying to pull your kids from them too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog likes this, you might also like: <\/strong>To take them to a beach! It\u2019s the ultimate digging pit to play this game, really. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can\u2019t build a digging pit outside, you can put your builder pants on and make one indoors. Building a foraging box will take them back to the old days; reminding them of the historical way of eating by foraging for their food, and finding that elusive rabbit or badger. It makes meal times last longer so less chance of bloating, and encourages them to improve their problem solving skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to play:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make the game even more fun: <\/strong>In this case, size matters too. Make the box bigger! And add high value treats; they won\u2019t be able to look away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Problems you might run into: <\/strong>Don\u2019t let your dog eat the packaging, so keep an eye on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you like these breed-specific games for your Dachshund puppy download our app, you\u2019ll find tonnes more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a couple of other things to think about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rewards:<\/strong> Most dogs work perfectly well with food rewards. But you can certainly make training work better when you know what makes your dog tick. Do you need high value treats, or can you get away with something lower? Perhaps your puppy prefers cuddles and kisses? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Asking yourself these questions will help positive reinforcement training work so much better. Almost like a magic spell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hound about town: <\/strong>Having a working hound in your home means you\u2019ll want to do more work on them staying calm and focussed on you when you\u2019re out and about around wildlife. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why not give them an appropriate outlet for all of that hunting through games? <\/p>\n\n\n\n We have a huge list here<\/a> that your Dachshund will enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Socialization<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n All puppies have a socialization window. This is the period where they\u2019re the most eager to learn about the world and make connections with it – which in turn effects how they view things… often for the rest of their lives!<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also the time you\u2019ll find easiest to train them – they haven\u2019t learned bad habits just yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are easy ways to socialize your Dachshund puppy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Zigzag, we\u2019re of the opinion that the benefits of early socialization outweigh the risks of disease when exposing unvaccinated puppies to the outdoors. We\u2019re not alone in this though, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior<\/a> agrees!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grooming: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dachshunds have three different coat types. All three shed though!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dachshunds all love a pamper, so you\u2019ll want to get them used to being brushed and bathed as puppies so they\u2019re well prepared for when that dreaded day comes and they roll in something unmentionable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just to make sure we\u2019re on the same page, you were looking for the ultimate guide on training a Dachshund puppy, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Good, then you won\u2019t be surprised by the long list of topics we\u2019ll be touching on: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Yep, you\u2019ll most likely be using it all. But nothing to worry about – we\u2019ve made it nice and simple to follow!<\/p>\n\n\n Here\u2019s a good resource for you to have – the Push Drop Stick game. I like to use this game to see whether puppies are ready to move on in their training, or if they need to spend more practice runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just a kind reminder of how intelligent Dachshunds are. Make sure to keep them stimulated by progressively making their exercises more challenging!<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is Push, Drop, Stick?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Push, Drop, Stick, is a way of systematically raising the difficulty of an exercise or behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If exercises are always kept too easy, then dogs will keep doing them correctly because they are being rewarded (cheeky). However, progress will be slower as they\u2019ll get \u2018stuck\u2019 at this level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If lessons are too hard, then it\u2019s likely that they\u2019ll give up since treats won\u2019t be coming as easy. Looks like they\u2019d be quite good businessmen as humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Push Drop Stick\u2019 can help avoid both scenarios by maintaining enough momentum: It will keep your puppy winning enough times to keep them interested and not quit, but not so much that they aren\u2019t thinking about how to be rewarded by trying harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How does it work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By doing 5 repetitions of an exercise, we are going to keep track of how many the dog gets right. Based on how they perform, we\u2019re going to choose whether to do which of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Push<\/strong> \u2013 Go to the next level of difficulty (raise criteria)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drop<\/strong> \u2013 Back to the previous level of difficulty (drop criteria)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stick <\/strong>\u2013 Stay at the current level of difficulty (stay with current criteria)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why should I train like this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n By training in repetitions of 5, we are less likely to get stuck at a certain point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also means that we\u2019ll be able to keep track of where we\u2019re at so that we can build stronger and stronger behaviors. Off to better things!<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is difficulty or criteria?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Difficulty or Criteria relates to the \u2018three D\u2019s\u2019 Duration, Distraction and Distance. These refer to how long can the dog perform the behavior for, what is the distraction like, and how far from us can they perform the behavior.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n Cheeky, wanting to know the end before you even start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, if you\u2019re really eager to know, this program will help you in your first steps to having a brilliant dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the first week, we\u2019ll dive straight into socialization exercises<\/strong>, training and husbandry tasks. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Congratulations! It\u2019s your first week of training your new Dachshund puppy. How does it feel to be a new puppy parent? You must be chuffed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a look at these first few articles. These will be key for establishing a solid, comfortable base; they\u2019re all about toilet training<\/a>, crate training<\/a> and alone time training. All the ingredients you need for a happy home. <\/p>\n\n\nWhat does this have to do with how I train my Dachshund?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Dachshund Breed Specific Behaviors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
How to give Dachshunds an appropriate outlet for digging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Build a digging pit<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
Indoor digging pit and foraging box<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
Overview of the training program and topics we\u2019ll cover<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How we built this program – Push Drop Stick<\/h3><\/summary>
<\/td> How many out of 5 did the dog get right?<\/td> What should I do?<\/td> Why?<\/td><\/tr> Push<\/td> 5 out of 5<\/td> Increase the difficulty<\/td> Well done! They\u2019re proficient at the current level, and can move on to harder things.<\/td><\/tr> Drop<\/td> 0, 1, or 2 out of 5<\/td> Make it easier<\/td> He might be close to quitting \u2013 this level is too hard for him right now. <\/td><\/tr> Stick<\/td> 3 or 4 out of 5<\/td> Do another set of 5 at this difficulty<\/td> He doesn\u2019t need you to drop, but he isn\u2019t quite ready to be pushed yet.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n What will be the end result once I\u2019ve trained my puppy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Week 1 – Training your Dachshund puppy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Socialization exercises<\/td> Training Tasks<\/td> Husbandry Tasks <\/td> <\/td><\/tr> -Let your puppy explore the yard
– Teach your puppy about surfaces
<\/td>– Name
– Sit
– Recall
– Retrieve
– Crate Training
– Toilet Training
– Alone Training
– Quiet Training<\/td>– Brushing
– Hand Touch<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n