long haired mini dachshund

Finding what motivates your Dachshund most of all will help with their training.

If your Dachshund appears uninterested in training, it probably doesn’t have anything to do with their intelligence levels.

It’s most likely because they’re not feeling motivated enough to perform a requested behavior, given the rewards on offer.

Unlike some stereotypically more intelligent breeds, Dachshunds won’t always do things just to please you – they’re super stubborn!

Choosing high-value, super motivating rewards, will make your Dachshund much more likely to do what you ask.

If anything, maybe this makes them MORE intelligent? After all, why do something for free when you can get paid for it?!

Character

Dachshunds can learn quickly if properly motivated. Use positive reinforcements such as food rewards or a favorite toy to hold their attention, and keep training sessions short. The Dachshund will quickly become bored if made to repeat the same exercise over and over, so make obedience practice fun and interesting.

Housetraining can sometimes be a problem with this breed. A Dachshund may not see the need for eliminating the outside. Patience and consistency are musts. Crate training helps as well.

Beyond housetraining, crate training is a kind way to ensure that your Dachshund doesn’t get into things he shouldn’t. Like every dog, Dachshunds can be destructive as puppies.

Crate training at a young age will also help your Dachshund accept confinement if he ever needs to be boarded or hospitalized. Never stick your Dachshund in a crate all day long, however.

It’s not a jail, and he shouldn’t spend more than a few hours at a time in it except when he’s sleeping at night. Dachshunds are people dogs, and they aren’t meant to spend their lives locked up in a crate or kennel.

The Dachshund excels as a watchdog, but he can be noisy. Minis, in particular, can be yappy. Keep this in mind if your Dachshund will be living in an apartment or condo community.