5 Negative Dachshund Stereotypes Busted

Dachshunds have a reputation for being aggressive, stubborn, difficult to potty train, and lap dogs.

However, these are just stereotypes and generalizations that do not apply most Dachshunds.

In this blog post, I’ll be busting these five common misconceptions and showcasing the true nature of the breed

1) They’re Aggressive

A common stereotype is that Dachshunds are aggressive.

However, the perception of aggression is almost always due to behavior that is a result of improper training, socialization, or genetics.

A well-trained and socialized Dachshund can be just as friendly and non-aggressive as a larger dog.

2) They Can’t Be Trained

Time and time, in response to something said about training a Dachshund, I hear “Yeah, right!”

People are under the impression that Dachshunds can’t be trained so they either don’t try or give up after trying only once or twice.

But Dachshunds are very smart, and most are very food motivated and will do anything for it, so Dachshunds really aren’t that hard to train.

3)They’re Stubborn

Dachshunds are often thought of as stubborn and defiant, but this is not the case.

Because they are independent thinkers, and highly intelligent, it is true that they have a tendency to do what they want without proper structure, boundary setting, and training.

Dachshund that are taught what behavior is acceptable, and what you want them to do instead of the undesired behavior, will be a relative breeze to live with.

Dachshunds may also be perceived as stubborn when they suddenly stop on a walk and refuse to budge.

But, instead of stubbornness, the cause is almost always making a puppy walk too much, an uncomfortable harness or jacket, or fear.

4) They Can Never Be 100% Potty Trained

Potty training can be a challenge for any breed, not just Dachshunds.

While it can take more dedication and consistency with Dachshunds, it is possible to achieve 100% reliability in regard to potty training.

Believe it or not, it’s even possible to get a Dachshund to potty outside in the rain or cold consistently.

5) They Don’t Make Good Adventure Buddies

Just because Dachshunds are small, and they have a propensity for back problems, doesn’t mean they can’t handle outdoor activities.

In fact, Dachshunds can handle a lot of exercise, and moderate to high exercise has shown to potentially protect the back.

As long as they’re in good physical condition, and the hike is appropriate for their abilities, Dachshunds can make great hiking companions.

There are also many benefits to traveling with a small dog and Dachshunds love to go with their people.

Final Thoughts

The stereotypes surrounding Dachshunds are generally not accurate and do not apply to all Doxies

Each Dachshund has their own unique personality and behavior.

It’s important to consider each Dachshund as an individual and not judge them based on generalizations and stereotypes.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Jessica. I’m a Dachshund sitter, President of the largest social Dachshund club in Washington State, a dog trainer in training, and I’ve been a Dachshund owner for 20 years. I have over 150,000 hours of experience with the breed. When I’m not working, you can find me hiking, camping, and traveling with my adventurous wiener dogs.

13 Comments

  1. I am with you on that!

    I go practically everywhere (except downhill skiing – still think I could do that one!) they go! I hike, fish, camp…many people are surprised. Mom says little dogs can do anything. I go where my people go. i love ’em that much.

    1. We believe little dogs can do anything too 🙂 Unfortunately, Chester and Gretel don’t GET to do everything because they can’t be off leash. They won’t come back. Ha, ha. So, unfortunately, I think snowboarding with us would be out of the question.

  2. You must have felt the Following Atticus/pet travel book club vibe since we didn’t coordinate! How funny that you ran this review on the same day it was being reviewed on Will My Dog Hate Me — and a chance to win a signed copy was being offered. You can also start at A Traveler’s Library, where there is another review of the book and another chance to win: http://atravelerslibrary.com/2011/12/08/hiking-with-atticus/

  3. You guys are great adventurers – I can’t imagine anything getting in your way!! It’s true – great things can come in small packages and you guys prove this – enjoy your adventures buddies!!

    Your pal Snoopy 🙂

  4. Love love love this! As you know, we hike all over the place with our 6.5 lb chihuahua. People range from thinking she’s the most awesome, cutest dog ever, to the same disbelieving comments you get, to even implying that we are practically abusing our dog (meanwhile she’s running around, tail wagging like mad, while we have to take a break)! This stereotype must be broken! We’ve only seen one other very large chi hiking and one full-size dachshund – never anyone as small as C, G, or Leeloo. Go little trail dogs, GO!!! 🙂

    1. Couldn’t have said it better myself! We love having a partner in crime half-way across the country 🙂 Go little Leeloo, Go!

    1. That’s awesome we were on the same page with that. I will share your post when I get back to my real computer tonight.

  5. How cool that you won the book from Life With Dogs. It must have been like the book was written for you guys! We’ll be looking forward to photos from Mount Baker!

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