"Dog training doesn't have to look like obedience". This was the response of a dog trainer friend when I commented on her Instagram Reel the other day. Her Reel was about the importance of training small dogs and I commented, "I admit I never trained my first Dachshund, but he was also a pretty chill guy so there wasn't an urgent need. I've worked to train my younger Dachshund and am … [Read more...]
Pupford: Making Dog Training Easy and Guilt Free
When I brought puppy Summit home, I was committed to training her. I wanted to have the best behaved Dachshund around. But I quickly became overwhelmed. Our lifestyle, and my interest, didn't allow for an hour of training a day. A lot of online dog training videos made it seem complicated. Add to that, I felt guilty and uncomfortable having to give Summit so many dog treats, … [Read more...]
9 Reasons Your Dachshund is Peeing in the House
There are several reasons why your Dachshund may be peeing in the house. Some are under their control and some aren't. Some are under your control and some aren't. Possible Reasons Your Dachshund is Peeing in the House These are the most common reasons why a Dachshund pees in the house. Based on my 15 years of listening to, and learning from, literally thousands of Dachshund owners … [Read more...]
How to Train Your Small Dog to Hike Off-Leash
Off-leash dogs are a controversial topic. Some pet owners despise the idea of dogs running around off-leash, while others prefer the freedom that being off-leash provides their dog. I see more big dogs hiking off leash but it can be done with small dogs too as long as you train them and take precautions. In this article I’ve compiled helpful information on how to train your … [Read more...]
Help! My Dachshund Won’t Come When Called!
Dachshunds are natural-born hunters. They are more inclined to chase something they believe to be prey rather than listen when you attempt to call them back. It is possible to improve a Dachshund’s reliability with recall. Teaching them to come when called will help ensure safety, and allow you to walk with them off-leash in certain situations. A Dachshund’s hunting instincts are … [Read more...]
How to Get Your Dachshund to Walk in a Harness or Jacket
There are many reasons a Dachshund may refuse to go for a walk. Two of the most common scenarios I see are related to a harness or dog jacket. If your Dachshund is used to walking on a collar, and you are trying to switch to a harness because you learned it’s safer your dog may not like the feeling of restriction or may feel weird walking because the harness touches their body in a … [Read more...]
12 Reasons Your Dachshund May Refuse to Walk on a Leash
I hear it all the time: “What do I do when my Dachshund refuses to walk?” It’s not uncommon for me to hear stories of people who tried to take their Dachshund out for a stroll and their dog dug in - pulling in the opposite direction on the leash - refusing to take even that first step. I also hear a lot of stories from people who were happily walking along with their Dachshund and their dog … [Read more...]
The Best Dog Training Treats for Dachshunds
I recently got a Dachshund puppy and found I needed a lot of really good training treats for her. Since I had the chance to start “fresh” with her, I signed her up for puppy classes and want to train her to follow obedience commands and to be a well mannered dog (yes, it is possible to train a Dachshund). UPDATED: February 18, 2022. I learned in class that what matters most to a dog … [Read more...]
How to Start Hiking with Your Dachshund
How do you start hiking with your Dachshund? To quote Nike, "Just Do It!" Well, not so fast. It is recommended that you get your Dachshund cleared for exercise first by your vet to make sure they are healthy enough. But after that, yes, just do it. I've rarely met a Dachshund that didn't decide they like to hike. Is it Safe for a Dachshund to Hike? The short answer is yes. The little bit … [Read more...]
5 Things You Should Start Teaching Your Dachshund Puppy The Day They Come Home
Bringing a new puppy home is exciting. It’s also kind of like bringing home a wild animal. A puppy is still learning about the world around them and how to interact with humans and other animals. They are literally born having no clue. It’s your job to teach them manners and the appropriate way to interact with people, other dogs, different sights and sounds, and all of the other general … [Read more...]
How to Crate Train an Adult Dachshund or New Puppy
When I adopted Gretel, she was almost 1 years old and the rescue told me that she was crate trained. After bringing her home we realized she was most definitely not! She threw an anxious fit when I shut her in a crate. One time, she broke a nail scratching the sides and bled all over. Another time, she actually busted the plastic crate in half. I had to, basically, start … [Read more...]
How to Stop Your Dachshund From Barking, Scratching and Peeing When You Leave the House
It's difficult dealing with a Dachshund who has separation anxiety. Unfortunately, many people experience their Dachshund acting out when they leave the house but don't know it's anxiety that's causing their dog to "be bad". If your Dachshund is doing these things when you leave the house, they might have separation anxiety: Excessively barking or howling Destroying furniture by … [Read more...]
Training Your Dog to Hike: Start Small Then Go Big
You have heard us go on and on about how ingrained the stereotype of small dogs is – of how they are often underestimated and are capable of so much more. We even wrote a guest post about it over at Will My Dog Hate Me? and I compiled a list of the 10 most common comments we hear on the trail (implying they very surprised to see small dogs out hiking). UPDATED: January 20, 2017 On our blog, we … [Read more...]
Crate Training Your Dog is a Must-do #CrateHappyPets
When Gretel came to live with us she was already crate trained...or so we were told. I still had a plastic crate from when I owned a cat that was just "her size". A crate is considered to be the right size when it's just big enough for your dog to stand up in it and turn around. Check out this article if you want to know more about how to select the correct crate size for your dog. I put … [Read more...]
THE Most Useful Thing I Learned in our Scary Dog Monster Class
Since recognizing that Gretel needed more help building confidence, being less fearful and not barking or growling on the leash I have been searching the internet for suggestions. I found a lot of stuff but much of it seemed contradictory (even within a specific training modality such as positive reinforcement) and confusing. It all made a little bit of sense though so I resorted to trying a … [Read more...]
