Is training a dachshund more difficult than other dogs?

If you’ve ever had a dog that was difficult to train, you may have thought it was because he or she was a certain breed. But is that true?

It’s not just dachshunds who can be harder to train than others. For example, border collies, Labradors and golden retrievers are known as some of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world. They’re also among the breeds of dogs most commonly used in search and rescue missions—and if they can be taught how to find people lost in the forest, surely they can learn how to walk on a lead or come when called.

Opinions vary on this but generally speaking, Dachshunds are unique dogs that can sometimes be harder to train than other breeds. Though they are intelligent, they will often make decisions based on their stubborn personalities rather than logic.

Training a dachshund may or may not take more time and patience than training another breed of dog. However the good news is that of course, it is possible to train a dachshund to obey commands.

The key to training a dachshund, or probably any dog, is consistency.

As with all dogs, you should always use the same tone, volume and manner when giving the command. A dachshund’s attention span is short, so give him one command at a time. He needs to know that you mean business when you tell him to do something. Be prepared for him not to obey right away; he might need some time to think about it, a bit like humans eh? 🙂

When your dachshund obeys a command like “sit,” reward him with praise and plenty of belly rubs or treats. This will encourage him to obey again in the future. Showing him affection is a great way to encourage his good behaviour. It’s generally thought that dachshunds respond best to this reward-based training than other methods.

As long as you’re consistent, your dachshund will soon learn how to obey commands.

Do dogs need to go to training school?

If you’re training a dachshund, should you consider using a local training school?

Before we get into this topic, it needs to be said that if you have a dog that’s unreasonably aggressive toward other animals or people, or if you have a dog that has severe separation anxiety, you should seek out the help of a professional. But if your dog is just acting like a normal frisky puppy and learning how to behave well in different situations, then taking on obedience classes could be good for both you and your dog.

In the world of dog training, there are two main types: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement methods use rewards and praise to encourage desired behaviours.
Negative reinforcement uses punishments like scolding and the removal of rewards to discourage undesired behaviours.

Positive reinforcement is widely considered the more humane method because it doesn’t punish bad behaviour or encourage bad habits—it only rewards good behaviour. This is also why many trainers prefer the positive reinforcement method, as negative reinforcement makes the dog associate pain and stress with certain behaviours.

While some might say that you can’t effectively teach a dog anything without using punishment at least occasionally, there are plenty of trainers who can shape their dogs’ behaviour without resorting to punishment. Using your voice effectively is a good example of this.

There’s a lot to consider when deciding whether or not to send your dog to training school.

First, you have to figure out if you and your family have the time and energy to invest in your dog, remember, you have to go too.
Training schools are very time-consuming, especially at first, and it can be expensive. If you’re not willing to or don’t have the time to put in the effort, it’s best for you to consider getting a dog that already knows all of the basics, such as walking nicely on a leash etc.