Training is an essential part of being a dachshund parent. Many dachshund parents find it difficult to train their fur kids, but we are here to tell you it is possible!

It is important to research and determine what approach is best for both you and your doxie; there is no single “right” way to dachshund training but there are some basic approaches that seem to work well. Training can be broken down two spheres: classical conditioning and operant conditioning. We will focus on the four elements of operant conditioning, broken down into the following: 1. Positive reinforcement, 2. Negative reinforcement, 3. Negative punishment, and 4. Positive punishment. The most popular method is by combining elements of positive reinforcement and negative punishment to reward and punish wanted and unwanted behaviors. We’ll talk more about that in a bit.

Key elements of dog training to know:

Positive: something is added to the dog’s environment

Negative: something is taken away from the dog’s environment

Reinforcement: a recurring consequence for a behavior.

Punishment: a disliked consequence of the behavior. (Note: does not have to be physical).

Voice: Used while reinforcing or punishing for a behavior. A high-pitched voice signifies pleasure and a low-pitched voice signifies displeasure, a command, or a reprimand.

Rewards: treats, food, or toys are recommended rewards for positive behaviors.

Clicker: a popular method to dog training, used with positive reinforcement.

The following is a breakdown and of the four methods of conditioning with examples:

1. Positive reinforcement. The dog gets rewarded for performing a wanted behavior. Ex. Roxy’s owner, John, tells Roxy to “sit”. Roxy sits and receives a treat as a reward for her behavior.
2. Negative reinforcement. The dog ends a disliked event by performing a behavior. Ex. Roxy is barking. John tells Roxy “no barking” and pinches her ear. When Roxy stops barking, the pinching stops. Roxy is more likely to not bark when told “no barking” in fear of getting her ear pinched. We do not recommend using this technique.
3. Negative punishment. A behavior causes the dog to lose something he was enjoying or would want. Ex. John and Roxy are playing fetch with a ball. When John throws the ball, Roxy fails to bring it back. John ends the game, turning his back toward Roxy and ceases interaction. Next time, if Roxy wants to continue playing fetch, she will bring the ball back to John.
4. Positive punishment. A behavior causes the dog to have a disliked event occur. Ex. John finds Roxy going through the trash. John bops Roxy on the nose, causing discomfort for her. Roxy is now less likely to go through the trash in hopes of avoiding getting hit on the nose. This training method is not recommended.

Dachshunds in particular do well with a mixed methodology of positive reinforcement and negative punishment. As doxies can sometimes be stubborn, it is imperative that owners assert their leadership and dominance in early stages of puppyhood or else they can be difficult to train and follow commands. A fast and effective tool used in positive reinforcement training is a clicker. A click paired with a positive, high-pitched verbal cue, then followed by a treat, alerts the dachshund that they performed the action correctly and encourages them to do it again. This technique can be used to teach a dachshund to come when called, sit, or do just about anything else! They quickly learn that if they perform the action, they will receive the treat. This method is commonly known as the click/treat method.

Not recommended:

Any choke, pinch, or shock collars are not recommended for any dog training, but especially dachshund training. Doxies are prone to spinal injuries, and the jerk of a choke or shock collar can put them at risk of injury. In some countries these types of collars are even banned so for your dachshund’s health, we recommend using a harness to walk them – and even if they wear a regular collar, it’s important to not pull on it since tension or jerking on any type of collar can injure their spine.

Starting earlier in life is very helpful with training a dachshund, but even if your dachshund is an adult, all is not lost. It may just take a little longer to train them, but it’s still very possible. Stick with it and when in doubt, reach out to a training professional for guidance.

The whole goal of training is to teach your doxie to behave in a way that is safe and strengthen your bond. Remember that and enjoy the process!

Feature Image Source: Wikipedia