January 30th

Picasso has gone to the dogs.

A forgotten piece of work by Picasso depicts a Dachshund, owned by a photojournalist who was having dinner with Picasso and who brought along his dog.  Read more … Picasso Paints Dog

January 23rd

Ok, so not really what you should be training your dachshund, but hilarious non the less!

June 2011

Tomorrow in Orange County, CA is German heritage day … complete with Dachshund races.  If yoou’re in the Huntingdon bneach area check it out at:  http://www.oldworld.ws/german-heritage-day-huntington-beach.html

How Are Dachshunds Different

Dachshunds are very independent and strong willed dogs, traits that can be traced back to the role they were bred for – hunting badgers. They know what they want and will show great persistence waiting for a chance to get it.

The most important thing in owning any dog is that you should handle them fairly, train using positive methods, and remember that they are still dogs.  If you see your Dachshund as a human being and allow them to behave as if they were, you lose your authority and training becomes much more difficult.

Not training your Dachshund may prove disasterous as their tenacity and strong will can get them into trouble. Also remember that one of a Dachshunds weaknesses is their back, which is prone to injury, especially if they climb or jump up too much.  These are injuries that may be prevented with training.

The Essentials of Dachshund Training

The ideal situation is that you get your dog as a puppy at around eight weeks of age and start training on the day that you bring them home.  This does not mean that adult or rescued Dachshunds can’t be trained, you may just need to be more persistent.  In addition to regular training, Dachshunds need a lot of exercise.  They were bred to hunt badgers and have a lot of energy.  Lack of exercise can lead to unwanted behaviors including chewing, barking, and biting.  A well exercised Dachshund will be easier to train, but you still have to be firm, persistent and have a training plan of action.

Dachshund training sessions should be short, often only 5 – 10 minutes in length.  You need to keep them interested and wanting to learn, and stop the session on a positive note when you see them lose interest and stop listening to you.

Your Dachshund should be taught the basic commands: “sit”, “stay” and “down”.  You should also train them not to try to jump or climb onto the furniture, to reduce the risk of a back injury.

One method of Dachshund training that works well is clicker training.  Clicker training basically involves the use of a small box with a metal plate that when pressed makes a clicking noise.  You click and give a treat as a reward at the instant your dog performs the behavior you want.  Your dog wants to learn and work because they connect the click with getting a treat.  Clicker training is great for Dachshunds as sessions are kept short, making it easier to keep their attention.

Punishing a dog is never a good way to train, and with a Dachshund can be ineffective given their independent nature.  Punishing a Dachshund can make them even more strong willed and can result in them becoming aggressive.  Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your Dachshund.  Dachshunds love attention and treats and being intelligent dogs will quickly learn what behaviors will get them!

Dachshund training can be difficult and frustrating at times, taking a lot of time and effort.  Whatever you do don’t give up and let your dachshund think he is top dog.  If he does it will be much harder for you to re-train him later.

Causes of Dachshund Aggression
Even very young Dachshunds, come less than eight weeks of age, can show signs of aggression. The first months of a dogs life is their socialization period. It is very important that during this time you expose your Dachshund to other dogs, people and new situations. While still with its mother, your Dachshund will start to explore its world and learn the basics about how to behave from its litter mates. Dachshund puppies are very impressionable. it is important that you handle them gently so they know that they can trust that people will not hurt them. Dachshund aggression is often seen in Dachshunds that were taken away from their mothers before eight weeks of age or who were mishandled as puppies.

There are several reasons for aggression in Dachshunds. Heredity may contribute to Dachshund aggression, but this is not always the case and shouldn’t automatically be assumed to be the cause of aggression in Dachshunds. Unless you are showing or breeding your Dachshund they should be neutered. This will reduce the urge to roam and mark their territory as well as reducing aggression. Environmental factors are the most likely causes of Dachshund aggression.

Poor socialization and rough handling may predispose a Dachshund to aggression in later life. Pack hierarchy in households with more than one dog can result in Dachshund aggression as the dogs vie for position within the pack. Aggression in Dachshunds that are challenging for a higher position in the pack can range from a challenging body position, all the way to biting and fighting. From the start you need to assume and maintain the alpha position in your household.

If your Dachshund does not see you as leader, they will likely take over the alpha position, which could lead to problems with aggression as they work to maintain their position as top dog.

Stopping Dachshund Aggression.
Any aggression that starts in adult Dachshunds is significant and needs to be stopped. You need to consider the position of family members, and your Dachshund in your household and determine who holds the alpha position.

You also need to think about what you do when your Dachshund is aggressive. You may be inadvertently rewarding the behavior, making the aggression worse When training your Dachshund, show you are pack leader. Train skills including down, sit and come when called. Have a structured routine for your Dachshund. Feed them the same time every day, and don’t feed them tablescraps, give dog food only. When going out for a walk train your Dachshund not to pull on the leash. Pulling is a show of dominance that can lead to aggression, or increase aggression. There are times when yo should just get the help of a professional. One of these situations is if your Dachshund is a fear biter. Fear biters are unpredictable and potentially more dangerous than dominance aggressive Dachshunds.

A veterinary behaviorist is the best suited professional to help fear aggressive Dachshunds, being able to structure and demonstrate a training program, as well as providing medications if needed Aggression in dachshunds is not uncommon. As soon as you see aggressive tendencies it is time to address them, not matter the age of your Dachshund. Remember, the time to act is before someone gets bitten and you are held liable for your Dachshunds behavior.

If you want to stop your Dachshund barking, you have probably found out that it is not easy!  Dachshunds were originally bred to hunt badgers, trained to bark to alert their owners to potential prey or to strangers around the house or kennel.  This behavior is still evident as Dachshunds often think that they own their surroundings barking at strangers in the house, yard, and even walking or driving past in the street.

Before you can stop your Dachshund barking, you need to understand why dogs bark as well as what barking you can stop and what you cannot.

What Causes Dogs to Bark?
There are numerous reasons why dogs bark, including:

• To warn intruders into their territory
• To alert their owners
• When excited, frustrated, scared or angry
• When injured or sick
• Compulsive barking

Remember, while you can reduce your dachshunds barking, it is not possible to totally stop it, as barking is part of their nature.  No matter how well you train them, barking is one of the main ways that dachshund’s express themselves.

How to Stop Your Dachshund Barking
If your Dachshund is barking excessively you need to discover the reason why. In the majority of cases the barking is excessive and can be controlled with training.  The first thing you should do is answer these questions:

What does your Dachshund bark at?
Is there any particular time of day when they bark?
Can you identify anything that starts them barking?

Shouting at a Dachshund who is alarmed or warning intruders in their territory will not work.  In fact, given their independent, strong willed nature, shouting may result in other types of aggression as your Dachshund doesn’t understand why they can’t protect their territory.

In this situation, instead of telling your Dachshund to stop barking, you need to change their environment so that they don’t need to protect their territory, and hence don’t need to bark.  These changes may include you becoming pack leader and in charge of protecting the territory.  You can also simply stop your dog seeing things in their territory.

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Stop Anxiety Based Barking
Anxiety based barking can be a significant problem.  Your Dachshund is barking because they want to be with you, sometimes barking from the time you leave until you return.  This is a behavior that you have previously rewarded them for.  Think about it, you come home and your dachshund is really excited to see you.  You stop what you are doing and pay attention to them, inadvertantly rewarding them for barking while you were gone.  To break this cycle, try coming home and carrying on your routine, ignoring your dog for around 15 minutes.  In doing so, your dog will stop making the link between you coming through the door and them getting attention.

A great way to stop your Dachshund barking is to teach them to bark on command and also to be quiet on command.  Having them respond to a command gives you command of when they can bark.  Teaching bark on command helps you dachshund to figure out when barking is acceptable and when it is not.  Remember, the aim here is not to stop all barking, just inappropriate barking.  I’m sure you will agree that if someone was breaking in your house you would want your Dachshund to bark and alert you.

Dachshund barking can cause problems with your neighbors.  By taking control early on, using techniques such as those detailed here, you’ll never have to worry about your neighbors complaining.

How to Stop Dachshund Puppies Biting
Dogs in the wild learn how to hunt when they are puppies.  This is the best time for you to stop a Dachshund biting, as they are easy to train, or retrain.

The biggest issue for many Dachshund puppies owners is that they are nipped or bitten by their puppies.  They think that their puppies are playing, when in fact they really are biting and trying to hurt them, using their teeth to show that they (the Dachshund) are the dominant pack member.  If you have a Dachshund biting as a puppy you need to start training immediately, while they are still willing to learn.

Training a Dachshund puppy not to bite can be accomplished using several methods, typically based on how the puppy would be reprimanded by its mother and litter mates.  A quiet but high pitched cry when you are bitten, giving a toy to chew on in place of your fingers is a positive way to teach your Dachshund puppy that biting is not OK.  If you continue to have problems with your Dachshund biting you should enroll in a training class or get a professional trainer to work one on one with your dog.

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How to Stop a Dachshund Biting
As mentioned above, puppies nip to show they are the dominant member of the household.  As they get older this turns to play biting, typically seen at around a year of age when you may find, for example, that if you wrestle with your Dachshund they will bite you.  You need to stop any activity that involves dominant behavior, for example, tug of war or even rough play.  Also set limits for your Dachshund.  Keep them off the furniture, feed them after you have eaten, and crate train them.  Again, enlist the help of a trainer if your Dachshund continues to bite.

If your Dachshund has been allowed to bite as a puppy and adolescent, the chances are you will have a much greater problem as they age.  Dachshunds are strong willed and independent and have the potential to attack you if they think you are challenging their position as pack leader.  If your dog is an adult and is biting then you should get help from a behaviorist or professional trainer straight away.  The risk of injury to you, your family or even strangers is something you cannot ignore

In summary, the best way to stop a Dachshund biting is not to let them start.  Begin training as soon as you get your puppy and know to get professional help if you have a problem.  There is no shame in admitting you have a problem, it is better to get help to stop your Dachshund biting than to put others at risk and possibly have to euthanize your beloved pet.

There are four basic steps in training your Dachshund not to chase:

Get Their Attention
Work on getting your Dachshund to focus on and listen to you. Your Dachshund needs to accept that you are pack leader and in control before you can successfully address chasing behavior. Whenever you are out with your Dachshund make certain you have their attention. Have them sit and look at you before setting off, and whenever you stop during walks.

Walking on a Leash
If you have a problem with your Dachshund chasing while on a leash you need to review walking on a loose leash. Before you start walking, have your Dachshund sit by your side and look at you. If when you are walking they pull or lunge, stop moving. When the leash goes slack, call your Dachshund to you, have them sit and look at you, then proceed with your walk. If you do this every time your Dachshund pulls on the leash they will quickly learn that their walk stops if they pull.

Distract Them
If you know the situations that trigger your dachshunds chasing behavior, you can work on distracting your Dachshund. Take a favorite toy, and when you see them getting excited, bring out the toy and engage them with that, throwing it as an acceptable item to chase after.

Aversion
If your Dachshund chases people you can use aversion techniques to stop them. Have someone walk or run past. When your Dachshund goes to chase them, have them stop, turn round and say “No”, at the same time spraying them with a water bottle. Most dogs will soon associate chasing with being sprayed and will stop. It should be noted however that this is something that should be tried cautiously. For some dogs, spraying them with water will exacerbate the situation, potentially making them angry and more unpredictable.

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Consider Professional Help
People will often turn to invisible fences or use shock collars in an attempt to stop their Dachshunds chasing. These methods are typically ineffective, and are not a positive way to train. If you can’t get your Dachshund to stop chasing then you should get the help of a veterinary behaviorist.

Having a problem with your Dachshund chasing people, cars or animals may seem like just a nuisance to be dealt with, however it can be dangerous to them and potentially costly to you should your Dachshund bite someone. Work on stopping chasing behavior the first time that you see it and protect both your Dachshund and yourself.

One training method that allows this is clicker training.

How Dachshund Clicker Training Works
The idea behind a clicker is simple. You train your Dachshund to recognize exactly when they’ve done something right by using a clicker, a device that makes a sharp, simple sound that they can hear from a distance. When you first start Dachshund clicker training you will have to condition your dachshund to the clicker, that is, you have to teach them that the sound of the clicker results in a reward. Most people begin using treats as a reward, sitting with their Dachshund, clicking once, then rewarding with a treat.

Once your Dachshund is conditioned to the sound of the clicker you can start teaching commands, clicking and rewarding when your dachshund performs a wanted behavior. Clicker training can also be combined with command words very easily, something that many other training methods cannot.

Clicker training is humane, simple, and incredibly effective.

The Benefits of Clicker Training?
The biggest benefit of Dachshund clicker training is how easy it is. It can take as little as 15 minutes to teach your dog that a click is a good thing and even less time to start teaching basic commands. Clickers are small and easy to carry with you, allowing you to train in a variety of differing environments and situations. They are more standardized than your voice, that varies in pitch and tone and can be misread by your Dachshund. In conjunction with a command, a clicker teaches your Dachshund precisely what you want them to do so you will not have to worry if they understand that what they’re doing is right or wrong.

With more advanced Dachshund clicker training, the clicker can be replaced with simple praise or affection. Using this positive reinforcement technique you will never need to use more controversial and inhumane training methods.

If you are having problems with your Dachshund, any trainer will tell you that you need to exercise them and then train some basic skills/behaviors. Clicker training can make the process much easier.

Why Dachshunds like Crates
Most Dachshunds love their crates.  This goes back to their wild roots, where dogs would sleep in small spaces that protect them from the environment and predators.  A crate becomes your dogs den, a place where they feel safe and that is exclusively theirs.

How to Crate Train Dachshunds
Dachshund crate training is easiest if you start when they are a puppy, as they get used to the small space quickly.  It is not impossible to crate train adult, it just takes them longer to adapt.

To start Dachshund crate training put the crate in a place where there is a lot of activity, such as your living room.  At night, move your crate to your bedroom, at least until they feel comfortable and safe, settling quickly and not whining or crying.  Once they have adjusted you can leave the crate in one place all the time, having them stay in the living room or kitchen when you are out of the house and at night.

Crates need to be inviting.  Make certain there is comfortable bedding, water and something to play with.  Crates should only be large enough that your Dachshund can stand up and turn round in.  They should not be able to walk in it as this can give enough room that your Dachshund will allocate an area as their toilet and may urinate or defecate, potentially a difficult habit to break!

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Initially your Dachshund may become upset when in their crate.  If they cry or bark do not make the mistake of going to them and comforting them, this just reinforces to them that crying or barking gets your attention. Your Dachshund should be in the crate until they have been quiet for 10 minutes.  When you let them out be sure to praise them and give a toy or treat.  This reinforces that being calm and quiet gets your attention.

When you are starting Dachshund crate training don’t leave them for hours at a time.  Start with only a few minutes, gradually building up until they are comfortable through the night or for the usual time you are away from home.

If you crate train a Dachshund and do so gradually, your life will be much less stressful.  Using positive reinforcement you will know that your dog will be safe, comfortable and unable to chew on your possessions when you are out of the house.

When you train your Dachshund to stop chewing your aim should not be to stop the chewing, but to remove temptation (put food and snacks well out of reach) and provide appropriate toys and chew items. In doing this, your Dachshund will no longer want to chew your shoes, clothes, books or tv remotes.

Why Stop Your Dachshund Puppy Chewing?
Dachshund puppies are cute, and you may be tempted to let them keep chewing on anything they want. At the other extreme, some people try to stop their Dachshund puppy chewing at all by shouting at it whenever it chews. Either approach will cause you problems in the longer term with chewing or other behavioral problems. What you need is an approach between the two extremes, teaching your Dachshund that some things are ok to chew, and other things are out of bounds.

If you have decided to stop your dachshund chewing the most important thing is that you should never punish them. Doing so will only confuse them and they will not learn what it was they did wrong. Take a positive approach:

Stop the Chewing Before it Starts – Keep your Dachshund in a dog proof are or crate train them to limit access to your possessions when you are not in the immediate area. Provide appropriate dog chew toys so your Dachshund starts to learn what they can chew on and what they can’t.

Behaviour Modification – Teach your dachshund to chew on the right things. If you see them chewing on your tv remote, make a loud noise to stop them, take it away from them and instead give a dog toy, praising when they chew on that. This teaches and reinforces that the dog toy is ok to chew, the remote not. remember, always give a dog toy, never give old shoes or clothes as your Dachshund will not know the difference between your old and new things.

Keep Your Dachshund busy – Dachshund chewing is often a sign of boredom. Keep your Dachshund active, exercise them well and give them plenty of attention when you are with them. When you leave, try to provide them with interactive togs (e.g. stuffed Kong’s) to keep them busy and active. Try to have several different types of toys, rotating them every few days. This will also help to keep your Dachshund interested in the toy rather than your possessions.

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No Chew Sprays – To stop a Dachshund chewing on your furniture you can use no chew spray, a safe spray made of bitter apple or pepper that tastes bad but will not harm your dachshund. They will very quickly learn that your sofa tastes bad and will stop chewing it.

The key to stopping a Dachshund chewing is consistency. Make house rules as to what they can chew and what they can’t and stick by them. Dachshunds are intelligent dogs and will quickly learn what they can and can’t chew, but remember to be realistic. It is likely that there will be mistakes as your dog learns the ropes and even when they know the rules.

Dachshunds dig for a variety of reasons. You need to work out the reason, deter them, and then find something that is more interesting for your Dachshund to do than dig.

In the majority of cases, Dachshunds start to dig because they are bored and need to burn off energy. Try giving your Dachshund lots of toys and treats to occupy them while you are away. A great option is a Kong, a hard rubber toy that is hollow. Soak your dogs kibble in water, pack the Kong then freeze it and you will have something that will keep your Dachshund happy and busy for hours.

Exercise and training are ways that you can burn off energy. Taking your Dachshund on long walks at a decent pace and having them use their mind keeps them from becoming bored and will reduce Dachshund digging.

If your Dachshund digging is not due to boredom you may need to be more creative to stop them. To stop your Dachshund digging in your flower beds you can deter them by covering the area with netting or chicken wire. Most dogs will not try to dig through netting or wire, but for those that do you need to try a different approach so your Dachshund doesn’t hurt their feet on the wire. You can also put up barriers to stop them getting to the places you don’t want them digging.

Click Here Discover How To Stop Your Dachshund Digging For GOOD.

For Dachshunds who love to dig, you can channel their energy by building a Dachshund digging area where they can dig as much as they want. You can use sand or soil in a raised bed, or children’s paddling pool, or simply fence off an area of your yard where they are allowed to dig, hopefully deterring them from your flowerbed.

Telling your Dachshund “No” in a firm voice when you catch them digging may be effective for some Dachshunds, but others will stop only until you have left, then they will start again. It is worth trying this approach but don’t be surprised if you have little success.

Finally, you might want to try one of the many deterrent sprays that are available. Digging deterrents are variably effective and should carried at your local pet store.

Setting Ground Rules
Dachshund house training should be started as soon as you get your Dachshund, be it as a puppy or an adult. Before starting house training you have to understand a couple of things. Firstly, NEVER punish a dog when they make a mess. They do not understand what they have done wrong and punishing them by say rubbing their nose in their mess will just cause behavior problems later in life. Secondly, be certain that you give lots of praise and even a treat when your puppy goes to the bathroom where you want them to – this reinforces to them that this is the right thing to do.

Dachshund House Training Techniques
There are two commonly used techniques you can use when house training a Dachshund; both need you to be involved and consistent in your approach

Puppy Training Pads
Puppy training pads are squares of absorbent paper and cotton material on a plastic backing material. To begin Dachshund house training place a training pad on the floor in the place where you want your Dachshund puppy to go to the bathroom. Watch your puppy closely for signs that they need to urinate or defecate (e.g. sniffing at, or scratching at, the ground) and as soon as you see something take your Dachshund puppy to the training pad, praising them when they go on the pad. It won’t take long for your Dachshund puppy to learn that this is their bathroom and for them to go there when they need to urinate or defecate.

Once your Dachshund puppy is reliably using the pad, start moving it closer to your back door. Eventually you will be able to put it outside and then dispose of it all together as your dachshund learns that they go outside to use the bathroom.

Crate Training
Many owners use a crate for dachshund house training. The idea is that your Dachshunds crate is just large enough for them to stand up, turn around and lie down in. Dogs do not like to go to the bathroom in the place where they sleep, which means that they will soon learn to keep their crate clean. You do however need to take your puppy out regularly. When they are young they simply cannot hold their bladder all day or all night and will eventually have to urinate in their crate.

Crates are not to be used to punish your Dachshund. Instead they should be seen as your dogs den, a place where they can retreat to be alone and feel safe.

What to Do When There is an Accident
Inevitably Dachshund house training will not always be plain sailing and accidents will occur. When this happens, simply clean up the mess and go about your business. Do not punish your puppy as they will not remember nor understand why they are being punished. They will become confused and anxious which can result in more significant behavioral problems in the future.

Dachshund House Training can be frustrating and hard work, but if you remain patient and reward positive trends you will be surprised at how successful you will be.

Why Go To Dachshund Obedience Training Classes?
Obedience training is a team effort involving both you and your Dachshund. Both of you learn, you how to teach successfully and they how to respond. As the instructor, you need to know the following skills:

Leader of the Household
Going to Dachshund obedience training classes provides the resources you need to become, and maintain, the place of leader of your household. Dachshunds are bright and will take advantage of you if you let them. Be certain that you occupy the alpha position and that your Dachshund respects you!

Dachshund obedience training involves mastering commands such as sit, stay, down, and come. There may be cases when having your Dachshund respond right away to one of these instructions could save their life. Once these core commands are learned you can use them as a platform on which to teach other more complex skills.

Walking on a Slack Leash.
Any good obedience trainer should spend time each class practicing walking on a loose leash. In addition to not pulling, you also need to teach them not to run around you and snarl you in their lead and also to stop and sit when told before crossing a road.

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Barking and Biting
Dachshund owners may find they have problems with barking and biting connected to breed characteristics (remember dachshunds were bred to be hunters). If you have a problem with biting or excessive barking you should go to training classes. There trainers can instruct you how to appropriately tackle the precise problem you are experiencing, and can recommend you see a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist if they believe the issue is serious enough.

You should begin Dachshund obedience training when you get your Dachshund, no matter what their age or prior experiences. It is obedience training that helps you build up a bond with your Dachshund and lays the basis on which you can build up specialized skills and behaviors.

Be Consistent
No matter which way you choose to train your Dachshund, you need to show them by the way you behave that you are head of the household and to be respected. This requires you and other family members to be consistent and confident so that your Dachshund gets the same message from all family members and doesn’t try to take advantage.

To be successful Dachshund puppy training should take into account the nature of Dachshunds. Dachshund puppies do well with positive methods such as clicker training, yummy food rewards, and short, frequent sessions where they are allowed to think that they are in charge.

Before beginning Dachshund puppy training, you need to take time to build up a bond with you puppy. Spend time with them, holding them and socializing them with other people, dogs and cats, exposing them to sounds such as thunder. Make certain that your Dachshund puppy lets you touch their feet, cut their nails, and check their mouth and ears. These are all things that puppies get used to quickly, but that can be problems for adult Dachshunds who have not been trained.

Dachshund puppy training comprises not only obedience training, but also basic acceptable household behavior. Before working on commands like sit, stay and come your Dachshund puppy training should cover areas such as house training, biting, chewing, crate training and barking.

The key to training Dachshund puppies is to start young and be consistent. All family members need to know how to train your Dachshund and be sure they are not giving mixed messages (e.g. one person lets them onto the sofa, another doesn’t).

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As mentioned above, always use positive, fun, training methods such as clicker training, and never hit or shout at your Dachshund puppy. Dogs do not understand your anger and if you hit them you can have problems with aggression later on. As they say “patience is a virtue” and this is very true with Dachshund puppy training. Stay happy and calm even when you feel frustrated, and be certain to immediately give loads of praise and a treat to reinforce a desired behavior.

Dachshund puppies have a limited attention span, so be sure to keep sessions short, at a maximum, 15 minutes at a time, shorter if you notice they have lost interest. These short sessions are great for training Dachshund puppies basic obedience commands such as “sit” “stay”, “come” and how to walk on a slack leash.

Dachshund puppy training may seem difficult when you first get your new puppy. You will find that a Dachshund is a loyal, attentive dog but only if you lay down ground rules early and make sure your Dachshund continues to see you as pack leader and follows your instructions in the future.

When you see your Dachshund scratching, watch them closely. Does your Dachshund have dandruff? Is their coat dull and coarse? Do they sneeze? If so your Dachshund probably has allergies and dry skin.

If you notice sores, spots or red areas, your Dachshund may have a skin infection or a parasite. Skin infections can cause your Dachshund to become sick, so you should take them to see your veterinarian.

What you may not know is that Dachshund scratching can be a sign of a neurological problem. If your Dachshund is bored and doesn’t get enough exercise they can start licking and scratching continually,for what is often an unknown reason.

When to Worry About Dachshund Scratching
If your Dachshund only scratches occasionally, you can generally ignore it. However, when they scratch for long periods or if you see any damage to their skin due to scratching you need to visit your veterinarian. In addition to a physical exam they your vet will likely do blood tests, skin scrapes, and possibly swabs and cultures to make certain that your Dachshund doesn’t have an underlying disease that is causing your Dachshund to scratch.

How to Stop Your Dachshund Scratching
Firstly treat any underlying problems your Dachshund may have. Give medications your veterinarian recommends and put your Dachshund on flea and tick prevention.

Once treated, you can deter your Dachshund from scratching and chewing by using things like bitter apple spray to stop chewing, or bandaging legs and using Elizabethan collars to stop the skin being damaged by scratching.

Remember, if your Dachshund scratches every now and then, it’s just an itch and nothing to worry about, but if they sit and scratch endlessly or chew for hours at a time, there is something that you need to address.

The Sources of Dachshund Separation Anxiety
In the wild dogs live in packs.   Your dachshund is no different, being part of your family pack. They are attached to you as the alpha dog in the pack and can become upset when you leave them alone. Having said this, however, it is not being alone that is upsetting, instead it is what you do just before you leave or when you return that is often at the root of the problem. For example, do you have the same routine every day? Do you always play with your Dachshund as soon as you get home?

Reducing Dachshund Separation Anxiety
You can reduce your Dachshund separation anxiety in many ways. Here are a few easy things that you can try:

1. Change Your Routine
See if there is something in your routine that triggers your Dachshunds anxiety (e.g. turning on the shower). Try to mix up your schedule by changing the time you get up, showering at night, or getting your things ready, but waiting a minutes before you actually leave the house. Even slight variations each day in your routine will reduce anxiety.

2. Don’t Reinforce the Behavior
First things first, don’t pay attention to your Dachshund as you are leaving or entering the house. If you do so, you are actually reinforcing their unwanted behavior. When you are leaving the house don’t stroke your dog, and when you come home, go about your business for 15 minutes or so before you pay them any attention at all.

3. Go Slowly
If your Dachshunds separation anxiety starts as soon as you leave the house, then you need to work on the problem slowly. Start by leaving the house only for a minute or so, gradually building up the time as the anxiety lessens. Also vary the length of time you are gone. Once your Dachshund realizes you will come back every time their anxiety will decrease and you will be able to increase the length of time you are away.

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4. Addressing Dachshund Separation Anxiety is not Cruel
Amazingly there are people who think that methods used to address dachshund separation anxiety are cruel. This is simply not true. We all know how anxiety affects us, your Dachshund is no different. There is no reason not to address their anxiety, help them be more comfortable and know that you as pack leader are in charge.

If your Dachshund has severe separation anxiety, you need to address it now – don’t wait. Train them to accept that you will leave but always come back and that this is normal pack behavior. In doing so you will minimize anxiety and reduce the chance of destructive behavior.

What Are Some Dachshund Health Problems?
It is important to remember that while Dachshunds can have many health issues, they can’t tell you what is wrong or that they are sick. Often, by the time you notice that there is a problem they have been suffering for a long time. By knowing about Dachshund health problems and their early signs and symptoms, you can take your Dachshund to a veterinarian and have them treated before the problem becomes severe and expensive.

Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD)
IVDD is one of the Dachshund health problems that every Dachshund owner knows about and fears. Simply it means that one of the disks in your Dachshunds spine, that provides a cushion between the vertebrae, is protruding or has ruptured, putting pressure on the spinal cord. Dachshunds with IVDD can show some or all of the following signs:

• Walking stiffly, hunching their backs
• Discomfort when you touch a specific area of the back or neck
• Crying, whining or shivering
• Weakness in their legs or dragging their back legs

If you see any of these signs you need to keep your Dachshund very quiet and take them to a vet, doing so immediately if they can’t use their back legs. Back injuries are time sensitive. The chances of a full recovery decrease dramatically if your Dachshund loses feeling in their legs and does not have surgery within 12 – 24 hours.

For less severe cases it may be possible to manage them with medication and crate rest. This can be a long process, requiring 6 – 8 weeks of confinement with no running, jumping or even walking, but many Dachshunds will make a full recovery.

Obesity
Obesity is another of the common Dachshund health problems, caused by over eating and lack of exercise. Being obese predisposes your Dachshund to heart disease, liver disease, skin problems and of course IVDD. All of these issues can be life threatening, so it is important to work on keeping your Dachshund the right weight. There are many diet foods available to help you and of course, you can increase your Dachshunds activity level to burn off calories. Before putting your Dachshund on a weight loss program you should have them checked out by your veterinarian to make certain that there is no medical problem that is causing the obesity.

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Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. Dachshunds with thyroid disease can become obese, can be lethargic and have thinning haircoats and frequent infections, although some show none of these signs. Thyroid disease can be diagnosed by a blood test and is easily treated with inexpensive medication.

Allergies
There are many different causes of allergies that Dachshunds can suffer from. The most common of these is flea allergies, that cause your Dachshund to become itchy and scratch and chew at their skin until they cause a hot spot. Be certain to use flea and tick prevention regularly and check your Dachshunds skin for sore areas or dry skin. Dachshunds can also suffer from food allergies. If your Dachshund has hot spots or frequent ear infections you should talk to your vet about allergies.

Endocrine Diseases
Dachshund health problems can be similar to human health issues, including endocrine diseases such as diabetes and Cushings disease (too much steroid produced by the adrenal glands). If your Dachshund has diabetes it is important to have them on a strict diabetic diet with no human food or table scraps. Like humans, Dachshunds with diabetes may require insulin injections, although some can be controlled with diet alone. Cushings disease requires medications to be taken long term. All endocrine diseases need regular monitoring and testing by your veterinarian.

Eye Problems
Dachshunds can have any of a number of eye problems including cataracts, glaucoma and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). All are problems that need to be treated by your vet, some medically, others surgically. If your Dachshund has cataracts their eyes will look white and cloudy. Loss of vision will depend on how severe the cataracts are. Glaucoma causes increased pressure in the fluid in the eye and results in blindness if not treated.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a genetic disease that affects the retina in the back of the eye. First signs of PRA are usually night blindness, that progresses until your Dachshund is completely blind. Unfortunately there is no cure for this disease.

While some Dachshund health problems are unavoidable, many can be prevented by feeding them a quality diet, keeping their weight down, training, and providing lots of exercise. You should take your Dachshund to the vet for yearly physical exams and treat any problems that are found. Remember, the earlier you catch Dachshund health issues, the easier and cheaper they will be to treat.

Dachshund training is not something that can be accomplished quickly. You need to figure out what training your Dachshund needs, and then how to train them. All this takes time and patience.

The Benefits of Dachshund Training
Dachshund training helps develop and build the relationship between you and your Dachshund and allows you to reinforce your position as “alpha dog” and pack leader.

Dachshund training also teaches you how to communicate with your Dachshund in ways that they understand (basic commands and hand signals), allowing you to teach new skills and behaviors as well as eliminate unwanted ones such as barking, biting or aggression.

Basic Dachshund Training
Dog trainers all have some basic rules that they follow to make the training process easier and to develop a closer relationships with the dogs they are training.

1. Praise and Correction
If you are always correcting your dog for what they are doing wrong and not praising them for what they are doing right your relationship with your Dachshund will be a negative one.  If you praise you Dachshund all the time you are also developing an unhealthy relationship.  You need to make certain that you balance your feedback.

2. Patience and Consistency
Dachshund training requires you to be patient and work consistently with your Dachshund.  Dachshunds are intelligent dogs, but they need time and repetition to learn behaviors.   If your Dachshund is not responding or takes time to respond it is likely that they haven’t had enough time to learn the behavior or that you have made exceptions that confused them.   For example, if you have taught your Dachshund not to pull on the leash, never let them pull.

3. Make it Fun
All Dachshund training should be fun. Dachshunds can be stubborn and hard headed so you need to be inventive. Keep training sessions short and try and structure them so that your Dachshund thinks they are doing the training. Training should become part of your daily routine, something both you and your dog look forward too.

Taking the time to train your Dachshund will reduce the chances of problems later in life, so don’t put it off, start your Dachshund training today.