Originally bred to hunt badgers in Germany, Dachshunds are now commonly found in families as companion pets. Easily identifiable by their elongated bodies and short legs, Dachshunds are normally loving and receptive dogs. However, their original breeding purpose also makes them clever, stubborn and independent at times. You will need patience as well as a positive, consistent attitude to successfully train and manage your Dachshund puppy.
Things You'll Need
- Leash
- Treats
- Newspaper and garbage bags
Instructions
Gradually integrate your puppy into your home and family. For example, limit him to one or two rooms of your house at first. Slowly introduce him to a new area of your home each day. Take him for walks with a leash on a regular basis to establish a routine and a trusting relationship.
Start preliminary training steps as early as eight to twelve weeks. Puppies at this age can learn basic commands such as "come" and "sit." Train him by using these two commands for about five to 10 minutes per day for about two weeks. Then proceed to two more commands such as "heel" and "down" (for the lie down command) for a two-week period.
Use treats that your puppy likes to get his attention and reward good behavior while training.
Repeat the commands you previously taught your puppy to further instill those words in his memory. The Dachshund breed is an independent one, so repetition is important when training a puppy.
Use a lot of positive reinforcement in the form of praise at all times. Dachshunds are intelligent and alert dogs and will respond well to continual praise for the skills they master.
Be firm as you establish yourself as the leader of your pack. However, do not hit or use excessive force to accomplish this. Train your puppy in an unyielding yet non-intimidating way. In addition, do not yell at him and only train for a short period of time each day because your puppy's attention span is short.
Remove unwanted objects from your puppy's mouth and say "No" in a firm way if you find that your puppy is chewing on inappropriate items. Do not hit him for this kind of behavior because you don't want to intimidate your puppy. Build a trusting relationship with him by using patience and repetition instead.
Use the paper training method for indoor puppies. Find an area of your home that is suitable for this process. Make sure it is away from your puppy's food and water dish area. Cut open a large plastic garbage bag and lay it down on the floor. Put several layers of newspapers on top of the bag. Encourage your puppy to use this area to relieve himself after he eats or drinks water. However, do not throw away soiled sheets. Instead, put new sheets of newspapers on top of the soiled ones to create a "scented" area so he knows where to go next time.