The Dachshund breed has a lot of lovable qualities. They have big personalities even though they are small sausage-shaped dogs.
But sometimes, the things that make Dachshunds so charming can also lead to some behavior problems.
When Dachshunds grow up and reach their second year, they tend to become calmer if they are trained and socialized properly from a young age.
However because they have a natural instinct for hunting, they can become aggressive or anxious if they don’t get enough exercise and mental stimulation.
If your Dachshund is misbehaving, it’s usually because they haven’t been trained well or treated right by their owners.
If your Dachshund is super energetic and making your life a bit crazy, you’re not alone.
They can be a handful, and it’s partly because of their genes.
But here’s the thing: You can influence whether your Dachshund is a troublemaker or a joy to have around.
If you’re wondering why your Dachshund is so hyperactive and how to make them calmer, keep reading to find out.
Why are dachshunds So Hyperactive?
Dachshunds were originally bred to be hunting dogs, especially for chasing and catching badgers hiding in their dens.
Like many dogs designed for such active tasks, Dachshunds can have a lot of extra energy.
Your Dachshund has a lively and curious personality that can be both charming and frustrating.
Sometimes, it feels like you can’t keep up with their high energy.
Dachshunds were originally bred to do a job – they spent a lot of time hunting, using their keen sense of smell and bursts of energy to track down prey.
Even if your Dachshund now lives in an apartment, their natural instincts to be active and hunt are still there.
When they can’t satisfy these instincts, it might lead to them becoming overly aggressive or barking a lot.
While it’s a joy to own these unique dogs, it can also mean they have more energy than you can handle.
But don’t worry, there are ways to help them channel their natural urges and create a peaceful home.
Understanding Dachshund Puppies
If you’re thinking about adding a Dachshund puppy to your family, it’s essential to understand their breed characteristics, personality traits, and the type of fur they have.
Here’s what you should know:
Breed Characteristics
Dachshunds are a small breed of dog that originally came from Germany. They were bred for hunting badgers, which is why they have long, skinny bodies and short legs.
This body shape helps them dig into burrows. Dachshunds have three different types of coats: smooth, wirehaired, and longhaired.
They also come in two sizes: standard and miniature.
Personality Traits
Dachshunds are known for being loyal, playful, and a bit stubborn. They can be quite chatty and might bark a lot if they’re not trained properly.
Dachshunds are also prone to feeling anxious when separated from their owners and may start chewing on things if left alone for too long.
It’s crucial to socialize your Dachshund puppy early in life to help them develop good behavior and reduce the chance of them becoming aggressive.
Dachshunds and Aggressive Behavior
Dachshunds are known for having a relatively high rate of aggressive behavior, especially towards humans.
They share this tendency with Chihuahuas and Jack Russells.
Additionally, Dachshunds also show a higher likelihood of being aggressive towards other dogs, whether it’s towards their owners or strangers.
What’s interesting is that Dachshunds don’t always realize their small size compared to some other dogs.
They might fearlessly challenge much larger dogs, which can sometimes lead to aggressive encounters.
Once Dachshunds grow up, they can be very challenging to retrain, and they have a unique trait of being very focused and stubborn during training.
Since Dachshunds are small dogs, their owners sometimes underestimate the potential dangers of their aggression, which might be more obvious in larger dog breeds.
However, this brave and independent breed can be taught good behavior if they are socialized and trained early on to avoid aggressive tendencies.
The tendency for these negative traits in Dachshunds is not fixed, and there are specific steps that Dachshund owners can take to reduce them, which I’ll talk about later.
How to Deal with an Aggressive Dachshund: 5 Possible Solutions
There’s a difference between aggressive behavior and real aggression between dogs.
Aggressive behavior is often rooted in anxiety, while dog-on-dog aggression can result from a traumatic experience in your Dachshund’s life.
Trauma-induced aggression can be tough to manage and might need a professional dog behaviorist’s help.
To prevent aggressive behaviors, it’s essential to socialize your Dachshund from an early age, and neutering can also help with this breed’s tendencies.
There are other ways to address aggressive patterns in your Dachshund as well.
Ensure Your Dachshund Gets Physical Activity
Dachshunds are natural hunters, and they don’t like being confined because it goes against their instincts.
While letting your Dachshund roam freely in the city isn’t safe, the best solution is to provide them with plenty of exercise, ideally twice a day.
Taking them for walks allows them to explore different scents and the outdoors, which is great stimulation for your active Dachshund.
If possible, let them have supervised off-leash time in a secure area.
You can also keep their minds engaged and prevent boredom-related behavior issues by playing interactive games with them.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Dachshunds can be stubborn, and scolding or using negative methods doesn’t work well with them.
They are affectionate and like making their owners happy, so they respond better to praise and rewards.
Rather than scolding them for misbehaving, try rewarding your Dachshund with things they love, like treats, playtime, or a nice belly rub when they behave well and don’t react to things that usually trigger bad behavior.
Socializing Your Dachshund
Early socialization is crucial for a well-balanced Dachshund. When they’re young, it’s essential to introduce them to new people and other dogs regularly.
This helps them become comfortable with meeting unfamiliar faces.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to have your Dachshund spayed or neutered.
Research has shown that this can help reduce aggressive behavior in dogs.
Establish Clear and Fair Rules
Resisting the temptation to spoil your cute Dachshund can be tough because they have a knack for getting what they want from their human family members.
However, if you’re firm and patient in teaching them the right behaviors, your Dachshund will be less likely to act unfriendly or antisocial.
Research has revealed that 40% of dog aggression stems from owners not consistently training and reinforcing good behavior.
We have a duty to our pets to make sure they receive proper training and can distinguish between right and wrong behavior.
Getting Medical Assistance
If you have an older Dachshund who doesn’t respond to other training methods and increased exercise doesn’t help, you can consider a medical approach.
Studies suggest that using Clomipramine, which is an antidepressant, along with behavioral training, might be a solution for reducing issues like pacing, whining, and excessive barking.
In cases of separation anxiety, Fluoxetine, when combined with behavior modification, has been successful in many studies and could be an option for owners who have tried everything else.
However, it’s important to remember that medication should only be considered as a last resort.
Using medication without first addressing the underlying causes and exploring other options can be viewed as a form of animal mistreatment.
If you’re hesitant to use medication, you can also try anxiety wraps or dog-appealing pheromones (DAPs) to help with your Dachshund’s anxiety in a home setting.
Why Does My Dachshund Feel So Nervous?
Genetics can contribute to anxiety in Dachshunds. A scientific study examined five types of anxiety that Dachshunds may experience in stressful situations.
These stressors include:
- Meeting new people
- Meeting unfamiliar dogs
- Sensitivity to touch
- Loud noises
The study discovered that the size of the dog breed has a notable impact on anxiety levels. Among the small breeds, some displayed notably higher anxiety levels.
- Chihuahua
- Dachshund
- Miniature Dachshund
- Maltese
- Toy Poodle
Anxiety and fear can lead to problematic behaviors like running away, being aggressive, and experiencing separation anxiety, especially in small dog breeds like Dachshunds.
Dogs that are more fearful often become sensitive to loud noises, and these noise-sensitive dogs tend to act more aggressively around unfamiliar people and animals.
So, these issues are connected.
A lack of mental and physical stimulation has been proven to increase anxiety in dogs.
When Dachshunds already have separation anxiety, it can make their anxiety worse.
The destructive behavior they might display when left alone due to separation anxiety can strain the bond between the dog and its owner over time.
Will My Dachshund Become Calmer as They Get Older?
Your Dachshund won’t ever become as relaxed and easygoing as a Bulldog, but if you have a younger Dachshund, there’s good news.
The high-energy phase of your Dachshund’s life should start to mellow out, usually after they turn two years old.
This calming down is most noticeable in Dachshunds who have been socialized, consistently trained, and had clear boundaries established from a young age.
Conclusion
Being patient with your Dachshund puppy is essential. They might take longer to become calm compared to other breeds.
However, by combining socialization, training, and proper care, your puppy will eventually become more relaxed.
Remember the key factors: socialization and structure, consistency, and caring.
Puppies grow up fast, so the earlier you begin using calming techniques, the more effective they’ll be.
With patience, determination, and lots of positive reinforcement, you’ll soon see a more composed and relaxed puppy.
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