5 Crucial Training Commands That Every Dachshund Must Know

We’ve probably all heard the rumor that Dachshunds are stubborn and difficult to train, but it’s simply not true. 

Dachshunds can be trained just as easily as any breed through positive reinforcement and repetition. It may take some time and patience, but training your Dachshund can and should be done.

I believe that, at the very least, there are 5 important training commands every Dachshund should be taught.

Each of these skills offers a benefit for your dog and you as a pet parent and can lead to a happier life together. 

Crucial Training Commands for Dachshunds

Teaching your Dachshund, or any dog for that matter, basic obedience skills are incredibly important. 

Not only do training sessions help grow a bond with your Dachshund, but it will also help keep your pup happy and mentally satisfied. 

Dogs are happier in general when they have a job to do or task to focus on, such as learning new skills. 

Even if you work on basic training commands for just 10 minutes each day, it will do wonders for your Dachshund’s cognitive function and your relationship. 

Dogs enjoy learning new skills and focusing on a task.

Now, we’re not saying that you need to teach your Dachshund something complicated like fetching a beer from the fridge (although we won’t necessarily advise against it…). 

Basic training commands are a good place to start, and they are of utmost importance for a variety of situations. 

If you want to spend more time training your Dachshund but aren’t sure where to start, you should begin by teaching the following skills:

1. Sit
2. Come
3. Down
4. Stay
5. Leave it

How to Teach Each of These Important Commands

Sit

Sit is the most universally taught command in the dog-loving community. Sit is incredibly basic, yet useful. 

Teaching your Dachshund to sit is almost like teaching them to say “please” when they want something such as a treat. 

When your Dachshund learns to sit, the action can replace unwanted behavior and keep your pup right by your side. 

Read this article to learn how to teach your Dachshund to sit.

Come

Dachshunds are hound dogs with an intense prey drive. While teaching your Doxie to “come” can seem challenging at first, this is a crucial skill for them to learn. 

If you enjoy outdoor adventures and romps through the woods, a solid recall is a must-have. 

You’ll want your Dachshund to know the “come” command if they love being outdoors.

Teaching your Dachshund to come when called is also important in case of an emergency. If somehow your dog tries to escape your home or they become loose in a dangerous situation, having a trustworthy recall will help keep your Dachshund safe. 

Watch this video to learn how to teach your Dachshund to come when called.

Down

Teaching the “down” command is similar to “sit.” It helps control your Dachshund if they become too wild or need to calm down. 

It allows your pup to refocus on you in any situation. 

Keep in mind that many dogs don’t like to lay down on a cold floor, so this behavior is best taught on carpet, grass or another comfortable surface. 

Teach your Dachshund to lie down with these four simple steps.

Stay

The “stay” command teaches your Dachshund impulse control. 

It can be used in a plethora of situations such as at the front door or when crossing a busy street. 

The “stay” command is essential whether you’re indoors or in public.

It’s best to make the process of teaching “stay” slowly, as to not derail any progress you make. The key is to move through each stage of this command gradually, building up the length and distance of the stay.

Use these tips to each your Dachshund how to stay.

Leave it/Drop it

Have you ever been taking a nice leisurely stroll through the neighborhood when all of a sudden your Dachshund quickly picks something up in their mouth? 

Then, the struggle ensues. Your Doxie either ate the mysterious goodie, or you are trying to pry it out of their mouth (I literally just had to do this with poop in my Dachshund’s mouth. Yuck!)

Instilling the “leave it” command can help with panicked situations such as this one. 

Teach your dog to leave it, using positive reinforcement.

Helpful Tips for Training Your Dachshund

Consider the following tips to effectively train your Dachshund:

Training your Dachshund using positive reinforcement is encouraged 

The best way to train your Dachshund is in a way that encourages them to want to do what you’re asking, not do it because they are afraid of the consequences.

This method of training is reward-based, and the most effective way to train a dog.

If your Dachshund isn’t food motivated, you can use their favorite toy and lots of praise as a reward.

The idea with this concept is, greatly simplified, that you reward the behaviors you want so your dog will do them more.

You can read more about what positive reinforcement training is HERE.

Eliminate as many distractions as you can while training

If you’re working on new commands or tricks, it’s best to start in a distraction-free environment.

Other pets, people or windows can easily distract your Dachshund from the task at hand and cause training sessions to be less effective.

Keep training sessions short

It’s best to keep individual training sessions to 5-10 minutes.

It’s also best to only teach 1-3 new concepts during this time.

Be patient and take your time

There’s no set schedule for training a dog, and some Dachshunds require you to be especially patient. If you start to get frustrated, stop what you’re doing and go back to training later.

If you get frustrated. your Dachshund may sense that and become less cooperative.

Remember that your Dachshund will pick up on your energy and frustration and that can make them less receptive to following directions.

Final Thoughts

Teaching your Dachshund the 5 basic training commands is important for your bond, your pup’s mental health and your overall lifestyle. 

As crazy as it sounds, these basic skills can literally save your dog’s life in a desperate scenario. 

With time and repetition, your Dachshund can become as well-behaved and trained as any breed. Happy training!

About the Author: Through her 17 years of owning and caring for Dachshunds, and almost 10 years researching and writing about them, JW has become a respected expert in the Dachshund community. Read more about her here.