Do you have a dachshund who loves to bark? If so, you know how frustrating it can be.
Not only is excessive barking annoying, but it can also be quite disruptive. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks that can help stop your Dachshund from barking.
We will also cover some common causes of barking and how to address them. So if you’re looking for ways to get your Dachshund to stop barking, read on!
Understand why your Dachshund barks and address the root of the problem
The first thing you need to do before you can start training your Dachshund to stop barking is to figure out why he’s doing it in the first place.
There are many different reasons why dogs bark and each one will require a different approach.
Some of the most common causes of barking include:
- Fear or anxiety
- Excitement or playfulness
- Territoriality
- Boredom or loneliness
- Frustration
Once you’ve identified the root of the problem, you can start working on a solution.
If your Dachshund is barking out of fear or anxiety, for example, you may need to work on building up his confidence through positive reinforcement training.
On the other hand, if your Dachshund is barking because he’s bored or lonely, you’ll need to make sure that he gets enough exercise and mental stimulation during the day, so he doesn’t get bored.
The bottom line is that how you handle each situation will depend on what’s causing it in the first place!
Most importantly, though, always be consistent with how you train your dog. If you only correct him when he barks and don’t reward him for good behavior, he won’t know what to do!
Train your Dachshund using positive reinforcement techniques
When it comes to training your Dachshund to stop barking, positive reinforcement is key.
This simply means rewarding your dog for good behavior instead of punishing him for bad behavior.
There are many different techniques you can use, but one of the most common is called “clicker training.”
Clicker training
Clickers are very useful when it comes to training dogs because they provide a consistent sound that the dog can learn to associate with good behavior.
With clicker training, you will first need to get a clicker (a small device that makes a “click” sound when pressed) and some treats.
Once you have those, put your dog in front of you and show him the treat so he can smell it but don’t give it to him yet!
Then press down on the clicker once while saying “yes!” in a happy tone of voice.
After that, give him the treat immediately after pressing down on the clicker so he knows how to associate those two things together!
Once you’ve practiced this a few times, start telling your dog to “sit.” If he does so without any prompting from you, click and reward him with a treat.
Using the clicker for barking.
You can use a clicker to reward the quiet behaviors you want to see more of in your dog.
For example, if he barks at the doorbell but then calms down after a few seconds without any prompting from you, click and treat him for that!
The same goes for when your dog howls or whines; give him positive reinforcement by clicking and treating those behaviors when they happen quietly.
This will help reinforce the behaviors you want to see more of and discourage the ones you don’t!
Be patient and keep up with the training.
As we mentioned earlier, how successful you are in training your Dachshund to stop barking will depend on how patient you are.
Dachshunds can be quite stubborn at times, and it may take a while for them to learn new tricks.
But if you stay consistent with the training and keep up with it, you will eventually see results!
In the meantime, make sure that you are also rewarding your dog for good behavior.
This will help to reinforce the behaviors you want him to keep doing and will make the training process a lot easier!
Make sure your Dachshund gets plenty of exercise and playtime
One of the best ways to stop your Dachshund from barking is by making sure he gets plenty of exercise and playtime.
Dachshunds are notorious for being lazy, but if you give them enough opportunities to run and play they will be a lot less likely to bark.
Try taking your dog for a long walk every day or playing fetch with him in the yard.
A tired dog is a happy dog and this will reflect in your training.
Play enrichment games to tire your Dachshund
If you don’t have time to leave the house or the weather is bad, you can also try playing enrichment games to tire your Dachshund out.
There are many different types of games you can play, but one of our favorites is the “find it” game.
All you need for this game is a few treats and something that your dog isn’t allowed to have, like a toy.
Hide the treats around the house and tell your dog to “find it!” Once he finds one, praise him and give him the treat.
You can also play this game with his toys! Hide them around the house and make him find them. This is a great way to mentally tire your dog out and help improve your training.
What should you not do when your dog barks?
Here are a few things you should keep in mind and avoid doing when your dog barks.
Don’t yell or punish them.
One of the most common mistakes that owners make when trying to stop their dogs from barking is yelling at them or punishing them.
This will only cause your dog to become fearful and it may even lead him into thinking that you are angry with him for some reason.
Avoid reinforcing the bad behavior.
Another thing you should avoid doing is reinforcing the bad behavior.
This means that you shouldn’t give your dog any attention, positive or negative when he barks.
If you do this then you are only teaching him that barking is a way to get attention from you and he will continue to do it in the future.
Seek help from a professional
If you’re still struggling with this negative behavior after trying all of the tips and tricks we’ve mentioned, then it might be time to seek help from a professional.
There are many different training methods out there, and a professional will be able to find the one that is best suited for your dog.
They will also be able to help you establish a routine and stick to it, which is key when training your Dachshund.
Why do dachshunds bark so much?
There are a few reasons why your Dachshund might be barking so much.
Dachshunds are known for being vocal, and they will often bark at anything that they perceive as a threat or something new.
Barking is how dogs communicate with each other, so it’s perfectly normal behavior in the right context.
However, if your dog is barking excessively for no reason or at things that aren’t a threat, then it might be time to address the issue.
Conclusion
Dachshunds are notoriously howling and barking, but with the right amount of training, you can teach them to stop. Whichever method you choose for your dog, be patient and consistent!
A tired Dachshund is a happy Dachshund that will listen more readily. Don’t try punishing or yelling at him as this will only make things worse, and avoid reinforcing bad behavior by not giving attention when he barks; instead, reward good behavior with praise and treats.
If these methods still don’t work for your Dachshund after trying all of our tips then it might be time to seek help from a professional trainer who specializes in canine behavioral modification.
