Temperament

Dachshunds are very clever dogs. They have a lively temperament and are very gregarious and courageous to the point of rashness, persevering in above and below ground work, with all the senses well-developed. Any display of shyness is a serious fault.. But this particular breed is prone to vary in temperament more greatly from dog to dog.


Dogs in general are pack animals. That is they like to live in ordered packs. There will be a leader of the pack and the rest will be followers in various orders. Dachshunds are no different. They are brave to a fault; often not realizing how small they are. They are bred for work and have a fair amount of energy. They are very sturdy for their size.

 

Many dachshunds are strong-headed or stubborn, making them a challenge to train. Dachshunds may dig holes in the garden, or chase small animals such as birds, squirrels, or lizards. They have a particularly loud bark, making dachshunds good watchdogs. People know that dachshunds have deep and tender eyes, and that dachshunds have many facial expressions (dachshunds can communicate just with the look on their faces).

 

The dachshund's temperament may vary greatly from dog to dog. Seemingly most dachshunds do not like unfamiliar people, and will growl or bark in response. Although the dachshund is generally an energetic dog, some are laid back. Due to this dog's behavior, it is not the dog for everyone. A bored dachshund will become destructive. If raised improperly, dachshunds can become aggressive or fearful.

 

Mood or emotions

 



Dachshunds require a large amount of interaction. If they become bored, they can be destructive, so it's important to keep them entertained when you can, and to keep them confined when you can't. Bored Dachshunds have also been known to become aggressive. Socialization is important and as is obedience training, since some Dachshunds are very willful. They can also be quite demanding if spoiled. Once trained, they are very loyal and loving to their owners. They can be protective to a fault; they know no fear and will go into battle with any animal they perceive as a threat, regardless of its size. They derive as much comfort from being around people, as do people get from being around them. In fact, they can be much more loyal than other kinds of dogs. But wire-haired dachshunds often do not show that kind of loyalty to their owners.

As for other pets, the Dachshund is pretty good. However, you need to watch this breed as they can be jealous or aggressive with other pets, especially other canines. Dachshunds are not good with rodents. Remember, this dog was bred to hunt game, and you can not train this instinct out of him. Note: The longer haired type of Dachshund is considered to be the most docile of all the coat varieties.
Dachshunds Are Independent Thinkers
Different dog breeds have been bred for different reasons. Some have been developed to be very in-tune to their humans’ every need — working in close partnership to herd livestock or retrieve game, for example. Some have been developed to be strong, protective working dogs. And some have been developed to curl up and look pretty on the laps or in the sleeves of royalty.
Dachshunds (like most Hounds) have been developed to think for themselves.
Traditionally, the best Dachshunds were the ones that could follow scents without constant supervision, that could go into badger dens and corner badgers on their own, and that could bark to alert their human companions that the prey was cornered. It was man and Dachshund against badger or rabbit or wild boar.

Dachshunds even the Minis were made to perform reliably and intelligently without too much human intervention. Therefore, the best way to get through to a Dachshund so that she can learn your house rules and what you desire from her is to learn how to speak her language. The following sections dive deep into this topic.

Despite all the generalizations you hear about dogs and Dachshunds, the fact is, every Dachshund is different. Some are more stubborn than others. And some are jollier or bigger performers, or more retiring, or less likely to enjoy children, or more friendly toward strangers, and so on.

They don’t enjoy being hungry, in pain, overly tired, uncomfortable, or frightened, and they absolutely hate it when you’re displeased with them — especially if they don’t know why. They don’t want to be ignored. They want to be the center of your universe, and they sincerely believe they deserve to be.

They enjoy pleasurable activities. They require food, water, sleep, and affection. They absolutely love to go on walks, play outdoors, chase squirrels, chase balls (but not necessarily give them back to you), sleep under the bedcovers with you,
and curl up on your lap to watch television. They’ll do just about anything for your undivided attention.

They don’t know what “Sit” means until you show them. But they’re smart, so after you show them, they’ll understand. They don’t know why you want them to do boring, repetitive things when they could be sniffing around or having lunch.
But they’ll do those things if the reward is big enough. They want to know why they shouldn’t pull on the leash. So if you make it clear that pulling on the leash means no walk and that trotting politely by your side means a long walk, they’ll be happy to oblige.

Your Dachshund may be particularly stubborn and hard, requiring sharper corrections (though never physical ones). Perhaps you have a sensitive fellow that practically faints with joy if you smile in his direction. You’ll probably never need to raise your voice even slightly with this one, and you may never even need to use food as a positive reinforcement for training.

Before you make the decision of owning a Dachshund it is your responsibility to learn about the good and bad associated with the dog. While you will discover Dachshunds are a wonderful breed, they may not be a suitable choice fro you.


Perfect Guard

Dachshunds are extremely good diggers, so if you're planning to leave them unsupervised in the yard, be certain that your fence is secure, particularly at the bottom. If the dog becomes bored, he is quite likely to dig out.

Related Links