Doxies are adorable but also have a few personality quirks. For example, why are dachshunds so stubborn and is there a quick and simple way to train them? Are dachshunds really that problematic to deal with or are they actually fine pets to play games with and teach commands?
Why Are Dachshunds So Stubborn?
Because they are a hound breed – that’s pretty much all there is to it. Like all other scent hounds, dachshunds were bred and trained for centuries to ignore all external stimuli, distractions, and even verbal commands while they are hunting.
This can sound counter-intuitive at first – why would a hunter want their dog to ignore verbal commands? Because, in the case of scent hounds, that improved their performance. Unlike gun dogs, retrievers, pointers, setters, and other hunting companions, both scent and sighthounds hunt best when they are not “micromanaged”. Instead, all they need is to catch the scent of their prey (or see it, in the case of sighthounds) and off they go. Everything else is just a distraction.
Learn more about: What Do Dachshunds Hunt – Amazing Hunting Past
So, even though dachshunds are mostly adopted as family pets today, this breed history still affects their behavior. These dogs are – and likely always will be – much more willful, single-minded, and stubborn than most other breeds.
People often mistake this stubbornness for stupidity. Dachshunds aren’t any less smart than other breeds, however. They too are very capable of solving complex problems when they want to. That last part is key, however – dachshunds are very much like cats in that they have to first want something before they start looking for ways to accomplish it. This differentiates them from other more obedient dog breeds that literally and intuitively make our wishes their commands.
How To Train A Dachshund?
Does this inherent stubbornness make dachshunds as impossible to train as some would have you believe? No, not at all. It does mean that they require a bit more time and persistence, hence why they are never get trained as work dogs – there are just other breeds that are quicker to train.
However, if you’ve got a dachshund pet and you want to train it to be more obedient and to follow certain commands, you can very much do so. All you really need is some extensive obedience training early in your pup’s life – as soon as you get it, ideally. Even then, the obedience training will take a bit longer than with other breeds but it’s perfectly doable with enough persistence.
What If You Have An Untrained Adult Dachshund?
If your Doxie is already an adult and has never gone through any obedience training, things will be tougher. You’ll first need to train your dog’s disobedience habits out. However, it’s still doable, it will just take more time. Fortunately, dachshunds are very food-motivated so you can use this to your advantage. Don’t forget to make all training and activities pleasurable to make your dog engage in them willingly.
Should This Inherent Stubbornness Dissuade You From Getting A Dachshund?
Not really. If all you want is a family pet, a dachshund is still a fantastic option. Their stubbornness is only ever a problem if you go out of your way to make your dog anti-social, unhappy, and disobedient. As long as you give your dog adequate socialization and obedience training, however – as you should with any dog anyway – then a dachshund can be a near-perfect family companion.
If you do specifically want an extra-obedient breed, however, then there are obviously more suitable breeds. Generally speaking, all scent hounds, sighthounds, guard dogs, and terriers are difficult to train while all shepherds and gun dogs are easier to deal with.
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