Dachshund Care & Training

Training a Dachshund is not the easiest thing to do

At times you will swear that it is your Dachshund training you rather than the other way around!

It's not because your Dachshund lacks any intelligence - in fact they are a clever breed. But they do have an independent streak and can be a little stubborn. Remember, you must be patient and MORE STUBBORN than they are. <G>

Dachshunds respond very well to positive non-punitive, reward-based training methods. Be sure to be consistent in your training, use plenty of encouragement and repetition. Several short five minute training sessions each day are best. You'll find food to be a great motivator to your Dachshund! There is no place for (and no need for) harsh punishment or "corrections" when training a Dachshund.

House Training

House training a Dachshund Puppy is said to be a fairly difficult process. Your most important tool for success is a kennel or crate, Establish a good Dachshund Puppy Potty Training Schedule and stick to it. It just takes some commitment, consistency, and a touch of patience to do it properly. You rigidly adhere to it. Recommendation is every hour for the first couple of days. If the Dachshund doesn't go, bring it in and place in its kennel (enclosed crate). Repeat. When the Dachshund goes, immediate and effusive praise should be given. Gradually extend the time between trips outside by about 30 minutes each successive day. Remember to take your Dachshund to the same place outside each time. Don't forget praise for doing the right thing. No praise and NO CORRECTION for not achieving the desired result. This method works. It will take you about 10 days. Cut off access to water about one hour before retiring for the night. Take your Dachshund out one last time and then place in its kennel for the evening.

In order for your Dachshund Puppy to become a responsible and trusted member of society you will want to teach them some proper household etiquette and basic obedience training. Dachshunds are more than capable of picking up these behaviors in quick time.

Household Etiquette

This is the process of setting the boundaries of acceptable behavior for your Dachshund and developing good behavior habits right from the start. At the same time it is the process of preventing problem behaviors before they arise such as destructive chewing, digging, excessive barking and begging for food. All things that will help you and your Dachshund live happily together.

Basic Obedience Training

Some commands that you'll find particularly useful for you and your Dachshund puppy are the come or recall command, down, stay and how to walk nicely on a loose leash.

Check with local All-Breed Dog Clubs or Training Clubs for basic and obedience training classes. There are several in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Caring for your Dachshund

Your Veterinarian and Breeder are a good resources for specific health care advice. Below is a list of Dachshund health concerns that you should at least be aware of.

Most Notable Concerns

The most notable concern stems from the Dachshund's unusually long back. This makes them susceptible to spinal problems such as ruptured disks. This condition is most probably a genetic disorder but you can help to reduce the risk of injury. It's important to keep your Dachshund's weight at a healthy level (for many reasons really) and also to minimize the amount of jumping and stair climbing your Dachshund does. Be sensible about it, supervise as much as possible, but remember they are still dogs and will do doggy stuff.

Dachshunds, especially miniatures, can be susceptible to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This is an inherited condition which is a degenerative disease of the retina - in some cases it can even lead to complete blindness.

Other health problems you may encounter are urinary tract problems, heart disease, and diabetes. All of these are exacerbated by the Dachshund being over weight and improper diet.

Regular Health Care

Establish regular health care appointments with your veterinary. Once a year is the minimum.

Keep their teeth clean by regular brushing and cleaning at the veterinary. Discuss this with your vet. Brushing appliances can be purchased from any pet care store.

Sugar-Free Gum and Snacks Can be Deadly for Pets

Most pet owners know that chocolate is a big no-no for dogs but did you know that a common ingredient in sugarless gum and snacks can cause a canine catastrophe.

The culprit is a sweetener called xylitol. While you may never have heard of it, there's a good chance you have it in your house. Xylitol is common in sugarless gum and in sugar-free snacks.

Cases of xylitol poisoning in dogs have increased in recent years as the sweetener has been added to lots of new foods.

The chemical is completely safe for humans and most other animals, but in dogs, xylitol causes blood sugar levels to plummet. When blood sugar drops "the brain isn't getting enough energy to do its job." After swallowing xylitol, dogs may vomit and become lethargic and disoriented. "If blood sugar drops low enough, they can have seizures.

That's not all. Dogs that eat a lot of xylitol can also suffer from liver damage. Researchers aren't sure what causes the liver problems, but the results can be grave.

A little xylitol goes a long way. Just two sticks of sugarless gum can be fatal for a 20-pound dog and a single sugar-free pudding cup can spell trouble for a 90-pound pooch. Some brands of gum or candy contain no xylitol, while others contain relatively large amounts. Even within a single brand, the level of xylitol can vary from flavor to flavor and batch to batch.

If you know or suspect your dog has gotten into foods that might contain xylitol, take him to the vet immediately. Problems from blood sugar levels dropping can occur quickly often within 30 minutes to an hour. Vets can monitor blood sugar levels and start treatment to get blood sugar back up to safe levels.

If you're a fan of sugar-free products, check the labels to see whether they contain xylitol. And it should go without saying that you should do your best to keep Fido away from your gum.

Canine Flu

H3N8

Check with your vet. This is fatal in 3-5% of the dog population. Shorts are available to inoculate your Dachshund.