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Let me guess — your dachshund is at the window right now, barking at a leaf that dared to fall in your yard.
I’ve been there. Oscar, my mini long-haired dachshund, used to bark at everything. The neighbor’s cat across the street. The Amazon truck three blocks away. A dog on TV. I once counted 19 separate barking episodes in a single Tuesday.
Here’s the unpopular truth: dachshunds were bred to bark. They’re not being difficult — they’re doing exactly what centuries of badger-hunting genetics wired them to do. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with non-stop noise.
So after three years of trial and a lot of tiny training treats, I got Oscar’s daily barking from 15+ episodes down to about 4–5. Here’s exactly how.
Why Dachshunds Bark — Instinct, Not Attitude
Now, dachshunds were bred in Germany to hunt badgers underground. Their job was to track the badger into its burrow, bark loudly so the hunter could pinpoint the location, and hold the badger at bay. That embarrassingly loud bark coming from a 12-pound dog? It’s a hunting tool, and it’s hardwired.
On top of that, dachshunds have:
- Territorial instincts — everything around their home needs announcing
- High alertness — they notice everything, from a squirrel 50 feet away to a new car across the street
- Sheer stubbornness — they don’t obey on autopilot like retrievers; they need a good reason to listen
The 5 Types of Dachshund Barking (And How to Tell Them Apart)
Plus, once I learned to tell why Oscar was barking, training got much easier. Not all barks are the same:
| Barking Type | What It Sounds Like | Body Language | Common Triggers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alert Barking | Deep, rapid “woof-woof-woof” | Tail up, ears forward, staring out window | Doorbell, passersby, delivery trucks |
| Greeting Barking | Higher pitch, single or double barks | Tail wagging, relaxed body | You coming home, familiar visitors |
| Demand Barking | Sharp, repetitive, directed at you | Eye contact with you, near food bowl | Waiting for dinner, wanting playtime |
| Boredom Barking | Monotonous, ongoing, no clear trigger | Pacing, following you room to room | Being alone, same toys, no walk today |
| Anxiety Barking | Whine-bark mix, high pitched, panting | Trembling, tucked tail, hiding | Thunder, fireworks, being left alone |
So identify which type you’re dealing with, and you’ll know which method below actually applies.
8 Training Methods That Actually Worked
1. Control What They Can See
The biggest single improvement in Oscar’s barking came from blocking his view of the street. So I applied static-cling window film to the bottom half of our living room window — $12 and 15 minutes of work. Half his triggers disappeared overnight.
2. The Quiet Command — Dachshund Style
But standard “quiet” training doesn’t work on stubborn dogs. Here’s what clicked for Oscar:
Let him bark 2–3 times. Calmly say “quiet.” The moment he pauses to breathe — even for a split second — mark it with “yes!” and give a high-value treat. Repeat in 3-minute sessions, twice daily. I saw real progress after about two weeks.
Now, the treat needs to be worth pausing for. I use Zuke’s Mini Naturals Training Treats (affiliate link) — 3 calories each, tiny enough that Oscar finishes in one bite and looks up for the next. The peanut butter flavor keeps him engaged through a full session.
3. A Tired Dachshund Is a Quieter Dachshund
So adult dachshunds need 30–45 minutes of exercise daily, but the type matters. The mix that worked for Oscar: a 20-minute brisk morning walk, a 10-minute midday training session, and a 10-minute evening play session. Days I skip the walk? Double the barking, without fail.
4. Give Him a Job
Here’s the thing — dachshunds are working dogs. So without a job, they invent one — usually “guard the perimeter.” I taught Oscar “place” — when the doorbell rings, he goes to his mat instead of charging the door. It cut doorbell barking from full panic to two barks and a trot to his spot. He gets a treat for staying. Everyone’s happier.
5. Puzzle Toys for Boredom Barking
Now, boredom barking is the easiest fix — give them something interesting.
I stuff a KONG Classic Small (affiliate link) with plain Greek yogurt, a few kibbles, and a dab of peanut butter, then freeze it overnight. Oscar gets it when I’m on a Zoom call or cooking dinner. He’s too busy with the yogurt to care about the window.
Also, the small size is essential — regular KONG is too big for a dachshund’s mouth. I’ve been using the same two for over a year and they’re still intact.
6. Desensitize Slowly to Known Triggers
Oscar used to lose his mind at other dogs on walks. So I found a spot where he could see a dog at a distance where he wasn’t reacting (about 50 feet), gave treats while the other dog was visible, and gradually decreased the distance over weeks. Slow work, but his on-walk reactivity dropped by about 60% over two months.
7. A Cave Bed for Anxious Barkers
Still, when barking comes from anxiety, training through it doesn’t work — Oscar’s past his learning threshold. What helps is a den-like space to feel safe.
The JOEJOY Hooded Cave Bed Small (affiliate link) was worth every penny. Then Oscar crawls inside the hooded cover, and I can see his breathing slow within two minutes. The cushion is removable and washable — important because he drags it into his crate when he’s really stressed. At 20 inches across, it’s cozy without being cramped.
8. Emergency Treats for Stubborn Cases
So for situations where Oscar is locked in and ignoring everything, I need higher-value bait. Bil-Jac Little Jacs Small Dog Training Treats (affiliate link) are soft, smelly, and Oscar will do backflips for them. I save them for high-distraction scenarios like passing another dog on a walk rather than daily use.
What NOT to Use (IVDD Warning)
Now, I see shock and vibration collars recommended in forums. Do not use them on a dachshund.
Plus, these dogs already have a high risk of IVDD (intervertebral disc disease) because of their long spines. A vibration collar can make them flinch or twist suddenly — exactly the kind of movement that triggers a disc issue. I had one IVDD scare with Oscar when he jumped off the couch before I got dog stairs. $3,000 in vet bills later, I don’t take risks with anything that could startle his spine.
How Long Does It Take?
So I started seeing real improvements around week 2 of consistent quiet-command practice. By week 4, Oscar’s barking dropped from 15+ episodes daily to about 4–5 — roughly a 70% reduction. That’s with daily 3-minute training sessions, window film, white noise, and adequate exercise.
Look, he still barks. He’s a dachshund. But now it’s manageable: a few alert barks at the door, a quick greeting when I come home, and the occasional protest when dinner is late.
The Bottom Line
So breed-specific training makes a real difference with dachshunds. That said, start with the window film and the quiet command. If your dog is bored, stuff a KONG and freeze it. If they’re anxious, give them a cave bed. Skip the punishment tools entirely.
And stock up on those tiny treats — you’re going to need a lot of them.
Got a method I didn’t cover? Drop it in the comments — I’m always looking for new tricks to try with Oscar.
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