Can you train a dachshund not to bark?

You can get a much quieter dachshund, but not a silent one. Cutting the watch spots, a plan for the door and a taught quiet word usually make the biggest difference.

At what age do dachshunds calm down?

Many dachshunds settle somewhat after adolescence, often around 2 years, but barking that has worked for years does not fade by itself. Start the plan at any age.

Should I use a bark collar on my dachshund?

I do not use collars that spray, shock or vibrate to stop barking. They punish the noise without changing why the dog barks, and with a worried dog they can make things worse.

Is my dachshund barking because of pain?

Sometimes. Dachshunds can have back problems. Barking or yelping when picked up, reluctance to use stairs or jump, a hunched back or wobbly walking are reasons to ask your vet straight away.

Dachshund barking: how to get a quieter dachshund

A dachshund barks a lot because the breed was made to: they hunted underground and barked so the hunter could find them. You will not get a silent dachshund, but you can get a much quieter one by blocking the window watch spots, giving door noise a plan, teaching a quiet word and rewarding the silence. Breed background is on the dachshund breed guide; barking at visitors in general stays on barking at the door.

I am Andrew Darov, a dog trainer. I am not a veterinarian. This is a behavior page for dachshund owners.

Why do dachshunds bark so much?

The bark is part of the job dachshunds were bred for. Most barking at home is alerting, and alerting gets louder every time it seems to work.

A dachshund’s voice is deep and loud for its size. Common patterns:

Window guarding. The back of the sofa or a windowsill becomes a lookout. Every passing dog, cat and delivery van gets a bark, and every one of them leaves, so the bark seems to work.
Door noise. Knocks, the bell, footsteps on the stairs, the post.
Garden or yard barking. Birds, squirrels, neighbours’ dogs through the fence.
Asking. Barking at you for food, play or the sofa.

Each type has its own fix, so watch for a few days and note where and when your dog barks.

How do you stop window barking?

Take away the lookout first. Cover the lower half of the window with frosted film, close the curtains during busy hours, or move the sofa so the dog cannot stand on the back of it. A small dog on a high perch sees more and barks more.

Then give the dog somewhere better to be: a bed away from the window, with a chew when the street is busiest.

How do you get a quieter dachshund?

Block the watch spots. Window film, closed blinds, no access to the back of the sofa or the windowsill. Less to see means less to bark at.
Plan for door noise. When someone knocks, send the dog to a mat or behind a gate and feed several small treats there. The steps for the door are on barking at the door.
Reward quiet looks. When the dog hears a sound, looks and stays quiet, say “yes” and give a treat. You are rewarding the dog for noticing without barking.
Teach a quiet word. When the dog barks once or twice, say your quiet word calmly, wait for a second of silence and reward. Build the silence slowly. The full steps are on the quiet command page.
Fill the day. Daily walks with time to sniff, food in a puzzle toy, a short training session and a game of finding treats in the house. A dachshund with nothing to do will find a job at the window.

What about barking for attention?

If your dachshund barks at you for food, play or the sofa, the bark has worked before. Stop answering it: turn away and wait for silence, then give attention. Teach a calm way to ask instead, such as sitting or lying on a mat. Expect the barking to get louder for a few days before it fades.

How do you handle barking in the garden or yard?

Go out with the dog instead of leaving it alone outside. A dachshund left in the yard or garden will patrol the fence and bark at every bird and neighbour, and nobody is there to show it a better plan. Keep visits short at first: a toilet trip, a few minutes of sniffing, then back inside.

If the dog barks at the fence, call it away, reward it for coming, and go in for a minute. Barking at the fence means the visit ends. For digging and fence patrols, solid fencing or a screen along the busiest side cuts the view of the street. Some dachshunds also love a sandpit or a dig box where finding a hidden toy is allowed, which uses the same drive in a quieter way.

What about a dachshund puppy?

Start early and keep it simple. Reward the puppy for looking at sounds and staying quiet, block the window spots from day one, and give it short, calm visits to busy places so passing people and dogs become ordinary. A puppy who never learns that barking at the window works has much less to unlearn later.

Is it pain or worry?

Dachshunds can have back problems. Barking or yelping when picked up, not wanting to use stairs or jump, a hunched back, wobbly walking or crying when touched are reasons to ask your vet straight away, not training issues. See when to call the vet. A dog who shakes, hides or cannot settle when alone may need more than a quiet word; look at the whole day and get qualified help if needed.

What are the usual mistakes?

Shouting back. To many dogs it sounds like you are joining in.
Leaving the lookout open. Training will not beat ten hours a day at the window.
Picking the dog up every time it barks. It can become the reward, and lifting carelessly is hard on a long back.
Waiting for the dog to grow out of it. Barking that works gets stronger.
Using a bark collar. It punishes the noise and leaves the reason in place.

A quieter dachshund comes from fewer watch spots, a door plan and a well-taught quiet word. Read the dachshund breed guide for the full breed picture, then barking at the door and the quiet command. More on the behavior hub.