I lived with a Dachshund that barked and lunged at other dogs on walks for over a decade. <\/p>\n
I get how stressful and embarrassing it can be to have a dog that acts out like that.<\/p>\n
That Dachshund, Gretel, is the one who introduced me into the world of \u201cbad\u201d dog behavior \u2013 how to understand it and address the underlying cause.<\/p>\n
Now, I help other owners whose Dachshunds are wonderful at home, but turn into a barking, lunging maniac the second another dog appears on a walk.<\/p>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nI\u2019ve given several presentations on leash reactivity to Dachshund owners and am currently creating a training course on the topic. <\/p>\n
In the meantime, I wanted to share some of the most important concepts here because they\u2019re things every owner can start applying today.<\/p>\n
A big key to solving this behavior is to stop asking, \u201cHow do I stop the barking and lunging?\u201d<\/em> and start asking, \u201cWhy does my Dachshund feel the need to lash out in the first place?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n That shift in perspective makes all the difference.<\/p>\n When a dog barks, lunges, growls, or snaps at another dog while restrained by a leash, the behavior is commonly called leash reactivity.<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite how dramatic it looks, leash reactivity is not the same thing as aggression.<\/p>\n Most reactive dogs are experiencing big emotions they don\u2019t know how to cope with in that moment. <\/p>\n Barking and lunging are simply the behaviors that happen after those emotions become overwhelming to them.<\/p>\n Think of it this way: the barking isn\u2019t the problem. It\u2019s the symptom.<\/p>\n If we only focus on stopping the barking without addressing why it happens, we\u2019re suppressing the communication of a dog\u2019s feelings. <\/p>\n This may make the dog \u201cshove down\u201d that emotion, but its\u2019 still there waiting to boil to the surface again (or show in different negative ways in a dog\u2019s behavior).<\/p>\n Any breed can become leash reactive, but Dachshunds have a few characteristics that can make them more likely to struggle.<\/p>\n First, they\u2019re small. The world can feel much bigger and more intimidating when you\u2019re twelve inches off the ground and another dog is twice your size.<\/p>\n Second, Dachshunds were bred to notice things and sound the alarm. Their willingness to bark wasn\u2019t an accident. It was a valuable trait for the job they were originally bred to do<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Finally, many Dachshunds have learned through experience that other dogs don\u2019t always respect their personal space. Larger dogs may rush up to them, loom over them, or try to play more roughly than your Dachshund is comfortable with. <\/p>\n Even a friendly interaction can feel overwhelming from their perspective.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean every reactive Dachshund is afraid. Some become frustrated because they desperately want to greet the other dog but can\u2019t. Others are simply overwhelmed by the excitement of the situation.<\/p>\n Different emotions can produce very similar-looking behavior.<\/p>\n One of the biggest mistakes owners make is believing that it just \u201chappened out of nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n In reality, most dogs give several warning signs before they ever bark.<\/p>\n Learning to recognize those early signals gives you the opportunity to help your Dachshund before they\u2019re too emotionally overwhelmed to think.<\/p>\n Some early signs include:<\/p>\n These signs tell you your Dachshund is becoming concerned or overly excited, which is a warning sign for you to intervene.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll often hear trainers talk about a dog\u2019s threshold. <\/p>\n Threshold is the point between when a dog notices something, becomes focused on it, but can still think, respond to cues, eat treats, and engage with you and when they can\u2019t.<\/p>\n Once they cross that threshold, it\u2019s like their brain and ears turn off. At that point, they\u2019re reacting instead of thinking. <\/p>\n This is when you see barking, lunging, spinning, pulling, or frantic behavior and any attempts to teach them to do something different will fail. <\/p>\n One of the biggest goals of working with a reactive dog is preventing them from repeatedly going over threshold.<\/p>\n This often means giving them more distance from other dogs than you think they need and advocating for their space<\/strong> (article coming soon).<\/p>\n Many owners feel like moving away is \u201cgiving in\u201d, but it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n Creating distance is often the kindest and most effective thing you can do because it helps your Dachshund feel more comfortable and revert back to a frame of mind where learning is actually possible.<\/p>\n Every reactive dog has their own triggers.<\/p>\n Some react to every dog they see.<\/p>\n Others only react when another dog:<\/p>\n The environment matters too.<\/p>\n A narrow sidewalk gives your dog fewer options than a wide trail.<\/p>\n A quiet morning walk is often easier than navigating a crowded farmers market.<\/p>\n Many dogs react to other \u201cscary\u201d things to like garbage trucks, moving vehicles, people, kids, or skateboards.<\/p>\n Paying attention to these patterns can help you avoid situations that are simply too difficult while you\u2019re working on improving your dog\u2019s confidence<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n There isn\u2019t one magic exercise that fixes leash reactivity.<\/p>\n Instead, lasting improvement usually comes from consistently helping your Dachshund feel safer and make better choices over time.<\/p>\n Distance is one of the most powerful training tools you have. <\/p>\n Creating distance between your dog and what upsets them can make it easier for them to handle.<\/p>\n If your reactive Dachshund notices another dog but can still respond to you, you\u2019re far enough away at the moment, but you probably shouldn\u2019t get any closer.<\/p>\n In this case, just get your Dachshund\u2019s attention and cross the street, step into a driveway, or step behind a barrier like a car or tree so the other dog is not in your Dachshund\u2019s direct line of sight.<\/p>\n If they won\u2019t eat treats, won\u2019t look at you, or immediately begin barking, you\u2019re too close and an emergency exit is in order.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t drag your Dachshund away by the leash, but do everything you can to redirect your dog\u2019s focus on you and get them to follow you (like making a loud, excited noise to refocus them and then verbally build excitement to follow you).<\/p>\n In my opinion, picking your Dachshund up and walking away if you need to is not a failure.<\/p>\n If your Dachshund is truly panicking and unable to learn, getting them out of the situation isn\u2019t reinforcing bad behavior. It\u2019s helping them recover.<\/p>\n It\u2019s just smart management.<\/p>\n Rather than waiting for your Dachshund to react, make a sharp noise like a \u201ccluck\u201d with our tongue, or say \u201cbeep\u201d, and reward your dog for turning to look at you before they become overwhelmed.<\/p>\n Maybe they glance at the other dog and then look back at you.<\/p>\n Maybe they choose to keep walking without staring.<\/p>\n Those small moments deserve reinforcement because they\u2019re the behaviors you want to see more often.<\/p>\n Many owners believe every walk should include meeting other dogs. <\/p>\n In reality, calmly walking past another dog is a much more useful life skill.<\/p>\n Not every dog enjoys greeting strangers, and they don\u2019t need to (that goes for both your dog and <\/em>the other dog).<\/p>\n Teaching your Dachshund that other dogs can simply exist nearby without interacting removes a tremendous amount of pressure from your walks.<\/p>\n Frustratingly though, a lot of people feel entitled to pet your dog, so you may need to learn to advocate for their space<\/strong> (article coming soon).<\/p>\n This is the part many training articles leave out.<\/p>\n A walk isn\u2019t your dog\u2019s only opportunity for exercise, exploration, problem-solving, or social interaction.<\/p>\n Dogs who regularly have opportunities to sniff, forage, explore new places, solve puzzles, and engage in species-appropriate enrichment activities<\/strong><\/a> are often better equipped to handle the challenges of everyday life.<\/p>\n Enrichment<\/a> <\/strong>won\u2019t cure leash reactivity by itself, but when your dog\u2019s physical, mental, and emotional needs are consistently being met, they\u2019re often more equipped to cope when something stressful happens<\/strong><\/a> on a walk.<\/p>\n I get it \u2013 when you become frustrated, or feel embarrassed, it\u2019s difficult to make the right choice in the moment. We<\/em> often become reactive to our Dachshund\u2019s reactivity. <\/p>\n Without meaning to, we can accidentally make the problem worse.<\/p>\n Try to avoid:<\/p>\nWhat You\u2019re Seeing Is Called Leash Reactivity<\/h2>\n
Why Dachshunds Are More Prone to Leash Reactivity<\/h2>\n
Reactivity Almost Always Starts Before the Barking<\/h2>\n
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Understanding Threshold<\/h2>\n
What Might Be Triggering Your Dachshund<\/h2>\n
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How to Help Your Reactive Dachshund<\/h2>\n
Give your dog enough space<\/h3>\n
Reward attention on you<\/h3>\n
Skip unnecessary greetings<\/h3>\n
Meet your dog\u2019s needs outside of walks<\/h3>\n
What You Should Avoid Doing<\/h2>\n
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