Dachshunds are known for their energetic and playful personalities, but they do calm down as they mature. Generally, this happens between 2 to 5 years of age.
As they reach physical maturity, their energy levels decrease, and they become more laid-back. This is due to their brain development, which continues until they are about 3 years old.
With proper training and socialization, dachshunds can become calm and well-behaved dogs. Consistency and patience are key, as they can be prone to stubbornness.
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Dachshund Development
Dachshund development is a fascinating process, and understanding it can help you better navigate your furry friend's energy levels and behavior. As a general rule, dachshunds reach full maturity between one to two years of age.
Their developmental milestones are divided into several stages, including newborn, transitional, socialization, juvenile, adolescent, and adult. Here's a brief overview of each stage:
As your dachshund matures, their energy levels and behavior may start to stabilize, leading to a gradual decrease in hyperactivity. However, individual dachshunds may mature at different rates, so it's essential to be patient and adapt to their unique needs.
Training and Socialization
Training and socialization are crucial steps to help your dachshund calm down and become a well-behaved companion. Consistency, exercise, and mental stimulation are key components of their overall training plan. Proper training and socialization can help your dachshund overcome anxiety and general fearfulness.
Training your dachshund is not difficult, and it's essential to establish routines and consistent rules to prevent hyperactivity and unwanted behaviors. Training sessions should be kept short, fun, and positive, using rewards like treats and praise to encourage desirable behaviors like sitting, staying, and coming when called.
Socialization means gently introducing your dachshund to new stimuli while ensuring all experiences are positive. This can help your dachshund build confidence and become accustomed to a variety of smells, sounds, sights, and experiences. A well-socialized dachshund is generally confident and comfortable in unfamiliar situations.
Here are some common techniques that can help socialize your dachshund and boost their confidence:
- Introduce new things at their own pace
- Encourage a positive association through praise and rewards (treats)
By using positive reinforcement and providing a stable and loving environment, you can help your dachshund find a balance and enjoy a calm and contented life together.
Puppyhood (10-16 Weeks)
This is puppyhood, and it's a wild ride. Puppies between 10 and 16 weeks old are considered to be in their adolescence, a time of mischief and boundary-pushing.
Their energy levels are through the roof, and they're constantly exploring their surroundings. Teething starts during this period, and it can be a real challenge for both you and your puppy.
You may notice that your puppy is pushing at boundaries and testing limits, which is completely normal. This is a time when they're learning about the world and figuring out what they can and can't do.
Training is essential during this period, but be patient and consistent. Your puppy may not be able to focus for long periods of time, but with repetition and positive reinforcement, they'll start to get the hang of things.
It's also a time when puppies start to develop their personalities, and some may be more energetic than others. Dachshunds, in particular, have moderate to high energy levels, especially as young puppies.
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Crate Training
Crate training is a game-changer for puppy owners. Your puppy's crate is going to become a haven, a place for naptimes, breaks, and other activities.
It's the perfect place for puppies to feel independent, safe, and calm. A crate gives you a tool to instill routine into your puppy's life.
A trained puppy is a happy one, and working together will help strengthen your bond. Crate training also gives you a quiet area of their own to calm down and relax.
In fact, a crate is an excellent tool for puppy owners, giving them a safe space to calm down and relax.
Teach Practical Skills
A trained dog is a happy, confident dog, and teaching practical skills is a great way to boost their confidence. Training your Dachshund will greatly boost their confidence.
Contrary to what you might have heard, Dachshunds are not difficult to train, and they can learn new tricks with patience and positive reinforcement. Training sessions should be kept short, fun, and positive.
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Use rewards like treats and praise to encourage desirable behaviors like sitting, staying, and coming when called. Avoid resorting to punishment or physical correction, as this will only create fear and anxiety.
For older Dachshunds, being consistent and patient with them while they learn new things is essential. Offering plenty of positive reinforcement and rewards can help senior dachshunds learn new tricks, making training sessions fun and enjoyable.
Once you've met the exercise needs of an active dog, you can use functional CGC skills, such as sit, down and stay to manage your dog. A down-stay is often just what is needed to help the dog become calm.
Puppies between four and six months old are still energetic, but their attention span is longer, making training easier. If you're consistent, some puppies may begin calming down at this age.
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What Is Socialization?
Socialization is a crucial aspect of raising a well-adjusted Dachshund. It's not about turning your dog into the life of the party, but rather about helping them become confident and comfortable in unfamiliar situations.
Socialization involves gently introducing your Dachshund to new stimuli, such as smells, sounds, sights, and experiences, while ensuring all experiences are positive.
A well-socialized Dachshund is generally confident and comfortable in unfamiliar situations. They will be more flexible and willing to go-with-the-flow.
Socializing your Dachshund can help them get used to new sights, sounds, and smells, as well as learn to walk and go potty on different surfaces such as grass, rocks, and concrete.
If you're someone who likes to travel with your Dachshund, take them on outings, meet up with friends in public places, or regularly have guests over to your house, it's especially crucial that you properly socialize them.
Here are some benefits of socializing your Dachshund:
- They will be less fearful and untrusting of unfamiliar things
- They will be less likely to react negatively by barking excessively, lunging, trying to run away, acting in an aggressive manner, or trying to bite
By raising a confident Dachshund, you can help prevent negative behaviors and create a calmer and happier overall environment for your dog.
When to Socialize Your Dachshund
Socializing your Dachshund before 16 weeks of age is critical, as this is when they are most impressionable and will ultimately become fearful or brave.
This is a crucial time for socialization, and it's essential to expose your puppy to various sights, sounds, and experiences to help build their confidence.
Socializing your Dachshund means helping them become accustomed to a variety of smells, sounds, sights, and experiences, which will help prevent a fear of new people, dogs, and other things they will encounter in life.
If you adopt an adult Dachshund, it's still possible to improve their socialization skills through repetition and positive reinforcement training, but it's unlikely they'll ever fully overcome their anxiety and fearfulness.
A well-socialized Dachshund is generally confident and comfortable in unfamiliar situations, and they will be more flexible and willing to go-with-the-flow.
Here are some key socialization milestones to keep in mind:
By following these guidelines and being consistent, you can help your Dachshund become a confident and well-behaved companion.
Train Your Dachshund
Training your Dachshund is a wonderful way to strengthen your bond and help them become a happy, confident companion. A trained dog is a happy one, and working together will help you achieve this goal.
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Contrary to what you might have heard, Dachshunds are not difficult to train. In fact, they thrive on positive reinforcement and reward-based training. This means using treats, praise, and affection to encourage good behavior.
Consistency is key when training your Dachshund. Short, fun, and positive training sessions are ideal, especially for puppies. Use rewards like treats and praise to encourage desirable behaviors like sitting, staying, and coming when called.
Avoid resorting to punishment or physical correction, as this will only create fear and anxiety, which may worsen their behavior issues. Instead, focus on building trust and confidence through gentle, patient training.
Here are some essential skills to teach your Dachshund:
- Basic obedience commands, such as sit, stay, and come when called
- Walking on a leash without pulling
- Going potty outside and not in the house
- Leaving you alone without getting anxious or destructive
Remember, every Dachshund is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Be patient, stay consistent, and always reward good behavior. With time and practice, you'll be amazed at how well your Dachshund will respond to training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Dachshunds hyper dogs?
Dachshunds are known for their high energy and strong prey drive, which can make them appear hyperactive at times. However, with proper training and exercise, they can be calm and well-behaved companions.
Sources
- When Do Puppies Calm Down? At What Age? - Wild Earth (wildearth.com)
- When do puppies calm down? (emeraldlife.co.uk)
- Is Your Dog Too 'Hyper?' 5 Tips to Train Hyperactive Dogs (akc.org)
- Share (facebook.com)
- When Do Dachshunds Calm Down? (marissarosedachshunds.com)
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