Being a small dog, many Dachshund owners don’t feel the need to teach their Doxies a ton of behaviors, which is fine! Really, the cues you teach your Doxie will be dependent on what you want her to be – a nice family dog that knows a few words or a top performance dog. This is entirely up to you and your family. But, there are a few behaviors that can save your Dachshund’s life, and these should definitely be taught regardless of whether your Doxie will spend most his life on the couch or in the performance ring. The following are 3 cues to teach your Dachshund for safety reasons.
#1 – Come
A solid recall is important for your Doxie if he is ever off leash in public areas, or even to avoid headache in the backyard or house. No one wants to chase a Dachshund around! In addition, a solid recall can save the life of your Dachshund if she bolts out the door toward the street. It’s just a good basic cue for any dog to know.
#2 – Leave It
Leave It is a great cue for your Dachshund to know for a few reasons. One, it can keep them from chewing your shoe or stealing your dinner. Two, Leave It can keep your Doxie from investigating every scent on a walk or even reacting to dogs and people (though this takes a fair amount of training). Third, and most importantly, it can save your Doxie’s life if he is about to eat something dangerous – this includes eating toxic human foods or maybe something unsafe he comes along during his walk.
#3 – Stay
Dachshunds were bred for chasing vermin down holes and they definitely like to follow their nose if they pick up a trail. They’ll also go after small animals. Like Come, Stay can help keep your Doxie inside the house when you open the front door. It is also useful if you are trying to get your Dachshund to not chase the neighbor’s cat or the bunny that just popped up out of nowhere. Finally, it helps teach your Doxie self-control, which is never a bad thing.
