why is my dachsund so hard to house train?

Question

in september when i got my dachsund he wasn't house trained we were in the process of training him but then he relapsed and keeps relapsing how do i avoid these relapses? it may be because we have new dogs in our apartment complex or maybe because my brother came to live without me. can anyone help me? what is the best way to train him so he won't relapse

Answer 1

Dachshund's are hard to housebreak and may never be completely housebroken. Consistent crate training is mandatory, sometimes a doggy door is necessary and sometimes no matter what you do they'll never be completely housebroken.
Dachshunds have a mind of their own and must be taught that they are not the rulers of the world. The fact that they were bred to go after vermin with determination will also frustrate you if you try to teach them something other than what they want to do.

Some Dachshunds can be willful, obstinate and manipulative. You must show them through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say. Key words here are; absolute consistency!!
I recommend consistency and positive reinforcement. This is what works best. The quickest way to a Dachshund's head is through his/her stomach.

GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 2

house training can take longer than u think (i think it took us about 8 months or so b4 she was pretty reliable) and mistakes can happen even years down the road so patience and understanding is key. if there are changes such as new dogs or people, that can add stress and definately effect ur success. something that has really worked for us has been:
1 we don't necessarily always wait for her to tell us she needs go out. if we know it's been a few hours since she's been out, we either ask or tell her to go.
2 we also have somewhat of a regular schedule. ie we go out right away when we get up, right b4 bed, when my husband or i come home after being gone for a few hours...
3 in the winter sometimes she has more mistakes i think because it's cold and she rushes and doesn't empty her bladder completely.
hope this helps. i'm glad u are sensitive to the environmental issues that may be effecting ur dog emotionally/psychologically. just like changes in a toddlers life (like a parent going to back to work)can effect potty training, i feel it could very well be possible that ur puppy may need some time to adapt to the changes in his/her life. good luck.

Answer 3

I raised one dachshund from puppy-hood to his death 16 years later and currently have 2 more. I hear what you're saying and I know your pain.....

Dachshunds as a breed are very very stubborn. They will take what they want yet give you very little back.....if YOU let them. The key to dachshunds is to continously train train train--it will eventually stick.

But remember, he's still a dog and you have to focus on the dog qualities first, then the breed. Everyday you have to show him who's the boss because he definitely thinks HE is. He needs consistency, calm, and repetition. He certainly will work for food, so maybe when he goes outside give him a treat or praise. But if he's gone in the house---catching him after the fact won't help. Get him on a routine because dogs respond very well to routines...if all else fails, try crate training. He'll catch on....I promise, you just have to be consistent and be extremely patient, which I know is very difficult to be.

Answer 4

Take him to the vet to rule out a health problem. You need to be consistant with the training. Tie a bell to the door and teach him to ring it. Ring the bell everytime you open the door. When he rings the bell get him outside no matter what you are doing.. SLeeping?? Doesn't matter, if he rings the bell , take him out.

Answer 5

Maybe because he has been with you for a long time and he got used to not being house trained.

Answer 6

potty puppy pads help.

my puppy took a few days to learn that she need to pee on pads... then i moved it next to the back door.. then eventually she learned how to outside.

you should always praise him everytime you spot him on the puppy pads... whether or not he's going.... even praise him if he goes on 'em or outside.

one act you should do is take your dog over to his puddle of relief and make sure he looks at it and say a firm no. this definately taught my dog not to pee in the house.

good luck.