Despite their small statures, Dachshunds can pack a loud bark. There are any number of reasons why they bark, but the barking can be quite a bit to deal with, especially if it is persistent barking that seemingly does not stop.

It can be helpful to know what causes their barking in the first place. That way, you can take the necessary steps to ensure that not only do you better understand their barking but that you can also stop them appropriately.

Why Does My Dachshund Bark So Much?

Before you can worry about how to stop a Dachshund from barking, it helps to know why they bark so much to begin with. There are a lot of reasons why they may be barking, especially given their lineage as hunting dogs.

It is not exactly rocket science to figure out why they are barking so much. First and foremost, it is part of their nature. Dachshunds were bred to be hunting dogs, and they naturally bark to alert their owner to the presence of another animal.

Dachshunds can also bark because they are nervous or worried. If there are stressors in the area, consider taking them to another room. They may be acting protective or feeling anxious, causing them to bark more often than they would otherwise.

Finally, Dachshunds also bark when they are playing. Some breeds, when they get naturally excited, tend to bark more than others. It is totally normal for your Dachshund to bark when playing with you, so keep that in mind.

Why Do Dachshunds Shake?

From time to time, you may notice that your Dachshund is shaking. Though it can be alarming, it isn’t, at least not necessarily. There are actually a few reasons why your Dachshund is shaking, and it helps to know those reasons.

Dachshunds can shake because they are afraid, nervous, excited, or even trying to get your attention. There is also the possibility that they are cold, so be aware of the environment and try to warm them up wherever you can.

Finally, the shivering and shaking could be a sign of pain. Keep a keen eye on your dog, and be sure to take it to the vet if it persists. At the very least, that is a good way of ruling out that there is anything actually wrong with your dog.

Why Do Dachshunds Sleep So Much?

If you happen to note that your Dachshund is sleeping a lot, don’t panic. It turns out that it is a totally natural thing. Dachshunds tend to sleep a lot because it is simply part of their nature. Dogs, in general, sleep around 50% of the time.

Because Dachshunds are naturally hunting dogs, they are sleeping to conserve their energy when they aren’t on the hunt. It is a tendency that they have taken with them throughout the generations, leading them to sleep more often than not.

Age can be part of the equation as well. When your Dachshund gets older, it may have less energy and wind up spending more of its time sleeping. It can also be the result of the environment as well. When Dachshunds are comfortable and in a relaxing place, they will want to sleep more often than not.

If you have a lot of stimuli in your home, that can be a good way to keep them up and active. Otherwise, they may find it better to relax and enjoy their time sleeping above all else.

How to Tire Out a Dachshund?

When it comes to knowing how to stop a Dachshund from barking, a good rule of thumb is to tire the dog out. When dogs get a little too energetic or bored, they may bark to get your attention or because they simply have too much energy at the time.

One of the most effective ways to get them to stop barking is to tire them out. But how do you do that? The good news is that Dachshunds can be quite active if you know the best ways to keep them active.

Make sure to take them for plenty of walks. If you don’t want to go on walks, runs will do as well. Get them to jump, play, take on their favorite toys, and even work on agility obstacles. Keeping them active will help to burn off that excess energy, curbing their desire to bark. If anything, it will give them cause to want to rest up and build that energy up once again.

How to Stop Your Dachshund From Barking?

Now, let’s focus on other ways for how to stop a Dachshund from barking. It is not as difficult as you may think, but the key is not to yell at your Dachshund. These dogs do not respond well to negative reinforcement. If anything, it will scare them, not encourage them. Scaring them will make them more anxious and less likely to want to listen.

Plenty of Exercise

One of the biggest reasons that your Dachshund barks is because it has too much energy or is bored. Take the time to give the dog plenty of exercise. Take it for walks, play with it, or get it going on an agility course.

Whatever you can do to keep Dachshunds active and healthy, do so. When they burn off that pent-up energy, they are going to be less likely to bark. Both of you will be happier for it in the end. Try to give them around 30 to 45 minutes of activity on a daily basis.

Socialization

Another reason that they are barking is that they haven’t been properly socialized. From the puppy stage, socialization is necessary so that they can get used to being around other people or dogs. When they haven’t been properly socialized, they can become distrusting of others and, naturally, want to bark.

Take the time to get them used to being around others. Not only will it result in less aggressive behavior in the future, but it will stop them from barking whenever they see someone that they do not know outside.

Positive Reinforcement

Above all else, make sure that you use positive reinforcement every step of the way. Have lots of treats on hand, and be sure to give them positive affirmation. Negative responses will only encourage negative behaviors in them.

Vocally praise them when they do as commanded. Give them lots of treats, too. They will understand quickly that those positive behaviors result in treats. They will then want to do what is necessary to earn that positive reaction rather than continue to do things that make you anxious or frustrated.

Conclusion

There are plenty of reasons why your Dachshund is barking. Given their nature as hunting dogs, they can be quite vocal. Knowing those reasons is a good place to start, but it is even better if you know how to deal with it.

Giving them attention, redirecting them, or tiring them out can be the best way to prevent them from barking excessively. With a little bit of patience and persistence, you can ensure that their barking is kept to a minimum.