How to Quiet a Barking Dachshund Dog

Dachshunds were bred to be hunting dogs, and like all hunting dogs, they tend to bark. Their bark can be loud, especially considering their small size. Many Dachshunds are sensitive to changes in their environments, which increases the likelihood of excessive barking. Owners can take a variety of steps to prevent and eliminate excessive barking.

Step 1

Create an environment that minimizes the reasons for barking. Dachshunds may bark if they don't receive sufficient exercise, so take your dog for at least one brisk 30-minute walk every day. Like many dogs, Dachshunds also tend to suffer from loneliness, boredom, and separation anxiety when they are left alone. Consider putting your dog in a comfortable crate with a chew toy when you're not able to be with them. If you must leave your dog home alone frequently, consider ways of providing some intermittent company. An isolated dog is not a happy dog.

Anxious dogs are more likely to bark at things in the general environment, and anxiety is often a product of insufficient socialization. Expose your Dachshund to a wide variety of places, people, and sounds beginning as a puppy and continuing through life, and you are far less likely to have an anxiously barking adult Dachshund.

Step 2

Teach your dog a "Quiet" command. When your Dachshund is being calm and quiet, approach your pet, say "Quiet," then click the training clicker and give your pet a treat. Repeat this exercise five to 10 times daily.

Step 3

Practice the "Quiet" command when your dog is barking. Wait until your Dachshund naturally stops barking, then say "Quiet," click the training clicker, and give the dog a treat. This helps your Dachshund to develop an association between being quiet and getting treats. Repeat this exercise every time your pet barks. After a week or two of practice, begin using the "Quiet" command when your Dachshund is barking. When the dog stops barking, give a treat.

Step 4

Teach your Dachshund a "Speak" or "Bark" command: When your dog is barking, say the command, click your training clicker, and give your Dachshund a treat. Repeat this process several times a day until the dog has learned to bark on command.

Step 5

Command your Dachshund to bark. Use the "Quiet" command to stop the barking. Click the training clicker and give the dog a treat. Now you can practice the "quiet" command even when your dog is not voluntarily barking at a perceived threat.

Tips & Warnings

Putting your excessively barking Dachshund into a crate can stop the barking immediately, because the crate gives your dog a sense of security and your action redirects the dog's attention. However, a dog's crate should always be a place of happy retreat, not punishment.
Your veterinarian may prescribe anti-anxiety medications if severe anxiety is the cause of your Dachshund's barking. Consult your veterinarian about the advisability of trying products such as herbal anti-anxiety food drops. A citronella collar may help to minimize barking without inflicting pain while you work on training your dog. The collar sprays the unpleasant odor of citronella under your dog's nose each time the dog barks. A variety of anti-bark devices of various efficacy are on the market, but none of these measures addresses the cause of the dog's barking.
Aversive methods may work on a short-term basis, but will not eliminate barking caused by anxiety, and will not stop your dog from barking when you're not around. Reward-based methods are more effective. Yelling at your dog for barking is more likely to increase the barking than eliminate it. Many dogs bark for attention, and yelling is a form of attention.