How to Housebreak a Dachshund

House training a dachshund is considered to be more difficult than house training other dogs. However, with patience and vigilance, you can housebreak a dachshund in only a few weeks with minimal accidents. Use a method called the "direct" method, which only requires dog treats and newspaper.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Dog treats
• Newspaper

1. Watch your dachshund while inside for any warning signs that he may have to relieve himself. These signs include sudden sniffing around the floor or leaving the room abruptly. Since dogs associate smells of past accidents with where to go in the future, they often sniff around to locate the same spots.

2. Take your dachshund immediately outside if he exhibits either of these actions. It's also a good idea to take him outside immediately after eating. Once the dachshund is outside, ignore him until he relieves himself. If it takes longer than 15 minutes, let him back inside and wait for 40 minutes, or until he begins acting suspicious.

3. Reward the dachshund with his favorite treats and ample praise when he relieves himself outside. Associate happiness and tasty food with urinating or defecating outside. Repeat this method until the dachshund wants to go outdoors on his own.

4. Scold the dachshund severely if he relieves himself indoors, but do not strike or hurt him. Never scold him once outside, only immediately after he relieves himself indoors, and not more than five minutes afterward. If you wait any longer, he won't relate the scolding with the accident.

5. Soak up as much urine as possible from the indoor mess with a newspaper. Place the newspaper outdoors in a location where you want the dachshund to relieve himself. Continue watching for signs and taking the dachshund out regularly. Ensure that he sees and recognizes the urine on the newspaper, as it will increase his urge to relieve himself on it.

Tips & Warnings

• Feed your dachshund on a regular basis to help monitor when he needs to go. Dachshunds commonly need to go between 10 to 20 minutes after they eat. This will help establish an easy training schedule. Remain outside with the dachshund until he relieves himself. Some dogs become apprehensive when left outside and will wait until they're safely indoors before going. Being with the dachshund at the exact time he does relieve himself will give you the perfect opportunity to reward and praise him.

• Striking or harming the dachshund during any part of the housebreaking process can cause him to relate pain and physical harm with relieving himself, indoors or out, and can cause serious trust problems.