Breed trainability
Are Dachshunds hard to train?
Two complaints come up whenever Dachshund training is discussed: a dog that ignores its name outdoors, and a dog that still has accidents well past puppyhood. Neither one means the dog cannot learn. Both, in our experience, are common in a breed built to track a scent alone and keep going. This page gives our honest answer, what tends to need the extra work, and where a Calgary winter adds friction.
Last reviewed September 25, 2026
Scent and stature
Bred to follow a nose, built low to the snow.
The Dachshund was developed to follow a badger underground and keep working with nobody there to direct it. In our experience, many still work that way: a nose that often outranks the ears, and a dog that weighs up whether the recall is worth it. We read that as independence rather than defiance, and we treat recall as a long-line project instead of a cue to test loose. Some Dachshunds come back readily; we plan for the ones that need convincing.
House-training is the other area that often needs more time, and we would not pin every accident on the breed or the weather. If accidents start suddenly, we suggest a vet visit. After that, we look at access. A low-slung dog in a Calgary yard may face snow deeper than its chest, and some Dachshunds would rather wait than go out in it. A shovelled, sheltered patch and a tight schedule are what we would try first; the pace belongs to the dog.
- Long line for every recall
- Sheltered potty patch, shovelled daily
- Short sessions, high-value rewards
- Vet check for sudden accidents
Practice and programs
A long line outdoors, a timer indoors.
At home, short sessions and rewards worth the effort matter, since a scent hound often has better things to smell. We suggest recall start indoors, move to a long line in the yard, and stay on that line until the dog reliably chooses the handler over a smell. We would not test it loose to find out. Potty training runs on a schedule and a crate, with a big reward for the outdoor result, and the schedule tightens when winter shortens the trip.
Puppy Fundamentals is a three-week board and train at $2,775 plus GST covering crate comfort and leash manners. Private Training is a one-hour session at $150 plus GST with a plan to practise all week, for owners handling the long-line work. Functional Off-Leash is a three-week board and train at $3,030 plus GST for recall around distractions, with a Micro or Mini Educator remote collar and owner education included. We make the recommendation at the consultation, including a smaller program when that is enough.
Asked and answered
The questions people ask us.
Are Dachshunds easy to train?
Some are, and we would not promise it for any individual. In our experience, sit, down and place often come along with clear rewards, while recall and house-training tend to take longer than owners expect. We plan for the slow parts and let the dog set the pace on the rest.
Are Dachshunds hard to potty train?
Often harder than owners expect, and a Calgary winter can add to it. We suggest a vet check if accidents start suddenly, then a tight schedule, a crate and a shovelled, sheltered patch as management. Those are starting points, not a fix we can promise for every dog.
Are Dachshunds stubborn?
We would call it independence rather than stubbornness. The breed was selected to work alone underground, and many Dachshunds still make their own decisions when a scent competes with a cue. Clear rewards and a long line tend to get further than repeating the cue louder.
Can Dachshunds be trained?
Yes, including adults with long-standing habits, though we judge each dog on its own. The approach we suggest respects how the dog works: short sessions, real rewards and a long line until recall has been proven in that setting. All of our programs are one-on-one, from puppy foundations to off-leash work.
Keep reading
Plan for the nose.
Bring the accident log and the recall stories. Book a consultation and we will recommend the smallest program that fits.
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