Solutions for Dachshund Separation Anxiety
If your Dachshund has ‘separation anxiety’, here are some suggestions that may help.
Whether you have a Dachshund puppy or a Dachshund that is ‘new to you’ one way to stop separation anxiety is to train your Dachshund to be alone.
Just as you would potty train your puppy, starting right away with separation training will help to alleviate any anxiety your Dachshund may develop.
Practice Leaving Your Dog
Almost all of us have to leave our pets at home for varying periods of time (work, errands, etc..). Practice by starting with ‘short’ departures and gradually building up to longer periods. This will help them adjust to being alone and reduce separation anxiety.
Start with very short intervals of about one minute. Walk out of the door and just quietly stand there so your Dachshund thinks you have departed.
Then come back in (calmly). I suggest that you don’t interact with the dog as you re-enter during training. If he’s jumping at your leg or barking to get your attention, ignore it. Just be calm and go about doing something ‘normal’. Then repeat the drill.
Be Calm When Getting Ready To Leave
When we’re leaving the house (for whatever reason) we quietly and calmly collect our things (keys, etc..) rather than rush around hastily. We have found that if we remain calm, the dog tends to remain calm.
Downplay your Return
Just as important as being calm while you leave the house, it’s just as important to NOT dramatize your return.
While paying some attention upon arrival is okay, in my estimation if you overdo it – may lead to being over-anxious.
More tips in a related article:
Understanding Separation Anxiety in your Dachshund
Dachshunds (Barron’s Dog Bibles)
(((Dachshund Gifts For Dachshund Lovers))) (amzn)
Just my humble opinion. I think Doxies prefer having their humans around all day. I’m lucky there because I no longer work.
I personally have never done this but an old dog owners trick is that if you have to leave your dog with somebody else for a time you leave an item with them that has your scent on it.
When I was a kid there was this young man who owned a German Shepherd. He was drafted into the army and had to go to Vietnam. He left the dog with a friend but he also left one of his shirts that he wore frequently there with the dog. The people who were keeping the dog had no trouble with him trying to run off and go home. The fellow survived Nam and had a happy reunion with his dog.
If I ever have to leave mine anywhere like he did I will do the same thing.
Hi the shirt sounds good. We have adopted a mini dashound, Wriggles he is 2 today , had him for 2 month’s he is starting to calm down its like having children again, but we go for walks and he still has his barking at other dog’s, when we adopted him he was on tablets my vet had never heard of he looked on the computer, and said he had heard of this Dr but was not sure in tablets I’ve started to cut them back slowly.
One thing’s for sure, Dachshund’s do tend to bark during certain circumstances…
Sounds like a good idea to cut back on whatever tabs those are. If the vet didn’t know what they were, that’s not a good sign.
Can you tell me why our dog suffers with S.A.D. when my husband goes out but I am always there bedbound. It hurts to listen to him cry but I keep calm.If it hurts me, it must be really hurting him and then theres a vicious circle. He cant tell because I talk gently to him almost all the tim my hubby is out about 10/15 min’s. Is it because I am there that he is not getting better do you think? my husband has done lots of things to try a get him better.
I have a Doxie mix almost 3. We adopted him and they said he was turned into them with separation anxiety . We have started with the crate and after 2 weeks we started to try and leave ( maybe 3 times ) him alone with our other dog, ( which they get along well together. He did well the first few times but came home to potty on my bed. I don’t want to get discouraged but dont want to have to keep him crated. Any other advice then what I read above would be appreciated HELP
Maybe he had potty discipline problems before you adopted him? At 3, they should be able to hold it for a fairly long time. How many hours was it when he had the accident?
You might have to address potty training – unless you know that he’s alright with it.
Whatever you do, don’t punish him (e.g. by saying “BAD Dog…”) for a potty accident unless you catch him in the act. Otherwise he won’t know why he’s being punished…