Are Dachshunds Aggressive?

Dachshunds are undoubtedly ones of the most popular dogs in the world; they are good with children, and loyal to their owners. Despite their small size, sausage dogs definitely have larger than life personality! However, a question asked by many potential dachshund owners, Are dachshunds aggressive?

The reality is that some individual dachshunds can display signs of aggression and reactive behaviour.

This article looks in detail at the dachshund temperament and its level of aggression in comparison to other dogs. It also considers the possible causes of your dachshund aggressive behaviour, as well as the methods of behavioural correction.

Are Dachshunds Aggressive by Nature?

Dachshunds are known for having an energetic, friendly, and fiercely loyal personality. They are also keen to guard their family members.

Dachshunds like to ensure that their owner is safe and secure at all times. Sometimes weiner dogs tend to forget exactly how small they are and display the temperament of much larger dogs.

However, dachshunds are not naturally aggressive dogs; it is not inbred in the breed. Some dachshunds can show aggressive behaviour as a result of external factors, for instance, a traumatic socialisation experience at the puppy’s age.

Are Dachshunds Aggressive When Compared to Other Dogs?

Some articles you will find on the internet put dachshund on the top of the list of the most aggressive dogs. I disagree with this judgment, as I owned dachshunds for years and never had any issues with aggressive behaviour.

I am confident that with the proper care and training dachshunds are the kindest and the most loving dogs. If you ask the dachshund breeders or someone who owns one of the wiener dogs, they will most likely have the same opinion.

However, even though dachshunds are not generally aggressive, they can display feisty behaviour which needs to be kept in control. Without proper training, this feistiness can sometimes result in visible aggressive tendencies. This is why dachshund might appear more aggressive than other dog breeds.

The problem is that some owners do not reprimand an overexcited dachshund and continue to ignore this kind of behaviour. As a result, their dachshund will become more aggressive over time.

The problems with aggression arise when a dog is not correctly trained, and their owners do not consider the need for behavioral correction. It is one of the reasons why dachshunds over the years earned an unfair reputation as being more aggressive than other dogs.

The truth is that any dog, no matter what breed or size, can be aggressive. It mainly depends on the way they’ve been raised.

You certainly may come across a few ill-mannered dachshunds who haven’t been raised in right conditions, and therefore can display some aggressive tendencies. But this is rather an individual dog trait, than a general rule.

Also, dachshunds behave aggressively because of their hunting instinct, especially if they were trained to hunt.

Dachshunds used for hunting can be much more fierce than other dogs of dachshund family, and display signs of aggression towards other dogs.

Are Dachshunds Aggressive? Types of Aggression

Dachshund aggression can take place in several forms. The most common include territorial aggression, protective aggression, inter-dog aggression, and fear aggression.

Territorial Aggression

Territorial aggression refers to a dachshund expressing their territorial instinct. The dog’s territory can include specific areas of the house, garden or yard, as well as extend to food, toys, and even people.

A dachshund with this form of aggression will believe they have to warn off anybody who dares to invade what they perceive to be their territory.

This can be by way of barking or running the lines of what they consider their borders. At its worst, territorial aggression can also lead to attacking those intruding into their territory.

Protective Aggression

A similar form to territorial aggression, protective aggression is displayed when a dog instinctively shows aggression to other people or other animals around the presence of his owner.

It is because your dachshund believes it must protect you and warn off those who might pose a potential danger to you.

Once again, protective aggression can also extend to food and toys. In this case, a dog will do what it can to protect the person or object, which can result in a nasty nip or bite as an initial warning.

Inter-Dog Aggression

Inter-dog aggression is displayed when your dachshund is growling, barking, or snapping at other dogs to ward them off. It can include the dogs your doxie lives with as well.

By doing this, your pet asserts dominance over the other dogs or prevent them from coming near what they consider to be theirs- whether that be objects or humans.

Some dachshunds display this behaviour only when out and about or when they come across another dog. The problem is that so many owners typically think inter-dog aggression isn’t worthy of worrying about and therefore do little to correct it.

That being, the dachshund behavior towards other dogs becomes more aggressive over time and could eventually lead to severe consequences. The inter-dog aggression tends to be more prevalent in un-neutered male dachshunds. It is a serious problem which should be addressed instantly.

Fear Aggression

Fear aggression occurs when your dachshund feels fearful and thus threatened, lashing out as a result.

It can include common objects and people or other animals, as well as less apparent objects. However, if fear aggression starts to take place, it should be instantly addressed and corrected.

Fear aggression should never be allowed to become the norm for your dachshund. It needs to be tackled at the early stages before it grows out of hand.

Unfortunately, aggression displayed by a fearful dog can often be more damaging than that any other type of dog aggression. Under fear aggression, the dog is losing all sense of control and can attack and bite anyone he considers a threat.

The best way to help your dachshund live longer?
Watch our video to find out!

Causes of Sudden Dachshund Aggression

Some owners may witness a sudden display of aggression from their dachshund. Thought at first there might be no apparent reason; there will always be an explanation as to why your dachshund suddenly started portraying aggressive tendencies.

This can commonly include changes in its immediate environment, such as household changes, new circumstances that have changed their routine, or even possible health issues that are causing them to act out.

Other reasons might include establishing dominance or protecting their territory or belongings.

So, as soon as such behaviour becomes apparent, you’ll need to get to the cause of it as soon as possible. Knowing the underlying causes of your dachshund aggression will make behavioral correction easier and more efficient.

Are Some Dachshund Varieties More Aggressive then Others?

Breed experts have different opinions in regards to this question. Some say that all dachshund varieties are equally prone to the same levels of aggressive behaviour. They believe that aggression in a dachshund is a feature of an individual dog.

Additionally, it only prevails through incorrect training and because some owners fail to correct the aggressive tendencies on time.

However, others state that type of dachshund does indeed make a difference in relation to aggression.

Smooth-haired dachshunds are considered to be more laid back, whereas wire-haired tend to be more aggressive.

This is because wire-haired dachshunds originated through interbreeding of dachshunds with terriers and pinchers, that are known to be more aggressive breeds.

How to Stop Your Dachshund Aggressive Behaviour

Stopping your doxie’s aggressive behaviour is possible once you know the causes behind it.

The best way is to spend some time observing your wiener dog, so you can see what is setting off this destructive behaviour.

Then, once you are aware of the causes, you can work on a training program and implement the right strategy to change it.

The observation process is also essential if you’ve got your dachshund from a shelter or another person. If the adult dog is displaying such aggressiveness, as you may not understand the initial causes, rooted in the past.

Aggression in dogs is a complex issue. There is no straight forward solution that will make your dachshund well-behaved overnight, especially if its aggression tendencies have already developed.

However, with the right approach and with proper behaviour correction, any dog’s aggressive behaviour can be stopped. If your dachshund starts to show signs of aggression, below are few tips to manage this type of behaviour effectively.

Tips for Stopping Dachshund Aggressive Behaviour

Start your dachshund training from the first day you bring him into your home.

Whether you choose to train your dog yourself or use the help of the professional trainer, you should set in place rules and boundaries from day one.

The best age to train a dachshund is from puppy stage, at around eight to nine-week-old. This is the time when they establish what is right and what is wrong.

Your dachshund will need regular socialising. Often the aggression builds up when a dachshund does not properly socialise by interacting with other dogs, or people. Mainly, it concerns fear aggression.

Build up trust and connection with your dachshund from the first day you bring him home! Your dog should accept you as a “pack leader”. This will ensure he will listen to your commands when it comes to training.

Don’t allow your dachshund to pull ahead of you when you are out on the walk. Likewise, when you’re about to step out of the home to take your pet for a walk, ensure you’re the first one to step outside, with your dachshund following behind.

If you dachshund shows any subtle signs of aggressiveness, work on eliminating it immediately.

Never delay the behavioural correction to another time as it will allow bad habits to build. If your dachshund spots any signs of ignorance on your behalf, it sends a signal that you’re okay with what this kind of behaviour.

Sometimes all it takes is a swift rebuttal and some distraction techniques, and your dachshund will lose any aggressive tendencies.

Be consistent — dachshunds, like all dogs, should have an element of routine and consistency in their life. They like to know what’s coming next.

So, do as much as you can to stick to a routine with your dog. If your dog gets plenty of attention and proper socialising, he is unlikely to become aggressive.

Remember, prevention, in this case, is always better than cure.

If you are still hesitating if dachshund is a suitable pet for you and your family, feel free to read our detailed article: “Are dachshunds good family dogs?.”