How to Prevent Your Dachshund From Barking Excessively

Dachshunds are the life of the party until their barking turns your living room into a noisy chaos. While their chatty nature is part of their charm, excessive barking can test your patience—and maybe your neighbors’ too. Before you consider noise-canceling headphones, here’s how to guide your vocal pup toward quieter days.

Step 1: Pinpoint the Barking Trigger

Start by figuring out what’s firing up your Dachshund’s voice box. Is your dog bored, nervous, or just calling out to let you know a squirrel dared to trespass? Identifying the source of their barking is like unlocking the door to fixing it.

Step 2: Quiet the Outside World

If your dog barks every time the mailman sneezes or a bird flutters by, reduce their exposure to the racket. Shift their hangout spot to a quieter corner of the house, or close blinds and curtains to block out the commotion. Out of sight, out of bark? Worth a shot.

Step 3: Burn Off That Energy

Dachshunds are little dynamos, and without enough stimulation, they’ll find ways to entertain themselves—like barking at dust particles. Tire them out with daily walks, games of fetch, and puzzle toys that make them work for their treats. A tired dog is a quiet dog.

Step 4: Teach with Treats

Positive reinforcement works wonders. Reward your Dachshund when they stay quiet in situations that normally trigger barking. Training tools like clickers or a pocket full of tasty treats can shift their focus from barking to being the good boy (or girl) they were born to be.

Step 5: The Startle Method (Use Sparingly)

If all else fails, a quick, sharp noise—like clapping or a small air horn—can jolt their attention away from barking. Keep it light and never aggressive. The goal isn’t to scare them but to snap them out of their barking trance.

Step 6: Drown Them in Affection

Dogs bark for attention, so don’t let your Dachshund feel neglected. Snuggle, play, and engage with them throughout the day to keep loneliness at bay. A happy, content Dachshund has less reason to fill the silence.

Step 7: Speak Softly but with Purpose

Yelling rarely works; it just adds to the noise. Instead, use a firm but calm voice to let your Dachshund know that excessive barking isn’t cool. Sometimes, all they need is clear direction from their favorite human.

Peace Is Possible

With a little patience and a lot of love, you can transform your Dachshund from an opera singer into a quiet, happy companion. They’re smart and eager to please—it just takes the right mix of training, exercise, and attention to dial down the noise. And when they do? Peace and quiet never sounded so good.