Have you just got a Dachshund puppy? Are you wondering how to train them to do basic commands? Maybe you don’t know where to start with training? Here’s how to teach your Dachshund to lay down.
How To Teach A Dachshund To Lay Down:
- Decide on a reward
- Ask your Dachshund to ‘Sit!’
- Hold a treat in a closed palm by your Dachshund’s nose
- Move your hand from your Dachshund’s nose to the floor
- Keep repeating
- Keep training sessions focussed
- Reward your Dachshund for laying down
- Keep training sessions short
- Increase the time your Dachshund lays down
- Try the ‘Lay Down’ command in new places
- Phase out treats
But, before you load up with treats, there’s more you need to know! Read on to find out the best tips for teaching your Dachshund to ‘Lay Down’ and what you need to do next.
This article is based on research and personal experience as a Dachshund owner of 10+ years. I’m not a Vet, qualified dog trainer or dog behaviourist.
How To Teach A Dachshund To Lay Down
The ‘lay down’ command is a straightforward transition from ‘sit’. This makes it the perfect command to teach your Dachshund after you have taught them to ‘sit‘.
Being able to get your Dachshund to lay down on command can really help to calm him down and control him. Especially in those crazy moments when he’s a bit over-excited!
Dachshunds can be very stubborn with a mind of their own. This means training might be a bit frustrating at times. But remember to be calm and patient or he’ll pick up on this!
With consistency and repetition, your Dachshund will get there. And you’ll get much better results if you train your Dachshund when you’re not rushed or in a hurry.
This how to train your Dachshund to lay down:
Decide on a reward
First you need to decide what you’re going to give your Dachshund to reward him when he does lay down.
Use some dog training treats or tiny bits of chopped carrot or cucumber (less than the size of a small pea).
Sometimes new commands take a little while to master. So make sure you don’t give your Dachshund too many fatty treats or he could get overweight.
Ask your Dachshund to ‘Sit!’
Now is the time for your Dachshund to show off how he sits on command. If he hasn’t learn that yet, it’s best to start with ‘sit‘ before moving on to ‘lay down’.
Move your hand from your Dachshund’s nose to the floor
When your Dachshund is sitting down, hold a treat right in front of his nose (with a closed palm!). Then lower the treat to the ground while saying ‘down’ or ‘lay down’ to him
As your Dachshund’s nose follows the treat, he should move his legs forward and stretch out into a laying down position.
Keep repeating
If your Dachshund doesn’t lie down straight away, that’s okay! Every dog is different and learns at a different pace.
Try again slowly, and encourage your Dachshund by rewarding and encouraging him for each movement he makes closer to the ground.
If he tries to stand up, start at the beginning by asking him to sit, and keep moving the treat lower to the ground again.
Luckily, Dachshunds are smart so should pick this up quite quickly!
Keep training sessions focussed
Ignoring your Dachshund’s attempts to interact with you in order to get the treat is easier said than done. But you need to resist!
Training sessions should be about training. So don’t give him any attention until he starts to move into a laying down position.
Reward your Dachshund for laying down
As soon as your Dachshund stretches his body out on the floor, with his belly touching the ground, give him a tasty treat!
He might stand up straight away after you reward him. But over time, as you continue your training and he understands you want him to lay down, you can then start to get him to stay in the position for longer.
Keep training sessions short
Repeat your training sessions four or five times, then take a break. If you’re not excited about it, your Dachshund won’t be either.
It won’t be good to repeatedly get him to lie down and stand up for too long, so spread out your training sessions to keep him engaged.
Increase the time your Dachshund lays down
When your Dachshund knows he’s being rewarded for laying down, you might notice he starts to lay down for longer. This is great news!
If he’s laying down on your command, it’s time to start waiting a few extra seconds while he’s in position before giving him the reward.
That way, he’ll start to understand that the reward is for staying down, not just for moving into the laying down position.
Try the lay down command in new places
If your Dachshund is happily laying down on command, he’s ready to try out his new skills in new places!
Try asking him to lay down in the garden or on a walk so that you’re sure he will listen to you even when there are other distractions around.
Phase out treats
Once you can see your Dachshund got the hang of laying down on command, it’s time to start phasing out the treats and exchanging them for verbal or physical praise.
You know what your sausage likes best!
So, there you have it! Teaching basic commands is really important for a new Dachshund pup. Once you get him to ‘Lay Down!’, move on to the next command and continue training daily!
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