This article explains why dachshunds tend to bark more than many breeds and gives you a practical plan to reduce that barking. I’ll walk you through breed-specific reasons, step-by-step training, common scenarios, troubleshooting, and frequently asked questions so you can manage your little buddy’s vocal habits confidently. Let’s begin!

Why Dachshunds Bark So Much + How to Stop

Breed background and why barking is part of the package

Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers and other burrowing animals, which required alerting the handler and holding ground with vocal signals. That hunting heritage left them with a loud, persistent bark for their size and a natural alertness to movement and sounds.

They are often quick to tell you about any perceived change in their environment, whether it is a squirrel in the yard or a delivery truck down the street. Understanding that barking is partly an inherited trait helps you set realistic expectations while you train.

Personality, triggers, and how dachshund temperament affects barking

Dachshunds are curious, confident, and sometimes stubborn little buddies who form very strong attachments to their humans. They can be prone to separation anxiety and attention-seeking behaviors, which often shows up as repetitive barking.

Small size does not mean they think small; many dachshunds will confront perceived threats with noise rather than retreat. Because they are smart and sometimes willful, consistent structure and mentally engaging activities go a long way toward reducing excessive vocalizing.

How to Stop Dachshund Barking in 5 Steps

Below is a practical, all-around plan that addresses triggers, training, and environment so your Doxie learns quieter habits without stress.

1. Rule out medical causes. Start by observing when the barking happens and whether there are other signs like pain, changes in appetite, or lethargy. Talk to your vet if you suspect any health issue because discomfort can make a dog vocalize more. Treating an underlying medical problem is part of a complete solution.
2. Provide daily mental and physical exercise. A tired dachshund barks less. Short but frequent walks, supervised digging/play sessions, scent games, and puzzle feeders burn off excess energy. Rotate toys and activities so your furry pal does not get bored and start barking out of frustration or for attention.
3. Manage the environment to reduce triggers. Use visual barriers at windows if street activity sets them off, close blinds during high-traffic times, and create a calm den area with a bed and safe chew items. For door and window barking, set up training periods where the trigger is present but controlled so you can work on responses.
4. Teach an alternative behavior and reward quiet. Train your dachshund to go to a specific mat or bed when you ask for calm. Reinforce the behavior with treats and praise, then fade the treats over time while keeping the reward schedule variable. Giving your little buddy a clear, easy alternative to barking is more effective than trying to suppress the bark alone.
5. Use the Quiet command exactly this way. When your Dachshund starts barking, calmly say “Quiet” in a firm but relaxed tone. Never yell, as this can make them bark more. Wait for even a brief pause in the barking, then immediately reward with a treat and calm praise so they connect silence with something positive. If your Doxie still doesn’t stop, show them the treat to capture their attention, and reward as soon as they pause. Practice this in short, consistent sessions until they begin responding to the command even without seeing the treat.

These steps will help reduce barking, but it’s important to remember this behavior is often a sign of deeper issues such as anxiety, boredom, territoriality, fear, or attention-seeking.

And until those root issues are addressed directly, they’ll continue to cause you trouble in other areas.

“Okay, so how do I do that then?”

By developing your dog’s intelligence, that’s how! When they get the mental stimulation they desperately need in a loving, fun, and instructional way, all their behavioral problems start to disappear fast.

To make this happen, you’ll play 21 “brain” games created by Adrienne, a CPDT-KA certified dog trainer whose work has been featured in USA Today and Every Dog magazine. See her amazing results in this video with a dog named Maggie (scroll down).

Adrienne’s training games will end bad behavior while also teaching your dog to sit, lie down, stay, heel, drop, and walk calmly by your side. It’s simple, and it will be an absolute blast for you both. She explains exactly how her system works here, go take a look!

My Dachshund Barks…

When Left Alone

Dachshunds can develop separation anxiety or simply bark for attention when left alone, especially if they are used to being with you a lot. Start by building short departures and returns that are low-key so your little buddy does not get worked up.

Leave interactive toys or frozen food puzzles to occupy their mind, and create a comfortable resting spot with familiar scents. Gradually increase alone time while rewarding calm behavior when you return.

At Other Dogs on Walks

Many dachshunds bark at other dogs because they are bold and want to announce themselves, or because they feel threatened by unfamiliar dogs. Work on controlled greetings by increasing distance from the trigger and rewarding calm focus on you.

Use turns, cross-traffic, and attention games to move past triggers without confrontation. If reactivity is severe, break exposures into smaller, manageable steps where your Doxie can succeed and be rewarded.

At Strangers at the Door

Door alert barking is common: dachshunds are watchdogs and will let you know any visitor has arrived. Teach a polite greeting by having friends ring the bell, then cue your dachshund to go to a mat and sit or stay for a treat before the door opens.

Practice with low-stress rehearsals and gradually increase realism. Reward quiet and calm greetings so barking is not reinforced by the excitement of new people arriving.

At Night

Night barking can come from boredom, anxiety, or external noises. Make sure your Doxie has had sufficient exercise and mental stimulation during the day to reduce nighttime restlessness. Provide a comfortable sleeping area near you if separation at night is an issue, or use white noise to mask outside sounds.

When Bored or Seeking Attention

Dachshunds are smart and need enrichment; without it, they will invent noisy ways to get interaction. Schedule short play sessions, training games, and scent work throughout the day so attention is not only given in response to barking.

Ignore attention-seeking barks when safe to do so, but reward quiet behaviors immediately. Over time your little buddy will learn that calm behavior earns attention more reliably than noisy demands.

Problem & Solution: Fixing Common Training Issues

Your Dachshund Won’t Respond to “Quiet”

Sometimes the Quiet command seems to have no effect because it has not been shaped correctly or the reinforcement is inconsistent.

1. Start in a low-distraction area and capture very brief pauses in barking, rewarding each pause immediately.
2. Use high-value treats to make the reward meaningful at first, then transition to lower value rewards and praise.
3. Shorten sessions to 3 to 5 minutes and repeat several times a day so your Doxie does not get frustrated.
4. Gradually add mild distractions and only progress when your dog reliably responds in the current stage.
5. Keep training positive and end sessions on a success so your little buddy stays eager to learn.

Your Dachshund Barks at Another Dog During a Walk

This issue is often driven by arousal or fear and can escalate if not managed properly.

Begin by increasing the distance between your dog and the trigger so your dachshund remains under an arousal threshold where learning can happen. Reward attention toward you with treats and happy praise, and use the look at me or focus cue to build reliable eye contact.

If another dog appears, move perpendicular across the street rather than walking straight toward it, which reduces confrontation. Gradually decrease the distance over many short, successful reps, always rewarding calm behavior. Between sessions, work on loose-leash walking, impulse control games, and mental enrichment so your furry pal is less likely to react out of pent-up energy.

Your Dachshund Barks for Attention Nonstop

Attention barking is reinforced if you respond every time your dog makes noise.

• Decide on rules for attention: only give attention during quiet moments or during structured play times.
• Ignore barking for attention whenever possible, and reward the moment your dog stops barking with calm praise or a treat.
• Teach and reward an alternate behavior, like sitting quietly or going to a mat, and give attention for that instead.
• Increase scheduled attention and play so your dog does not have to demand it unpredictably.
• Be consistent across family members so mixed signals do not undo progress.

FAQ

Will spaying or neutering reduce barking?

Spaying or neutering can reduce some hormonally driven behaviors, but it is not a reliable fix for barking on its own. If the barking is driven by anxiety, fear, or learned attention-seeking, surgical sterilization will not resolve those factors.

That said, if your vet identifies hormone-related behavioral issues contributing to reactivity, surgery may be part of an overall plan. Talk to your vet about what to expect and pair any medical steps with training and enrichment.

Is excessive barking a sign of pain or illness in dachshunds?

Yes, changes in barking patterns can sometimes indicate pain or discomfort, especially in a breed prone to back issues like dachshunds. If a normally quiet dachshund starts barking more, or vocalizes in new ways, check for other signs such as reluctance to jump, stiffness, or changes in appetite.

Talk to your vet to rule out medical problems before trying to focus solely on behavior modification. Addressing a health issue often makes training easier and more effective.

Are dachshunds more vocal because they are small and feel the need to compensate?

Size can influence how a dog communicates; smaller breeds often rely on vocal signals because they cannot use physical intimidation the way a larger dog might. For dachshunds, historical roles as hunting and alert dogs also explain the vocal tendency.

While size plays a part, upbringing, socialization, and training have a huge impact on how much they bark. With consistent training and enrichment, even a vocal breed can learn quieter habits.

How long will it take to reduce my dachshund’s barking?

Time varies depending on the reason for barking, consistency of training, and the individual dog’s temperament. You may see improvement in a few days for attention-seeking barking if you change your response patterns, but deeper issues like anxiety or reactivity often take weeks to months of consistent work.

Short, frequent training sessions, environmental management, and daily mental exercise speed up progress. Be patient and track small wins so you can adjust the plan as your little buddy improves.

Conclusion

You have learned why dachshunds bark, five practical steps to teach quieter habits, and how to handle common situations and setbacks. With consistent training, environmental tweaks, and mental enrichment, your furry pal can become much calmer and less vocal.

P.S. Be sure to pin this so you can refer back to the 5 steps!