Why do Dachshunds Bark?

When we got our puppy, we knew barking was a trait of the dachshund breed, but we didn’t expect it to be so excessive. Every noise—the postman, a car, even a gust of wind at the door—set him off. As owners, we faced comments, messages, and angry neighbors while we were gone. The nonstop behavior became a real nuisance and even a risk in our apartment.

Over time, we used training methods like desensitization and counterconditioning to reduce and eliminate the issue. With the right tips, a clear overview of the process, and consistency, you can help stop the barking. Quietness may be rare with this notorious breed, but it’s manageable. This blog post shares what actually worked for us and our readers.

Why do Dachshunds Bark? – Short Answer

Dachshunds bark because they are naturally alert, curious, and protective. They may bark due to boredom, anxiety, territorial behavior, or excitement from triggers like strangers, noises, or other animals. Training and mental stimulation can help manage their barking.

Understand the Barking Triggers for Your Dachshund

The first thing I learned after bringing home my dachshund was that to truly understand their barking, you need to look deeper than just the noise—it’s about uncovering the real cause behind it. Like many other breeds, they bark for a variety of reasons, including boredom, anxiety, territorial instincts, or simply to get your attention. Once I noticed the patterns in my dog’s behavior, I began addressing the issue step by step. Knowing the underlying trigger is key—it helps you take the right steps in the first place to calm things down before the barking becomes a habit.

Common causes of excessive barking include:

Exercise and Mental Stimulation

One of the common reasons why dachshunds bark is due to excess energy. If your dog isn’t properly exercised or stimulated, barking can quickly become a daily issue. From my own experience, a long walk where my dachshund gets to sniff, explore new surroundings, and release energy helps him settle for the rest of the day. To help address this, always make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.

You can use interactive toys and treats to keep your dachshund mentally stimulated. For example, stuffing a Kong toy or something similar with healthy snacks keeps them busy and content for hours. These little routines really help reduce barking and support a calmer home.

Dog Training

One thing that really helped me address my dachshund’s excessive barking was consistent training. Dachshunds can be a bit stubborn by nature, so it’s important to teach them basic commands like sit, stay, and quiet early on. My own dachshund would ignore me at first, but over time, I learned that the key was to follow through consistently and keep things simple and firm.

When he barks too much, I calmly ignore the behavior and then reward him with treats and praise when he’s finally quiet. This simple approach became more effective the more I stuck with it. It takes time, but once your dog starts responding correctly, the barking becomes manageable, and they learn when enough is truly enough.

Socialisation

Many dachshunds become anxious or territorial if they aren’t properly socialised at a young age, which can lead to excessive barking. From my experience, to help prevent this, it’s important to make sure your pup is exposed to a variety of people, animals, and environments early on. This helps them feel more comfortable in new situations, whether it’s inside the house or outside on a walk.

If your dog barks at noises, strangers, or other dogs, the trigger may be that they weren’t made familiar with these different sounds and interactions. Getting them used to these things while they’re still young can reduce the likelihood of them becoming reactive later. I always recommend creating chances where present stimuli like sounds or visitors can desensitise them for the future, making every encounter less stressful and more manageable.

Excitement

Sometimes, my dachshund would start to bark out of nowhere—and it often turned out he had seen something that stimulated his curiosity or triggered his hunting instinct. These small dogs are great at alerting us to anything they consider a potential danger, even if it’s just a guest, a stranger walking past the house, leaves blowing, or as one reader joked—a squirrel farting down the road. What may seem harmless to us is often perceived differently by them, and their instincts take over quickly.

Separation Anxiety

When your dachshund isn’t used to being left alone or separated from you, they can become very anxious. My own dog would howl and bark excessively the moment I would leave the house. It’s not misbehavior—it’s stress from feeling disconnected. Helping them adjust slowly to your absence can ease this response over time.

Reactivity and Fear-Based Behavior

If your dachshund barks or lunges at dogs or people during a walk or near your house, they might be showing signs of being reactive. In my case, the behavior was rooted in fear, though many would perceive it as my dog being aggressive. Recognizing this difference is key to understanding and managing their triggers better.

Social Needs and Attention-Seeking

Dachshunds are naturally social creatures and crave human interaction on a regular basis. I noticed that when mine felt ignored or faced neglect, he’d turn to excessive barking to get my attention, and I unknowingly reinforced it. While there are many possible reasons a dachshund may bark, this is one of the most typical causes I’ve experienced.

How to Stop Your Dachshund from Barking

Teaching the Quiet Command

The number one key I’ve found to stop barking is to teach your dachshund a simple quiet or “no bark” command. If your dog is mindful of you and your cues, it becomes surprisingly easy to train them to respond and settle down when needed.

Use of the Place Command

One trick I’ve used is the place command, teaching my dachshund to sit on a specific mat or bed and just relax. This helps manage barking, especially when the mailman or other intruders pass by.

Since dachshunds are naturally territorial creatures, they may start barking when a stranger or animal enters the yard. Instead of giving in to the urge to yell or say “shut up,” I calmly use the place command to redirect their focus.

Once your dachshund really understands that the command means to stay and relax, redirecting them to that place becomes distracting enough to stop the barking. I also make sure to reward them with treats because honestly, it’s hard to eat and bark at the same time.

You can train your dog to sit, stay, and remain quiet even when strangers like the mailman approach the front door. Use treats as bribes, but only reward your dachshund with a treat if she refrains from barking entirely.

Personal Example: Remove the Fun or Trigger

My miniature dachshund Summit had a serious barking problem—she was on constant high alert, barking at the wind, the tv, or even the smallest noise in the house. I began to notice that by identifying and removing the trigger, I could slowly start curbing the behavior, especially when the yard or fun was involved.

If she started barking outside, I’d bring her inside to take away the fun she associates with the yard, which she absolutely loves. When she barks at something on the tv, I calmly say no or give the leave it command a couple of times, and if it continues, I change the channel or turn the tv off completely.

This method removes the trigger and teaches her that she only gets to watch tv, something she loves, when she can sit quietly—a simple rule that’s helped reduce barking overall.

Last Resort: Dachshund Bark Collars (With Caution)

A dog bark collar is a device specifically designed to discourage barking excessively, and it usually responds with a noise, mild electric shock, vibration, or even a spray of deterrent like citronella when the dog barks.

However, the use of a bark collar on a dog is a controversial topic. While some argue for its effectiveness, others highlight reasons, arguments, and the risk of it being used improperly. By its nature, it’s nearly impossible to use this punishment device “properly” without causing injury, making the dog fearful, or even increasing behavior issues.

I personally used one on my first dachshund because someone with more experience suggested it at the time. Did it work? Yes. Would I use it again? Only if I absolutely had to—and I’d rather not unless I need help with something urgent.

Still, in extreme cases where someone might be evicted or forced to surrender their dachshund to a shelter due to barking, and no solution is found fast, trying a bark collar as a last resort could be justified. In such dire circumstances, I’d prefer the owner and the dachshund stay together in their home, even if bark collars are frowned upon by many.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, understanding why your dachshund barks is the first step to helping them live a calmer, happier life. This article has explored the many reasons behind barking—from excitement and anxiety to habit and environment and shared real-life strategies that work. Every dog is different, but with patience and consistency, progress is always possible.

FAQ’s

Why do Dachshunds like to bark so much?

Dachshunds may bark for a number of different reasons, as barking is a natural communication method for dogs. They often bark out of boredom, fear, or to alert their owners of perceived threats. Interestingly, the way we respond to our dog’s barking can sometimes unintentionally reinforce the behaviour, making it more persistent over time.

How do you stop a dachshund from barking?

Never reward your dog for barking—instead, praise them for being quiet. If your dachshund barks at mealtimes, simply ignore it and wait for them to stop before feeding. I’ve learned to plan ahead by using a toy to distract them while I’m preparing their snack, and it’s made a big difference in their behavior.

Which dog breed barks the most?

While dachshunds are known for being vocal, they’re not alone—golden retrievers like Charlie, who holds the world record for loudest bark since 2012, are just as expressive. These dogs are loyal, devoted companions and often use their booming bark for hunting or protecting their family, showing that barking can be both instinctive and purposeful across breeds.

Why do Dachshunds make so much noise?

Understanding your dog’s voice matters—high-pitched, repetitive barks usually show excitement or attention-seeking, while deep, aggressive tones may reflect a perceived threat. Growling is another signal, often tied to discomfort, fear, or aggression. The intensity and pitch of these sounds vary, giving clear insight into your dog’s emotional state.