Sausage dogs are stubborn but trainable if you match their temperament
Dachshunds — the breed most people call sausage dogs — are intelligent and food-motivated, which makes them trainable. But they were bred to hunt badgers alone, which means they have a strong independent streak and will ignore commands if they decide something else is more interesting. Training works best when you accept this trait rather than fight it: use high-value rewards (real meat, not kibble), keep sessions short, and establish yourself as the source of good things before you ask for obedience.
The core challenge is that sausage dogs have a low boredom threshold and a high prey drive. A squirrel will always win over a sit command. This is not a reflection on your training — it is the dog's wiring. Success means building habits strong enough to compete with distraction, which takes consistency over weeks, not days.
Key Takeaways
- Sausage dogs respond best to food rewards and short training sessions of five to ten minutes, because they lose focus quickly and resent being forced.
- Housebreaking takes longer in this breed — often four to six months — because they have small bladders and stubborn temperaments; crate training and a fixed schedule are more reliable than punishment.
- Recall (coming when called) is the hardest command to teach because prey drive overrides it; a long line and high-value treats work better than off-leash practice in open spaces.
- Jumping, nipping, and excessive barking are common in sausage dogs and respond to redirecting the dog to a toy or task rather than scolding after the fact.
- Socialization between eight weeks and sixteen weeks prevents fear-based aggression later, but sausage dogs remain territorial and may not warm to strangers without repeated exposure.
Housebreaking: expect a longer timeline than other breeds
Sausage dogs have small bladders and mature slowly in their housebreaking habits. Most are reliably housetrained by four to six months, but some take longer. The breed is also stubborn about going outside in bad weather, so you will need patience and a routine that does not skip days.
Crate training is the most effective method. A sausage dog will not soil the space where it sleeps, so a properly sized crate (large enough to stand and turn, not large enough to pee in one corner and sleep in another) teaches bladder control. Take the dog outside when ready after waking, after eating, after play, and before bed. Reward outdoor elimination with a high-value treat and praise. When accidents happen indoors, do not punish — clean the spot thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner so the dog does not smell old urine and return to the same spot.
Sausage dogs often regress during teething (around four to six months) or when stressed. This is normal and does not mean training has failed. Return to the crate schedule and outdoor routine without frustration.
Teaching sit, stay, and basic obedience
Sausage dogs learn sit and stay quickly because these commands are straightforward to reward. Hold a treat close to the dog's nose and move it up and back over the head — the dog's rear will naturally lower. Say "sit" as the rear touches the ground, then reward when ready. Repeat five to ten times per session, once or twice daily. Most sausage dogs sit reliably within a week.
Stay is harder because it requires the dog to remain still while you move away. Start with one second of stay at arm's length, reward, and gradually increase duration and distance. Never practice stay when the dog is tired or hungry, because motivation drops. If the dog breaks stay, do not chase or scold — straightforward reset and try again with a shorter duration.
The mistake most owners make is training too long. A sausage dog's attention span is five to ten minutes. After that, the dog shuts down or becomes stubborn. Multiple short sessions beat one long one. End on success — always finish with a command the dog knows and will obey, so the dog leaves the session feeling capable.
Recall training when prey drive is in the way
Teaching a sausage dog to come when called is the hardest obedience task because the breed's hunting instinct overrides the command. A squirrel, another dog, or a scent will always be more interesting than you, at least initially. This is not disobedience — it is biology.
Start recall training indoors or in a fenced yard where the dog cannot actually chase prey. Call the dog's name, say "come," and reward heavily with real meat or cheese when the dog reaches you. Practice this dozens of times until the dog runs to you automatically when you call. Then move to a long line (20 to 30 feet) in an open space. If the dog ignores you, gently reel in the line and reward when the dog reaches you, so the dog learns that come always results in a reward.
Never call your sausage dog to come and then do something the dog dislikes — like nail trimming or a bath. The dog will learn that come means something bad is coming and will ignore the command. If you need to do something unpleasant, go get the dog instead of calling it.
Off-leash recall in open spaces is risky for sausage dogs until they are at least two years old and have months of reliable on-leash practice. Even then, many owners keep their sausage dogs on a long line outdoors because the prey drive never fully disappears.
Stopping jumping, nipping, and excessive barking
Sausage dogs jump on people to get attention, nip during play because they were weaned early or played roughly with littermates, and bark at every sound because they were bred to alert hunters to prey. These are breed traits, not behavior problems, but they can be redirected.
For jumping: do not push the dog down or knee it in the chest — this teaches the dog that jumping gets a reaction, which is still attention. Instead, turn away and ignore the dog until all four paws are on the ground, then reward with attention or a treat. Teach visitors to do the same. The dog learns that jumping makes people boring and sitting makes people interesting.
For nipping: redirect to a toy. When the dog nips your hand during play, yelp loudly (this mimics what littermates do), stop play for a few seconds, then offer a toy. The dog learns that teeth on skin end the fun, but teeth on toys continue it. If nipping continues, end the play session entirely and leave the room for five minutes.
For barking: sausage dogs bark to alert and to demand attention. Reward quiet instead of scolding bark. When the dog stops barking for even a few seconds, mark the moment with "yes" and reward. Do not yell "quiet" — this is attention, which is what the dog wanted. Ignore barking and reward silence. This takes weeks but works.
Socialization and managing territorial behavior
Sausage dogs are naturally territorial and can become fear-aggressive or snap at strangers if not socialized early. The critical window is eight weeks to sixteen weeks old. During this time, expose the dog to different people, sounds, surfaces, and environments in a positive way — let the dog approach at its own pace and reward calm behavior.
Sausage dogs often remain aloof with strangers even after socialization. This is normal for the breed. They bond closely with their family and may ignore or avoid guests. Do not force interaction — let the dog decide when to approach. Forcing a sausage dog to be petted by a stranger can increase fear and defensiveness.
Territorial barking at the door or window is common. Teach an alternative behavior: when someone knocks, ask the dog to go to a mat or bed and reward staying there. The dog learns that visitors mean a reward for being on the mat, not an opportunity to guard the door.
Managing the breed's physical limitations during training
Sausage dogs have long backs and short legs, which makes them prone to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — a spinal injury that can cause paralysis. Avoid jumping, climbing stairs repeatedly, or standing on hind legs during training. Do not let the dog jump off furniture. Use ramps or steps to reach the couch or bed.
This breed also overheats easily because of their body shape and can have breathing difficulty in hot weather. Train in cool parts of the day and always have water available. Stop training if the dog is panting heavily or seems distressed.
Sausage dogs are prone to obesity, which worsens joint and spinal problems. Use small, low-calorie treats during training — a piece of chicken or carrot works as well as a commercial treat and does not add up to extra meals. Count training treats as part of the dog's daily food intake.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should I start training my sausage dog?
Start housebreaking and basic obedience at eight weeks old. Puppies can learn sit and come at this age, though they will forget and need reminding. Formal training classes are usually available at twelve to sixteen weeks. Sausage dogs continue learning throughout their lives, so training is not limited to puppyhood.
Why does my sausage dog ignore commands it knows?
Sausage dogs are not stubborn in the sense of refusing to obey — they are weighing whether your reward is worth more than what they want to do instead. If a squirrel is visible, the squirrel wins. If the dog is tired or hungry, motivation drops. Increase the reward value (use meat instead of kibble) and train when the dog is alert and not distracted.
Can sausage dogs live off-leash safely?
Most sausage dogs should not be trusted off-leash in unfenced areas, even after training. The prey drive is too strong and the dog is too small to be safe around traffic or larger dogs. A long line or fenced yard is safer. Some individual dogs develop reliable recall, but this takes years of consistent training and is never may provide.
How do I stop my sausage dog from barking at every noise?
Reward quiet instead of punishing bark. When the dog stops barking for a few seconds, mark it with "yes" and give a treat. Ignore barking entirely — do not yell or react. This teaches the dog that silence gets attention and barking does not. It takes weeks, but it works better than scolding.
Is professional training worth it for a sausage dog?
Group classes are useful for socialization and teaching you how to train, but sausage dogs often respond better to one-on-one training because the trainer can adjust to the dog's independent temperament. If you choose a trainer, ask whether they have experience with stubborn or independent breeds and whether they use reward-based methods rather than punishment.