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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dachshund issues

29 replies

calimc83 · 24/10/2023 21:29

We've recently ( July) rehomed a miniature dachshund who is 6 years old. She's an absolute sweetheart but very needy. Wants to constantly be either sat beside you or on your knee. We have baby gates downstairs and on the stairs as we have young children. I'd say for the first month or so we had few issues but she's recently taken to having a wee/poo in the living room if we all go upstairs together ( tends to be bath time). She's not great at all at letting you know when she needs to go outside. She will occasionally run to the back door but not all the time. She is walked daily and let out frequently..I'd let her follow us upstairs tbh but I'm more concerned about her back - hence the stair gates ( plus I'm not a huge fan of dogs upstairs) I think her issues are down to anxiety as she's had a few homes but I'm not too sure how to move forwards with her. Thanks

OP posts:

Newpeep · 24/10/2023 21:51

Sleep with her 🙂 Or have her with you. Separation can be worked on when she feels more mature.

Wolfiefan · 24/10/2023 21:54

She needs to be with you.

Floralnomad · 24/10/2023 21:55

Carry her upstairs with you , she obviously doesn’t want to be alone .

Newpeep · 24/10/2023 21:57

Mature - secure 🙄

PenguinLove1 · 24/10/2023 21:59

Dachshunds are velcro dogs, they don't like to be left out of family activities- could she have a bed in the hall upstairs where she could lie and still see everyone doing bathtime etc?

I wasn't keen on letting mine upstairs, so i started putting her out for the toilet first, now she trots straight out to the loo when everyone starts heading upstairs as she knows she wont be allowed until she has been to the loo.

If her accidents are poo and not pee and happen quickly after you go upstairs then its anxiety from being left alone, not that she isnt toilet trained.

Original poster

calimc83 · 24/10/2023 22:33

Thanks for your replies. A bed upstairs might be a good idea. Is it something she'll likely to grow out of the more secure she becomes? I could carry her up I suppose..I just tend to have my hands full with children and babies 😂

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PenguinLove1 · 24/10/2023 22:56

Mine hasn't so much outgrown it, but rather ive relaxed about it as ive grown in confidence that she wont have an accident, and can let her choose where to go - so sometimes she follows us up to wait for us, other times stays lying on the couch as she is lazy.

I felt the same about the stairs initially but she was leaping on and off the couch all the time so i decided that an odd time on the stairs probably wouldn't make much difference- she only goes up or down once or twice a day though, id close the gate if she was running up and down all day.

At the start it was a novelty as she wasnt usually allowed but as the novelty wore off she isnt really bothered by being upstairs unless we are all there together for a period of time.

margotrose · 25/10/2023 05:54

calimc83 · 24/10/2023 22:33

It's possible but dachshunds are known as Velcro dogs for a reason - they don't like being left alone. They're also notoriously difficult to toilet train.

I expect you're realising why she's had multiple homes already. Separation anxiety and toileting in the house are both very challenging issues and the former especially can take months and months of hard work to overcome.

HippoWater · 25/10/2023 06:20

These traits are common Dachshund traits, they are not 'easy going' dogs, some are never fully house trained and they are lap dogs who don't want to apart from their owner. If she has had a few homes she has had no stability in her little life and will take a longer period to adjust. There are lots of Dachshund forums which you might find will help with any tips and tricks to help and if you still need help I would get a dog trainer to assist you.

Witchbitch20 · 25/10/2023 06:32

It’s a dachshund trait and they are notoriously difficult to house train.

I’m on my 5th rescue, so you end up living with it.

Newpeep · 25/10/2023 08:01

She won’t grow out of it but she should become more confident. SA isn’t a given but she’ll need help to be on her own but then really all dogs do.

Teddleshon · 25/10/2023 08:15

Our miniature dachshund is 9 and is permanently attached to me I'm afraid. If I'm not available he will attach himself to one of our other dogs. House training was extremely difficult but we got there in the end.

If I go out for what he views as an unacceptable length of time I do get a punishment poo - usually three tiny poos neatly lined up under my dressing table or similar so there's no mistaking his point!

margotrose · 25/10/2023 09:10

Teddleshon · 25/10/2023 08:15

Dogs have no concept of punishing you - she's pooing when you leave because she's scared.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 25/10/2023 09:14

Going up the stairs once a day is not going to make her into a cripple.

TicTacNicNak · 25/10/2023 09:15

Yep, definitely Velcro dogs. They like to sleep on your bed, or preferably in the bed under the covers.

Teddleshon · 25/10/2023 09:29

@margotrose if that’s the case it’s odd as when I’m away and dh is in charge this never happens. Only ever happens when I’m home alone and then pop out.

whatthehelldowecare · 25/10/2023 09:35

Comes with the breed im afraid! I have 2 and they're permanently attached to me.. but I love it!

PosteriorPosterity · 25/10/2023 09:38

My dachshund is younger, and goes upstairs but gets carried down (which I understand is worse for putting pressure on the spine).

We’ve had her since a puppy though, and while her toilet training is absolutely bullet proof - it’s mostly because she has to go out and to the toilet before coming upstairs.

She does get left downstairs or alone for long periods nowadays, but it took a lot of baby steps to get there, and the “deal” we have is that in the evening she is pretty much always touching us to compensate for being alone most of the day. We can only do this if there’s only one of us at home though, if we’re all at home she will not settle downstairs by herself as that’s not her routine and she has massive FOMO.

She is a happy and well rounded dog, but it was hard yards to get there and there was a lot of luck that she isn’t prone to separation anxiety as the breed is. I imagine this is already harder for a rescue who is a history of being left behind by its owners.

My advice would be to lean into how needy she is for a while to help build that secure attachment (our pup wasn’t left alone for even 5 mins for her first 3-4 months with her, we spent a lot of nights sleeping next to her crate) and then take small steps towards building her confidence when left alone.

Original poster

calimc83 · 25/10/2023 11:07

Thanks everyone for the advice. Funnily enough she is fine when we go to bed, tuck her up under her blanket and she'll sleep all night without any issues. The issue only arises around everyone going upstairs and her being left alone during the day.I think we'll start carrying her up and down the stairs for this if that's going to help..I feel sorry for her, she's such a sweetie and has had such an unsettled background. We'd never rehome her, she has a permanent home with us, we all adore her. It's like in her previous homes she was never really been given that option of how to be a dog if u know what I mean? She doesn't seem to understand how to play and when walking she doesn't sniff really..she's started to a little bit more which I think has come about as she's settled.

OP posts:

margotrose · 25/10/2023 11:25

Teddleshon · 25/10/2023 09:29

@margotrose if that’s the case it’s odd as when I’m away and dh is in charge this never happens. Only ever happens when I’m home alone and then pop out.

Yes, because you've left her alone and you're the one she's most attached to.

Dogs have no concept of revenge or "punishing" people. She's pooing on the floor because she's anxious or scared when you go out and leave her alone.

ohsuzannah · 25/10/2023 11:43

I'm writing this with two dachshunds on my lap! They follow me everywhere! Even to the toilet, and I have to leave the bathroom door open when I shower. Definitely have a bed upstairs if you can. Mine actually sleep on my bed.

Beautyfadesdumbisforever · 25/10/2023 11:44

Not exactly what you were asking about but about her not knowing how to act as a dog.
Try taking just a couple of small tasty treats when out for a walk and drop them in the grass where to start with she can find them easily and gradually make it harder. She will learn to sniff around its mentally stimulating and a calming exercise and will help with her all round confidence.
so pleased you said she won’t be rehomed again it sounds as if she has had a horrible time.

Original poster

calimc83 · 25/10/2023 12:02

@Beautyfadesdumbisforever oh will give that a go , thank you. Yeah I've read that sniffing is really good for them so will definitely look to encourage that. And yes a dog is for life in my book, so she'll definitely be staying. Also I've realised I'll be saving on heating bills this winter as she permanently wants to be on my lap and she's like a mini hot water bottle 😆

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Mayhemmumma · 25/10/2023 13:32

Came on here expecting you to say she barks too much! Another endearing feature.

My two sausages are the most loving dogs so I let them off.

What works for us is making an enormous fuss of them every time we see them - because they greet us so excitedly even if you've been for a wee but leave them frequently.

My two have each other for company which helps...get another!!

Original poster

calimc83 · 25/10/2023 13:40

@Mayhemmumma I think hormones got the better of me initially in agreeing to take her on- we'd just had our 3rd child! Definitely no more....( dogs or children 😆). She does get soooo excited when she hasn't seen us for a little while, can barely contain herself!
And yes....the barking...luckily it's not at home but walks...that's a whole other issue 🙈

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