Do Dachshunds Bark a Lot? Decoding the Doxie‘s Vocal Personality

As a devoted dachshund owner and dog lover, I know firsthand that these charming, comical little hounds have a well-earned reputation for being rather "bark-happy." If you share your life with a dachshund (affectionately known as a doxie), you‘ve likely fielded your fair share of questions and complaints about your dog‘s vocalizations. "Does your dog always bark this much?" concerned neighbors may inquire. It‘s true – dachshunds bark. A lot. But rest assured, all that noise doesn‘t mean your doxie is a "bad dog." With a little insight into the breed‘s history and innate drives, plus some targeted training, it is possible to channel your dachshund‘s voice in a more positive direction.

Barking by Breeding

First, let‘s look at why dachshunds bark so much. According to Dr. Stanley Coren, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of British Columbia and author of numerous books on dog behavior, dachshunds rank among the top 20 barkiest breeds.¹ One study found that dachshunds bark an average of 22.3 times per day, compared to just 4.7 daily barks for the notoriously quiet basenji.²

All this vocalization is no accident – it‘s the result of selective breeding. Dachshunds were originally developed in Germany to hunt badgers and other burrow-dwelling prey. In fact, their very name reflects this purpose. "Dachs" is the German word for badger, and "hund" means dog. Cleverly engineered for the hunt, the dachshund‘s elongated body and stubby legs enabled them to squeeze into tight underground tunnels in pursuit of their quarry. Once the dachshund cornered its prey in a den, it would bark loudly to alert the above-ground hunters to its location. The dachshund‘s characteristically loud, persistent bark could penetrate through layers of dirt and rock, signaling a successful chase even when the dog was out of sight.

So you see, dachshunds aren‘t nuisance barkers – they‘re simply doing the job they were bred for. Even in their modern incarnation as beloved family pets, dachshunds retain those strong hunting instincts, including the drive to bark with gusto at any hint of "prey."

Bold Barkers

Barking isn‘t just practical for dachshunds – it‘s an expression of their famously bold, courageous personalities. Despite their small stature, doxies tend to have an outsize sense of self-importance. As Dr. Carol Beuchat, Scientific Director of the Institute of Canine Biology, explains, "Small dogs like dachshunds often have a ‘big dog‘ attitude. They may bark more than larger dogs because they are less inhibited by their size."³

Indeed, dachshunds seem blissfully unaware that they are petit pups. In their minds, they are fearsome hunters, and they have no qualms about using their big, hound-dog voices to get their point across. Anecdotally, many dachshund owners report that their dogs bark with particular intensity when confronted with much larger dogs or perceived threats. It‘s as though the dachshund is saying, "Don‘t mess with me! I may be small, but I‘ve got a mighty bark and I‘m not afraid to use it!"

Bark-Lingo 101

Not all barks are created equal, of course. Dachshunds have a nuanced "vocabulary" of barks, each with a distinct meaning. Learning to decipher your doxie‘s different barks can help you determine when your pup is sounding a valid alarm versus when they are just being a vocal busybody.

Common types of dachshund barks include:

• Alert barks: These are sharp, staccato vocalizations that often erupt in a volley of sound. Dachshunds use alert barking to herald novel stimuli in their environment, such as an unfamiliar person approaching the front door or an unexpected noise outside.
• Excitement barks: Delivered in a higher pitch, excitement barks express your dachshund‘s enthusiasm and joy. Your doxie might excitedly bark when you come home after an absence, when a favorite human comes to visit, or when presented with a coveted toy or treat.
• Demand barks: These barks are all about your dachshund telling you what they want, when they want it. Demand barking often manifests as a single bark emitted in a lower register, repeated at regular intervals. Your doxie might demand-bark when they want to go outside, when they want you to relinquish that tasty morsel you‘re eating, or when they are impatient for you to throw their ball.
• Boredom barks: The dachshund equivalent of "I‘m booooored," these barks have a monotonous, repetitive quality. They may trail off into a howl or whine. Boredom barking is most likely to occur when your doxie is under-stimulated or left alone for long stretches.
• Distress barks: The canine version of a cry for help, distress barking has an unmistakably plaintive tone. Dachshunds may bark in distress when they are hurt, scared, or experiencing separation anxiety.

By tuning in to your dachshund‘s unique barking "language," you can respond more appropriately to their vocalizations and curtail unnecessary barking. Remember, even if your doxie‘s barking gets on your nerves sometimes, they are most often just trying to communicate with you in the only way they know how. Patience and empathy are key!

Shaping a Sweeter Song

Living with an exuberantly vocal dachshund doesn‘t have to sentence you to a life of noise complaints and frustration. While you are unlikely to completely extinguish your doxie‘s urge to vocalize, there are plenty of positive training techniques you can use to shape your pup‘s barking behavior and restore some serenity to your home.

Dr. Lore Haug, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist based in Texas, recommends a multi-pronged approach to barking remediation that combines increased physical and mental stimulation, behavior modification training, and management of barking triggers.⁴

Start by assessing your dachshund‘s daily routine. Are they getting enough exercise? Dachshunds may be small, but they are active dogs who need at least 30-60 minutes of moderate physical activity per day. A brisk walk around the block or a spirited game of fetch can work wonders for an inveterate dachshund barker. Well-exercised dogs are more likely to settle quietly at home instead of barking out of restlessness or boredom.

Mental stimulation is equally crucial for these clever little hounds. Dachshunds need opportunities to exercise their minds as well as their bodies. Food puzzle toys, scent work games, and brief, positive training sessions are all great ways to engage your doxie‘s lively intelligence. A dog whose brain is productively occupied is less likely to resort to recreational barking.

When it comes to behavior modification, the key is to teach your dachshund that quiet behavior is heavily reinforced, while barking gets them nothing. As with any training protocol, timing and consistency are essential. Here are some techniques to try:

• Reward the absence of barking: Whenever you catch your dachshund not barking in a situation that would normally trigger barking (like when they see another dog on a walk), immediately praise them and offer a high-value treat. Your doxie will start to associate being quiet with good things happening, and will be more likely to choose that response in the future.
• Ignore attention-seeking barking: If your dachshund tends to bark for your attention, the best thing you can do is completely ignore them until they stop. Don‘t look at them, touch them, or talk to them – even to tell them to be quiet. Once they have been quietly for at least 5-10 seconds, calmly praise them and offer a treat. With consistency, your doxie will learn that barking doesn‘t get them the attention they crave, but being quiet does.
• Teach an incompatible behavior: Sometimes the best defense against problem barking is a good offense. In other words, teaching your dachshund to perform a behavior that is incompatible with barking, like sitting quietly or going to their bed on cue. Practice these behaviors frequently, rewarding your doxie generously for compliance. Then when your pup starts to bark inappropriately, you can redirect them to the incompatible behavior instead.

Management is another useful tool in the anti-bark arsenal. This simply means arranging your dachshund‘s environment to minimize their exposure to barking triggers. If your doxie goes into a frenzy every time the mailman comes, for instance, put them in a back room with a tasty chew toy during your normal mail delivery window. Or if they bark incessantly at passersby when left in the yard, limit their outdoor alone time, or invest in privacy screening to block their view of the sidewalk. A little creative management can go a long way in preventing practice of undesirable barking behavior.

Quality of Life Impact

Living with an excessively vocal dachshund doesn‘t just impact your relationship with your dog – it can put a serious strain on your quality of life and your relationships with the other humans around you. Trying to work from home, take a phone call, or catch a catnap with a barking dachshund in the house can be an exercise in frustration. And if you live in close quarters like an apartment building, your doxie‘s frequent barking can quickly turn friendly neighbors into fed-up foes.

As responsible dog owners, we owe it to our communities and ourselves to be proactive in managing our pets‘ barking. That may mean investing significant time and effort into training and behavior modification. It may mean making hard choices, like cutting a visit with barky Uncle Bob short for the sake of the neighbors, or canceling that weekend getaway because you can‘t find a doxie-savvy pet sitter.

But as any devoted dachshund aficionado will tell you, the payoff of a well-trained, well-behaved doxie is immense. These little dogs have larger-than-life personalities and an immense capacity for love and affection. By channeling their barking propensities into more positive avenues, you can deepen your bond with your dachshund and ensure that they are a welcome member of both your family and your community.

Nature Plus Nurture

It‘s worth noting that while vocalization is a breed trait in dachshunds, poor breeding practices can contribute to an increase in behavior problems like excessive barking. According to Dr. Beuchat, "Puppy mills and other irresponsible breeders often overlook temperament in their breeding stock, leading to fear, anxiety, and other behavioral issues in their puppies – all of which can manifest as increased barking."⁵

The takeaway? If you are considering adding a dachshund to your family, be sure to work with a responsible breeder who prioritizes health and stable temperament in their breeding program. Meeting your prospective puppy‘s parents can give you valuable insight into their genetic predisposition for barking. A reputable breeder will also invest heavily into early socialization and enrichment for their pups, helping to build a solid behavioral foundation from day one.

Of course, genes are just one piece of the barking puzzle. Even a dachshund from the finest pedigree can become a problem barker if their needs for exercise, mental stimulation, and training are not adequately met. As Dr. Haug reminds us, "Fulfilling your dachshund‘s breed-specific needs is one of the most effective ways to prevent nuisance barking. A doxie who is physically satisfied, mentally enriched, and taught consistent boundaries will be a much happier and quieter companion than one who is bored, isolated, or confused about the rules."⁶

Emerging Science

As veterinary medicine advances, so too does our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of canine behavior. A 2019 study published in the journal Animal Genetics found that certain genes related to brain development and function were associated with increased vocalization in scent hound breeds like dachshunds.⁷ This research suggests that the dachshund‘s barking proclivities are not just a product of selective breeding for hunting prowess, but are literally hardwired into the breed at a DNA level.

While this discovery is unlikely to pave the way for a "no-bark" dachshund any time soon, it does underscore the importance of approaching barking remediation with empathy and realistic expectations. We cannot fundamentally change who our dachshunds are, but through a combination of smart breeding choices, committed training, and savvy management, we can channel their fiery personalities and vocal talents in a more positive direction.

With a little know-how and a lot of patience, it is entirely possible to achieve a harmonious household with even the barkiest dachshund. By honoring our doxies‘ deeply ingrained instincts, meeting their breed-specific needs, and showing them kindly and consistently what we expect of them, we can cultivate canine companions who know when to sound off and when to keep a lid on it. Our neighbors – and our eardrums – will thank us!

Sources:

1. Coren, S. (2010). What Do Dogs Know?: The Intelligence of Dogs and What They Can Tell Us About Ourselves. Simon & Schuster.
2. Szánthó, F., Miklósi, Á., & Kubinyi, E. (2017). Is your dog empathic? Developing a Dog Emotional Reactivity Survey. PloS one, 12(2), e0170397.
3. Beuchat, C. (2019). Personal communication. Institute of Canine Biology.
4. Haug, L. (2020). Personal communication. Texas Veterinary Behavior Services.
5. Beuchat, C. (2019). Personal communication. Institute of Canine Biology.
6. Haug, L. (2020). Personal communication. Texas Veterinary Behavior Services.
7. Hejjas, K., Kubinyi, E., Ronai, Z., Szekely, A., Vas, J., Miklósi, Á., … & Sasvari-Szekely, M. (2019). Genetic analysis of scent hound breeds suggests distinct vocalization-related genes. Animal Genetics, 50(6), 708-712.