Why are Dachshunds so needy
Why Are Dachshunds So Needy? 8 Typical Reasons
Dachshunds are lively, sociable dogs that love spending time with their human companions. Most of the time, their loyalty and attention are welcomed and appreciated. However, some Dachshunds take things too far and tend to become needy. There are a few different reasons that your Dachshund might be acting this way.
Determining the reason will enable you to address the situation appropriately. To figure out why your dog is acting so needy, you must first learn about the various causes. Then, you can determine which one is most likely the reason for your dogs neediness.
The 8 Reasons Why Dachshunds Are So Needy
1. They Dont Like to Be Alone
Most Dachshunds do not like spending time alone. If they are left to fend for themselves all day while their human companions are at school and/or work, they are likely to become clingy and needy once people start arriving home. If this is the case for your dog, consider taking them to a daycare center or hiring someone to babysit them in your home so they dont feel so lonely throughout the day. This way, they will be less likely to get clingy and needy when you are home and spending time with them.
2. They Are Natural Followers
This dog was bred to hunt. Hunting requires the dog and human to have a close relationship, so Dachshunds became natural followers as they evolved. Today, even Dachshunds that do not hunt tend to be natural followers of their human companions. There isnt much that you can do about your dog having a natural inclination to follow you around. Some obedience training can help get your dog to relax, so you can move around without them always being right on your heels.
3. They Tend to Get Separation Anxiety
Dachshunds are known for having separation anxiety. They can be extremely destructive when left home alone and then will follow you around like youre glued together once you walk in the front door. Addressing the separation anxiety through training and other methods should help keep your household in order and your dog from being too needy while youre spending time at home.
4. They Are Feeling a Little Stressed
Sometimes, stress can lead to a Dachshund being overly needy or clingy. This is especially true if the stress is a result of a change in schedule, a move to a new home, or another life-changing circumstance that encourages a sense of instability. If your dog is experiencing a change of some kind, give them time to adjust to their new situation. If they still act stressed and needy, do things like setting up a safe space in the house that has familiar pillows and bedding to make them feel more secure.
5. They Have Learned to Be Clingy
Dachshunds are smart dogs and they can learn things that we dont intend to teach them, like how to be clingy. You may have accidentally taught your dog to be clingy as puppies, and habits like these can be hard for these dogs to break. If you encourage your dog to stay by your side and reward the behavior, theyll quickly learn to stay near you as often as possible, which can lead to clinginess. Dont encourage such behavior or reward it in any way to avoid teaching this bad habit.
Dachshunds will do just about anything for a treat to eat. If you tend to walk around with treats in your pocket or your dog is used to you freely giving treats out, there is a chance that you will be followed around and clung to wherever you go. Only provide your pet with treats during training or when you want to reward their behavior. Never feed your dog from the table or share food with them when youre out and about.
7. They Have Developed a Health Problem
If your Dachshund suddenly starts acting needy when they never have done so before, the behavior may be due to a developing health problem. If your dog is feeling ill, they may try to stick by your side as a form of comfort. If you cant figure out any other reason for your Dachshund becoming needy, its a good idea to get them to a veterinarian and see if there are any health problems to address.
8. They Are Getting Older
As dachshunds age, they can become increasingly attached to their human companions. It is when they understand that they are near the end of life that they become extremely clingy. If you know that your dog is older and has reached their life expectancy age (which is about 12 to 16 years), there is no need to correct their needy behavior. Its a good time to spend as much quality time together as possible.
Conclusion
Dachshunds have a reputation for being needy and clingy. There are so many things that can encourage or drive this behavior. The trick is to determine the reason that your Dachshund is acting so needy so you can address the situation and correct the behavior. Hopefully, this guide will help put you on the right track!
Featured Image Credit: A Traves del Prisma, Shutterstock
Why Are Dachshunds So Needy?
Dachshunds can be very clingy and attached to their people. New owners often wonder if this is normal behavior for the breed.
All dogs are somewhat needy to an extent, simply because they are pack animals, prefer to be around others, and depend on you for things like food and health care.
Many Dachshunds love to follow their people around like little shadows.
Dachshunds were bred to hunt and eliminate rodents, so the breed feels a strong sense of responsibility to their family.
This article will explain why Dachshunds may come across as a needy breed.
Why is My Dachshund Being Clingy?
The Dachshund is a breed that loves attention and affection from their owners.
This playful and lively hound dog needs plenty of social contact with humans in order to thrive.
Its important to note that Dachshunds tend to gravitate toward one person in the family.
Typically, when your Doxie bonds with one person more so than the others, they will cling to that particular family member.
More often than not, your Dachshund will become most bonded with the person who feeds, walks, and plays with them on a frequent basis.
However, all dogs generally bond to those who are around during the puppy socialization period.
From birth to about six months old, your Dachshund is developing physically and mentally.
During this time period, anything that happens around your Dachshund can influence their behavior and personality traits.
Dachshunds tend to have one person in the household they gravitate towards.
If only one person is caring for the dog during that time, chances are the bond between dog and human will be very strong.
Sometimes even the voice or mannerisms of a person can cause a Dachshund to gravitate toward them.
Just as humans can be more comfortable around certain people, the same can be said for canine-human relationships.
Dachshunds are very loyal dogs, and that makes this breed an excellent companion.
If you dont want a shadow dog who follows you from room to room, you may want to consider a different breed of a furry friend.
There are, however, other behaviors that your Dachshund may be exhibiting to make you think that they are clingy or needy, although they really arent.
For example; if your Dachshund always follows you to the kitchen, its probably not because they love you THAT much.
Sorry to disappoint, but your pup wants the cheese that you accidentally drop from time to time.
Your dog may also follow you to certain places, like the kitchen, because they know food is there.
To your Dachshund, the kitchen means food, just as going to the front door could symbolize going on a walk.
Dachshunds are also notorious for wanting to follow their owners into the bathroom.
It could be due to straightforward affection but its also very likely due to out your dog feeling separation anxiety if they are not in the same room as you.
Also, think about what kind of reward your Dachshund may be getting when let into the bathroom.
Do you pick your dog up? Pet them? or do they get to lick you (like the water off of your legs after a shower)?
Just remember that your Dachshunds penchant for following you may not be because they are clingy.
Your dog may be relating certain rooms or areas in your house to a positive reward for them, such as treats, playtime or going for a ride in the car.
These are simply circumstances of positive reinforcement, rather than traits of neediness.
Is It Bad for My Dachshund to Be Needy?
Most pet parents accept the fact that their dogs can display needy behavior at any time, and many of them embrace it.
In general, Dachshunds tend to be a breed that need social contact and like to follow their owners around.
Are there any downsides to a Dachshund being needy? Sure.
A dog who is well-bonded to one particular person could experience separation anxiety when that person leaves or disappears from sight.
Your Dachshund may also start resource guarding the person that they cling to the most. They could even become aggressive if another human or dog approaches their person.
This sort of behavior can lead to further aggression, and its crucial to make note of that so it doesnt become worse.
A clingy Dachshund can become also become a simple nuisance sometimes, especially when they are constantly at your feet.
If your Dachshund has suddenly become clingy, it could be an indication of an underlying medical condition.
If your older Dachshund starts displaying needy behavior, it could mean that they are losing their hearing or eyesight. Therefore, they resort to depending on you on a daily basis.
If the need to be close to you is a new behavior, it could indicate a change in your Dachshunds health.
Training and calming aids such as CBD oil can assist with separation anxiety, but you will want to rule out any health issues with a veterinarian, should be there a sudden change in behavior.
How Can I Teach My Dachshund to Not Be So Needy?
A Dachshund that likes to constantly be near you likely will always be that way.
However, there are some things you can do when your dog is young, or first comes home with you, to teach them to be ok on their own.
But how do you do that?
Crate training
One of your priorities when you first bring home your Dachshund puppy should be crate training.
Its crucial to teach your Dachshund that their crate is a positive, relaxing space.
Not only will training your Dachshund to use a kennel be beneficial for potty training, but it also teaches self-reliance.
The more secure your dog is being in a crate alone, the less like they are to suffer from separation anxiety when you arent around.
Crate training is not punishment. Done right, it can help a Dachshund feel safe and become a well adjusted family member.
Involve the family
When you involve other family members in training, feeding, and walking your Dachshund, your furry friend will happily bond with them as well.
When your family shares your Dachshunds love, they probably wont act as needy toward one person.
Teach confidence
A confident Dachshund can still be needy, but they may not be needy to an extreme.
Confident dogs are less likely to suffer from severe separation anxiety.
You can teach your pup confidence with training, socialization, and positive reinforcement.
Final Thoughts
A well-adjusted Dachshund will grow up to love their owners without being overly needy.
Ultimately a Dachshund should be able to manage on their own without excessive amounts of human attention.
If you think there could be a medical or behavioral issue, seek advice from your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Dachshunds are tremendously fun and adventurous dogs and, with the right training, they make wonderful companions.
About the Author: Through her 17 years of owning and caring for Dachshunds, and almost 10 years researching and writing about them, JW has become a respected expert in the Dachshund community. Read more about her here.
