Honestly, who hasn’t had to deal with a little jealous bones pup, doxie or not? It ranges from endearing to a behavioural issue, and today we will look at ways to identify jealousy in your Dachshund and ways to manage the issue. Dachshunds are by nature a clingy, territorial pack dog.
It’s only natural that within your family home they become a bit more saucy about how much attention you give them versus another doxie in the home (if you have multiples) or if you’re out for a walk and happen upon another unsuspecting doggo.
They might even be suspicious of a book or your laptop; anything that takes attention away from them. Their pack mentality and clingy personality is generally the root of their jealous behaviour most of the time.
Of course, it is natural that your sausage will imprint or bond with one specific member of your family.
Be it yourself, a spouse or one of your children — it will be someone. Jealousy tends to become more of an issue around these blessed individuals.
It’s important to provide your doxie with plenty of training, positive reinforcement, love and affection. This ensures your Dachshund is well adjusted and helps avoid any really extreme jealousy issues.
Common Signs of jealousy
Barking, general aggression, rolling around, being extra saucy to get your attention, pushy behaviour, are all common signs of Dachshunds being jealous.
However bear in mind that aggressive barking, excessive urination and defecation indoors are all not so common and require more intensive intervention.
Your doxie paying extra special attention to you or a family member and ‘putting on a show’ if you are otherwise occupied with your other dog, a chore, or generally not fawning at their feet are definitely the most prevalent signs.
These are usually amusing and will sort themselves out once you can pay special attention to your doxie again.
It’s the more concerning signs like excessive barking, aggression and frequent washroom accidents that should give you pause and spur you on to take a more active role in evaluating the sort of attention you provide your Dachshund.
If you find the signs of jealousy or possessiveness more severe, pay attention to how you discipline your doxie and how often you provide positive reinforcement.
For example, if you’re constantly short with your doxie, the home environment is stressful or if they are ill or frequently uncomfortable — these are all stressors and will result in your dog acting out more severely.
If things are very extreme, like tearing apart the house while you’re out or severe aggression with your other pets or dogs that your doxie encounters while out and about, it might be time to consider taking your Dachshund to your local veterinarian or consider an obedience class.
How to help:
For more mild cases of jealousy, we’ve compiled a few basic instructions on how to manage jealous behaviour and make your home life more harmonious instead of stressful for both you and your doxie.
1. Consistency Is Key
A well adjusted dog requires repetition, consistency, and positive reinforcement. If you notice your sausage acting out and you suspect it’s from jealousy, don’t give in to the antics.
Be sure to nip behaviour in the bud as you see it as best you can. Ensure to consistently nip bad behaviour in the bud when you see it. Not just once, not every other day, not twice a week.
Every time. Inconsistency in discipline shows that they might be able to ‘get away with it’ next time and continue to push your boundaries. You are the master/mistress, not them.
For example, when you arrive home it might be tempting to make a meal of it and excite your doxie and yourself to a point of frenzy.
While this might be fun and games at the time, it’s important to teach your doxie that you coming in and out of the house is not the be all and end all event of their lives.
As well, if you’re the lucky lad or lass that is the family doxie’s favorite and you have multiples, it’s important to show consistency to other dogs in your life. Be sure not to show favoritism, as this will only worsen the issue.
The same is true for the other side of the coin, if your doxie knows that bedtime is when you usually cuddle up with a book, then try your best to offer them that consistent comfort. In particular if you have multiples.
This will teach them that it’s okay and normal for you to enjoy all of their company in peace and harmony, with no competition.
2. Choose Your Companions Wisely
Let’s say Sally from work wants your doxie and her geriatric, grumpy and ill mannered large doggo to have a playdate.
That already sounds like…less than a treat…but imagine if you knew your doxie to be on the jealous side when met with a new dog. It might not be wise to pair him or her with a dog that you know is already elderly and temperamental.
Your doxie will likely be able to set aside its jealousy if properly introduced to a dog that doesn’t suffer from illness, bad temperament and is shown proper positive reinforcement during the meeting. Your doxie will likely even have fun and play. Everyone wins.
3. Show Them Love and Compassion
It’s important to make sure your doxie understands that you love them, it may not quell the spurts of jealousy entirely, but if you surround them with a loving environment with positive reinforcement and proper discipline, it will ensure that they will feel safe and secure around you and your family.
Avoid yelling or hitting and instead use a firm ‘no’ when they act out and try to steal your attention away from your laptop or if your other doxie is getting attention and they’re not.
Like humans, if we have security and love in our lives, we tend to relate to the world better,
4. Set Aside Quality Time for Play & Exercise
As with humans and any other mammal that roams the earth, exercise and movement is so important for maintaining proper physical and mental health. Ensure your doxie gets out at least five times a week for a proper walk.
Exercise encourages stability in everyday life, reassures them that you haven’t cooled on your affection for them, and it can also distract from a salty jealous mood that they might have been nursing earlier.
5. Acclimate, Acclimate, Acclimate!
If you have multiple Dachshunds, or you’re looking for advice on how to ensure your doxie isn’t so jealous and vocal with his potential playmates at the park, look no further.
It’s important to introduce your doxie to other dogs carefully and with intention. Ensure that you continually praise your doxie for being gentle or nice and discipline firmly if there’s bad behaviour.
Make sure both dogs don’t have the opportunity to stare aggressively and ensure that they’re able to sniff each other and circle around each other. Then create a little distance and make sure the atmosphere is relaxed.
If you’re introducing a new doxie to your family, make sure the dogs have plenty of space.
Ensure the new addition has plenty of time to roam about the house without disruption from your current doxie, but also schedule time for the two to spend supervised ‘meet and greets’ together.
Eventually they will become more comfortable, but acclimating a doxie to a new family member may take some time, so have patience. All of this is important to get ahead of your doxie’s potential jealousy problem.
If they feel comfortable around the other dog and it’s made into a very positive and calm experience, then it sets the stage for the two of them respecting you as master and having a good pal in each other without too much competition.
To sum up
Your doxie might like to style themselves as ‘their royal highness,’ but it’s important to establish yourself as the boss dad or boss mama.
This helps with discipline, order, and creates a secure environment where they know they’re protected and can rely on your consistent affection and day to day life.
This all is meant to help with stopping the jealousy before it starts, but of course there are scenarios where it’s unavoidable.
Doxies simply are more territorial and if you, for example, adopt one that is a bit older that perhaps has some emotional issues or just general life experience…you may find it more of a challenge.
Never fear though, older Dachshunds are definitely trainable, it just takes patience and consistency. At the end of the day, a little harmless jealousy never hurt anyone!
If it’s manageable, you have a stable environment and it’s not disrupting you or your doxie’s well being and way of life — it can be amusing and a bit touching.
Just be sure to keep an eye on things, and don’t let your sausage run the show (as much as they think they do).