The University of Pennsylvania did a study on 32 common dog breeds to find out which breed was most likely to be aggressive. It came as no surprise when the top place was given to Dachshunds.
This begs the question, are these small cute dogs really messengers of Hell?
The answer is – no. Dachshunds are extremely lovable dogs who can be ideal as house pets and loyal watchdogs. The reason why Dachshunds behave aggressively is that they were meant to be predator dogs, with their low-set bodies build to help them dig into small dens and hunt animals. Predator instincts would mean they had to be fearless, strong, and sharp. These traits have kept them alive and thriving all through the years despite their size.
Why does your dachshund growl?
While there can be several reasons why your dachshund growls at you, it is important to understand the reason before taking any action. If your dog’s growling is constant and doesn’t stop, then you must consult a vet. Here are a few common reasons why your lovely companion may be growling.
Playful growling
When a Dachshund growls, it is a way for them to mark their possessiveness to other animals or humans. When they feel threatened or feel that their owner is being threatened, they go into the full aggressive mode to protect the person they love.
Growling while playing is different and not harmful, but if encouraged too much, it might lead to your puppy growling to get what it wants. To stop this behavior, stop playing whenever your dog growls and walk away.
Don’t display affection to your dog if he/she comes to you. Ignore them till they calm down and are no longer demanding your attention. Repeat this method to get the idea across that growling is bad and would not get them what they want.
Possessiveness over food
Dachshunds are easily triggered by possessiveness over food, toys, and people. Food possessiveness can be fairly managed by fixing a particular time to feed your dog and sticking to the schedule. By not giving your dachshund food, except a treat every once in a while, your dog will learn not to growl for food and rather wait for it to be given to him/her. Never tease your dog by taking away food or forcing your dog to skip a meal. This will only create anxiety for the dog.
Aggression towards strangers
Typically, dachshunds, being a protective breed, are not very friendly towards strangers. You should never force your dog to associate with someone they aren’t familiar with. Give your pet some time to grow comfortable with the stranger. Your dachshund will be aggressive if anyone tries to coddle them or forcibly pet them.
The same goes for other animals. Dachshunds would see other animals as a threat to you, and that would initiate growling. Encouraging early socialization and obedience training are ways to help your dog become comfortable around other animals.
How to stop your dachshund from growling
It is extremely important that you display your dominance as the owner and establish yourself as the pack leader with the dog. Whenever your dachshund growls, you need to give a sharp command, like “no growling,” and immediately put your pet down. We suggest that you keep your pet down and ignore them to show them that the behavior is wrong. Reward your pet with treats when they calm down and stop growling.
Summing up
Despite Dachshunds being relatively aggressive pets, it is unnatural of them to constantly keep growling. If your dachshund keeps growling to often when it sees other people, children, or other animals, we suggest consulting a veterinarian as that is unusual behavior even for dachshunds.
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