I have a beautiful mini dachshund, she is 1 1/2 years old. When we got her she was so sweet and cuddly. Recently she has become aggressive to people, mostly strangers and younger children coming into our house or walking by our yard. She is also aggressive towards bigger dogs. She growls and lunges and sometimes nips. But once you are inside, she'll curl up on your lap and fall asleep. The behavior seems to have gotten worse with the adoption of our new mini dachshund. She has been to doggie classes, we try the submissive training, everything we could think of without success. She is a very sweet loving dog once she is familiar with you... but we are scared she will go after someone and hurt them. Any suggestions?

Frustrated

Is she spayed?

If not, this could be the cause of the aggression, especially with a new dog in the house.

It could also be jealousy, or a health problem.

How well did you socialize her as a puppy? Was she well socialized with other dogs and children before or are this new things to her?

No, she is not spayed, we want to breed her because she is so beautiful. She gets along with the new puppy but she was aggressive before that. We did enroll her in doggie classes and she was fine with the smaller dogs but once she got introduced to the bigger dogs, she wanted nothing to do with them. Once a person is settled in our home, like sitting on the couch with that person. It is just when they try to come in and when people walk pass our house. Even in the pet store, when little kids comes up to her, she is fine with them, it is just in our house...

No, she is not spayed, we want to breed her because she is so beautiful. She gets along with the new puppy but she was aggressive before that. We did enroll her in doggie classes and she was fine with the smaller dogs but once she got introduced to the bigger dogs, she wanted nothing to do with them. Once a person is settled in our home, like sitting on the couch with that person. It is just when they try to come in and when people walk pass our house. Even in the pet store, when little kids comes up to her, she is fine with them, it is just in our house...

Are you a licensed breeder? If not, then why are you wanting to breed her? You are one of at least 6 people that come to this site every week asking how to breed their mini dachshund, for some reason that has become a popular breed to breed. The sad thing is, most of the puppy's will probably end up with major health problems or in the pound.

Unless you are a licensed breeder, have the money to do the genetic testing on both the male and female, have the money to give them the best care, including shots, the best food, etc. then please don't breed your dog. We have enough backyard breeders and puppymills in this country already, only the dogs suffer.

Trust me, there are other beautiful dachshunds out there being bred, you don't need to add a litter to the mix.

Have her spayed, it will make her a better pet and it will prolong her life.

Thank you for your concern however my question is not about breeding my dog. I am working with a licensed breeder and taking all the precautions.

I just want to know how to curve her territorial aggression toward the yard and house.

Thank you for your concern however my question is not about breeding my dog. I am working with a licensed breeder and taking all the precautions.

I just want to know how to curve her territorial aggression toward the yard and house.

Sadly the fact that she's not spayed is probably the major reason for her behaviour, that's why I asked if she was spayed.

You could try training again, but until she's fixed theses problems probably won't go away.

Thanks, I call her trainer... see if we can get some private lessons. Thanks again.

we want to breed her because she is so beautiful

You may not have bad intentions and mean to cause harm but that is exactly what you will be doing if you breed your dog. Every dog is beautiful in its own way but not every dog should be bred. Nearly every day someone comes to this site wanting to breed dachshunds. Even if you made sure all of the puppies had homes you are still in the wrong.

Did you know that statistically only 1 out or every 5 puppies stay in its initial home forever? The rest end up abandoned on the streets on in a shelter where they will likely die. Even if they seem like nice people you don't know what will happen to those puppies. If every person who found homes for their puppies and thought that their babies were going to have a happily ever after did then the amount of pets dying in the shelters daily would be significantly less.

You are coming here asking about temperament problems. Did you know that temperament is genetic? How do you think those new puppies owners will react when their dogs begin to exhibit aggressive tendencies? It would be likely to happen and even more likely they would get dump the dog. Sadly few people have the patience for behavioral issues and their solution is to get rid of it.

That being said, even if a miracle happens and all X number of puppies do stay in their home forever, that's lets use the number 5 as our basis, 5 more puppies in the world so that means 5 more dogs and puppies must die at the shelter.

Lets say that out of those 5 puppies, the new owners decide to breed 2 of them because they are so beautiful. BAM. 10 more dead puppies at the pound. Puppies that are much like yours were, who came from someone who only wanted to have cute puppies and ended up at some big scary place because they didn't know that designer shoe was a toy or that the floor wasn't a potty because no one taught them better. Excluding the fact that a large portion of these are likely to be the descendants of your dog lets take it a step farther.

Now there are 10 new puppies out there, and out of those 10, 5 of them are bred because they are so cute. WOW! That makes a whopping 25 more dogs and puppies that have to die! And the game continues.

The sad thing is that's a game that may never end. The only way to stop the cycle is to never start it.

I am sorry, didn't mean for so many people to get on their sop boxes. Fact of the matter is, if there weren't breeders out there I wouldn't have my two beautiful dogs I have now. I've only had three dogs in my life, one sheltie mix I got at the pound at the age of 8 weeks, and he lived 15 wonderful years... it killed me when I had to put him down, but Queenie came into my life 4 months later and I am happy to have her, and Princess too. So I am an advocate of adopting a shelter puppy or dog as I did, but I am also an advocate of breeder dogs too. First and foremost, they are all my pets, my family. If we don't breed dogs (responsibly) and have all dogs spayed or neutered than our family would surely suffer because we will be missing out on truly what is unconditional love.

Thanks

We do not want all dogs spayed and neutered and we have no qualms with reputable breeders. However backyard breeders are a totally different story, and sadly that is what most breeders are. They are people who breed out of pure selfishness, for money, because they think their dogs are too beautiful or cute, or perhaps because they want to educate the kiddies in birth. Being a legit breeder isn't just love and cuddles, it's a lot of money and time. There are expensive genetic tests done and other steeping vet bills. There is a lot of knowledge and research required. It not just one cute dog and another.

I am sorry, didn't mean for so many people to get on their sop boxes. Fact of the matter is, if there weren't breeders out there I wouldn't have my two beautiful dogs I have now. I've only had three dogs in my life, one sheltie mix I got at the pound at the age of 8 weeks, and he lived 15 wonderful years...it killed me when I had to put him down, but Queenie came into my life 4 months later and I am happy to have her, and Princess too. So I am an advocate of adopting a shelter puppy or dog as I did, but I am also an advocate of breeder dogs too. First and foremost, they are all my pets, my family. If we don't breed dogs (responsibly) and have all dogs spayed or neutered than our family would surely suffer because we will be missing out on truly what is unconditional love.

Thanks

Not true at all.

Believe me, if you don't breed your dog the breed will not die out, there are too many people breeding as is, irresponsibly.

You aren't a breeder, at best you are a backyard breeder, that's one step above a puppymill.

Before you breed your dog, look in the paper, see how many dachshund puppies are for sale, I bet there's a lot.

After that, go and look in the pets forum on this site and scroll through, see how many other people are breeding their dogs, especially dachshunds.

This is an epidemic, you are a part of the problem, not the solution.

As I stated I am working with a licensed breeder. But thanks...

What genetic tests have you had done for your dog?

As I stated I am working with a licensed breeder. But thanks...

If you really want to breed you dog there's nothing we can do to stop you. It's obvious that you've made up your mind, you want what you want no matter what the cost.

Oh, do you know that many dams die giving birth? Well, I hope you're prepared to lose the dog you claim to love so much.

Good luck.

Are you a breeder?

My dog, actually both dogs, come from a reputable breeder, different mother and father. They have a lineage going way back, a lot of show dogs, all AKC registered... all tested, all treated as pets...

I am not sure what you meant about your last remark about dying during birth... but it was not a nice comment... my sister almost died during her pregnancy, her baby did die... does that mean she should never have tried getting pregnant. I would call you something for that statement but I would not want to compare to my two female dogs who I love dearly... I tried getting advice and I get attacked... responded it you wish... I am reporting all response as spams going forward...

Spam? No. You asked for advice, you got it, you didn't like it, you won't do it, because you want what you want no matter what.

The sad fact is that your dog may die giving birth. Why you brought your sister into this I have no idea, it has nothing to do with you breeding your dog. I'm sorry for her loss, I wish her the best.

You don't like the facts, you don't care to know them, you want, want, want, want. If you asked your dog what she wanted, I'd doubt that she'd choose to have a litter that will most likely end up in a pound. Also, because you're breeding your dog, a shelter dog will die because you're eliminating a possible home.

If you can live with yourself by doing this, then do it, like I said, I can't stop you. All I have is a voice, the animals out there don't.

Also, just because your dog is purebred, AKC registered etc. etc. doesn't mean she's good breeding stock. If she did come from a reputable breeder, why do you think the breeder got rid of her? If she was of good breeding stock the breeder would have kept her for his /her own kennel.

I doubt you got these dogs from a reputable breeder, because every breeder I know would demand that you sign a contract stating that you will get your dog spayed or neutered at 6 months of age. You see, they care about the blood lines of these dogs, they don't want someone inexperienced mudding up the breed.

Am I a breeder? No. All my animals (8) are spayed or neutered, you see, I love them too much to put them through a pregnancy and I love all animals too much to add to a ever growing population.

So report if you can't handle the truth. Or read and learn and hopefully you'll realize what you and so many others are doing to contribute to the death of millions of dogs every year.

Good luck.

When you walk she, make she walk behind you, or besides you, to show that you're the alpha dog, even if she becomes difficult during the process, that's normal, exspecially since she is showing signs that she thinks she's top dog. And as soon as she sees that she doesn't own you, the aggression should mellow out, or would listen to you when you tell her to stop.

You should also get her aggression problem fixed before you breed the dog.
Cause they say peronality is genetic.

Hope this helps

I'm sorry Alty, I usually agree with everything you say but I don't think getting her spayed is a magic fix, some dogs, even when spayed or neutered are still territorial, it's just something that is bred into them unfortunately. I do agree that only licensed breeders should breed dogs unless there are dire circumstances ie: done your research and none of that breed in the shelter and none being bred in that area plus knowing the dogs history (genetic and behavioral). Also if you have a dog that you love and can't get that bloodline again and want to keep the memory alive, but even then you better have at least 10 homes lined up that are loving caring homes.

Spaying isn't a magic fix but it definitely helps a lot. It's better to have a dog fixed before they are sexually mature, 4-6 months, that lowers the risk of cancer and aggression.

As for breeding, I have to disagree about breeding because there are none being bred in your area etc. There are so many shelters all around the world, many breed specific, many willing to ship the dogs all over to their new homes. There is never a reason to breed unless you are a licensed breeder.

Give me a breed and a town and I'll find you a dog.

No worries Shazmataz, we don't always have to agree, I know that you have a good heart and loves animals. :)

Good points Alty, I guess you are right about being able to find a certain breed in a shelter, thinking about it, even if they charged shipping costs it is still cheaper to buy & ship from a shelter than to breed.

My family are all members of the AKC (Australian kennel club) so I can kind of see from peoples point of view when they say they want to keep a certain bloodline, or a relative of their dog because that's what we do. But it's hard to find responsible people who breed their dogs, especially the ones who have seen too many movies with puppies being sold out of cardboard boxes on the street and think it's OK to not do background checks on homes.

I I know you are very much against it but hopefully that gives you some insight into how my head works lol :)

Hi, my name is Megan and I live in Minnesota. You are not alone. I have a 4yr old daschund that is the same way. It is quite common with the breed. They get very protective/dominant over their owners. Stick with the training. Be consistent. Don't give up.

Aggressive Daschund

She is protecting "HER" territory... Many dogs do this, especially small ones with big attitudes! This is not uncommon... You said she's fine when she's not in the yard or at the house, but when someone or something's close, she lunges or growls. She is territorial towards you and the house... You should have her on lead and when she reacts correct her... Do not let it get out of hand because if she is not corrected, she will think it's OK to react the way she does... sorry you had to go through all that back yard breeding crap... I couldn't even read all the posts because it was not even the issue you wanted info on... but this does happen in every breed... I do not think because she is intact that this is happening... most es can be dominant and the little ones especially think they're as big as a St. Bernard... Just correct her... you may never get her to stop as she is protecting her family... but you can control it to where you are not afraid that she will bite...

Hope this helps!!

I am not sure what you meant about your last remark about dying during birth...but it was not a nice comment...my sister almost died during her pregnancy, her baby did die...does that mean she should never have tried getting pregnant. I would call you something for that statement but I would not want to compare to my two female dogs who I love dearly...I tried getting advice and I get attacked...responded it you wish...I am reporting all response as spams going forward...

I'm also very sorry for your sisters loss, but why are you comparing apples to oranges here? Why would you bring your sisters awful loss into this conversation? That was an awful comparison! We have no problem with people breeding dogs to preserve a superior bloodline, who really know their stuff, and as aforementioned done the complete genetic testing. It is the people that breed their dogs with little or no knowledge, just for the sake of breeding that we have a problem with. Everyone thinks their dog is the cutest in the world! I think mine is! I would love to have 2 or 3 more just like her. Would I breed her to get that? Absolutely not! I made sure that wasn't a possibility. All I have to do is go to the shelter, and I can see all of the love there is to give in the eyes of hundreds of homeless dogs just begging you to take them home, so they don't end up alone on a cold table with that big needle coming at them. Hug your dog extra tight tonight, and tell her that you think she's so cute that you are going to have to kill 5 shelter dogs because she is so special to you.

You are reporting this as spam? Good luck with that! Lol.

Best Wishes! :)

I feel the need to confess...
I ignorantly bought a dog from a back yard breeder and then topped it off with breeding that dog for my own personal reasons. I love my dogs and lucky for them and me are healthy. I would never ever do it again and also would discourage anyone I know from doing it also. I feel very sad for being that stupid and I have tears running down my face for all the lost dogs that I caused to die because of my selfishness.