Easy Fix for Clingy Dachshunds: 10-Minute Enrichment Hacks

Updated 08/06/2026 by Ava Jaine

I’m sure you know it all too well: having your Dachshund stick to you like a permanent shadow and follow you into every room (even the bathroom). Yep – my doxies do it too!

When I sit down at my desk to work, my mini doxie, Eko, loves to bump my leg to let me know he’s there.

Unfortunately, if he gets bored, he turns straight to mischief.

I’ll never forget the afternoon he climbed up on a side table, snatched an envelope, and turned it into a massive paper shredding scene all over the floor.

Meanwhile, my other mini, Gretta, handles boredom a bit differently: she sits quietly at the foot of my chair and whines until I break out her favorite interactive ball for her afternoon play session.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your dachshund busy while trying to manage everyday bored doxie behavior like sock-stealing or paper-shredding, these quick dachshund enrichment hacks are here to save the day.

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4 Categories of Play and Mental Stimulation

Category	Best For / Core Tools
1. Boredom Busters	Active scent work & foraging (Snuffle Mats, Bob-A-Lot)
2. Safe Chewables	Tooth-friendly fleece alternatives (Enrichment Tube)
3. IQ Puzzles	Brain games (Poker Box, Slider Puzzles)
4. Lick Mats	Calming anxiety (DIY Frozen Treats, Lick Mats)

mini dachshund playing with interactive ball

Why Mental Stimulation for Dachshunds Matters

Doxies are brilliant, high-energy hunters trapped in tiny bodies, and when their clever brains aren’t stimulated, they find their own entertainment. Mental stimulation is a vital part of owning a Dachshund…here’s why:

It Burns Stubborn Energy: Doxies were bred to hunt and track. Making them use their problem-solving skills tires them out much faster than physical exercise alone.
It Lowers Anxiety: Engaging their brains helps reduce stress, clinginess, and separation anxiety behaviors (you know the ones!)

The great news is that you don’t need hours of extra time to keep them happy. Here are 4 easy categories of play you can mix and match to give your doxie a quick, satisfying workout right at home.

dachshund looking for treats in a dog snuffle mat

1. The Boredom Busters (Active Seek-and-Find)

Dachshunds love to forage and track scents. Instead of feeding them out of their boring regular dog bowl, make them hunt for their food!

Use these tools to help slow down their eating habits, improve their digestion (prevent bloat), and work their minds:

Dog Snuffle Mat: Hiding kibble or treats under flaps and folds lets them use their powerful noses, slowing down fast eaters and burning mental energy.
Dog Snuffle Ball: A fleece-based ball version of the snuffle mat that lets them unravel the strands to find hidden dog treats or kibble. This one takes a little bit more setup than the others… but it lasts a whole lot longer!
The Bob-A-Lot: One of my favs for sure! This is a fantastic wobble treat-dispenser that keeps your dog engaged, moving, and working for their yummy rewards.
Interactive Dog Ball: This one’s for the non-chewers only! I luckily have a doxie, Gretta, who doesn’t destroy her toys. She loves to run around, bark, and throw this ball around the room on a daily basis. I keep her and the ball nearby, as I do encourage supervision with any toy with a battery in it. I recommend using this charging cord, as it does a much better job than the one included with the ball.
Here is a cute video of Gretta playing with this ball (on our YouTube channel).

2. Safe Chewables

We all know doxies love to chew, but traditional, stringy rope toys can fray and cause serious digestive risks. We don’t want that!

The Enrichment Tube: Swapping out ropes for fleece-based toys is much safer on their teeth and their tummies. This tube is a 3-in-1 combo set that acts as a roll-around treat dispenser, a fleece rope, and a snuffle all in one.
BeneBones: These chew bones helped us survive the puppy teething stage! They aren’t as hard as the traditional dog chews, they’re much gentler on tender gums and meant for chewing pups. They do need to be replace as soon as they get pokey, so watch for that.
*Note: While Benebones are wonderful for sharp Dachshund puppy teeth, adult doxies with brittle teeth should skip these and stick with the fleece toys or VOHC – accepted dental chews instead.*

Post You Should Read: How to Survive Dachshund Puppy Teething

cute piebald dachshund playing with the dog poker box toy

3. IQ Puzzles

Are you ready to level up your pup’s problem-solving skills with some engaging dachshund brain games? Dog puzzles are like brain teasers with a delicious reward!

Dog Activity Poker Box: A dog IQ puzzle that challenges your Dachshund’s cognitive abilities as they learn to slide open compartments with their nose or paw.
Dishwasher-Safe Slider Puzzle: A quick and easy way to turn regular mealtime into an engaging game.

mini dachshund enjoying lick mat and enrichment dog lick toy

4. Lick Mats and Frozen Treats

When it’s time to calm them down or keep them occupied while you’re on an important work call, frozen treat enrichment is an absolute lifesaver.

Lick Mats: Smearing a mat with a bit of dog-safe peanut butter or banana can soothe anxiety and lock their attention for a good chunk of time.
Enrichment Dog Lick Toy: This toy holds frozen treats in place for your dog to lick slowly. So, it’s a lot like the lick mat, but even slower!
DIY Yogurt Treats: Blend 2 cups of plain yogurt with 1 cup of dog-safe fruit (like blueberries or bananas), freeze them in a cute doxie-themed ice cube tray, and you have instant homemade treats!

Note: While a bit of clinginess is totally normal when they’re young puppies, a constantly clingy adult doxie is usually trying to tell you one thing: they are super bored and need an outlet for that hunting brain.

See These Dog Toys in Action!

If you want to see how my long-dog crew handles these puzzles and toys, check out our demo videos below:

Best Dachshund Toy Reviews (Amazon Storefront Videos)
DIY Brain Games for Your Dachshund Video (YouTube Channel)

Join the Doxie Conversation

What’s your favorite way to keep your dachshund busy when they turn into a clingy shadow? Do you have a toy-possessive stinker like Eko, or a ball-loving pro like Gretta? Share some of your favorite dachshund enrichment hacks with us in the comments below!