Simple Ways to Keep Your Dachshund Busy
Has your Dachshund been acting a little more clingy or demanding lately?
Dachshunds are famous for needing one-on-one time with their owners, and if it were up to them, they would love the attention 24/7.
But as much as we adore our doxies, keeping them entertained and mentally stimulated is essential for their happiness and well-being.
In this post, we’ll discuss some effective and simple ways to keep your Dachshund busy.
We’ll cover how to recognize the signs that your Dachshund is bored, explore fun activities to keep them engaged, and share our favorite boredom-busting dog toys to keep your little long dog entertained.
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Table Of Contents
Signs Your Dachshund Is Bored
Dachshunds are clever pups, and when they’re not getting enough mental and physical stimulation, they can quickly become bored.
Boredom in dogs, especially an energetic breed like the Dachshund, can unfortunately lead to unwanted behaviors.
Here are some signs that your Dachshund might be feeling bored and under-stimulated.
Seeking Attention:
A bored Dachshund may follow you around the house, nudge you, or even act mischievously to get your attention.
When I sit at my computer for work, my Dachshund, Eko, will paw at my feet and let out a small “woof.” This isn’t a behavior that necessarily needs to be stopped. He is simply asking for my attention.
Well, one day while I was working at the computer, Eko’s adorable attention seeking request turned into a spiteful mess making tantrum. I turned around to find Eko spreading bits of paper everywhere, just having a ball.
He had gotten up on a table, grabbed an envelope filled with papers (my son’s homemade paper puzzle), and spread them all over the floor…and I caught it on video: Bored Puppy Video (from our YouTube Channel).
Although this video is cute, Eko was being very clear that he was bored and seeking attention.
Destructive Behavior:
Chewed up pillows, pee on the carpet, garbage tipped over… does any of this sound familiar? Acting out is a definite sign of pent-up energy that needs to be released.
A BORED DACHSHUND IS A DESTRUCTIVE DACHSHUND!
Doxies often get themselves into trouble just to entertain themselves.
Post You May Like: How to Stop Dachshund Behavior Problems
Constant Barking:
Excessive barking can occur when your Dachshund doesn’t have enough to do.
Dogs that constantly bark in the evening may be doing so out of boredom. They need to have some playtime and more walks during the day to tire them out and help promote a good night’s sleep. More on that below…
Obsessive Behaviors:
Does your doxie constantly chew on their paws or chase their tail in circles? This could be a sign of boredom or anxiety.
When you walk around the house, do you feel like you are being stalked by a short-legged shadow? Dachshunds are well-known for sticking very close to their owners, even following them to the bathroom.
If your little long dog is always underfoot and it’s interfering with their ability to find rest or relax, it could be a sign of an obsessive behavior.
Ways To Keep Your Dachshund Busy
While I’m still waiting for the magic fairy to help keep my kids occupied at home, I did come up with some easy ways to keep my Dachshunds occupied while I’m trying to get some work done around the house.
This is Key: Make sure they get enough daily exercise to stay healthy and burn off excess energy, along with enough mental stimulation to engage their doggie brain and keep them entertained. Here’s how!
Physical Exercise:
Routine physical exercise prevents boredom and helps lower your Dachshund’s anxiety and stress levels. It’s also a great way to give your doxie the one-on-one time they crave.
At the very least, you should take your Dachshund on a 20-minute walk two times per day.
Keep it fresh! Change up your walking routine occasionally and hit the hiking trails with your little long dog. This allows them to explore new territory while providing excellent exercise for both the body and mind.
Tip: Use a Comfortable Dachshund Harness during hikes and walks to protect your pup’s spine and neck.
Mental Stimulation:
Dachshunds were bred to hunt, so they love to use their brains to sniff out and search for hidden items.
Solving puzzles can help grow your doxie’s intellectual skills and increase their excitement to learn by including yummy treats with playtime.
Keeping your Dachshund occupied with doggie puzzle toys can help stop destructive behavior and reduce symptoms of Dachshund Separation Anxiety.
Here are some of our favorite interactive dog toys and IQ puzzles – a great way to help your Dachshund stay mentally stimulated!
#1 Choice: Bob-A-Lot
This is the best treat-dispensing toy we’ve found! The Bob-A-Lot from Amazon keeps Dachshunds happy, engaged, and rewarded with tasty dog treats.
It helps reduce anxiety and provides lots of mental stimulation for pups that get bored easily. The Bob-A-Lot dispenses dog food or small treats slowly to prevent overeating and reduce the risk of Dachshund obesity.
Post You Should Read: Weight Loss Tips For Dachshunds
Enrichment Tube
My vet suggested fleece dog toys for my doxies because they are easier on their teeth and don’t fray like rope toys (which are dangerous for their digestive system). This is our favorite fleece dog toy combo – the Enrichment Tube (pictured below with sweet Gretta).
This cute 3-in-1 dog toy combo comes with two fleece dog toys and the tube itself is treat dispenser that they can roll around. It’s an absolute favorite for my little long dogs. It keeps their noses and their brains busy – which keeps them out of trouble.
Dog Snuffle Ball
This Dog Snuffle Ball is so cool! Roll up your doxie’s favorite dog food or treats in a handful of fleece strips, then let them unravel the strands for a fun, slow-paced ‘seek and find’ activity. It’s a great way to slow down meals or keep them entertained for a while. My Dachshunds love it.
Dog Snuffle Mat
I found this colorful Dog Snuffle Mat on Amazon many years ago. It is easy to wash and keeps both of my dogs busy!
Note: My dog’s snuffle mat in the picture is an older model, the one on Amazon looks different, but just as fun.
The snuffle mat is like a “sniff and find” activity mat where you hide your dog’s food and small treats under little flaps and inside hidden pockets.
Interactive Dog Ball
My sweet Gretta literally begs for this toy! I have to set aside time each day to let her play with it. It’s an easy way to get her moving and excited – great for her mental stimulation.
The Interactive Dog Ball (from Amazon) has three play modes: slow mode, fast mode, and interactive mode. It rolls around the floor, lights up, and makes a light ‘chirp’ noise to keep your doxie playing for a long time. You’ll want to grab this charging cable for the interactive ball…it’s so much faster than the one that it comes with. Trust me, your pup will want to play with this pretty often, and the included cord is a bit too slow.
Here is a cute video of Gretta playing with this toy: Interactive Dog Ball Video.
Frozen Treats:
Cool Yogurt Dog Treats: Frozen Dog Treat Recipes really don’t contain that many ingredients and are really fun to make at home…Easiest DIY Ever! Here’s a quick 2-ingredient recipe:
- Combine 2 cups of plain yogurt and 1 cup of dog-friendly fruit like blueberries, strawberries, or bananas in a blender.
- Then pour this smooth mixture into your favorite doxie-themed ice cube tray.
- Let them set in the freezer for about 5 hours.
Frozen Licki Mats smeared with half of a banana and/or dog-safe peanut butter can effectively keep your doxie’s attention.
Frozen Kong Treats: Giving your dog a frozen treat in a Kong dog toy can also keep them busy for hours. Check out the Ultimate Kong Stuffing Recipe Guide from Rover.com.
DIY Dog Brain Games:
Dachshunds naturally love to forage for food and treats. This is a really fun game you can play with plastic Easter Eggs: DIY Brain Games for Your Dachshund Video.
It’s a really easy way to mentally stimulate your Dachshund right in the comfort of your own home.
Dog IQ Puzzles:
The Dog Activity Poker Box is so much fun! It is labeled a level 2 dog puzzle. My Dachshund, Eko, took a couple of days to be able to get through all of the boxes. He gets so excited when I bring this puzzle toy out to play. I use small pieces of chicken to hide in each box.
The next super easy-to-use dog puzzle toy is dishwasher safe! Just place your dog’s regular dog food or special treats around the puzzle and let them work through each slider. This one hold’s my puppy, Gretta’s, attention for a while. Mealtime is so much more fun now!
What’s your favorite way to keep your Dachshund busy? Let us know in the comments below.
Up Next: Weight Loss Tips For Dachshunds
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Hello,
Our new baby is now 1,5 and was neutered at 7 months. He used to go to daycare and was socialized pretty well and always nice. We also took him to puppy training at PetSmart with other puppies of all sizes. He was always very sweet. Recently he has gotten super territorial and aggressive with bones and toys. He can’t play normally, he gets really crazy and has tried to bite me twice after taking the toys away. He sits at the entrance to the garage all day and cries and has clawed at the door so badly he’s taken all the paint off. That’s where they are now. He snapped at my fiancé through his crate tonight for the first time. He’s also a bully towards the other 4 year old dog.
I am not sure why he is so nasty all of a sudden, and I would hate to take toys away forever. Or have to get rid of him!! He is an anxious mess all day now probably because he is so bored, but he can’t be trusted any longer. Then in the summer, all he does is drop the toys in the pool then bark relentlessly at them, which makes pool time for us impossible. And the neighbors hate him. Help!
Hello, I’m sorry to hear of your doxie troubles. I first recommend reading this post on dachshund behavior issues. Pretty much everything you are mentioning is listed here and I’ve added some detailed reasons why they act the way they do.
I think it is great you had him in a doggie day care and some puppy training as well. Keep that up, that will help – keep him going. He needs it. Keep walking him 1-2 times per day for daily exercise (15-20 min) and grab some doggie IQ toys to lower the boredom issues.
Doxies tend to get nasty or upset if they don’t have enough ‘Physical’ and ‘Mental’ exercise.
Another possible reason is that many dogs can react with aggression if they don’t feel well or have an underlying health issue.
Get him checked by your vet. They can also give you some more advice with the possession aggression with the bones and toys.
Best of luck to you, this can be a very hard stage for most doxie parents. It is also the most critical time for training to make sure the aggression doesn’t continue.
My 2 1/2 yr old has become aggressive since the death of his older brother. He is very possessive of me and when we sit in our chair, he will try to bite my husband and mother if they come near me. He has never been a super outdoorsy dachshund but he used to play outside and explore with his brother. His brother died suddenly end of April. Is this where it would be a good idea to get him another companion? Will this ease these issues?
Hi Audrey,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m sure it was very hard on you and now this sudden change in behavior doesn’t help. Yes, this change in behavior could be because of the recent loss, or it could be a change in hormones. Many dachshund parents report a change in behavior around the age of 2-3 years old – especially if they haven’t been fixed.
I believe that adding a new dog at this time may be a little too soon and will not make this better. Getting over the shock of losing a dog suddenly takes time, make sure to take that time for yourself.
As far as the possessive behavior with you… If he is aggressive with others when he sits with you, then I would not let him have that privilege of sitting with you. If he could hurt others, that thing he is possessed with should be removed.
Consider taking your doxie to get some dog training. This will give him some social time with other dogs, and work his brain a bit. He will need plenty of consistent walks throughout the week to keep the physical exercise up and playtime with you and/or some doggie IQ toys to work on the mental stimulation. A dachshund that doesn’t have enough to do will get bored and aggressive.
Here are some helpful things to try as well:
How To Stop Dachshund Behavior Problems
Dog possessive behavior
What if you have a senior miniature dacshund that you rescued from a homeless person that would feed him only people food.?And so he doesn’t know how to play with toys and turns his nose up to dogfood of any kind.
Hello, this would definitely be a special case. Thank you for rescuing your dachshund. You could try mixing the people food in with dog food and gradually reducing the people food.
If it was me, I would consult my vet to see what they suggest to make sure the doxie is getting the proper nutrients they need.
As far as not really liking dog toys… try other things like taking your dachshund places for a special walk or hike. My dachshund, Bastian, loves going for walks and getting special dog treats afterwards. I believe he actually likes walks more than toys.