Whenever I say I don’t enjoy dog training, it surprises some people because they think my Dachshunds are very well behaved.
Let me clarify: I very much enjoy teaching my dogs life skills, but I am not interested in teaching obedience for obedience sake.
I want to be able to hike without my Dachshund pulling me toward every squirrel.
I want to eat on a dog-friendly patio without worrying my dog will trip the waitress.
I enjoy taking my Dachshunds camping, to farmers markets, on road trips, and to outdoor events knowing they’ll handle whatever comes their way with confidence.
In other words, I don’t train because I want perfectly obedient dogs. I train because I want dogs that are easy to live and adventure with.
In my experience, a core set of practical skills makes almost every outing easier, safer, and more enjoyable for both of you.
These aren’t flashy competition behaviors. They’re everyday life skills that help your Dachshund understand what’s expected of them in the real world.
Here is my list of must-know adventure dog skills.
1. Engagement (Checking In)
If I could only teach one skill, this would probably be it. Besides potty training, this is the skill I focused on with Otter during the first 6 months of his life (and it’s paid off big time!)
Engagement simply means your Dachshund chooses to pay attention to you instead of constantly scanning the environment for something more interesting.
An engaged dog naturally checks in with you while walking. They look to you when they’re uncertain. They ask, “What should I do?” instead of making every decision on their own.
This single skill lays the foundation for almost everything else. In fact, I would argue that everything else is more difficult if your Dachshund doesn’t engage with you when you’re outside the house.
Dogs that regularly check in tend to stay closer on walks, pull less on the leash, recover more quickly from distractions, and are much easier to redirect before excitement turns into frustration.
The goal isn’t for your Dachshund to ignore the world. Adventure is about exploring, after all. The goal is simply for them to remember you’re part of the adventure too.
Coming soon: How to Teach Your Dachshund to Check In With You
2. Place (Go to Your Mat)
If engagement is my favorite skill, “place” is probably the one I use the most often.
This cue simply means, “Lay down on this specific spot.” (and, yes, I bring their mat with me if I expect this).
It sounds basic, but it has endless real-world applications.
Whenever I eat at a dog-friendly restaurant, I place it under the table, ask my dogs to settle on it, and suddenly I can relax.
I don’t have to worry about them begging from nearby tables or wandering into walkways.
The same skill works while camping, visiting friends, sitting around a campfire, attending outdoor events, or even relaxing at home – any time I need them to stop wandering around and stay in one place.
Instead of wondering what they should be doing, your Dachshund has a “job” once you’ve told them to lay on their mat, and dogs often relax more when they understand what’s expected.
Watch: How to Teach Place Training
3. Let’s Go
Some trainers call this an escape cue. Others call it a movement cue.
“Let’s go” simply means, “Come with me right now.”
Sometimes you’re using it to avoid a situation before your Dachshund becomes overwhelmed. Maybe another reactive dog is approaching, wildlife appears on the trail, or a child wants to run over and hug your dog.
Other times, you simply need your Dachshund to stop sniffing that one blade of grass they’ve been investigating for two minutes and continue your walk.
The cue isn’t about dragging your dog away. It’s about creating a habit where moving with you is rewarding and automatic.
That one habit can prevent countless frustrating situations.
Watch: Teaching Your Dachshund a Reliable “Let’s Go” Cue
(this is actually the second step – rewarding Otter after he followed me for 50-100 feet. I started by marking the moment he started to walk with me from a stop).
4. Leave It
Many people think “leave it” means, “Don’t eat the food” on the ground or in my hand.
That’s only the beginning.
To me, “leave it” really means:
Disengage from whatever you’re focused on.
Teaching usually starts with food because it’s easy to practice, but once your Dachshund understands the concept, you can apply it to many different situations.
- Leave the goose poop alone.
- Leave the squirrel alone.
- Leave the other dog alone.
- Leave the interesting smell alone.
- Leave that tree your male Dachshund desperately wants to mark for the tenth time (BUT you have to catch them as soon as you notice them sniff a little too long).
Instead of becoming fixated, your dog learns to let something go and re-engage with you.
That makes this one of the most valuable skills for everyday adventures.
Watch: How to Start Teaching the “Leave It” Command
5. Sit
Sit is probably the first cue many owners teach. Ironically, I don’t actually use it very often.
Still, there are moments when it’s incredibly helpful.
If I’m browsing a farmers market and need both hands free to pay for something, asking my Dachshund to sit beside me keeps them from wandering under someone’s feet.
If another group is passing on a narrow trail, quickly stepping off the trail and asking my dog to sit helps create a calm pause while everyone moves by.
If we’re waiting to cross a busy street, sit provides a simple way to help my dogs settle for a moment.
It’s not glamorous, but it’s practical
Coming soon: Teaching a Reliable Sit
6. Down
Like sit, I don’t use down constantly, but when I need it, I’m glad my dogs know it.
Down asks your Dachshund to lie on the ground, which naturally encourages more relaxation than standing or sitting.
You’ll often use it together with place training.
For example, after sending your dog to their mat, you might ask for a down while you enjoy dinner or chat with friends.
Many dogs also find lying down more comfortable during longer waits than remaining in a sit.
Coming soon: How to Teach Down
7. Wait
Many trainers combine this concept into every cue. When they ask a dog to sit, it’s implied that the dog will wait there until they are told they don’t have to anymore.
I don’t do this. I teach “wait” as its own skill because I find it much more versatile that way.
For me, wait simply means:
Pause right there until I tell you otherwise.
That might mean staying in a sit. It might mean remaining in a down. It might mean stopping before walking through a doorway.
One of my favorite uses is for dogs that don’t yet have a reliable recall.
If your Dachshund starts wandering away, asking them to wait often prevents them from getting even farther while you catch up.
That’s much easier than chasing a dog that’s still moving.
Coming soon: Teaching Wait
8) A Release Word
Every cue needs an ending. That’s where a release word comes in.
Your release word simply tells your Dachshund: “You did it. You’re free.”
It tells them they no longer need to stay in their sit, down, place, wait, etc.
Funny enough, I’m guilty of forgetting to give the release cue.
I’ve asked Summit to go to her mat in the kitchen, gotten distracted doing something in another room, and ten minutes later wondered where she disappeared to.
I walk back into the kitchen and she’s still patiently waiting on her mat. Oopsie!
I apologize, give my release word, and she happily goes about her day.
Your release word creates clarity.
Instead of your dog guessing when they’re finished, they know exactly when the exercise ends.
Coming soon: Choosing and Teaching a Release Word
9. This Way
Think of “this way” as the middle ground between “let’s go” and recall.
It simply means: “Change direction and come with me.”
If your Dachshund spends most of their life on leash, this cue often overlaps with “let’s go”, but where it really shines is during off-leash adventures.
Instead of recalling your dog every time they wander a little too far, which usually ends the fun for your dog (so they may be reluctant to do it), you simply say, “This way.”
Your Dachshund changes direction and continues exploring alongside you.
It’s a gentle redirection instead of a full stop.
Over time, your dog naturally learns to pay attention to your movements and stay connected during hikes.
Coming soon: Teaching This Way
10. Come (Recall)
I debated whether to include recall because not every Dachshund owner plans to let their dog off leash.
But even if your dog never hikes off leash, a reliable recall could save their life.
Doors accidentally get left open. Leashes get dropped. Harnesses fail. Dogs slip out of collars.
Recall means your Dachshund turns around and comes all the way back to you when called.
It’s one of the hardest skills to build because the environment is full of competing rewards, but it’s also one of the most valuable.
Even if you never intend to hike off leash, it’s worth teaching for emergencies alone.
Read: How to Teach Your Dachshund to Come When Called
Stop! Do This First Or You’re Wasting Your Time
Yes, I think all of these skills are essential.
However, you can’t effectively teach your Dachshund anything without doing this first…
Learn to effectively communicate to your Dachshund so they know the exact moment they to the correct thing.
It’s called a marker. It’s a word or sound that happens after you give the command and your Dachshund does it.
It could be a mechanical click sound (a clicker) or a word (most typically “yes!”). Some people make a “cluck” sound with their tounge.
You use it to “mark” the moment your Dachshund performs the action that correctly matches the command word.
For example: Say “sit” and “mark” as soon as my Dachshund’s butt (completely) lands on the ground. I follow the marker with a Dachshund-sized training treat.
If you can’t clearly communicate with your dog like this, training will be frustrating for both of you.
So, before you start working on anything from this list, watch my video demonstrating how to teach a marker.
Don’t Be Overwhelmed; Prioritize
Looking at a list of ten skills can feel overwhelming, especially if you are just starting to train your Dachshund.
Don’t worry. You don’t need to teach everything at once.
Focus on these three skills first:
- Engagement because every other skill becomes easier when your dog naturally pays attention to you.
- Let’s Go because you’ll use it almost every day on walks.
- Leave It because it helps prevent so many frustrating situations before they start.
Once your Dachshund understands those, I’d add place, wait, and your release word.
The remaining skills can come naturally as you gain experience together.
Remember, you’re building a lifestyle, not checking boxes on a training list.
If you’re still not sure where your Dachshund should start, or you feel like you’ve hit a wall, sign up for my Behavior & Training Clarity Session.
These Skills Aren’t About Obedience
The goal of teaching your dog these cues isn’t about making your Dachshund obey you.
They’re about helping your dog learn how to behave in certain situations, reducing your stress, and improving your dog’s safety when you are adventuring.
Every cue answers a question your dog might have.
Where should I be? Should I keep moving? Can I investigate that? Am I finished?
When dogs understand what’s expected, many become calmer and more confident because they no longer have to guess.
They also start to learn to make better choices on their own.
That’s one reason I think practical life skills are far more valuable than spending months perfecting flashy tricks you’ll rarely use.
Remember: Skills Need Real-World Practice
Dogs don’t automatically understand that a cue means the same thing everywhere.
A perfect “leave it” in your living room might completely disappear when your Dachshund spots a rabbit on the trail.
That’s normal.
Contrary to popular belief, your Dachshund is not being stubborn or ignoring you.
Generally, the reason is one of these three things:
1) Your Dachshund doesn’t actually know the command
Just because your Dachshund successfully did something a few times, doesn’t mean they have truly made the connection between your command and their action.
It takes repetition and consistency to make it really stick.
2) You moved too fast and the environment is too distracting for your dog
Training isn’t finished when your dog learns the cue in your house.
The real learning happens when you gradually practice in different environments, around increasing distractions, and during everyday adventures.
3) The reward is not valuable enough
Your dog decides what is really worth working for, not you.
You may have selected what you think is a yummy treat but your dog doesn’t really care for it. You may be trying to reward your Dachshund with food, but what your dog really goes nuts for is the ball.
Don’t rush the process. Try different rewards, take a step back to a less distracting environment if you need to, and practice for 5 minutes a day if you can (longer isn’t necessarily more effective).
Final Thoughts
While Dachshunds as a breed love adventure, it doesn’t mean they were born prepared.
Genetics creates the interest and drive, but you need to teach the skills your dog needs to succeed in our world.
The good news is that you don’t need dozens of commands or military-style obedience to enjoy life together.
A small collection of practical, well-practiced skills can transform everyday walks, road trips, patio dinners, hikes, camping trips, and just about any other adventure you want to share with your Dachshund.
The goal isn’t a perfectly obedient dog.
It’s a Dachshund that’s confident, easy to live with, and ready for whatever adventure comes next.
