You probably have heard this before: “Actions speak louder than words.”
There’s a lot of truth in that statement and it is certainly true when it comes to dealing with your four-legged friend. If you want to make a deeper connection with your Dachshund, you need to understand his body language. In most cases, what you see tells you more than what you hear.
With this in mind, it is not difficult to see why you need to know what your dog’s body language has to say. In this post, let me share with you the basic emotions of your furry friend and how his body language shows them to you.
Happiness
A happy Dachshund has relaxed eyes, eyelids, ears, and body. You will also see him wagging his tail. Not only that, but they also look as if they are smiling, with a slightly open mouth, a few visible teeth, and a lolling tongue.
Sadness
Dachshunds exhibit various signs of sadness. A sad Dachshund may sleep a lot, feel withdrawn, and lose interest in doing his usual activities. Your dog may also have a low or tucked tail and may shrink away, avoid eye contact, and hold their head low.
Aggression
As a pet owner, you need to be alert in determining signs of aggression. There are a few things that your Dachshund may manifest when it is becoming aggressive. These may include a stiff tail and body, head pointing upwards toward an object of aggression, teeth are bared, and body weight is shifted to the back ready to spring forward for an attack.
Toilet break
There’s nothing more unpleasant than to clean up after your Dachshund had an accident. That’s why it is important to know the signs that your dog needs to go. If your Dachshund wants to poop, he might be standing in front of the door, scratch the door or bark at the door. If your dog is walking in circles and sniffing the ground, it is more likely that he is about to defecate.
Guilt
You probably have seen videos of cute Dachshunds trying to say sorry to their owner. Well, you might have also seen this in your dog after he chewed on your favorite shoes or made a mess in the kitchen. Sausage dogs who feel guilty would try to look at you but would look away immediately. They would also shrink back, hold their head low, or bow down and kiss your feet.
Shyness and nervousness
If your Dachshund’s ears are flat against his head and are tilted backward, he is most likely shy or nervous. He may also shrink back to the ground in an effort to make himself small.
Excitement
Your Dachshund is excited when it tries to jump up and down. They also try to lick you and would even try to bring you to the door for a walk. Your sausage dog can also become excited when it comes to playtime. They are seen to do the “play bow,” wiggle their tail, and become more relaxed.
Get to know your dog
Every Dachshund is unique and may express themselves differently, but these are the common ways dogs express themselves. Thankfully, with just a few days of learning your dog’s behavior, getting to know their personalities, and having an expert like a dog trainer or vet by your side, decoding your dog’s body language shouldn’t be that difficult.
Understanding your Dachshund’s non-verbal cues is a good step to keep your dog happy and healthy. It’s also a good way to identify behavioral problems and prevent them from getting worse. Get to know your dog deeper by interpreting their body languages and you will surely have a deeper relationship with your four-legged friend!
Did this article help you understand your Dachshund better? Let us know in the comments!
