loyalty?

[Meemoo]

I have a question. Dachsie's are supposedly loyal their masters. My question is ...if your dachsie was not on a leash or in you backyard..would he/she stay within your area, or would they take off after either food, another animal, etc.

Loren

[Krista]

Mine would take off after any other animal they saw -especially rabbits and squirrels.

If I am with them, Roscoe will usually listen when I call him back, Rudy however has a one track mind when he's on the hunt.

If you want to "practice" to see what would happen. Buy a really long tie out or piece of rope. Attach it to his collar/harness. Keep slack in it so they might think they aren't on a lead and see if they try to run off.

Thank goodness I have a fenced yard to let them romp and play in, otherwise they are on a lead when we are outside.

[dutchman]

It is my understanding that dachshunds are sight hounds and as such they consider anything within their sight to be within their territory. Since they are somewhat territorial they are very likely to take off after something they see as an invader. This is not to say that a dachshund can't be trained to stay by your side. I would just consider it pushing your luck not to mention illegal in most areas not to have you dachshund on lead in open areas unless they have been very thoroughly trained and tested. Like every thing else there can be exceptions. Just remember in the less than a year I have been a member here we have received several repots of dachshunds being killed by cars when they darted out into the street while outside off lead.

If you want to try some off lead test with your dog I would suggest first some large limited access area like a school yard on the weekend and then the middle of a large empty field with a quarter mile or more to the nearest road. Test them on recalls and reward them with treats when they come. Before you go to an off lead test you should try a long lose lead and recall first. You should be able to make a 20 to 30 foot lead out of some snap hooks and lightweight nylon cord. I used bright pink nylon avalanche cord to make my long lead.

I was starting to work Frank a little off lead before I got Tanner. I started off while we were walking with a friend and her Shelties who are allowed off lead and very well trained. There was one time I ran into a problem with Fran not coming back. That one time the dogs meet a border collie who was out with it's master playing with one of those balls on a tether that can be thrown a long distance. Frank and the border were playing when the owner came over picked up the ball and gave it a goo heave down a short hill into another open area. As soon as the border took off Frank was on it's heels and would not stop. I had to run about half way to where the dogs had gone before Frank returned to me. He was put back on his leash immediately and was not allowed off leash again for several days. He only got off leash a couple more time and then Tanner became a member of our family. It will be a long time if ever before I will consider trusting Tanner off lead. While tanner is a very affricate little guy who loves to cuddle he is also a runner who will try to take of any time he can.

Good luck,

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)

[Mandy]

We feel the same....our guys would love to chase after a squirrel or anything else. We have worked with Henry some, but we always have a lead on him. We take the boys down to the highschool soccer field (fenced for the most part). Bart will sometimes ride his bike so that if the boys do take off he can ride after them (there is no way I could catch them if tehy didn't want to be caught just then). We are always very anxious about working with them even with the precautions we take. So, they are on leashes most of the time until we are back in a house with a fenced yard.

[Meemoo]

I hadn't asked the question to actually consider doing it with Chiefy..Chiefy would take off in a heart beat...so much for love of master..lol..I was just curious if any of you had the experience of them being by your side.

Loren

[Frzframe]

Mitzi is still learning but the only time she is loyal when she is shakin' in her paws at something she only can see or when our neighbors dog is out (she likes to come visit). Only then will my baby be right by my side barking her cute little head off! <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm13.gif" border=0>
Otherwise she cannot be trusted to come when called for. In fact she hears "Mitzi come" and runs in the opposite direction. We're still working on that one. So since we haven't got our fence up yet I've learned the hard way she has to be on a leash. But we both get our exercise cause I run and play with her (to wear that puppy out).
~Shonda<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm12.gif" border=0>

[Oscar's Mom]

I know Oscar would take off in a second if not on a lead and I dont trust that he return if called.

[Heather]

My five year old, Hans would be gone in a second. However, my two year old, Bean, sticks by my side. All I have to do is say his name sternly and he returns to me. I think it has more to do with his submissive personality, and the fact that I am his human. When we walk around our farm, I have Hans on a 15 foot lead, and Beanie walks without one.

Beanie has also been to obedience class, and enjoys walking next to me, so that probably has something to do with it as well. However, I know I could never trust Hans off leash.

One time, he got loose, and took off, went to the neighbors house where some kids were playing on the deck and just starting playing as if he was invited over! Good thing he found those kids, otherwise he would have been long gone.

[pkmiddler]

Dutchman, Dachshunds are NOT sight hounds they are SCENT HOUNDS.The AKC standard that tells us what they are supposed to be like says BOLD TO THE POINT OF RASHNESS.Hunt to kill and just hunt to hunt.They are keen on the trail and game over ground and under ground I know of 10 pound Mini's going under ground and killing 50 pound ground hogs.As far as them being a come back dog only IF THEY WANT TO.I know their are some Obedience dogs who do but in the Field they TURN OFF that hearing a just GO.Tudox

[Frzframe]

Oh pk-
a 10 pounder killing a ground hog - you just confirmed my worst fear. We have a friendly ground hog we've nick named Chubbs and I was wondering what I'm gonna have to do to keep him safe from Mitzi. His burrow is in our back yard. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/frown.gif
~Shonda

[Mark]

Hi Loren,

Both the Dachsie's, Duck Butter & Masse will come to us immediately when called. We even have a mildly busy street out front and still are able to have them unleashed with us in the unfenced front yard (the back 40 is fenced). Top Spin has improved and will also now come as soon as called, but only if it's me doing the calling.

I also agree that Dachshunds are indeed scent hounds, however . . . Duck Butter will track by scent continuously, whereas if Masse doesn't see it . . . it isn't there. I guess there are "unique" ones in any species. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/lol.gif And I agree that they will kill animals much larger than themselves.

So that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

Mark http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/cool.gif

PS - Oh yeah, coming when you call is not (IMO) a matter of loyalty . . . it's the training. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[OwnedByChaucer]

We've done a little off lead training with Chaucer, before we got Gidget. My husband and I would go to the Jr. High football field and stand at opposite ends and call him, and he's run back and forth. Then, he's walk home (over a little bath, with no nearby roads) off leash. It was never a problem. Also, my friend lets her doxie play unleashed in her front yard (with her there) and admittedly, he's very well behaved as far as he hits the curb and he will go NO further. Chaucer wasn't so good with that, so it made me a little nervous, but it's not a busy street, and he was so busy playing with Dawson that he tended to stay pretty close. He's very good about coming when called in general...but then....just the other day, he nearly pulled ME down (and I am not a little person) when a squirrel ran past....so, I think he'll be staying on the leash.

As for Gidget no WAY is she EVER getting off a leash anywhere that's not fenced. She's the more dominant and bossy dog....and I really don't know that she'd come back if she took if. Probably to her daddy, but I doubt to me....of course, she's a six pound dog, she's not that fast.

[dutchman]

Hi pkmiddler,

I'll have to look back in my books or web sites I've visited but I know I've read or possibly heard on PBS or the Animal Planet at least twice that while dachshunds have excellent noses and make great trackers they are in reality sight hounds. I can believe this from the number of times I have found dachshunds I've known keenly staring off in the distance. With some effort I can finally locate an animal or person a half mile or more away that they had picked up on and were watching. I will admit I often can't find what they are watching at longer distances till the object moves.

Tom

[pkmiddler]

Not that FAST come to a Field Trial and see how FAST any size Dachshund is. Dogs that have UD degrees in Obedience will go over hill and dale with owners and brush beaters on their tails.One of my pups that was sold to a VET was taken off lead to the car in the front driveway (done it a million times before) he spotted a poodle on the other side of the street bolted across the street got hit by a truck and chipped a bone in his shoulder he was OK but it ruined his show days because now he limps but only sometimes so he can't be shown.I was just called by a man looking for a NEW dachshund it seems his neighbor lost control of his car and came up over the curb into his yard where his kids were playing with the dog and hit the dog and killed it instantly THANK GOD the KIDS were OK but see how easy things can happen.My dogs only go off leach in the Field (which is all fenced) at trials and when they are in our fenced yard or in the Obedience ring. I could tell you pages of stories.By the way rabbits,moles,mice,rats,groundhogs,deer,feral pigs,geese,ducks,birds on and on and on Dachshunds will hunt them all.Tudox