A dachshund can be clever, affectionate and fully aware that you are holding a treat. That does not mean they automatically understand which patch of ground counts as the toilet.
Make the right place easy to find
Choose one toilet spot and use it consistently. Take your dog there after waking, eating, playing and before bedtime. Young puppies may need many more opportunities; watch your own dog’s pattern and adjust. Keep the outing calm and give them time to sniff.
When they finish in the right place, reward them straight away with praise or a small treat. Timing matters: a reward after you have gone back inside is much harder to connect with the behaviour.
For indoor pads, decide on one clear setup
If you use a pad or tray, keep it in a predictable location. A tray with a raised edge can help contain misses near the edge. If your eventual goal is outdoor toileting, gradually move the routine toward that goal instead of switching locations every day.
What to do when you find a puddle
Clean it thoroughly with a suitable non-ammonia cleaner. Avoid scolding your dog for an accident you discovered later; they will not connect the reaction to something that happened earlier. Make the next successful trip easier by increasing supervision and taking them out more often.
When the routine is not working
Progress can be uneven. If a previously trained dog suddenly starts having accidents, is straining, seems uncomfortable, or is urinating unusually often, speak with a veterinarian. If the dog is healthy but training remains difficult, a reward-based trainer can help you adjust the setup.
Troubleshoot the setup, not the dog
Start with what actually happens on the route to the toilet. “Will not go outside” could mean stopping at the doorway, avoiding the tray entrance or becoming distracted after reaching the garden. Those observations are more useful than calling your dachshund stubborn.
Front paws on the pad, puddle beyond it: watch where the whole body stands. A long-bodied dog needs enough usable surface for the rear end as well as the front feet. Try a larger stable area, with an entrance the dog can step across comfortably. Keep the location consistent while you check whether the extra space helps.
Stops before reaching the spot: inspect the route for a slippery surface, an awkward threshold or an exposed patch in wet weather. Offer a comfortable, sheltered route where possible; do not drag the dog through it. A new reluctance to move or signs of discomfort call for veterinary advice, not a more forceful training session.
Sniffs outside, then toilets indoors: accompany the dog so you know whether anything happened. After an unsuccessful trip, return to supervision and try again soon, rather than immediately allowing free access to favourite accident spots.
Change one feature at a time and record the result in the one-week plan below. Reward successful toileting promptly at the chosen location. This is a way to investigate your dog's particular difficulty, not a claim that every dachshund dislikes rain or needs a special training method.
A one-week reset for a busy household
- Choose one toilet location and one cue that everyone will use.
- Write down who handles morning, after-meal and bedtime trips.
- Record successes and accidents, including what happened just beforehand.
- If accidents repeatedly follow play, add a trip before the usual accident time.
- Expand access to more rooms gradually when the current area is going well.
This is a suggested organisational plan, not a deadline for becoming toilet trained. A useful progress sign is more successes at the chosen spot with the same amount of supervision.
If you have two dogs
Take the learner out individually for some trips so you know who actually toileted and can reward the right dog. Keep separate notes if one is already reliable. Do not assume the younger or untrained dog will learn simply by watching the other.
If your dog does nothing on a trip, return to close supervision and offer another opportunity soon. Avoid immediately giving free access to the room where accidents usually happen.