Why Do Dachshunds Cry? [Unveiled The Reasons!]
Dachshunds are great dog breeds that are famously known for their unique shape. Standing at about half a standard dog’s height and up to one and half times longer, Dachshunds, also known as Doxies or Sausage dogs are as fun to look at as they are to interact with. But that isn’t all we like about them– these fur buddies are very intelligent, loyal, fearless, and make perfect family companions.
Although they are shorter than most dogs, Doxies have one of the biggest prey drives. In fact, they won’t stop digging after their prey unless with your intervention.
Their hyperalertness makes them excellent watchdogs while their great bravery means that they will never shy away from any intruder, even without the guarantee of your support. But with all these qualities, there still remains one unclear thing about these hardy souls– why do dachshunds cry?
Dachshunds are social beings. They always yearn to be around their loved ones as much as it is possible. They want to feel the love and interact with the members of the pack. That’s why they cry when denied attention or left alone for a very long time.
How do dogs Cry?
Wait a minute…do dogs even cry? The short answer to this question is Yes. However, these furry friends don’t cry the way humans do. I mean, when humans get sad they will secrete hot and salty tears that will flow down their cheeks. But that’s not the case with dogs.
Of course, they have tear ducts in their eyes, but the major purpose of tears is to clear debris and keep the eyes comfortable. After that, they will drain through the nasal cavity and not roll down on their face like in humans. In fact, humans are the only animals that express sadness through tears.
Having that said, how exactly do dogs cry, particularly dachshunds? Well, since dogs neither shed tears nor sob like us humans, interpreting their cry can be a bit tough. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t, they actually do, and in a thousand and one ways for that case.
Hence, as a dog owner, it’s up to you to learn to interpret your canine’s language. Among the noticeable ways that dogs express their pain is through barks, howls, whimpers, whines, and many more.
Why Do Dachshunds Cry?
Just like humans, many things can make these cute dogs cry, as we put it. Understanding the causes will help you adopt the best way to keep these adorable fur babies happy. After all, we all want to give them the best life.
Stress
The first thing that will cause your Dachshund to cry is stress. Stress could be from training, separation, and many more. While it’s not possible to tell when your dachshund is stressed, you can detect it by paying close attention to some of their behaviors. Some of the indicators that your dog is under stress include failing to respond to your commands like before, licking lips, panting, chewing, digging, pacing, and developing destructive behaviors.
Therefore, if you are in training and see your dog stop responding to your cues and then begin to do any of the above signs, it’s an indicator that he is under too much stress. Hence, it’s good to stop training or change the environment. Also, after you suspect that your dachshund is under stress, one of the measures you need to take to keep your things safe. That involves raising any low-laid valuables such as curtains, shoes, more.
Separation Anxiety
Ever came back to a messed-up space by your dog? Could you be wondering why your trained dog becomes destructive when left alone? Well, it’s because when dogs like Dachshunds are left alone, they suffer from separation anxiety. This condition prompts them to urinate and defecate in the wrong place, chew things in the house, bark, howl, dig, and even try to escape.
With so many causes of anxiety, how do you tell whether your dog is suffering from separation anxiety? It’s simple; you can tell that is separation anxiety if the dog seems to become agitated when you are preparing to leave. Some of the dogs will go to the extent of blocking their pet parents from leaving. For some, they will begin to bark immediately after you close the gate and may develop other destructive behaviors.
If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, it’s possible to help him overcome it. You can start by leaving your dog alone for short moments that do not produce anxiety. Then, you can gradually increase the time you stay away from him until he fully adjusts to stay alone for long periods.
For dogs that have extreme separation anxiety that develops as soon as you show signs to leave, let’s say after they see you pick your car keys or coat, you need to begin by addressing the pre-departure anxiety. You will need to teach them that picking up your car keys or coat doesn’t necessarily mean that you are leaving.
For instance, before departing, carry your car keys, handbag, and files, and instead of going outside, sit on your couch. The second time, get to somewhere farther, sit, and then come back. As your distance increases, the dog will be relaxed because it has the idea that for as long as you interchange your positions, you’ll still come back.
Attention
Ignoring your dog is a very powerful training tool for discouraging any undesired behavior. For instance, when you want to discourage a negative behavior like jumping on you when you come back home, ignoring your dog until he stops the jumping is an effective way to let him learn that whatever he is doing isn’t right.
Dogs want attention. Thus, ignoring them when they are doing something helps them understand that you aren’t happy with what they are doing.
However, you should never ignore your dog unless necessary. When you get used to ignoring your dachshund without any reason, it’s easy to make them cry.
Dogs want to remain attached to their loved ones as much as possible. Hence, when you ignore them without any cause, you are simply sending a message to them that they no longer have that special place in your heart. That makes them cry since they view it as an effective way of getting your attention.
Age-related Dementia
This condition is also known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD). It is an age-related condition that leads to a decrease in cognitive function.
When dogs have dementia, most of the time they will show some signs of confusion, restlessness, aggression, and fear when left alone. When CCD makes the dog afraid, he may respond by howling, whining, or through other ways of expressing their cry.
So, how do you get your dog back to the good old days if he has this condition? Unfortunately, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) is not reversible in dogs.
In fact, it’s a disease that can only get worse over time. Nevertheless, you can reduce the pace at which it progresses by fine-tuning your dog’s diet and through proper exercise, socialization, and medication.
If your adorable dachshund doesn’t show any signs of dementia, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s safe from it. Remember that it’s a condition that is brought about by aging. Therefore, the older your dog gets, the more the likelihood of developing this condition.
To minimize the chances of developing this condition, you will need to follow the necessary preventative measures. They include sticking to a healthy diet and ensuring that the dog gets enough amount of exercise and attention.
Pain
We have so many similarities with dogs. For instance, we are all mammals. Also, we can all cry from pain. Dogs, however, may not cry from chronic pain in most cases.
Instead, the four-pawed friends will express their discomfort vocally at the time of acute injury and when the pain occasionally grows sharp. Hence, you will need to keep a close eye on your dachshund to detect any cases of pain. Some of the dachshunds parts that are likely to suffer pain include the neck and the back.
So what are some of the pain indicators in Doxies? When sausage dogs are suffering from pain, it’s easy to tell by looking out for a few clues. The common signs include decreased appetite, inactivity, lethargy, unusual aggression (especially when touched on some areas), and many more.
In fact, experts claim that when you see your dog’s appetite decrease without showing signs of gastrointestinal conditions such as diarrhea, chances are that the dog is suffering from pain. Therefore, in case you have seen any of these signs on your dogs, seek the vet’s attention as soon as you can.
Discovery
Although dachshunds are short-statured, they make very great hunting dogs. These dogs were originally bred for hunting badgers and other small animals such as mice. At times when you hear your dachshund howl, it may not necessarily mean that they are emotionally unstable or physically hurt.
Instead, they may howl as a way of alerting you that they have caught something. They can also use this method to communicate with you on their whereabouts. Hunting dog breeds have this trait as inbred although there are a few that may need to be trained on it.
Trigger Response
At times, your dachshund will sound in response to some general triggers. For instance, you may hear him howl when there is a siren, loud music, or other high-pitched sounds. So, when you hear your Doxie howl, don’t always associate it with a negative cause. Sometimes they will howl just as a way of joining in on the noise.
So, what causes dogs to howl in response to other noise? Well, although the reason why dogs howl from certain triggers isn’t clear to scientists, chances are that they interpret the noise to be a celebration, and perhaps they want to be part of it.
Facts About Dachshunds
Apart from knowing that they like to cry, what else do you know about these cute dogs? Well, these facts will help you to understand your adorable furbaby better.
They have more than 10 different names.
The official names of this dog breed are Dachshund, Teckel, and Dackel. However, many nicknames have been derived from these names; some from their short form, some from misspellings, and more. Some of these names include sausage dogs, Doxie, Weens, Weenie, Wiener, Weiner, and many more.
They have a very big bark
It’s normal for all dogs and particularly the hunting breeds to bark. Some have louder barks than others. Normally, large dogs are likely to have more powerful barks than smaller ones. However, when it comes to dachshunds, we must admit that they are just too loud for their size. One can easily mistake them for Rottweiler dogs, especially when barking from an unseen place.
Dachshunds are good watchdogs
Although they have short legs that make them small and cute, these dogs are up there with larger breeds when it comes to watchdogging. Like other hunting breeds, these dogs are very hyperalert. Therefore, the next time you hear them bark, know there is a likelihood that something just got into your territory.
They are Athletes
Although most small dogs make perfect lapdogs, dachshunds don’t fall in that category. We already know that they were bred for hunting badgers. Hence, they are very energetic and need more physical and mental stimulation than most owners think to stay healthy.
Dachshunds Live a Long Time
Although large animals are associated with a longer life expectancy than smaller ones, this is not usually the case when it comes to dogs. Smaller breeds like the dachshunds have a very long lifespan compared to giant breeds like the Great Dane. Normally, Doxies will live up to about 15-16 years.
They are the 10th most popular canine breed in the United States
Although Dachshunds aren’t as popular as the Labrador retrievers and German shepherds, these dogs are also among the most popular dog breeds. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), these dogs sit in 10th place on the list of the most popular dog breeds in the United States.
