09/25/2026
This is a long post- so if you don’t feel like reading about me making a mistake of an everyday owner and not a professional trainer- then by all means please scroll past. I don’t blame you.
So to start there is something I’m going to educate you on- because it is important background to have. Dachshunds were bred in 16th century Germany to hunt badgers. You know, the animal that have been seen standing up to lions. Dachshunds have to be fearless with a deep prey drive. Their skin must be loose and elastic enough that should a badger grab them they can essentially turn around in their own skin.
OK I’ve given you the background you need.
Summer has a high prey drive. It’s without doubt and it’s part of what makes her fun for me. I like Earthdog and I know she will too. Two weeks ago I set up the tunnel to introduce Summer to the concept of going to ground. Vienna wanted to come out as well and she enjoys a good tunnel so I thought -what a great dog to show her the ropes. Summer was hesitant to go to ground so I began by tossing a treat into the tunnel to get her in. Her and Vienna were running through the tunnel together for these treats. I looked off into the distance and started to zone out thinking about the awful dog trial I had the day before but had the thought- this training session is going a little long. Call it. Thought entered my head, and at that exact moment Summer plowed over Vienna in the tunnel(no spatial awareness) and Vienna rightfully got upset and came running out to correct Summer. Under normal circumstances I’d have let Vienna briefly correct her and so would have Summer. OR if it seemed a little harsh- I’d have used my big voice and it would have been over. BUT I instead chose to get Vienna into a down- and in the process I startled her. She squeaked and before I could pick her up and go inside- Summer grabbed Vienna by the neck scruff and started shaking her to try to get Vienna down. I was able to grab Vienna from Summer. It was done.
In that exact moment, I wasn’t a trainer but an owner that was scared and at a loss- because what just happened? What did I just witness? Does my younger dog hate my older dog that much that out of nowhere she seemingly tried to shake her like prey? Were the signs always there and I missed it?
So let’s break down what happened:
Two females with no history of real discourse in their 7months together- aside from maybe 2 corrections by the older in that time with the younger being very receptive to those.
High value treats(tripe) tossed into a tight space
Dogs both of a breed and history of prey drive being put into original factory setting going to ground.
Both dogs full of adrenaline, and an intervention that startled one causing her to squeal.
Prey squeals.
One dog is still in high adrenaline predator mode.
What would trainer Jade- tell Jade the owner?
I created a high drive environment- stacked the value of the tunnel. I wanted this. This aspect was good. I want a Dachshund to go to factory setting (mini or not). I got what I wanted. Where I failed was forgetting my younger dog has no spatial awareness and my older dog runs a tight household and has zero tolerance for rudeness. I then intervened in a matter that was an A-B conversation and added fuel to the fire by putting one in a prey/vulnerable position. I expected dogs I got to 60 to drop down to 0 in half a second. I let a training session run too long. I was in my own head not paying attention. I made a mistake not because I’m a bad trainer but because I’m a good trainer that forgets she’s human and makes mistakes.
Immediate solution and forward solution?
That elastic skin they can turnaround in I mentioned early on is what kept Vienna safe. She had a minor scrape that occurred when I grabbed her from Summer. Both girls were on crate rotate for close to a week- to allow things to cool down. Since the incident both girls have gone back to their normal pleasant interactions. The easiest and very doable solutions is to run one dog at a time and give them their own space to cool down. I also learned through this that Summer gets lost in the sauce - so should she make it through Earthdog I just won’t run her in Master(they brace with another dog). Easy.
Is Summer a bad or dangerous dog?
No. Though she is certainly not a dog for a multi dog home with an owner without training experience(her last home was just this)- she is still a lovely dog. She still loves working with puppies. She still stands guard while Vienna goes potty in the yard at night. She still looks to Vienna for a lot of guidance and cues. The only thing she is at fault for is having an owner that forgot she was a trainer with Badger dogs.
We love an obvious and easy solution!
Photo Featuring Summer showing you her tunnel.
