What do you do when your dachshund has decided that he is the only one who can touch his or her toys? Toy possessiveness will inevitably lead to nasty situations. Here is how to deal with it.When your dachshund starts to growl or snap when you reach for the toys, you need to show him/her immediately that the behavior (s)he is showing is wrong. Do not do that by shouting at your dog or even perform corporal punishment: those are never the right solutions. Here is what you should do when your dachshund is showing possessive tendencies:

1. Take your dachshund’s favorite treat and show him/her that you have it;
2. Stand up tall and say ‘drop it’ loud and clearly;
3. If your dachshund drops the toy (because (s)he loses interest in it), praise him/her abundantly and give the treat;
4. If your dachshund has not dropped the toy, bring the treat closer to his/her face and say with an excited voice: ‘Oh, look at this! This looks sooooo good!’. Doing this will help your dachshund lose interest in the toy and focus on the delicious treat you are about to give him. Because when you are that excited about it, it must be really good!
5. Say ‘drop it’ again and wait for your dachshund to drop the toy. If this does not work, throw the treat on the floor where (s)he cannot reach it but close enough for him/her to see it. (S)he will probably try to get the treat, but you have got to hold him/her back until the toy has been dropped. If (s)he is still not interested in the treat, the treat is probably not special enough. Try using raw meat instead.

You might have to repeat these steps a few times before your dachshund totally gets it.

Here are some more tips and tricks:
– Make your dachshund works for the toys. Store all his toys in a place where they cannot be reached. You decide when it is playtime. Only give your dachshund the toy after (s)he performed a trick, like ‘high five’ or ‘roll over’. When playtime is over, repeat the steps and take the toy away from your dog;
– Show your dachshund affection when (s)he is playing with or just holding the toy. Make him feel comfortable and relaxed by stroking him. While you do that, do not take the toy away. Show that you are not only there to stop playtime, but also to play with your dog. Do not try to stroke your dog if (s)he still shows aggressive tendencies!
– Always remember that you are your dachshund’s owner. You are in charge and you decide whenever whatever happens;
– Use the toy as a training tool. For example, hide the toy and let your dachshund find it and reward him/her when (s)he brings you the toy back. You can also teach your dachshund to play fetch with the toy.
– When you and your dachshund are playing together and (s)he already knows the command ‘drop it’, suddenly ask him to ‘drop it’. Your dog may react surprised. But since you are the ‘dominant one’, (s)he has to listen to you, so do not continue playing with your dachshund before (s)he has dropped the toy. Just keep asking to ‘drop it’ in a very calm but clear way. Eventually (s)he will drop the toy, and when he does react very excited and praise him. Immediately give back the toy to your dachshund as a reward for listening to you. Your dachshund is happy because 1. (s)he ‘did good’ and 2. (s)he got his toy back. This exercise teaches your dachshund that even during playtime, (s)he has to obey.

Good luck!