The Dachshund Behaviour Blueprint Bonus Episode: How Dogs Learn – Why Behaviour Repeats Itself
Why does your dachshund keep doing the things they do?
Why do some behaviours seem to appear overnight, while others become lifelong habits?
And why can some behaviours be so difficult to change once they've become established?
In this episode of The Dachshund Behaviour Blueprint, we explore the science of learning and behaviour. You'll discover how dogs learn from every interaction, why behaviour is driven by consequences, how habits form, and why understanding motivation is often more important than teaching commands.
By understanding how your dachshund's brain makes decisions, you'll be able to approach training with greater clarity, compassion, and effectiveness.
Join the Molly's Dachshund Club WhatsApp Community for walks, behavioural discussions, challenges, events, and podcast updates.
Follow The Dachshund Clinic for more evidence-based dachshund education, behaviour insights, and practical training advice.
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In This Episode
• Why dogs are learning all the time, not just during training sessions
• The biggest myth about dog training
• How behaviour is shaped by outcomes and consequences
• Why dogs can be viewed as decision-making machines
• The science behind habits and behavioural repetition
• Understanding reinforcement beyond food rewards
• Hidden rewards owners often miss
• Why unwanted habits develop so easily
• Why punishment often fails to create lasting change
• The role emotions play in learning and behaviour
• Why dachshunds often approach training differently from other breeds
• The single most important question every owner should ask
Key Takeaways
• Learning never switches off.
• Dogs repeat behaviours that successfully achieve outcomes.
• Reinforcement is anything that increases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring again.
• Rewards are determined by the dog, not the owner.
• Behaviour is often logical from the dog's perspective, even when it appears problematic to us.
• Emotional wellbeing directly influences learning ability.
• Practice strengthens behaviour, whether the behaviour is desirable or undesirable.
• Understanding motivation is often more effective than trying to force compliance.
This Week's Homework
Become a behaviour detective.
When your dachshund repeats a behaviour, ask yourself:
• What reward might they be receiving?
• What outcome is the behaviour achieving?
• Why does this behaviour make sense from their perspective?
• What is my dog practising repeatedly?
Spend the week observing patterns rather than judging behaviours as good or bad.
Discussion Questions
• What behaviours does your dachshund repeat most often?
• Which rewards seem most valuable to your dog?
• Does your dog value food, play, sniffing, social interaction, or freedom most highly?
• Are there behaviours you may have unintentionally reinforced?
• What habits would you like your dog to practise more often?
Resources Mentioned
• Reinforcement and motivation
• Behavioural decision-making
• Emotional influences on learning
• Breed-specific behavioural traits
Connect With Us
Join the Molly's Dachshund Club WhatsApp Community for walks, behavioural discussions, podcast updates, challenges, and owner support.
Follow The Dachshund Clinic for practical, evidence-based guidance designed specifically for dachshund owners.
Scientific References
• B.F. Skinner (1938). The Behavior of Organisms.
• Ivan Pavlov (1927). Conditioned Reflexes.
• Edward Thorndike (1911). Animal Intelligence and the Law of Effect.
• Karen Pryor (2006). Don't Shoot the Dog.
• Susan Friedman. Behaviour Works and Learning Principles.
• Ádám Miklósi (2015). Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition.
• John Bradshaw (2011). In Defence of Dogs.
• Karen Overall (2013). Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats.
• Patricia McConnell (2002). The Other End of the Leash.
• Daniel Mills & colleagues. Learning, behaviour and emotional state research in companion animals.
• Linda Case (2017). Dog Smart.
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Position Statements on Humane Dog Training.
• British Small Animal Veterinary Association. BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine.
• International School for Canine Psychology and Behaviour (2022). Canine Neuroscience.
