Best training treats for Miniature Dachshunds

Good news that you've spotted the lactose intolerance signs early — cheese is a popular training treat but it causes real problems for plenty of dogs. The most effective training treats are pea-sized, smelly, and high in protein — your dog should swallow them in one go without losing focus, and they need to be noticeably more exciting than their regular food. Before I point you toward something specific, tell me: how much does your Miniature Dachshund weigh, what are you training for right now, and aside from dairy, any other ingredients you're avoiding?

Perfect — recall and impulse control like the jumping are exactly the situations where treat quality really matters, because you need something that can compete with exciting distractions. For a 5kg dog you want treats that are genuinely tiny, because at that size calories add up fast during a training session. What does she eat day-to-day — kibble, wet food, raw? That helps me know how high the excitement bar already is.

That's a helpful baseline — bland kibble means you don't need to go extreme to get her attention, but you do need something meaningfully smellier and more savoury. My recommendation is Forthglade Natural Meaty Treats in chicken or lamb. They're 100% meat, naturally very smelly, soft enough to break into pea-sized pieces easily, dairy-free, and low enough in calories that you can use them generously in a session without worrying about her waistline — which matters for Dachshunds who are prone to weight gain. The soft texture also means she'll eat each piece in under a second, keeping her head in the game rather than chewing. You'll find them on Amazon UK for around £3–4 a pack, and most mini Dachshund owners get through about one pack a fortnight with regular training.

For a 5kg dog, keep each session to around 20–30 treats maximum, which is roughly 10–15 minutes of active training. If you're doing multiple sessions in a day, reduce her main meal slightly to compensate — even low-calorie treats add up. For recall specifically, use your highest-value treat every single time she comes back, no exceptions — that consistency is what makes recall reliable. For the jumping, treat the moment all four paws hit the floor rather than after a delay, so she's learning exactly what earns the reward.

Great choice. One last tip — keep a small pot of them somewhere she can smell but not reach near the front door, so you're always ready to reward the no-jumping behaviour the moment a guest arrives. That context-specific reinforcement speeds things up a lot. Good luck with the training!