Dog Training Basics

Archive for April 29th, 2009

They are a naturally feisty breed.Bred to hunt badgers, they had to be tough and innovative.  But that assertive nature should not be allowed to turn against you.You must be the top dog.

Each dog will deviate in degree, of course.There are submissive ones though fewer than other breeds, on average.Some will try to insist on having their own way at all times like most terriers.But training can modify their behavior, especially if you begin when they are young and stay consistent.

Zero tolerance should be the rule for all aggressive behavior, whether toward you, a family member, or strange people and animals.Gnawing the leash during training is one mild demonstration.

Discourage it by stepping on the leash close to the dog’s head.  Then with the other foot, slowly pull the leash down to the ground closer and closer to the collar.Take care not to stress their neck, as they are prone to spinal problems.When they have let go of the lead, praise them lavishly.

To discourage snapping or biting or excess barking a squirt bottle comes in handy.  When your dog shows this behavior, give him a little squirt against the muzzle.  Avoid the eyes.That surprises your Dachshund and it is unpleasant besides.Avoid making it a contest of wills, but repeat if needed.That only tends to make it seem to the dog that you are a competitor.Being consistently firm is favored to counter-aggression.

If your Dachshund persists, seperate your dog and be prepared for some barking.Like spoiled young children, a dog will at times try to whine or shout its way out of punishment.Offer your dog rugged chew toys and allow him to work out the aggression on those while he’s in the “time out” box.

Be sure to follow this negative reinforcement with some positive reinforcement.Look for instances of good behavior and praise it generously.Use a modest amount of treats if needed.The point is to help the dog see for itself the different aftereffect of its own behavior in terms of your response.They are resourceful.With persistence, they will learn.

For instance, one may become assertive during fetch by refusing to give up the ball.Try to discern between authentic willfulness and a simple desire to play a different game, tug.  Make the difference clear by using a rope for tug, which they love.

It’s key to tread a fine line, though, since tug can lead to encouraging aggression.Exercising them a little harder than you would a more placid or playful dog will help.Aggression is partially caused by the frustration of repressed energy with no positive outlet.

A helper can be a big help here.Toss the ball to a partner several feet away, along the ground.When the Doxie gives chase, make sure the partner is the first to get the ball.Repeat the exercise a few times, then let your Dachshund win.

With patience and a little inventiveness, you can channel your Dachshund’s aggression into more positive directions.

LuvUrDog.com

By Sandra Scott

Originally from Germany, Dachshunds have been around for hundreds of years. They were primarily used for hunting hares and badgers (in German, the word “Dachs” means badger). Also referred to as “wiener dogs” and “sausage dogs, the name of the dog is spelled both as Dachshund and Daschund. Dachshund is the correct name.

If you want to put an end to Dachshund  aggression, barking, whining, or biting, I recommend that you take a look at Daschund Training.

It can be difficult to train Dachshunds due to their stubborn nature. For this reason, an inexperienced dog owner may find this dog breed a challenge to handle.

Dachshunds are boisterous, determined, curious, and amusing dogs that can be quite naughty some times. They need plenty of attention. They will be naughty if they are not given enough attention.

Although they are usually compatible with children and pets, they can be jealous and, if overly indulged, may become bad-tempered and snappy. Therefore, they are probably a better fit for a family with no small children. Even so, Dachshunds are very devoted, loyal, and affectionate dogs.

A Dachshund that is left on his own may whine until he has company. Separation anxiety is a common problem with Dachshunds, at which time they may relieve their stress by chewing household items. Their body language and personality give the impression that they are unaware of their fairly small size. As with most small hunting dog breeds, Daschunds are bold and will stand their ground with much bigger dogs.

Dachshunds are happy to play inside so they are an ideal dog breed for apartment dwellers or for homes with little or no garden. However, they are energetic and lively dogs that love to play. It is necessary for Dachshunds to be taken for frequent walks to give them sufficient exercise and fresh air. A lack of quality exercise may contribute to many Dachshund behavior issues. If a Dachshund is kept indoors for several days without being able to work off his surplus energy, he is likely to act out.

Spine, heart, or blood sugar health issues are a potential problem for Dachshunds that are allowed to gain weight due to a lack of regular exercise. Dachshunds are predisposed to having spinal issues, so exercises that could result in a spinal injury should be avoided. As Dachshunds have weak backs, children must not be allowed to be rough with them.

You should start housetraining your Dachshund as soon as he comes home. There are a number of ways to potty train your dog, such as on command, paper training, and crate training. Whichever method you choose for your Dachshund training, make sure you are patient and tolerant with your pet. Don’t expect your puppy to get it right immediately as he will have accidents.

Once you bring your new puppy home, you should also start obedience training. Dachshund obedience training sessions should be frequent but short – for example, a maximum of fifteen minutes, three to four times per day. The optimal time for puppy training is before meal time. Similar to humans, dogs feel like resting after eating.

Do not expect your dog to learn good manners overnight. As Dachshunds are so strong-willed, plenty of patience will be required for their training. If you show plenty of love and patience, you and your family will get to enjoy a loyal and playful pet for many years.

I strongly recommend Secrets to Dog Training for your Dachshund training. This outstanding e-book is the best selling course for the fourth year in a row!  You should definitely take a look at it at Dachshund Training.

Housetraining

No training is more basic for pet owners than that first important lesson: Do it outside!

Teaching your pet to potty outside the home, not in it, usually starts between six and eight weeks of age. Dogs as young as four weeks have been started on housebreaking, but at that age few have the muscular control to succeed.

With any dog training program, trainer patience is just as important as the dog’s temperament. ‘Sit’, ‘stay’ and other behaviors can often be learned in a few days. House training typically takes weeks – sometimes as short as two, often a month or more.

As with other learned behaviors, it helps to watch for signs of the desired actions and enforce and direct them with a voice command followed by praise. In this case that technique works even more to the trainer’s advantage, since all dogs will naturally eliminate. The trick is to get your puppy to do it when and where you want!

Watch for circling or squatting, then pick up the pup, say ‘outside’ and dash outside. Sometimes, the puppy may circle some more, but will often squat immediately. When he starts, say ‘Go potty’ ( or some other unique phrase) in a clear, firm (but not angry) voice. Wait until she is finished and then her praise lavishly.

You won’t always be able to catch the puppy about to begin, but don’t become angry or impatient when the dog potties indoors. It takes some time for your puppy to learn to tell you it’s time to ‘go outside’. It also takes time for the muscles needed to control bladder and bowels to develop control.

Young dogs need to go every 2-3 hours, on average. If you haven’t spotted pre-elimination behavior within that time, take the dog outside anyway. Issue the command ‘Go potty’ and wait. At first, usually, the dog will have no clue what you want.

Especially, even when outside, it helps to wait and watch for the desired behavior then issue the command. That helps the dog associate the command with the behavior. If tyour puppy hasn’t gone after a couple of minutes and a few ‘Go potty’ commands, take it back inside for an hour. Of course, if you spot the pre-elimination behavior in less time, go outside again immediately.

Dogs have a surprising ability to quickly learn what their ‘alpha’ (the leader of the pack) wants. This is almost always accomplished by associating a verbal command with behavior, followed by praise. Punishment is usually counter-productive, and nowhere more so than in waste elimination training. Never rub a dog’s nose in waste.

Paper and/or crate training is preferred by some. A pup can be trained to eliminate on a newspaper, or on one of the chemically treated pads designed for the purpose. Some small breeds that live all day in the apartment may not need to go outside at all.

The technique has a couple of downsides however. Unlike cats, dogs will seldom go in a perfumed litter box. Newspapers (even with the top layer removed after the dog goes) will eventually leave an unpleasant odor in the house.

Also, long before the odor becomes unattractive to humans, dogs can smell their own distinctive aroma. Dogs don’t find the scent unattractive – quite the opposite. So that spot continues to be the problem.

Dogs that are paper trained sometimes will prefer to potty indoors. Sometimes they’ll miss the paper by just an inch, resulting in a smelly mess to clean up.

Once the odor is in the carpet, the dog will continue to seek that spot out as its proper ‘place to go’. This makes training the dog to eliminate outside even more difficult. Best to suffer a few accidents than to create a hard-to-overcome habit.

Providing patience, praise and consistency are key factors to any dog training. Elimination training is the first order of business for you and your dog.

Get more tips and advice on housetraining or dog training at Luvurdog.com/dogtraining

By Sandra Scott

About Dove Cresswell

As a Hollywood North dog trainer, Dove Cresswell has trained dogs for TV, film and commercials.

At twenty five years of age, she has already been training various dog breeds for over ten years. In addition, she has trained other animals species including rodents, deer, birds, cougars, and large reptiles.

As a dog trainer for movies, she is expected to deliver fast results as time is money in the movie business. You can expect similarly fast results with her online dog training course.

Click here to take a look at this outstanding dog training course: Dove Cresswell.

So What Is Covered?

The following seven lessons are taught online in audio/video format:

• Puppy Potty Training/Housetraining
• Dog Obedience Training
• Crate Training
• Walking Politely on a Leash: The Informal Heel
• The Recall
• Good Puppy & Dog Manners
• Special Dog Tricks

Useful advice for both large and small dog breeds is included in the puppy house training section.

What I Especially Liked

The lessons have a quick, “get to the point fast” and fun approach. The correct methods for dog training are clearly articulated in the well-illustrated slides and narration. The multimedia format definitely has its advantages as dog owners can see the correct positions for themselves and their dogs, plus they can hear the voice tones to be used. This part of the online dog training course is superior to an ebook.

Although this program is not as comprehensive as some of the dog behavior modification ebooks in areas such as dog behavior problems and specific dog breed information, it is jam-packed with knowledgeable and clearly articulated dog obedience and housetraining instructions for dog owners.

Dove presents a very interesting and common-sense perspective on paper training. She thinks that paper training does not make sense and is confusing for dogs. She explains in a very knowledgeable and easily understood way how puppies can be trained to always eliminate outside.

Free Extras

You will be able to e-mail Dove with your own dog behavior problems once you have purchased the course:

• Teach your dog to fetch
• Train your dog to play soccer
• Train your dog to play hide ‘n seek
• Information on dog sports
• Choosing the right toys for your dog
• Earning your dog’s respect
• Choosing the right dog food and treats

My Final Thoughts

I have to admit that my first reaction was surprise that there were only seven lessons in this premium course; once I actually listened to the lessons and realized just how much information was offered in the course, I quickly changed my opinion. I found this multimedia online dog training program most enjoyable; so much so that I would have liked it to have been longer. The lessons are very simple to follow and you can emulate the techniques to train your own dog as effectively as the professional dog trainer.

The one negative of this course is that it can only be accessed over the internet so people who doesn’t have an internet connection cannot view it.  It is for this reason that I have given it a 4 ½  star rating. If the course was also offered as an e-book, I would have gladly given it 5 stars.

I feel that this course would be highly effective for most dog owners but it is particularly suited to audio-visual learners who find e-books dull.  So you know what to expect , you are invited to view a sample lesson before you buy the course.

Dove Cresswell’s dog training course is top notch and I recommend that you check it out at Dove Cresswell’s Puppy & Dog Training Online.