Obedience training for Dachshunds

Teaching your dachshund basic obedience commands such as sit, come, stay, and heel is essential. Certain characteristics, such as stubbornness, can get out of control if you do not establish rules and leadership for your dog. Not only is basic obedience necessary for good behavior though, it can also save your dachshund’s life. There is nothing scarier than having to watch cars nearly miss hitting your beloved companion. With commands such as come and stay, you have more control over your dog’s behavior, and can prevent accidents and other unfortunate events from occurring.

Sit

Teaching your doxy how to sit is not as difficult as the other commands taught in obedience training. Hold a treat in one hand, while gently pushing your dog’s bottom so that he is in the sitting position. As soon as he is seated, reward your dog with a treat and give him plenty of praise. If you are having trouble with your dachshund moving, you will have to gently hold his collar with one hand and guide him to the sitting position with the other. Repeat the process a few times per day until your canine friend can sit on command.

Come

The command “come” is a bit more difficult to teach than sit, however; it can be achieved when the right technique is used. One method commonly used to teach “come” to dachshunds is by associating the command with an activity the dog enjoys. This could be mealtime, playtime, going for walks, and any other activity your dog likes. For example, for mealtime you could use the command and feed your dog once the dog comes. After some time, you can practice with a leash; say the command, and if necessary give a gentle pull so that your doxy will come to you.

Stay

“Stay” is an important safety command; it can be used when your dog’s leash accidentally slips off, when your doxy is going in the wrong direction when going for walks, etc. Begin by slightly tugging on the leash while at the same time saying “stay.” As soon as your dog stays (stops) give him a reward and praise him. Once your dog gets the hang of the command slowly increase the distance.

* One important thing to remember is that teaching “stay” should NEVER be done off-leash. Using a leash will help keep you and your dog safe.

Heel

“Heel” is another command that requires the use of a leash. It is a command that teaches your dog to stay by your side when going for walks. To start, hold the leash in your hand (at a short distance), stop, and tug at the leash while giving the command. Reward your dog each time he stops and repeat the steps a few times each time you are out on a walk.

It is important to only teach one command at a time. Once your doxy has mastered a command, go to the next. Teaching multiple commands at once only confuses your dog and can cause frustration. A leash is required for teaching most commands, and can be paired with other training devices to make the training more efficient. Such devices include; clicker, spray collar, and harness. When your dog has learned all of the basics, you and your beloved friend can venture onto another journey such as learning tricks.

References

Obedience Dachshund Dog Training.  Everything About Dachshunds.  Retrieved August 5, 2012, from http://www.everything-about-dachshunds.com/dachshund-dog-training.html