As a child you probably remember instances where you did something good and were rewarded for the action – good behavior, good grades, etc. The basics for training your dog really is not that much different. Although a bit different than a child, the positives that your dog will appreciate are attention and praise as well as food. You will use these things to encourage your pet to repeat the positive actions that you approve of and can be one of the most powerful tools that you have when training your dog for good behavior.

Here is some basic information that will help you successfully use positive enforcement training. Firstly, timing is so important! You want to immediately reward your dog for the positive behavior – they have very short memories and attention spans. Secondly, consider using a clicker to mark these behaviors that you want to encourage – this is helpful for the dog to make the connection between the positive behavior and the resulting treat.

Keep your commands as short and simple as possible. If you have not ever owned a dog and have observed others and their dog training commands you may have wondered why the commands are so short and simple…well, you are talking about a dog and no matter how smart they are there are limitations to what an average dog can learn. The typical sit, stay, down, leave it – they are used so often because they work and dogs can easily be trained to know their meanings.

Lastly you need to remember that consistency is the key to successful dog training. When the dog does something good, make sure you reward, make sure everyone in the family does this too as well as having everyone use the same commands. Also, make sure you are not inadvertently rewarding for bad behavior, for example. Your dog barks and barks, louder and louder so you let him out. This is a perfect example of rewarding bad behavior; instead require him to perform a good behavior for you before opening the door. If you try to think like a dog now and then, you just might end up with the best behaved dog on the block.

The post Positive Reinforcement Training first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Bringing home a new dachshund puppy is much like bringing home a new baby. It’s exciting and fun, and you’re anxious to get to know your new friend. As with a baby, there is the problem of elimination. Unlike a human baby, the dachshund puppy, being able to walk when he or she first comes home, is already capable of learning where to eliminate. This is the aspect of dog training that is the first thing you will want to work on. The first step in your dachshund training should take place when you first bring home your new friend, and before you set foot in the door. Take your puppy to a good place to eliminate, set him or her down, and wait. Puppies are naturally curious and like to explore, but eventually your dachshund will naturally eliminate, at which time he or she should hear the phrase you will be using for your dachshund training. Say, “Do your business,” or whatever phrase you would like to use, but be consistent about using that phrase every time your dachshund does the appropriate thing in the appropriate place. If the words and deeds always go together, your pup will learn the connection, which is essential to dachshund training.

When you are indoors with your dachshund, watch him or her for squatting. When this takes place, quickly up your pup and take him or her to the designated spot outside, saying the magic phrase as soon as the puppy is in place. Don’t be surprised if he or she seems to forget what to do. Puppies are easily distracted and have short memories. Dachshund training requires some patience, so let the puppy walk around, sniff around, play in the grass for awhile and finally get around to elimination before you go inside.

Take your puppy outside every two hours even if squatting is not seen. Again, take your dog to the correct spot and say the magic words. Sometime playing can help with the dog training, because puppies frequently feel the urge after running around and playing.

Another good time for dachshund training is after meals. After your puppy has had dinner, go for a walk. Remember to take plastic bags along to stay friends with your neighbors.

Some dog owners prefer the convenience of pet doors to having to let the dog in and out manually. If you decide to use a pet door, keep its location in mind during your dachshund training. When you take your puppy outside, make a point of going through the door that has a pet door or where you intend to put a pet door. That will get your dog into the habit of going outside through that particular door.

When you are not at home, put your dachshund puppy into a crate. When you come home, take the puppy outside immediately. Dogs will not eliminate where they sleep, so the puppy will learn to hold it while in the house unsupervised.

Some owners like to spread newspapers onto the floor for dog training, gradually removing the newspapers as the dog becomes trained. The only problem with this solution is that your dog might someday find a newspaper or book on the floor where it has accidentally fallen, and you cannot blame the dachshund for doing what it has been trained to do.

If dachshund training becomes to difficult or frustrating, by all means see a veterinarian or dog trainer for further assistance. Enjoy your new pal.

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