photo credit: foxrosser

I was driving to my local pet store and turned off a main street into a side street when around the corner comes one little dog…off leash, no owner in site, running towards one of the busiest streets in the area.

I quickly parked the car and tried to lure the dog to me.  At least he stopped running and stood staring at me.  I knew if I went towards him he would be gone, so, I just got on my knees, held a leaf in my hand and kept his attention on me.

The owner came from the opposite direction, empty harness in hand; his little monster had got loose.  Why do I call it a little monster you ask?  Because it got loose you ask?  Nope,

Because when the owner called the dog, it ran in the opposite direction.  When he finally got close enough to it,he growled and snarled at him.  By the time I left, he still couldn’t get the harness on his dog.

People…little dogs need training too. They are not funny or entertaining when they are obnoxious, discourteous or even aggressive.

Train your dogs, for your safety, for their safety, for the safety of the general population and… it will give you back your sanity and peace of mind!!!

Secrets of dog training, check it out!

Technorati Tags: Dog Safety, Dog Training, End Of Leash Training, Small Dog Training

Guest Blogger : By Sandra Scott

The Dachshund dog breed originated in Germany and dates back hundreds of years. They were mainly used to hunt badgers and hares (“Dachs” means badger in German). Also known as sausage dogs and wiener dogs, the name of the breed is often spelled as Daschund.

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. If they don’t receive the attention they need, they will misbehave.

They are generally fine with other pets and children but they can be jealous and may be nippy and ill-tempered if they are over indulged. For this reason, they are probably better suited to a family with older children. Even so, Dachshunds are very devoted, loyal, and affectionate dogs.

A Dachshund that is left on his own may whine until is safe 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 a lot of small hunting dogs, Dachshunds are courageous and will challenge larger dogs.

Dachshunds are happy to play indoors which makes them an ideal dog breed for apartment dwellers or for homes with little or no back yard. Even so, they are lively, boisterous and playful dogs. It is therefore essential for them to be taken for regular walks to the park in order to get plenty of exercise and fresh air. Many Dachshund behavior problems are due to a lack of good exercise. If a Dachshund is kept indoors for several days without being able to work off his surplus energy, he is likely to act out.

Dachshunds can become overweight without regular exercise, which can lead to blood sugar, spine or heart health problems. Dachshunds are predisposed to having spinal issues, so exercises that could result in a spinal injury should be avoided. Children must be told that Dachshunds have a weak back and must not be treated roughly.

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. No matter which training method you choose for your Dachshund, you must make sure that you are understanding and patient with your dog. There will be accidents and you should not expect him to get it right immediately.

Once you bring your new puppy home, you should also start obedience training. The training sessions for your Dachshund should be held frequently for short periods of time – such as, 3-4 times a day for 15 minutes maximum. The best time for training your puppy is before he eats. Similar to humans, dogs feel like resting after eating.

Do not expect your dog to learn good manners overnight. Due to your dog’s strong-minded nature, your Dachshund training will require plenty of patience from both you and your pooch. If you show plenty of love and patience, you and your family will get to enjoy a loyal and playful pet for many years.

My recommendation for Dachshund training is Secrets to Dog Training. This fantastic guide is the top selling dog training course for the 4th year in a row!  You should definitely take a look at it at Daschund Training.

Technorati Tags: Dog Obedience, Dog Training, Small Dog Training

My two dogs, Rusty and Dasher, Playing with their friend, Thumper the rabbit. My two dogs were not aggressive. They were allowed to be dogs, and premature we did not treat them as “our babies”

“Warning: Sausage dog on premises

Long, short-legged and – according to American researchers – fierce, the dachshund has been found to be more aggressive than the feared Rottweiler or British bulldog. The so-called ˜sausage dog’ comes first on a list of the most violent breeds, followed by the Jack Russell terrier and the terrifying Chihuahua.”

I read the above statement somewhere on the interenet. Now, I have 2 comments.

First: Are small dogs really more aggressive? Or, are they just spoiled and treated as “babies” by their owners? Most small dogs have lost their roots because owners do not allow them to be an animal, to be a dog.

It has been a pet peeve (ha ha) of mine for years, and I have written about it before “the small dog that runs and barks all over the place when my dogs are on leash”. And, the owners laugh about it. They are proud…”look at my little dog, he takes on the big ones without fear”

Well, it’s not funny. YOU made your little dog aggressive and violent, not nature.

I had two little “miniature long haired dachshunds” myself, for 16 years, and they never showed aggression. They even had a pet rabbit the gently played with.

So wake up small dog owners. Train your dog. Be a pack leader. Your little precious canine would like to be able to go back to it’s roots and become a dog, not a “girlie baby” !!!!

Aggressive behaviors (and it”s NOT acceptable just because your dog is small an cute) and signs is something that professional trainer Brian Heward explains quite well in the Dog Training DVD Series that we have put out at Kingdom of Pets. He talks a lot about establishing your role as leader. Now everyone knows how very important it is to position yourself at the top of the “pack” in your hybrid family of humans and dogs. But Brian really makes sense of why it is in fact —more— stressful for a dog who is a dominant “Alpha” dog but really does not want to be.

Technorati Tags: Lifestyle Pets, Small Dog Training