Dog training is more than just teaching a dog to sit and roll-over. In fact, these types of obedience skills are less about creating a better life for your dog, than for you to show off.
However, part of creating a better life for your dog includes plenty of daily exercises and to do that, your dog has to be comfortable running and walking with a leash. In just about every community in the United States, there are leash laws which means your little dachshund has to be under your control whenever you’re out in public.
Socializing your dachshund puppy
In the first few months, a puppy will acquire its basic personality traits that will follow him throughout his life.
Positive interaction during the first 3 months with people and other dogs will lead to a well-adjusted dachshund that will benefit him for the rest of his life. To create this positive interaction means your dachshund puppy needs to be socialized as much as possible by taking him with you in the car and go for walks where you’ll see other people and dogs.
Doing this lets your puppy get used to different noises, smells, and other distractions not found in the home. However, you never want to put your dachshund puppy in threatening situations such as aggressive dogs and unfriendly people. The ideal way to expand your socializing training is by walking your puppy on the leash and that means you have to introduce your dachshund puppy to a leash in the right way so the leash doesn’t become a form of torture.
Leash training guide
Walking on a leash is an important aspect of good puppy training. IMPORTANT: Only do the following simple steps under your direct supervision.
Step 1
Start with good fitting nylon or collar (don’t use a choker chain). In this beginning, leave the collar on for only short periods of time. Your puppy will soon grow accustomed to it and then it can be left on permanently.
Step 2
After the collar has been accepted, attach a light leash to the collar and let the puppy drag it around for a few minutes, and then remove it. NEVER LEAVE THE DRAGGING LEASH BE LEFT ON UNATTENDED. Don’t hold the leash! Let the puppy get used to it being attached without being threatened by it being there. Remember, only do it for a few minutes and then remove it. Repeat several times a day.
Step 3
When the puppy gets used to the leash, pick it up with your right hand and have the puppy at your left side. The leash will drape across your front.
This will always be the starting position. As you step forward start out with your left leg so it forces the leash to pull slightly. This motion encourages your puppy to move forward with you. At the same time, you take your first step, lightly slap your hand against your left leg and say heel.
Your puppy should not be allowed to run ahead or lag behind. If he absolutely refuses to budge, maybe even rolls over on his back or side, stop. Don’t drag him or try to coax him to move forward. He’s not ready for this step. You need to go back to Step 2 and repeat the leash acceptance exercise.
If your puppy does move with you, congratulations— you’ve just accomplished the first major step in having a well socialized and manner dog that will be a pleasure for both of you for years to come.
Step 4
We strongly encourage you to enroll in a group obedience class for further training. This is a great opportunity for developing good training skills of your own and for developing additional important socializing skills for your puppy.
