One of the first aspects you will probably notice about your Dachshund puppy is he loves to play. This is something you should encourage and take part in, as playtime is very important to your dog and you. After all, good playtimes will help to socialize and bond you with your dog.
Furthermore, when you play with your Dachshund puppy, you will be able to learn things about your dog’s temperament that you may not like. This will allow you to train him out of bad and undesirable behaviors at an early stage of his life.
The following are some tips for you to consider in order to make the most of your Dachshund puppy playtime.
Observe your puppy’s reactions when playing – Does your Dachshund puppy appear fearless when playing with you, or does he appear tense and shy. If your dog is acting overly aggressive you need to teach him to be gentler. Avoid games that involve high aggression such as wrestling and tug of war, and opt for a more pleasant game of fetch.
Should your Dachshund be showing signs of shyness, you need to get him to relax and trust you. Pet him and talk gently with him while you play to eliminate his insecurities and ease his tensions.
What to do with an excessive biter – When you and your Dachshund puppy are first learning to play with one another, it will not be uncommon for your puppy to bite your hands or clothes. He should be taught immediately that this is unacceptable behavior. Not controlling his biting will only lead to future problems when he becomes a full grown dog.
Thus, if you find your Dachshund puppy is becoming too violent or aggressive when playing, interrupt him and stop the playtime by taking your attention away from him. If he doesn’t get the message, get up and leave the room, and leave him alone so he can think about what happened. Do not yell at him, as this will only make him more aggressive and excited and he’ll only bite all the more with added force.
Watch how he plays by himself or with other dogs – When you observe your dog play without human contact you will get an idea for what he enjoys. Play with your dog in this manner. While you always need to make your Dachshund puppy understand that you are above him on the canine scale, when playing he needs to feel like you’re a pal. Therefore, sometimes lie on the ground with your pup and allow him to hold on to you with his mouth or bite you (not aggressively of course) while you give him a gentle scratch with your hand.
What to do if you don’t want to play with your puppy – Your Dachshund puppy will want to play with you all the time if you let him. However, since you won’t always be able to, or may not want to play with the pup, you need to let him know this in a way he’ll understand.
Do not yell at the dog or tell him “No” if he is bothering you to play with him. The best thing you can do is ignore him. Even if he becomes angry and begins barking, don’t pay him the slightest bit of attention. Don’t look at him, don’t speak to him. Eventually he will get the message and leave you alone. Keep in mind that mature dogs in a pack will only choose to play with puppies when they want to. This is how your pup will learn his place and yours.
Learn how to play with the puppy first before allowing children to play – It is imperative for you to teach your children how to properly play with the Dachshund puppy. Let the children know what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior from the dog, and what is unacceptable and acceptable behavior of them when they play with the dog. This will dramatically lower the risk of children being nipped by the dog, or the children unintentionally or intentionally mistreating the puppy.
How often you should play with your puppy – Play with your Dachshund puppy whenever you can and whenever you want to. Playing is a great way to bond with your dog and keep him happy. However, playing should not be a substitute for training. Your dog does need to learn commands.
Nevertheless, all work and no play is not an ideal lifestyle for your dog. You need to find a happy medium that is acceptable for both you and your Dachshund puppy.
Dachshund Training…
