Basset hound owners please.?

I have a goregous red/white male basset who is 17wks. old. I love Harley so much. I haven't had a dog since my son's 19 year old daschund Samson passed away 2 yrs. ago. Harley is so stubborn! I am having the most problems with housebreaking and chewing, he also nips on you if he is like sitting on the couch with you. Those puppy teeth are sharp. My 7 year old nephew doesn't come to the house much anymore because he said"I think I'll come see you when Harley grows up and quits chewing on me!" Smart kid!! I need to get this under control but I have had no luck. Any suggestions? I have been told that what holds true for other puppies does not for bassets( they are very stubborn) and that is why I am appealing to basset owners. Any advise is appreciated though.
Answers:
My vet told me that Basset Hounds are "an education in themselves." I've had many different types of dogs over the years, and I can honestly say that I've never encountered anything quite like a Basset mentality.

I, unfortunately, didn't get my Basset as a puppy. He was a rescue from the animal shelter, and already quite set in his ways. Sadly, this is often the fate for Basset Hounds who are left untrained. they end up being dumped by the side of the road or turned in to the shelter because their owners don't have the patience to train them properly. (Shortly after I got him, I Googled "Basset Hound Behavior" and the first result I got was a page called "So, You're Thinking of Getting Rid of your Basset Hound?")

Our Basset was a nightmare for the first couple of months. he had no concept of housebreaking, he'd eat anything in sight, and would claw and bite you any time you moved.

We've had him for a year now, and he's come a long way. He hasn't done a complete turnaround, but he's certainly more well-mannered.

The key to housebreaking is persistance and consistency. if you catch him in the act of messing on the floor, whatever you do, don't shout "NO!" He can't understand that you're punishing him for doing his business inside, he'll just think you're punishing him for the act of doing his business at all, which can cause a lot of problems and insecurities. The best thing to do is watch him. most dogs have a bit of a ritual they carry out before they eliminate. They'll sniff around, circle, and whatnot. If it's possible, try to catch him doing this, and put him outside immediately. If you don't make it in time (or don't want to get peed on in the process), put him outside immediately afterwards.

He'll soon (read: eventually) start to associate the act of elimination with going outside. And another thing, DON'T RUB HIS NOSE IN IT. Dogs don't understand that. Take him to it, show him what you're talking about, and tell him. "You do that OUTSIDE." Then put him out.

Praise is the most important thing. and it's worth a lot more in a Basset's eyes than punishment. Praise him for everything he does right, no matter how miniscule it might seem.

And don't forget. yes, Basset Hounds are more stubborn than most breeds, but they're not stupid. 99% of the time, they know exactly what they're supposed to be doing. they just don't care. And yours is a puppy as well. it's a hard combination, I'm sure.

Just remember the three "P"s. Patience, Persistence and Praise. He'll come around.

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Nope- puppies are puppies on this kind of thing with the nipping.

Bassets are laconic and sort of "oh well, I know you don't really want me to have to do that so I'll just forget about it and do this instead (usually sprawl comfortably)" but there are many other breeds who are miles ahead of them in resistance and take the attitude "You said what? Who is going to make me? You and what army, eh? Go on - take your best shot!"

You have to be persistent with them but once they get the idea that you are not going to give in or give up, they just shrug and say "ah well - didn't realize it was that important to - sure I will - not a problem

Had lots of them come through my obedience classes over the years and after the first motivional discussion they did GREAT!."


Now lots of weird stuff out there about puppies and nipping and chewing on you. You'll hear all of these.

Spraying stuff on your hands ..uhhuh..well.and how long do you keep up smelling repulsive? Distract him?? for how many years?? Ignore him..what he is supposed to figure out that you are ignoring him because you are displeased with him and not because you are cleaning the house?

I've gone out on lot of housecalls to stop the nipping chewing behavior of dogs nearly a year old because their owners did the 'distract them' or 'push them away' or 'just hold their mouth' shut nonsense. After doing all this futile and ineffective things, the dogs didn't quit (thought the people were playing with them) and the owners where pinched and black and blue.

It is NOT teething that makes him grab people and nip and chew - he is PLAYING

Puppies bite - that is how dogs and puppies play with each other. He thinks he is playing with you by mock fighting. Its a dog's favorite game - watch two good dog buddies ripping tearing rolling - and diving at each other and grabbing without puncturing. and chewing on each other.

You have to DO something about it.

Now what is really really neat is your puppy came pre-programmed to understand certain behavior as disapproval and approval. In dog language, behavior is communication.

In a group of dogs, if he nipped the leader and the leader was not amused, they would knock him over, grab the skin on his neck or the side of his face and pinch it without breaking the skin, and growl.

So do what they would do. That is something a dog understands instinctively. Lot of theories out there about yelping in pain and pushing him away (duh.that is what the dog who LOST the mock fight does and the winner is the boss now) or all this other stuff - but your puppy didn't read those books!


Step One: Learn to use your voice. Mot people either let their voice slide up in register or they sound futile and weak. You want to deepen your voice and sound like a drill sergeant. The word NO is basic to doggy manners (and people too.). The deep sound mimics the rumble/growl of the top dog.

Step Two: Do what the leader would does physically (well, mimic it - biting him wouldn't be fun.)

When he nips at you, roar NO in a deep voice, grab him by the collar or back of the neck, push him down and hold him on the ground and as you are doing that and snap your fingers on the end of his nose or slap his nose with your fingers. While you pin him down and get his nose, lean over him and keep saying BAD BAD BAD - do NOT let your voice slide up, make it deep. Make him look at you and keep eye contact 鈥?make your face stern and frown as you get after him.,


Step Three: when you let him up, you relax your voice and face and say "okay, now be nice" and let him come back over and get petted. (That is the postive part.) The more he settles down and gets petted without nipping, the happier your voice gets.

Get after him about EVERY SINGLE TIME - you must be 100% consistent.

Now when he comes over and snuggles and licks and doesn't nip, he always gets "What a sweetie", rub, pet, cuddle, and use a smile (they do watch your face 鈥?more than most people realize). And guess what? That is exactly how dogs express approval of each other!

By the way, many women in particular, but men do it too, have a real problem with voice control, When they get upset or frustrated, their voice go UP. The dog ignores them. In the pack, the boss dog or alpha uses deep tones (rumble in the chest, growl etc) to express displeasure and get compliance from the dogs lower in the pecking order. A dog making a high pitched sound (yapping, yelping - etc) is not only NOT going to get compliance with their wishes as they are percieved as ineffectual and the not-Alpha, not-the-boss but that it is giving an invitation to play.



On the housebreaking thing - he is still VERY young and can't wait for more than 2-3 hours. Boy puppies in particular take longer than girls to develop control. Also, when they get hormonal surges during growth spurts, they tend to revert and lose some bladder control. Get a crate for him when you aren't right there, and feed only at certain times and keep an eye on him; and if he is loose at night, take up his food right after feeding and water about an hour before the last outside trip. If he does deliberately mess in the house and makes no effort to get you, AND you catch him as he does it, ponce on him and do the pin down/roar thing and then you march him straight outside saying BAD BAD all the way and even if he just sniffs outside, it is GOOD GOOD GOOD.

Also, take him to some obedience classes no matter what his age if over 6 months. Poms adore obedience work and are brilliant at it, you get a nicer pet, they are more comfortable with the world and less fearful and inclined to bark at everything and they get the habit of obeying and you get some control..

Now you both need a GOOD obedience class - and that is NOT Petsmart or Petco.

GO here to find contacts in you area that can help you locate and obedience trainer who works with all beeds and who does AKC obedience compettions:

http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cf.

http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cf. (set on all breeds)


http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/index.cf.

Even it they are an hour or more away, they will know other people all over the state.

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I am sorry your having so many problems. Bassets are very special dogs, that dont fit into every family.. even if they sound great "laid back, lazy house dog" is the common sales pitch.

I too had a Basset, and had problems. He was so sensitive to punishment, but thick headed.. dominate, food agressive.. I didnt know what too do either, and I have always had big, powerful, dominate dogs and I thought I could handle a little Basset.. no problem.

Get yourself into PetSmart and get some training ASAP or you may end up in the same boat I did. heres what happened to my boy.

Unfortuenately, I got no help, and the dog became an outside dog.. I called rescue groups, hoping he could go to a home that could do more for him, they wouldnt take him. He then went to live with a nieghbor.. whom also thought he could "handle a Basset", the dog ended up terribly abused and neglected.. and I called animal control. Instead of them taking the dog, they had to post notice first. the dog mysteriously ended up on the train tracks shortly after. dead. Sad end too his 5 years of tough life, but maybe in the end, he was better off.. better than starved and beaten anyway.

OH YEA!
I am sure you asked this question because you want it too work with this dog.. and not because you yourself are lazy or making excuses. So, ignore any bashing you may get from people, and run to the nearest trainer you can find. It will be better for you both in the long run.

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First of all, this is a puppy and puppy's chew. You must let him know that you (or your nephew) are not chew toys. Re-direct him to the items he can chew on and NEVER let him nibble on you.

Secondly, Harley is a puppy (heard this before, haven't you?). Puppy's potty training can last a while. Some are easier to train than other. If you are a stay at home mom to Harley, then he should be learning faster, as you have the opportunity to take him out ever hour. Use key phrases every time "let's go outside" "gotta go potty?" "wanna go out?' etc. Don't change these phrases. When he does go outside, jump for joy, give him rewards, his favorite treat or a special belly rub or give a special toy only to played with right after properly using the outside as his potty area. take it away when you go back inside. Praise and positive reinforcement are key, along with consistency. If you are a working Mom, you must crate train. This is not a cruel thing (unless left in the crate for too long of periods, in which case, no one with this issue should have a dog), dogs are den animals by nature and they will come to love their own place, if they don't already. Many dogs, after being crate trained, find that the crate is their own get-away when they want to be left alone, when storms rolls in that they are afraid of or when they know its bedtime. They love it.

Good luck, just give Harley time to grow and learn, just like any toddler. Just remember - no punishments - naughty deeds do not get rewarded and any attention towards naughty deeds is attention.

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I don't really have an answer for you except I am going through the same thing with my hound/beagle 10 weeks old. I have found that a can filled with pennies gets her attention when I shake it at her for biting. She is getting better.

GetEmGang should be banned from answering any more questions on here. He is just an immature idiot with nothing better to do than give smart answers to everyones questions. Hopefully they kick him off soon.

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Gee think of that by yourself ??