Puppy Manners

Name: Angie
Email: curtaincallbyangela@comcast.net
Date: 2006-12-10 21:56:39

We are very excited that we have added an 18 month old mini dachshund to our family. As a matter of fact, we took her to Happy, Clean for her first bath!!! Anyway, we have had her for 8 days now. She is very loving and wants to be a lap dog most of the time. We have bought her several toys to play with, but shows no interest in them. I don't want her to be bored, how do we spark her enthusiam? Some of her other behaviors are concerning me also. I feel she lacks confidence, for example she carries her tail between her legs most of the time. And when approached, I get down low on her level to pick her up she sprinkles urine on the floor. I know this is a submissive behavior. Is there anyway to stop this? Also, she has started to eat her feces. As a human we find this disgusting, but she must like it. How long can we help her through this adjustment period and how can I boost her confidence. We have started to teach her to shake....

Date: 2006-12-11 14:01:24

Angie Congratulations on the addition to your family. Where did you acquire you dachshund from? Sometimes when dogs first transition to a new environment it takes a while for them to adjust (this can take as long as 6 months). I would start by giving her some treats in a ball or kong (that usually helps them start playing with the toys to get the food out). Then I would experiment with different types of toys (rubber, plush, tennis balls,etc but don't rush her to play with them). Some dogs are not real motivated by toys. I would also recommend with her submissive behavior that rather than beding down to pick her up, sit on the floor a few feet away and call her to you (be patient this may take a little while) and then reward her with a treat when she comes to you. Dogs tend to get very nervous when people bend over them or look them in the eye. It is best to let her approach you and to stay calm and then reward her for little steps (coming to you, going down stairs), etc. In terms of eating feces, there are some powders you can get from your vet or from our store that you sprinkle on their food and it tends to help with that behavior. You can always brush her teeth, too, which is a good health habit to perform on your dog, but don't go too fast if she is nervous. Teaching tricks and basic obedience will also be very helpful. Timid dogs often need leadership and guidance and when rewarded consistently for good behavior, their confidence will rise and you will have a happy go luck dachshund. Please keep us updated on your progress and in mind for a kindergarten class in January.

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