Just About Jacks

Archive for May 24th, 2009

No one argues that dog obedience training isn’t necessary. Of course it is. Dogs don’t just intuitively know what it is you want them to do. While breeders and professional dog trainers are obviously very aware of the different training approaches, they normally prefer one over another. And while it is always good for dog owners to take their new puppies to dog obedience class – for the socialization opportunities if nothing else – more and more, owners are choosing to take a much more active and informed role in teaching their dogs to become well behaved members of the family.

Correction Based Training
Up until a number of years ago, the most popular method of dog training was based on correcting unwanted behavior. The theory behind this is that the dog learns to associate a negative reaction for a certain behavior so avoids doing it.  Prong collars are based on this approach. When the dog pulls on the leash, the prongs dig into his neck, thus causing pain or at least an uncomfortable feeling. Many trainers still use correction based training and it can work provided the correction doesn’t morph into a punishment. Many trainers get quick results using this approach. Dog owners don’t.

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
In recent years, positive reinforcement dog training has become the biggest buzz word in the dog training world. This approach relies on the dog associating certain behaviours with something positive. When the dog delivers a wanted response, she is rewarded. She doesn’t get punished when she does something wrong – she gets rewarded when she does something right.

Some trainers claim that positive reinforcement by itself is never enough for some dogs and certainly not as efficient as a combination positive reinforcement and correction based exercises. Others preach that positive reinforcement by itself works as long as you teach your dog you are the alpha leader in her pack so her instincts tell her she has to do what you tell her – the only thing you have to do is teach her what you want her to do.

Clicker Training
And then there’s another group that swears by clicker training. This is positive based, but relies entirely on the theory that your dog will act based on getting what she wants more than any desire to please you. It assumes that your dog will give a certain behaviour not because she strives to please you, but because she knows it means something good will come. The key difference is that all behaviour is given voluntarily (which means training is actually fun for your dog) and by using a conditioned reinforcer (the clicker), it is much easier to be exact in teaching your dog what it is that gets her the reward. Clicker training takes a bit longer when starting out, but more and more trainers and every day dog owners swear by it.

More and more, people are dog training at home and using online dog training products to educate themselves. There are numerous approaches to dog obedience training but it makes sense to be aware of all of them when choosing what’s right for you and your dog.

Pet food

Pet food

Despite the sometimes frantic comments of advocates of “natural” dog food, commercial dog foods are fine for your Dachshund.  Some of those concerns are well placed, though.A diet that is not too rich and not too lean, full of healthy ingredients (balanced) is best.  But that advice is far too vague as it stands.  What does it really mean?

- Ingredients

Any commercial kibble food will have a list of ingredients on the package, starting with the one present at the highest percentage listed first.  Ensure that the ingredient listed first is some kind of animal protein.  Chicken, beef or lamb are the most common.  Vegetable proteins are harder to break down into useful components and contain smaller concentrations of needed amino acids.

Like most other dogs, Doxies are by nature meat eaters.  But fresh meat isn’t required.  Anything that provides enough protein is fine, since what is really needed are the amino acids that go to make them up.  Any protein consumed is broken down to those constituents then “re-constructed” again by the dog.

Apart from amino acids, there are a number of essential minerals and vitamins required for good functioning.

Foods rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are good not only for humans but are good for Dachshunds, too.  In both cases, those compounds help improve joint and skin health.

Antioxidants perform a role similar in a Doxie’s life that they do in their owners.  Vitamin E, beta-carotene and others help protect the immune system by reducing something called “free radicals”.  These are elements or molecules with an extra electron that can harm cells when they exist in too-high concentrations.

Fat, far from being the villain it is sometiems (incorrectly) painted in discussions of human diet, is a must.  Fats provide compounds vital for good nerve function.They are broken down to form the hormones and enzymes.  They also provide a source of calories that Dachshunds need to pwer all those activities, just as people do.

- Amounts

Puppies that have been weaned should eat 3-4 meals per day.Smaller amounts, fed more often, are preferable to large helpings at one time, even though it may be inconvenient for the owner.The routine is best for puppies 8-12 weeks old.

When your puppy reaches 3-6 months, you can reduce the feeding frequency to 3 or even two meals a day.  Even puppies can get fat, so keep an eye on the waistline behind the rib cage.  It should have a slight curve.If your Dachshund has lost the waist line, you may be feeding too much.

That advice is a little more difficult to follow in the case of Dachshunds than some other breeds, since they are a bit more tubular by nature.  Even so, the curve can be seen if you observe closely.  Aid your eye by feeling the puppy in front of the rear legs.  Get familiar with their shape and it will be easier to judge small changes.

By the time they’ve reached a year old, one meal per day is fine.  If they seem eager to eat more often two meals is fine, but divide the portions in half.

Feed your Dachshund a premium brand food.  Those contain a more appropriate quantity of calories and less “junk food” than cheaper brands.For fussy doxies, or just for extra flavor, mixing a spoonful or two of wet food with dry is fine.

Never give your puppy chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions, macadamian nuts or xylitol which are toxic to dogs.

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