Here are some answers for commonly asked questions when training a basset hound:

Are they difficult to train?
Considering this breed’s strong sense of smell that they tend to follow when they picked up a scent, training them can be difficult indeed. Some even believe that basset hounds are less intelligent because of the said characteristic.

Can you really train a basset hound?
Naturally! Despite the claims about their ability to learn basset hounds are very much able to learn lessons taught to them as long as correct training approach is used.

What strategy should be used to reach successful basset hound training?
Positive reinforcement is most effective for this breed. They’re highly motivated by food so using truly gratifying dog treats helps. Punishment-based or other harsh training strategies ought to be avoided for they do more damage than good.

What tools can be utilized during training?
You’ll find so many tools proven to help make training easy. These tools include although not limited to collars, leashes, clicker, crate and harness. When using such tools, bear in mind to take necessary measures to ensure your pet’s safety for some of these tools can injure or kill your furry companion.

Where is the best location to train a basset hound?
During the first few days of training, it is advisable to pick a quiet area where he’s less likely to get distracted – a certain room in your house, your backyard or at any place where there’s less people. When he’s reliably trained with a particular command, start to train him outside like dog parks and others. Keep him on leash when training outside to assure his safety since this breed may not hear or obey you when he finds a scent that is too tempting for him to ignore.

Basset hound training is hard but not impossible to achieve. As long as you have patience and determination, you’ll certainly come up with a well-mannered short-legged pet.

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While potty training is reportedly tough with this breed, training a basset hound with positive reinforcement along with gentle and patient handling can help you obtain desirable dog training result. In positive reinforcement, you use something in the situation in the hopes of motivating the pet to repeat the behavior. Reinforcement could be toys, praise, time to play and not surprisingly, the most widely used, the treats.

Rewarding your furry friend with that tasty small pieces of food whenever he did something correct can certainly help him figure out that he gets good things for following your commands. It will also help him associate the command with the deed.

When training using treats, it is advisable to keep the treat away from your pet’s sight instead of showing it to him. For example the lesson for the day is sit. One method is to hold a treat in front of your pet’s nose and then slowly move your hands upward so that he will follow it. But rather than holding it with your fingers, it is better to keep the treat in your fist so that he can only smell it but not see it. Though it’ll cause him to wonder if there’s really a treat inside, he’ll still be motivated to obey. The process can help him avoid becoming food dependent.

Food treats should  be truly rewarding for your pet – liver, cheese or hotdog are usually favored by dogs of all sizes. Make sure that treats won’t cause  health risks and remember not to use them as replacement for staple food.

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