sunnygirl167

Hello everyone I am a new owner of a basset hound puppy this is my first one. Her name is Abby and I absolutely adore her.

I did some research before getting her and continue to do so. I am hearing more and more that this breed is difficult to house train and also can be stubborn.

I am nervous about doing things wrong I just want to take the best care of her any advice for a newbie would be great . I have had her for about 15 hours now and she has only had one small accident in the house although I have been watching her closely for signs of needing to go tinkle like she starts to squirm around a bit more and seems more antsy so far she has gone every time I take her out.

One problem I am having though is she does not want to come back in the house. Any suggestions ?

eclairs mom

I found with a puppy putting it in a leash to go in and out was very helpful. When she does hert buisiness outside make lots of praise, and a sliver of a liver treat did wonders to mine!

henry'smum

Hi there new basset person! [We need pictures] I have always found the key to house breaking a basset is repetition repetition repetition. Take her outside regularly then stay quiet while she does her business then bunches of praise and treats.
There are lots of great threads on here about housebreaking. Some people use bells, for their pups to ring when they want to go out.
Good luck

Annie714

Welcome to you and Abby! How old is she? And yes...pictures!!!

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Mr. Woofus

I have all the answers to all your problems Be more stubborn than the pup, hahahahahahahaha. You'll be fine Like everyone says, always praise when Abby goes outside. I even still do it to my 4 yr old that hasn't had an accident in forever. It just reaffirms good behavior. Good luck....we need pics please.

Mikey T

Basset and a lot of so call hard to Train breed get a bad wrap for being stuborn when nothing could be further from the truth. When using compulsion and praise to train (tradition training method) do not work well on breeds that are not particular bidable. That is they are not motivated by a willingness to please. And you here so many tradition trains say a dog should work out simply to please you. That is complete and utter nonsence. How long would you work for you current employer of all you got out of it was a att boy or girl. Dogs do what works it is a matter of making complying with your wish in the best interest of the dog as well.

see Hard to Train

does this look like a stuborn dog


the other reason the have that reputation is how the react to stress. That is the react to stress negatively. not in badly but in the behavioral sence postive meand something add negative something removed the remove any movement. They shut down, ie flat basset. When you learn to motivate a basset you learn how to avoid creating stress as well

Mikey T

IMHO It is not possible to fully housetrain a basset before the age of six months and 1 year is typical. Keep in mind a lack of accidents is not a indication of housetraining but rather skill at management as is but one of the fist steps to house training. I think basset are slow to mature the sphincter control need to hold it that is required for true house training.

the best article on house train on the web is the following House training your Puppy

and it answer the most common complaint we heare from new owner she just cam in from outside not 10 minute and goes in the house well ya duh!



when the puppy is up and avtive it need to go frequently. THe one thing missing from the artical is thge importance of a schedule in preventing accidents. a ridged schedule of feeding access to water. sleep and play time make the need of the puppy to eliminate on a schedule as well. Which means they are predictable and when they are predictable it is much easier to avoid accident because you know when they ae going to happen and can be proactive. No schedual dog ellimination patterns are unpredictable accident are inevetiable,


The other big area housetraining falls apart is a signal for the dog to use to tell you it need to go outside. Many thing it would be easy for the dog to find one on its own. but what happens is use humands often ignore them or dismis them o you just went out you don;t need to go again etc. When a signal does not work what is the dog to do? It is far easier to teach the dog a clear and consise signal that work even if you are not in the same room. About the easiest one to teach is ring a bell or bells see Ring my Bell

Jnfr

Welcome! I have an Abby too! I found that with both Jake and Abby that Treats are a big motivation. Anytime they are "good" outside they get a treat from the cookie jar (it is a cow that "moo's" also helpful for getting them to come when your command doesn't quite cut it). With Abby (my youngest) I also incorporated piddle pads (I work full time). She does very well with them. Sometimes misses but it is obvious her front end was on the pad. I actually use human bed pads (they are bigger and more suited for bigger dogs... also cheaper, especially at Sams/Cosco, etc)

Now they both run to the cookie jar when they come in the house. Yes, it mean lots of treats (but they are small) and it works for us.

Just be patient. Lavish lots of praise when she does well. Bassets are MUCH smarter than most give them credit for.

Oh, and as other's have said before......We Want Pictures!!!! Jen

Mikey T

while ther is alway a lot of emphysis on new owners place on housetraining it at best is the third most important thing to teach a puppy.

1. is bite inhibition that is there is a limited time frame to teach a puppy not to bite hard. on human skin, After about 20 weeks of age if it has not been taught it can not be reliable taught make the dog potential dangerious. Any and every dog under the right circumsgance will bite. The difference between a safe dog and a dangerious one is how har they bite.

see Bite Inhibition How to Teach It

2. is socialization and Habituation young puppies up to about 16 weeks of age are incrediablty open to new experience, this in other species is often refered to an imprinting period. however once this windows closes the dog will react with fear, gardedness thing and situatuin it never experience as a puppy. Dogs that are afraid of men are general not afraid of them because a man hurt then in the past no they are afraid because they were not exposed to them during this critical solization period.

Countdown to a Crackerjack Canine Companion

Puppy Socialisation and Habituation (Part 1) Why is it Necessary?

Puppy Socialisation and Habituation (Part 2) How to go about it

Position Statement on Puppy Socialization
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior

Wworm

Welcome!
sounds like u have not had your girl for very long, so i bet she is still adjusting to everything & I wouldn't be too alarmed that she doesn't seem to want to come back in. but yeah, in general, so long as she doesn't have 24 hr access to food, food/treats/chicken seems to work very well for motivating them to do just about anything, we found! walking here, walking there, leaving/dropping bad stuff, etc.

for the first 2-4 weeks, Worm didn't seem to want to go outside, which was strange. and he didn't seem to like walks or enjoy them, or know how to go on walks. so it was a lot adjusting to a new environment, and takes some time to settle into a routine.

hope you will find useful info here!
--Worm

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