by Kay Green

Tally-Ho: July/August 1983

In order to achieve a happy, nice-working dog/handler team in obedience, you must know the right time to start formal obedience training, as well as how to select the right instructor for you and your basset hound. The fewer mistakes you make in the beginning, the faster and better results you will achieve in the long run. Bassets are not the easiest breed to train, and you can't afford to make too many mistakes with them. You walk a thin line between their viewing obedience work with a sense of anticipation and fun or a sense of drudgery. There is nothing less impressive than a basset hound in obedience who hates what he is doing and wants the whole world to know about it!

Knowing when bassets are physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to start formal obedience training isn't as hard to determine as one might think. I mentioned in a previous article that bassets mature sexually between 6 and 18 months of age, and that their behavior is usually negative and stubborn during this period. During this growth phase, if you pit your will against theirs you will probably be the loser in the end. Discipline is important, especially around house training and manners, but nothing as structured as formal obedience training should be attempted during this stage.

Once bassets are sexually mature they are ready to enter into the next stage of development. It is my opinion that this stage has to do with where they fit within the pecking order of your family and other dogs (if you have any). The signs of this stage, especially with the more dominant dogs, are usually acts of aggression towards other dogs--many times your little darling will start challenging you to see whether you are the dominant alpha dog or not. The more submissive dogs will usually start showing signs of misbehavior and destructiveness. Dogs who have been housetrained and have lived by your rules for months will suddenly start having accidents in the house again, and you may start finding your valuables chewed up and destroyed. The message to you is very clear: it is a challenge to see just what (if anything) you are going to do about this behavior!

This is the stage of development that the average pet owner is not prepared for, especially if his basset is naturally dominant. He thinks there is something wrong with his dog, and that there is a real danger to himself and his family. In spite of the basset's docile image there is a tendency for many to be aggressive at times. Unfortunately, the pet owner often makes matters worse by reacting to these acts of aggression with fear. Using the natural canine correction of lifting the dog off his front feet by the scruff of his neck and shaking him back and forth while telling him "NO!" (in your most commanding voice) is usually all that is needed to put him in his place. This is the type of correction that mother dogs use on their puppies to discipline them and is a lot more humane and effective than hitting or slapping. We have found in basset rescue that this is the time that many pet owners make the decision to give up their bassets; sometimes we can convince owners that this is just a temporary stage of development and that they can learn how to work through it effectively and thereby keep their dog. However, the average pet owner often waits until he just can't stand it anymore and gives up his commitment to making the relationship between canine and human work.

It is my opinion that this stage of development is the ideal time to start formal obedience training, for a number of reasons. First, the basset hound has indicated that he is approaching adulthood (his physical appearance and behavior remind you of adolescence). Second, he can usually concentrate on two things simultaneously for longer than a few seconds. He can eat while still being aware of distractions going on around him. Third, he has clearly told you that he wants to know just exactly what his relationship is with you, your family, and other dogs. It should be understood that not all dogs mature at the same time and age and therefore their behavior and attention span will be a better gauge than rigid chronology. Recently, one of my dogs indicated that he was ready to start formal obedience training at 10 months (very young), and yet another one is just now ready at 2 1/2 years (a little older than normal).

Obedience is a language we humans can use to communicate effectively with our canine companions. Dogs are usually willing to do pretty much what we want them to, if they can just figure out what that is. Even though beginning obedience doesn't directly deal with the problems you are having at home, it does get across the message that you are in control; most people start to see an alleviation of the problems at home after only a few weeks or months of training. Not only does obedience give you the means to control your basset, it also can, and should be, lots of fun for both of you (if approached with energy and a positive attitude).

Now is the time to start shopping around for a competent obedience instructor who will be just right for you and your basset hound. Just because a person hangs out his shingle stating that he is an obedience instructor doesn't mean that he knows what he is doing with all breeds. Some instructors are very effective with the more biddable breeds in the sporting, herding, and working groups but have no idea what to do with hounds and terriers. My feeling is that the best obedience instructor for bassets would be one who is flexible enough to help all breeds. Even if an instructor has not directly worked with a basset hound before, he should be willing to try new methods and modify old ones that are not effective. The sign of a poor instructor is one who insists that you keep doing the same old thing over and over again, even though it doesn't work and may even be making matters worse. This type of instructor is so rigid and locked into only one method of training that he is of very little use as an instructor to more than a few dog-handler teams. While some dogs will respond to choke chain collar corrections, many others will fall apart at the sight or sound of a metal choke collar. You should be looking for someone who will be willing to help create a training program that will fit both you and your basset hound.

Go to fun matches and obedience trials and watch the dogs being put through their paces; are they under control and having fun? Are the handlers confident and smooth in the handling of their dogs and are they having fun as well? Don't be tempted just to watch the dogs from the working, herding, and sporting groups perform; watch the toys, hounds, and terriers as well. Ask the handlers of the difficult to train breeds who are doing well and having fun where they train and what methods they use. There is usually at least one instructor who has the knowledge and ability to work with the difficult-to-train dogs and his name will be repeated time and time again. Talk to the instructor and tell him you have a basset you want to train, and then watch his expression. If you like his answers and attitude then ask if you can come and observe one or two classes before you make a final decision. A competent instructor will not be offended just because you want to see what you may be buying first. If there is no one in your area competent enough to work with you and your basset then at least shop around and find an instructor who uses a middle-of-the-road approach to training. I have seen very few bassets who are overjoyed at being jerked around and strung up; most will put up with it for only a short period of time before they learn to hate obedience. My own experience is that most bassets respond better to guidance and motivation than to force and harsh corrections.

When you do go to observe an obedience class, note how many difficult breeds of dogs are being trained, and what their attitudes are. Note whether there are different training methods being used or whether all the dogs are being made to conform to one method. Are there enough assistants to help the beginners if there is a large class? Is the class structured and does it move along at a natural pace, or do you see people standing around waiting for something to happen?

Although there are many other considerations that are important about obedience training, the two discussed here are, in my opinion, essential. By selecting the appropriate age and level of maturity to begin, your young dog will not be overly stressed before he is ready for the discipline involved. By carefully choosing that one special person to help and guide you, you stand a good chance of having a nicely trained dog who enjoys sharing obedience work with you. With these two decisions thought out and planned properly, you will be well on your way to achieving that very special human-canine relationship that people with obedience-trained dogs have and enjoy.