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<p class=MsoNormal>Bassets jump up to greet people – not to be bad or
rude – but to get close to the person’s face for a proper
greeting. One way to avoid your basset jumping on you when you enter the
room or house is for you to get down on their level to greet them. My
dogs are crated when we are gone. When we come home, they go outside
first, then they come back inside to greet us. This diffuses some of the
excitement of us returning and allows us to set things down and properly greet
them when they come inside. Throughout the 40 years I have had bassets, I
have found it necessary to teach them that jumping on people is not ok for
safety reasons. At any point during that 40 years, we have either had
small children, small grandchildren or elderly parents in the household or as
frequent visitors. I teach the bassets to sit on command at a very young
age (usually 4 months or so) and reinforce this when the little kids are around
by having the dog on a lead until they are reliable about not jumping.
Also, when visitors come to the house, I put the dog on a lead and sit command
as the guests are entering. With our dogs, controlling the excitement of
the dogs is the key. This goes hand-in-hand with controlling the
excitement of the kids and visitors also. Does this always work for us
--- of course not – they are bassets and people and kids are unreliable
in their behaviors – but it is a start. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>There are simple commands that we teach our puppies (and
adults) and that we use frequently. We teach “come”; “sit”;
“down” (meaning lay down); “off” (meaning off me, off
the counter, off the table, off whatever), “drop it” (meaning to
drop whatever you have in your mouth). I have also taught my dogs a “freeze”
command which means for the dog to stop and freeze in place. This is more
difficult to teach but very important if you live in a high traffic area.
We also teach them the word “gentle” when taking a treat from us
and “wait” to teach them to wait to eat the treat or food.
This is important if you are using bait in the ring --- otherwise you have a
dog lunging at you and sometimes the judge for a treat. I have even to
taught mine the word and concept of jackpot – lots of treats but when we
are done and out of the ring. This is helpful in obedience where you can’t
use bait.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>It doesn’t matter what words you use – as long
as you are consistent and the dog knows what the word means to him. I
have know people who use foreign words or nonsense words. As long
as you and the dog understand, then it is a good word. The single command
that my dogs listen to 95% of the time is HEY! KNOCK IT OFF!!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Sandi Wittenberg - Red Bay Bassets<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>sandi@redbaybassets.com<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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