How to Train a Keeshond Puppy
A Keeshond dog, also known as a wolf spitz, is a strong, medium-sized breed with a rich two-layer coat of silver and black with a full, curled tail. Keeshonds make excellent family dogs. They are lively, loving and tolerant. Training a puppy can be quite an undertaking, regardless of the breed. According to the Dog Adoption and Training Guide, there are two preferred training methods, paper and crate. Crate training a puppy involves creating an environment that makes your dog comfortable for extended periods. Done correctly, crate training will help your Keeshond puppy adjust to life in a new home.
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Instructions
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Crate Training
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Purchase a crate. Keep in mind that this is supposed to be a pleasant place for the puppy to relax. For any puppy, including a Keeshond, you want the largest crate suitable for your dog and space. Your dog will grow, so purchase a crate to accommodate the puppy as she grows.
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Make a comfortable, soft and warm bed in the crate for your puppy. Stock the crate with a blanket or towels. Give the puppy something he can move to his satisfaction.
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Lay out items to entice the dog to use the crate. Food is always a great choice with dogs. Seed the crate with snack items, such as cheese squares or chicken chunks. The smell of the food will attract the puppy and give her a reason to go into the crate.
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Give your puppy some things to chew. Provide a few toys but don’t fill up the crate. Your puppy will need room to move.
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Switch things around until you come up with a formula that makes your puppy comfortable. The purpose of this training is to encourage the dog to enter the crate on his own volition. You do not want to push your puppy into the crate. This associates the crate with punishment.
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Close the door for a few seconds once your puppy is comfortable with the surroundings. Leave the door closed for a few seconds to see how she reacts, then open it. Repeat this process, leaving the door closed a little longer each time. If your puppy comes right out when the door opens, coax him back into the crate and close the door again.
Addtional Training
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Control excessive barking. Teach the puppy barking needs to be controlled. Do not reward barking by providing attention to the dog. For example, if your puppy is barking outside, letting him in rewards the behavior. Do not yell or scream at the dog if he is barking, as this also encourages the behavior.
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Deal with separation anxiety. A puppy feels anxious when she sees her owner getting ready to leave. You new Keeshond is a baby, and she does not like being left alone. Start early to avoid separation anxiety issues such as in-house urination. Provide you dog with a warm place to sit when you are not home. Give her some toys to play with and chew. Give her plenty of outdoor exercise. This will train her to sleep when you are not home.
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Avoid games that encourage biting. When you are still training your Keeshond, don't wrestle with your puppy or play games such as tug of war. This rewards biting and gives her the wrong idea. Reward her when she plays nice with another dog. This encourages proper behavior and socialization skills.
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Purchase a clicker for obedience training. A clicker uses proven methods to teach your puppy the art of communicating with you. Start with small lessons. For instance, practice rewarding your puppy with a liver treat and a double-click when he sits. After time, the dog will associate a double-click with sitting.
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Get your puppy used to a collar her first day with you. Put the collar on and leave it. If she pulls it off, simply put it back. Once she is used to the collar, use the leash. Your first leash should be lightweight. Put the leash on the collar and let her drag it around the house. Once she acclimates to the leash, grab the other end and walk her around the room. After some time, she will understand what the leash is for and you can walk outside.
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Tips & Warnings
Your puppy should be in the crate at all times unless she is eating, outdoors or playing with someone. Only putting the puppy in the crate when you leave the house defeats the purpose; you want your Keeshond to be happy and comfortable. This means giving the puppy her own space.
Do not leave your Keeshond in the crate with the door closed for long periods. A good formula for maximum crate time, in hours, is the puppy’s age in months plus one month. For instance, if your Keeshond is 3 months old, crate time beyond four hours is not healthy and may lead to extreme behavior and anxiety.
References
- Photo Credit Matt Cardy/Getty Images News/Getty Images
