In Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Bayard the bloodhound found Alice after she escaped the red Queen’s soldiers led by the Ilosovic Stayene, the Knave of Hearts. Before the Frabjous Day, Bayard was reunited with his family which included his wife and puppies. Before bloodhound puppy training is discussed, here is a brief glimpse of this special breed of dog.
The bloodhound is a large-sized breed of dog originating from Belgium. It is also known as the sleuth hound or St. Hubert hound. It was originally bred to hunt wild boar and deer, and later on was used to track humans by scent. Bloodhoounds are characterized by their large and long ears and their folds of wrinkled flesh under the lips and neck which help the dog’s ability to follow a scent trail. Because of their extraordinary sense of smell and strong tracking ability, these dogs are used by the law enforcement to track missing people, prisoners, and other animals.
Bloodhounds are gentle and affectionate, but because of their strong tracking instinct and stubborn nature, they can be difficult to train. If you have a bloodhound puppy, you should start bloodhound puppy training right away. Young bloodhounds are very impressionable and they are able to grasp commands quicker than adults.
- Stand Your Ground – when bloodhound puppy training, be firm and command respect from your dog. You must establish yourself as the master because as a pack animal, bloodhounds will follow those who are in authority. Never force your puppy to obey you; instead, use positive reinforcement.
- Routines and schedules – at the very start, you must establish a set routine and schedule you and your dog can follow everyday for several months. Do not deviate from this schedule or else your bloodhound puppy will get confused and lead to problems in behavior.
- Crate training and housebreaking – this is one of the basics of bloodhound puppy training. Keep in mind that puppies need to go to the bathroom a lot so housebreaking will take time. Get a crate for your bloodhound to sleep in. Puppies do not do their bathroom business in places where they sleep so always keep the crate clean. Establish a time when your dog has to go and take the dog outside the yard. If accidents in the house occur, scold the dog gently and immediately take it outside. Clean up the accident with diluted vinegar and water to mask the smell.
- Eliminating bad behavior – some bloodhound puppies have issues with chewing furniture and shoes. If they do something they should not be doing, scold your dog with a stern No. However, do not forget to praise the dog when it does correct behavior.
- Collar and leash – included in bloodhound puppy training is letting your dog get used to wearing a collar and walking with a lead. Let the puppy feel the weight of the lead so it will get used to it. Then start walking your puppy with the lead. Praise your dog if it walks calmly beside you.
Bloodhound Training…
