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This beautiful little
dog can be a fine family pet, but new owners
sometimes find the Pekingese a handful when it comes
to training. True, the Pekingese is courageous and
loyal to one owner and members of the immediate
family. However, this breed can sometimes be
stubborn and self-important, resisting the best
efforts to get it to do certain things.
One of the keys in training a Pekingese is to
be firm and consistent so that the dog does not gain
control of a situation (at least not too often!).
Housebreaking any dog is a study in patience. The
owner must always watch both the dog and the clock
because dogs are generally creatures of habit. A
regular routine for meals and trips outside is
imperative if you are to have a comfortable
relationship with your puppy.
Some trainers insist
that a very young puppy should be taken outside once
every hour when weather permits. These trainers
remind new owners that both the dog and owner have
to make adjustments to create a good schedule. Toy
dogs can be among the most difficult to train when
it comes to going outside or when using paper
training. Because of their small size, they may want
to hide behind furniture or just around the corner
to go, and then come back into the room as if
nothing had happened.
One way to address this problem is consistent and
firm crate training. With this method you give your
dog a safe haven to call its own and a “den” that it
will naturally want to keep clean. Other trainers
and breeders do not believe in crate training and
instead will recommend that the owner and dog
develop a routine to get the dog outside at the
right times. This may take a bit longer than some
other methods but may also prove to be successful.
Some of the key actions an owner can take in this
process: take the dog outside right after eating or
drinking and then praise the dog for doing the right
thing. Typically, these dogs work hard to please the
owner, responding to praise. Even the stubbornness
of the Pekingese can be overcome with consistent
training.
The Pekingese is not a dog that will always come
when it is called but this is due to the independent
nature of the Pekingese rather than any lack of
intelligence. Proper socialization with the breeder
can make a world of difference in how your new pet
acts when it comes into your home. What the puppy
learns in the first few weeks of its life will stick
with it for years. Therefore, selecting a puppy from
a breeder that spends time with the young dogs is
very important.
With the Pekingese, it is very important not to let
the dog get the upper hand. Some owners have
reported that their dogs will even refuse to eat,
just to show dominance and gain control. Many times
this action has nothing to do with whether the dog
is hungry. Allowing the Pekingese to be “in charge”
because it is cute and feisty can be a recipe for
trouble that may give you a dog that no one can
handle, much less enjoy. Dogs will respond to the
tone of the voice, especially when they are very
young. So showing your displeasure with
housebreaking “accidents” is OK as long as you use a
disappointed tone with your voice and make sure the
puppy understands what has happened. Remember to
expect some mishaps and do not get too upset with a
puppy that is just learning control.
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