Dachshund, jumping and using pads
''I'm new to the askmehelpdesk website. And I am learning to use it. I noticed by reading a previous post that you have worked with dogs for a long time. Well I have a question and if this is a bother to you please realize that I do understand and that I do not what to take time away from whatever you are doing.''
I love dogs and have chosen to try to help them by answering questions on the net. Besides, it is a way of paying back the many good people that have helped me over the years.
''My parents gave me a 10 week old dachshund because I had knee surgery and couldn't play basketball anymore so this is suppose to keep my busy. Anyhow, I cannot seem to keep her from making mad leaps off my bed and I read that it could be dangerous to her back, so I am wondering what I can do to make her quick jumping off my bed and my couch. It doesn't seem to bother her but I don't know about when she gets older. Anyhow that is one concern, another is I DO NOT want to leave her in a crate ALL day when I'm in classes or running errands just so she won't use the rest room in my apartment. I bought puppy pads and have them set in the bathroom, and when I leave I close all the bedroom doors so she can have the run of the living room, kitchen and bathroom... she now uses the bathroom in the bathroom, but doesn't seem to want to use the puppy pad, any idea how I can get her to use the potty pads? ''
Well anyhow I hope you are having a wonderful evening, sorry for bothering you. Hope I didn't cause too much of a problem.''
Perhaps you need to give her an alternative to jumping. There steps for dogs. I have even seen them recently at J. C. Penney's. You could also try boxes or stacks of books. If she has an easy alternative, she may not jump. Be sure and praise her if she uses what ever you provide. Praise is very important in teaching a dog anything.
As for teaching her to use the pads, go to the sticky on housebreaking at the top of the dogs forum. At the top of the page you have Home>Home & Garden>Pets & Amimals>Dogs. Click on Dogs, and it takes you to the top of the forum, the stickies and then threads newest first.
Read what I have to say about knowing when to take a dog out and getting it to use a spot you select, and praising it for using it. Adapt it to using the pads indoors. Others here that have used pads may have ideas too.
I don't think pads are a good idea. You say you don't like crates, but most dogs learn to like them. It is important not to leave them in a crate too long. Can anybody, your parents, a neighbor, or somebody give her a mid day break?
