Mike Clinton
Introduction: Appenzeller Sennenhund
The Appenzeller Sennenhund, also known as the Appenzeller Mountain Dog, is a Swiss breed of working dogs that were originally bred for herding, guarding, and driving livestock. These dogs are known for their intelligence, agility, and loyalty. Training your Appenzeller Sennenhund is essential to ensure that they become well-behaved, obedient, and enjoyable companions. In this article, we will discuss the basic commands that you should teach your Appenzeller Sennenhund.
Basic Commands for Appenzeller Sennenhund
Before you start training your Appenzeller Sennenhund, it is important to establish a good relationship with your dog. This can be done by spending quality time with your dog, providing love and affection, and rewarding good behavior. The basic commands that you should teach your Appenzeller Sennenhund are sit, stay, come, down, heel, leave it, and drop it.
Sit Command for Appenzeller Sennenhund
The sit command is one of the most basic commands that you can teach your Appenzeller Sennenhund. This command is useful in various situations, such as when you want your dog to sit before feeding or when greeting people. To teach your dog to sit, hold a treat in front of their nose, and move it upwards and backwards towards their tail. As your dog follows the treat, their rear end should lower to the ground. Once your dog is sitting, praise them and give them the treat.
Stay Command for Appenzeller Sennenhund
The stay command is essential for keeping your Appenzeller Sennenhund in one place. This command is useful when you need to leave your dog alone for a short period or when you want to keep them from jumping on guests. To teach your dog to stay, make sure that they are in a sitting position. Then, hold your hand out in front of them and say "stay" firmly. Step back a few feet, and then return to your dog. If your dog has stayed in place, praise them and give them a treat.
Come Command for Appenzeller Sennenhund
The come command is important when you want your Appenzeller Sennenhund to return to you. This command can be used when your dog is running towards something dangerous or when you want to call them in from the garden. To teach your dog to come, call their name and say "come" in a clear, firm voice. When they come to you, praise them and give them a treat.
Down Command for Appenzeller Sennenhund
The down command is useful when you want your Appenzeller Sennenhund to lie down. This command can be used when you want your dog to remain calm or when you want to groom them. To teach your dog to lie down, start with them in a sitting position. Then, hold a treat in front of them and move it downwards towards the ground. As your dog follows the treat, their body should lower to the ground. Once your dog is lying down, praise them and give them the treat.
Heel Command for Appenzeller Sennenhund
The heel command is essential when you want your Appenzeller Sennenhund to walk by your side. This command can be used when you are out for a walk or when you want to keep your dog close to you. To teach your dog to heel, start by holding a treat in your hand and placing it by your side. Then, say "heel" in a firm voice, and start walking. If your dog stays by your side, praise them and give them the treat.
Leave It Command for Appenzeller Sennenhund
The leave it command is important when you want your Appenzeller Sennenhund to leave something alone. This command can be used when your dog tries to eat something harmful or when you want to stop them from playing with something dangerous. To teach your dog to leave it, put a treat in front of your dog and say "leave it" in a firm voice. If your dog doesn’t touch the treat, praise them and give them a different treat.
Drop It Command for Appenzeller Sennenhund
The drop it command is useful when your Appenzeller Sennenhund picks up something they shouldn’t have. This command can be used when your dog has picked up something dangerous or when you want to retrieve a toy from them. To teach your dog to drop it, hold a treat in one hand and the object in the other. Say "drop it" in a firm voice and offer the treat. Once your dog drops the object, praise them and give them the treat.
Conclusion: Training Appenzeller Sennenhund
Training your Appenzeller Sennenhund is essential to ensure that they become well-behaved, obedient, and enjoyable companions. The basic commands that you should teach your Appenzeller Sennenhund are sit, stay, come, down, heel, leave it, and drop it. Remember to establish a good relationship with your dog and to reward good behavior. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, your Appenzeller Sennenhund will become a well-trained and happy dog.