Miniature Pinscher Training | Mini Pincher | Min Pin and Mini Pinscher Puppy

 

Of all the training-related knick-knacks and gadgets you can waste your money on, a beeping bark collar has to rank among the most useful. This is the case for our household, especially now that we have a baby.

 

How much your dog barks around the house may depend on what he or she hears and sees. For example, if you’re in a quiet apartment complex, on the 6th floor where nobody slams the doors and there’s very little hallway noise, your Min Pin might not bark a lot. But if you live in a townhouse and your little one likes to stay perched in your bay window barking away all day to protect the house from the mailman who comes to your door, people who walk on the sidewalk in front of your house, and from your neighbors, that’s another story. Enter the bark collar.

 

It took no time at all for our dog Baron to get used to his bark collar.  It’s so effective, that when we pull it out to use it, he still tones it down.  As with some other situations I describe, it always helps to be proactive. In other words, deal with things before they become a situation.

 

For example, if you know the handy man is coming over and the baby is sleeping, put the bark collar on before the handy man shows up.  Tell your dog she’s a “good girl,” that you love her and give her a few licks. Just kidding. You get the idea. Show her the bark collar as your put it on (don’t make a big deal, just keep talking to her as you put it around her neck). Showing it to her, talking to her in a calm voice and telling her to be good are her cues to in fact be good.

 

When the handy man shows up, it’s extremely important that you show her who’s the boss. And as the boss you have a job, which is to make this training productive and painless. As soon as she barks, the collar will beep. Pay attention. Your Min Pin is warning you that someone’s out there.

 

Acknowledge her concern and start to calm her with a “Thank you! Good girl!” Don’t yell or shout to try to quiet her. This only helps communicates to her you’re “afraid” of who’s out there, and “need” HER to protect “YOU.” Shouting and yelling will only escalate the barking. Your Min Pin will see you’re upset about someone knocking at the door and this will make her even more upset.

 

Always validate your Miniature Pinscher for her good deeds–she’s a very smart little dog and picks things up quickly. Sadly, so many dog behavior problems arise from owner/pet communication misunderstandings similar to the one above.