If he insists on hiding under your armpit when there is no danger, put him on the floor and ignore his pleadings while promising to protect him from evil granny’s uninvited kisses. Pick him back up when he shakes it off and gets a grip on reality. If you close the bathroom door behind you in order to have a few minutes of privacy and he screams as if under zombie siege on the other side, do not acknowledge his desperation, soothe him, or open the door. Wait until he calms down, until the panic subsides and he has been quiet for a few moments, and then invite him in to be with you. If you do not fall prey to treating him like a fragile infant, he will learn how to take important steps as a dog. Remember that he needs you to have faith in him in order to fly. It’s your job to gently and appropriately push him out of the nest, so that he won’t completely fall apart when life happens.

Toy Relationship Survival Key:

1. Cherish but be careful not to encourage his GENETIC propensity for dependence on you. It’s sweet but can get blown way out of proportion and become a bit of a mess.
2. Be mindful of how vulnerable he can be to the elements in his ENVIRONMENT, including other animals and children.
3. Teach him how capable he is of LEARNING the necessary life skills to handle reality, focusing on building his confidence in a variety of situations.
4. Remember that he may be small, but he is still a dog who needs you to consider his emotional, mental, and physical needs every day.

MEET YOUR . . .

Scent Hound

“SIREN HUNTER”

Bloodhound

Basset Hound

American Foxhound • Basset Hound • Beagle • Black and Tan Coonhound • Bloodhound • Blue Tick Coonhound • English Foxhound • Harrier • Otterhound • Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen • Plott Hound • Redbone Coonhound • Red Tick Coonhound • Treeing Walker Coonhound • mixes of any of the above breeds

You’ll fall in love with your scent hound because she’s:

SOCIAL—She’s generally very outgoing and friendly with people and other dogs.

EMOTIONAL—She wears her passionate heart on her sleeve about everything, from you to squirrels.

FUN—She can be hilarious, playful, social, creative, and adventurous.

You might find a scent hound hard to live with because she’s:

IMPULSIVE—A naturally ambitious dog, she can tune out the entire world and everyone in it when she’s on her game.

A HUNTER—Her blind (and deaf) determination for sniffing out, tracking, and pursuing targets can be annoying and even quite dangerous to other animals.

DRAMATIC—She’s born to bay her little heart out when life gets exciting. You may feel like you’re watching a pop talent reality show at times.

You might find yourself seeking professional help for: