Basenji Training

I've used the Easy Walk harness for both my girls for over a year - Gemma can slip any other kind, and so can Shay. Gemma can even slip her collar. The Easy Walk gives me good control when they are suddenly off chasing a squirrel to the end of the lead, and since they are not tight in the front, where the ring is, they are not overly restricted when they walk well. Which they do seldom.:rolleyes:

I know how that goes. It will take awhile for Rally to earn her VLCM. She is going pretty much going 8 points at a time. It took Rally and Nicky longer to earn their VFCh than their FCh titles because they are the only 2 vets running at most events. outlook add ins

Wouldn't go near it! Particularly as he advocates and sells his version of a prong collar - an adversive way to prevent a dog from pulling - and not very successful at that. Try using methods that have actually been proven - scientifically and not by marketing spiel! Great website for finding info is www.dogstardaily.com loads of free stuff to read and watch too. Basically there are no short cuts, good training and manners take time, but if you learn to enjoy the process rather than focus on the results you enjoy and treasure you spend with your B learning together and then the finished behaviour/trick/exercise is just the icing on the cake.

Well done, you guys! She sounds like she is going to be a natural at agility.

Great to hear things have improved with Paco's toileting. We find that Malaika goes more when on the extending lead. Think she likes a bit of privacy.

Its is funny! if it happened to someone else..laugh. You have to laugh..once you make sure they are going explode because of food issues!!! Giggle. Fran, she really looks the same. She is almost 10 months old, and hasn't changed at all. But when I get Lou to get the camera out, I will share with you… I love these dogs...they are just so smart...keeps you on your toes!

When I lived in Houston in an apartment, my Bs would yodel and make all kind of noises if they were inside and I was outside talking to the neighbors. I think what did it was hearing our voices. My deposit paid for the blinds they chewed on because they were frustrated! They will now yodel when I crate them while I take a shower in another part of the house. They want to be where their people are. Jennifer

i actually have two training journals that i sometimes use. i have one for agility and one is started when we took our dance class. i had to do one for the dance class b/c we were doing so many new commands i lost track of what word i was using. susan garrett recommends keeping track of rewarded behaviors, unrewarded behaviors (say you asked for a sit and the dog did not) and total. then you can get you success %.

the big box shop training is only as good as the trainer. it is, like many things, hit or miss. ask to watch a class with that trainer before spending any money

Our rescue, Kell was so easy, he trained us. He has slept in bed with us from the first night. he would wake up to potty a couple of times a night at first. He would arf, and continue to arf louder & louder until one of us woke up and got up, took him outside, praised him while he pottied, and then we would go back to bed. He never had an accident in the bed. That has dwindled down to not going until my husband gets up to go to work around 5:45.

@CanisBasenjius: Lysh, You didn't say why the trainer suggested a Halti. To what end? I normally only recommend the Halti to owners of large dogs who are having serious pulling or reactivity problems. If Hope pulls, I prefer the Sense-ation or Wonder Walker to the Easy Walk, as I do not like the martingale effect on the EW and feel it gives less clear feed back and they seem to require more frequent adjusting for fit. WRT spitting out treats I have two thoughts: Try higher value (think real food, like boiled chicken) She may be slightly anxious and unable to accept food One of my dogs is an anxious fellow and usually cannot accept food in certain environments because he is too "on". It took roughly 2 years of living in our new neighborhood before he could accept food on our walks. Just a thought there. It took me a long time to realize that's what was going on with him. She has a lovely play style. Lots of give and take. Love that! Hi Thanks for the information. I agree with you and wasnt too interested in using a Halti on her and would prefer the easy walker etc. The reasoning she suggested we try the halti is because she wouldnt settle down and was basically like a fire cracker on the end of the lead no matter what you did and no matter the treat value, her food, liver treats, meat etc. But i took into consideration that it was a new place, other puppies and her 2nd outing and that shes a basenji, possibly even that she was bored. (maybe the trainer hadnt as all the other puppies where much more "easier" to calm down?) I think she was overwhelmed by everything as-well because by the next lesson, she was top of the class and even demo dog. She was calm and happy and vocal when she wanted to be. She done everything to a T. So we did not bother with the halti. Now that she is fully vaccinated and we have been out and about i walk her in a harness and she is a perfect little puppy apart for the occasional "omg its a bird" … yank! she even does anything strangers ask of her (sit, drop, stay etc). She accepts food whenever we are out and gladly ate her lunch at our recent fundraiser pet markets event for the RSPCA (attached some pics) Im very happy with her progress and we are starting puppy primary school for 6wks next month and then we are beginning agility and obedience classes. :) [image: attachment_p_120540_0_hope.jpg] [image: attachment_p_120540_1_pig-ear.jpg] [image: attachment_p_120540_2_poser.jpg]

My advice is to leave the park the moment you see a dog you believe may trigger him. And make sure you see it first! To change your dog's reaction, you need to begin a desensitization and counter-conditioning program. Which means that you cannot expose him to his "scary thing" to the intensity such that he begins to growl. Once he's tipped into an emotional behavior, you've missed the boat on your opportunity to change his internal reaction. If he's growling at say, 20 feet, you can probably start to notice other warning signals before hand, such as a freeze or hard eye. Even that's too late. You have to get to him before he starts to tip - while he's still comfortable. Which means working in a controlled environment. That is with dogs on leashes. A good trainer can create a training program for you and work with you on this, but repeatedly exposing him to large, dark dogs and waiting until he's already growling to get outta dodge is reinforcing his fear. And the recent scuffle really reinforced it. I'd say you really need to up your situational awareness or start skipping the dog park. Every time he has an unpleasant experience with a large, dark dog just tells him he was right to be uncomfortable, even if the other dog does nothing but appear.

This link will take you to each of the clubs various web sites and events in the MI/OH area. We coursed on most of the fields this spring, in the fall we have events closer to home on the same weekends and do not make it up to MI. Once you get on the clubs email lists, they will send you premium info and sometimes practice info. In the early spring the clubs do practices, the rest of the yr, they just hold practices on Saturdays after the trial, normally 2-4 pm. http://www.tahoeborzoi.com/Betty.htm There are normally 2-6 basenjis at the MI trials.

oh that was just painful to watch (at least my runs!). it's a shame the camera person focused on me instead of getting Zest running into the fence. On the upside, gosh the equipment looks nice! results are posted here: http://www.lookoutgoldens.com/BCOA%202010.htm

Congrats Xander and to you too..he looks smashing in his ribbon.

They do have us trained. :D

Excellent - thanks for the info Lisa!