Fluffypony,

Consider the kennels the best investment that you will make. We did not agree with crate training in the beginning when we got our Puggle, I felt that it was cruel to lock him up all day. We bought an excerise pen, put the pee pads in there and everyday we came home to shredded pee pads and a huge mess. Finally we decided to get the kennel because we could not take the mess anymore not to mention that we would have to bathe the Chase everynight after we cleaned up the mess. In time, we were able to trust Chase to be left with the kennel door open and he could be free in the kitchen because we had gates up. This took about 6 months. He hardly ever had an accidentonce he learned and got older.

Then, we got Zahra, our Basenji, now they are both locked in their kennels all day, I don't trust Zahra to not destroy our house. She still has not fully learned that she can not potty in the house. She is getting better but if I give her too much room in her crate she will potty on one end and hang out in the other. I thought Chase was hard to train, Zahra is much worse. Maybe it is the fact that we got her from a pet store and she was there for so long and it was acceptable for her to potty in her cage and sleep in it. Yuck.

Sometimes we let them share a kennel because when we first got Zahra she did not like to be apart from Chase, I think it made her feel safe to be with him in his kennel all day.

Anyway, as a person who originally did not like the kennel idea this was my first dog, I thought it was mean now I know that they actually enjoy the security of it. They are pack animals.

Hope this helps,
Jenn

Angee,

You are so right about the good feeling you get when you wake up to those happy wagging tails. When my husband is deployed it really makes waking up in the morning bareable!

It is great when I get home from work too.

I dropped them off at a kennel today because we are going on a few days vacation before my husband deploys, we are leaving tomorrow but dropped them off today so we could get some running around done. It is so quiet sitting here right now without them. I don't think I could handle this house alone without the dogs!

Jenn

Good for Zahra! Sometimes they just get so excited they just have to pee! But it's great that she went back on the course.

Dude has a thing for brindles. His wrestling and racing buddy here at home is our crazy Energizer (you know, she keeps going and going…) brindle Amina. So when he went against a brindle boy in the first heat he charged gleefully over to him at the end - the boy was not impressed! In the second heat he was up against a dark brindle girl who even looks like our Amina. At the end of that one he ran over to her and they took a tour of the field together. He's not aggressive about it, he just wants to play! He totally ignored the reds that were also coursing.

Terry

Yea Basenji pups hate rain, my mix will go out in a torrent, my full will look at me like; "Are you nuts, it's wet out there"., gggg! I always walk mine on leashes so that way they have to go out, I am a good mom though and take an umbrella!!! Carole

We just started using a target stick and clicker. so far Buddy can do a full circle on his hind legs. just a trick for Jocelyn to play with Buddy while she waits for her individuals in Jrs instead of hand stacking Buddy the WHOLE TIME and getting him/her frustrated, tired, and bored just before it really counts that he is alert and ready to go for the judge.

Congratulations Saylah! It's always hard for a Basenji to beat those big dogs and the speedburners like the Whippets. Great accomplishment!

Terry
Yodels from the Illusion Crew

@Sunny:

At what age is the best time to start lure coursing ?? And is there a course in oklahoma ?? Ide love to get Sandie into something like that, if she is interested…

Sunny,
You can start very short practices with puppies but you can't actually enter a trial until a dog is at least a year old. Coursing is available in Oklahoma. Your best bet is to contact Richard Stilwell. Richard and his wife Linda have been involved with lure coursing Basenjis for a long time and they can get you started in your area.

Send me a private message for Richard email

My best wishes. 🙂

Yes husbands can be a trial at times. When my Kalya was dying from lymphoma hubby said no dogs for awhile!
Kalya left on tues. for the bridge, on sat. we got a Basenji/Aussie mix, who was gonna be put down, and then3 months later got Mata Hauri Samuel to co-own. Now hubby is going in sept to the BOCA to see the african exhibit and meet some friends. Said he would love to at least see a tri! ggggg Carole

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Hmmm....clever.....

@seko:

They just loved it even Thorn, ok! he hasn't got the speed or the nice galop of the 3 other, but still is looking for the lure, even among the dogs near the track.
Timbo was jumping in the high grass not to lose sight of the lure, that was really funny, even if it was slowing him down.
Valhi almost got the lure during the run, she is more taken by lure coursing than racing that's for sure.
Eos loves it as much as racing, the first round wasn't that good, I think she was trying to understand why the lure wasn't going round and turning so sharp.
Basenjis are really hunting dogs, and that should be kept in mind by breeders!

Paul and Bill, have an oval track dog, Chiro, #1 basenji in NOTRA last year, he too does not do well at lure trials. He rather races the bunny than catch it.

It does not appear Chiro will do so well in NOTRA this year, too many trails canceled due to a lack of whippet entries. Go figure.

I agree, "Basenjis are really hunting dogs, and that should be kept in mind by breeders!"

Laurie and I have not posted any of our show results, brags, etc. The dogs we breed are fantastic show dogs, not just lure. A properly built basenji is ideal for a fast agile courser, add the hunting instinct, good temperament, and health. This is the cornerstone to any good breeding program, to produce balance dogs beyond just balance or excellence in one aspect.

Thanks for supporting coursing.

Simply, she needs to come out to a practice.

There are a few things you can do to prepare your dog. The best is to play with her with a lunge whip.

This is a buggy whip, (horse tack shop), strong fishing pole, etc. Approximately 6' long, with 6' of strong cord tied to it. And on the very end, tie a white plastic bag (tall kitchen sacks)

I'm not a big fan of using fur, as some lunge whips are sold.

Now the fun, use the whip to move the bag about on the ground. It's a game, catch it. It's important for you to challenge her to catch it. Move it about her feet. After a while it will be challenge to keep it away form her. You do need to let her succeed, if she can not catch it, she’ll give up. Always end the game after 10 minutes or less, leaving her wanting more.

Do not play when there are distractions, or it’s to hot. We add this later after she has strong desire to rip up those plastic bags.

One done, you probly be cleaning up pieces of plastic.

The true test, is when you can come home and leave a plastic grocery bag on the floor with ice cream, and she attacks the bag, and leaves the ice cream alone. 🙂

Yay! congrats…that is so important, and so wonderful when it happens so easily 🙂

Way to go, Max!! See, all that energy is there for a reason!

I love Max; he's beautiful and funny. LOL, one day I joked to Darren, "Don't you think Max and Jazzy would make beautiful puppies?". I think the look I got resembled this, ":eek: " Poor guy. I love doing stuff like that to him.

Thanks, Lisa 🙂