Basenji Training

@wizard: "Rewarding bad behavior" in order to achieve good behavior was one of the hardest to understand until I realized (was told) you are actually rewarding the dog refocusing on you even if only for a microsecond at first. I'm not sure that's exactly true. I think you are rewarding the dog and thereby changing the emotion of the circumstances. Read what I wrote here about dog growling at other dogs: http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=10968 As I wrote that, I'd been sort of 1/2 @$$ed doing what I said. When I wrote that, I decided to kick it up a notch and by george if I haven't noticed improved behavior. Even from my 13 year old, Jet the trying. (Of course he also just had his back adjusted, so he's probably feeling a little better which helps.) But with the LAT game, you do click for the dog looking at the object and then reward off to the side so that the dog must turn his head to get the reward. So the dog does have to sort of re-orient to the handler. (If the dog won't/can reorient, the dog is probably over thresh hold and you must move the dog farther from the stimuli. All of that is covered in the CU book.) Zest is great at the LATdog game however once when I was using her for a demo dog, she refused to LAT the rat terrier in class. The only thing I could think of was that normally I played LAT with dogs bigger than she is, so she didn't realize that smaller dogs are dogs too.

Way to go Kobey, Kev and I are so proud of all you have done. I suppose we have to give much credit to those humans in your life like Pat and Anne, hugs to you all and we can't wait to hear more successful lure trial stories. Therese and Kevin (Kobey's proud co-breeders)

I also have a Verizon air card USB - the video may use it all up. Also, instead of using the laptop with the air card, I used my home computer to call it up and found you have to subscribe to something in order to watch - it's my policy not to do that. So, even though the video may be great, you do have to sign up with something to do so.

Really nice action…I love a good all four paws off the ground action shot.

Patty nailed it… when you have an issue, you have to go back as if a puppy and start anew, which means you leash her to you at all times, say NO if she starts to go, take her out, praise and treat. The good news is unlike a puppy, it will go faster. But making really sure the room has been cleaned of odors using some enzymatic sprays/cleaners is a must. http://www.cuhumane.org/topics/hseold.html

@agilebasenji: for this sort of thing (big value treats over long time period), the best thing i've found to use is frozen liverwurst. i buy it, slice it and put it in a small container (the leftover cream cheese containers work GREAT for this) then put the container in the freezer. the pup gets to lick the frozen stuff for her high value treat - LOTS of treat over a long time, but not lots of calories or lots of treats in the tummy. the dogs at my house swear liverwurst pupcicles are wonderful. sometimes they will try to nibble, but given it's frozen and in a small container, it's hard to get lots of treats. I will try this, but I myself love liverwurst. Hopefully I will not eat it all before getting to the park. At the park today, I was about 75% successful with the whistle/treat recall. Not bad for the first time out, I think. Especially because there were easily 20 dogs there, and Kipawa is Mr. Social and has to visit with all of them.

Well, I hadn't really thought much about litterbox training, but thankfully we won;t be needing to look for alternative options to outside pottying. Things have all seemed to work out great over here. I think it just took me a little while to get accustomed to everything, but everything is running smoothly now. Thanks everyone.

My Gossy has this habit of running around the perimeter of the room when she needs to go potty. Even in the midst of playing, she'll stop and do this perimeter run. It's a sure sign (too bad it's a self taught thing). Works better than the bell because whatever room I'm in, she'll come in and do it. Out we go.

LOL very cute and congrats. BAD SALUKI!

I've talked with the owner of the facility it was interesting that the owner had a similar situation in her class but caught the problem the first night. She suggested stay on leash for the sequences and treat more between obstacles (just as suggested here), so I guess we'll try and finish the class after I talk with the instructor and probably take it over with a different instructor. And the owner offered to do a private lesson with us so I'll jump on that chance too.

I definitely thing all trainers are different, this one we have now is not doing some things we learned when I took Otis for OB training, but then again he is doing some things we didn't do then. We have one more class/graduation next sunday then we are off to intermediate as well.

@DebraDownSouth: I do 2 kinds of walks with my dogs, both do no permit pulling. On most walks, I like to use a longer leash and I allow them to sniff and do whatever… it is what is fun for them. On exercise walks, I make them heel and keep head up. That way they get that sometimes they can meander and sniff, other times it's business. I have never tried it, but I suspect you can teach sniff, then NO SNIFF lol. We do both on our walks, free leash and then heeling. But I would love him to have his head up more during free leash walking.

Walking helps to stimulate the bladder. Usually if they have to go they will hurry to do their business if they know they will get to come back in. My boy will run out to the tree pee as fast as he can and then pull to get back in but that is because he learned if he doesn't we will walk until he does.

Great they are finally being recognized. I watched a show a few months back where they were training Basenjis at airports to sniff out drugs and other contraband in baggage compartments. The B's do well because they are small, can step over all the piles of baggage and of course, have such great noses it comes easy to them to be trained for this work!

Are the wider collars okay to use with a puller? I'm still working with trying to get mine to stop pulling when we're out walking - the gentle leader helps - but I can't use that when we go to training class.

Have you tried a soft crate. I don't know if you can get them in the US, but this is the website I got mine from : http://www.oo.com.au/Collapsible_Pet_Travel_Cage_wi_P37265.cfm . I have two basenjis and they both sleep in it at night and whenever I need to take them on a drive I use this. There are no hard or sharp pieces and the dogs have not been able to chew it to pieces yet (touch wood).

Thanks guys…

Personally I dont think a gentle leader is the best option for a sight hound - included obviously Basenji. Taking control of the walk - being in charge and calm will lead your basenji to follow you. Takes more time perhaps but in the end better because your basenji can have his head to look as they all like to do..but still keep an eye on you his leader.

Awww how sweet! :) Ha! When I ask Dex what he did wrong, he gives me an example and shows me again first hand lol. Well, to be honest, I've seen people say that their dogs/pups "roo" or "baroo" and maybe a few other sounds, but I don't know exactly. Lol. I don't know the difference between regular puppy noises, maybe? >.<

I also loved the "jumping over each other" part :) Too cute!!!