Basenji Training

@Mojo's: We took Mojo lure coursing for the first time a couple of weeks ago- he loved it! There was one lady who said if they ever do actually go after a real animal- say a bird or rabbit- and catch it, they will lose interest in lure cousing- they will want real prey. NOT TRUE… gggg..... Maggii loved to course... caught and killed 3 squirrels in our yard... never made a difference. Mickii caught and killed 2 ground squirrels on outdoor off lead runs... never made a difference (Oh and add one bird plucked out of the sky)... C-Me, just a year old now.. loves coursing... at 4 1/2 months caught her first squirrel in the yard and at 7 1/2 months one baby bird out of the sky

tanza: "How old is she?" she's almost 3 months. Maybe I am just being impatient, but I thought she'd at least sniff the bell…or, if anything, try to eat the bell. lol I will keep trying. Maybe I will get some chimes or a hanging bell. I'll keep you guys posted on the progress. Thanks for all the input!! :)

Love that Kathy…. BADsenji!!!!! Too perfect

I decided to start off with just one for a very special Basenji and hopefully later get more when finances have improved!!!

@Kipawa: And Kipawa met us at the door when we came back from my husband's pain specialist today! Wire crate with two latch style locks. Only one was undone, and I myself tried pulling on the open area to see how much give it had - not in my estimation enough for a 5 month old basenji, but it certainly must have been! Of course, we have no idea when he got out (we were gone 3 hours) but the house was undisturbed. No accidents in the house, no de-stuffed pillows, nothing damaged… just kind of scary (for him) knowing he was roaming around a house all alone. Perhaps the cats kept him company. So tomorrow, I am off to the hardware store to buy some screw-style C clamps. Hope those will be sufficient for our little escape artist! Silly booger…Glad he didn't get into anything harmful. ;)

We took Mojo to his first lure coursing trial on Saturday! He absolutely loved it and did an amazing job!!!! Check him out on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HF-7B0s3ZM

Good luck with the teeth…. I try to brush Ayos very once in a awhile but I don't think I have ever been able to actually clean them. And the ones in the back forget it. I keep trying though but he will not stop chewing the brush!!! I think I will have to take him to get them cleaned at the vet, even though I really don't want them to give him a sedative, I am worried about his teeth! .. Hope you have better luck!! Or a good tecnique!

For a teenage boy to be 80% with distractions is great. We're very proud of him and his Mom for doing such a great job with him. His little sisters Olive (aka Fina) and Scarlett will be coming to visit us next week. I hear they are also doing well, in fact I could hear Scarlett barrooing at her dad when he called to tell us they were coming for a visit. The bending thing is a mistake I make frequently so I have to remind myself all the time to watch my posture. Therese

@Kipawa: I'll be setting the alarm again tonight for 3:30 a.m. After a week to week and a half of that, I'll change the alarm to 4:30 a.m., and continue on that routine, gradually increasing the time by one hour, until eventuaully Kipawa can hold his pee all night. That sound like a really good plan… hope it works out... I am sorry to hear about Pippins mom. ....

Normally the clubs have practices after the Saturday trials. Unfortunately none of the clubs in our area have separate practice days. You might also think about going to some of the lira meets for straight run practices. The schedule is at lgra.org

I worked on Kipawa's training yesterday at the dog park, where there were many distractions. His recall is excellent there, but that may be because he just needs to feel his mom is close by? Then when he gets to me I make him sit, then he gets a treat. In the house it is a little different. Recall is about 60% right now, but sit is very good - about 80%.

"I can't think what you all mean! I sleep with Basenjis every day of my life - Yours with love," Jewel (16 and a half)"

@Patty: I've been waiting for your 'brag', Shelley, I'd begun to think I was going to have topost it myself!! She is such a clever girl and many congratulations to Howard as well. :D Oh no you know me Helena, i'm not one to hide her light under a Bushel ;) Lovely to catch up with you at Manchester.

WTG! Congrats. The Good Citizen program sounds much like the US one. http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm I have put some dogs through it, and actually helped as a helper during events before.

I live by mine .. It's the only thing that has worked i usually don't have to spray it because as soon as he see's it he stops getting into trouble …... for that moment anyways LOL

Congratulations! That is wonderful news!

@pacificNWbasenji: Thanks for all of the great suggestions. Quercus: I will try opportunistic clicking/rewarding when he is nesting, hopefully it will help reinforce the desired behavior rather than confuse him. Agilebasenji: Surprisingly enough my guys do not roll on damp towels, very unbasenji like of them. They do insist on grabbing towels, running off with them and promptly killing them by giving them a great shake before stealing the stoled goods from each other. They ignore them during our training sessions because I have taught them 'on your bed' where they will run and place themselves on the area I point at (dog bed, place on couch, towel or blanket laid out) Thanks for the advice. Clay: Matter of fact we just began targeting on Saturday as well, with the nose touch. Dude does have a great high five so I think that paw touch won't be difficult. Tonight I began directing him onto the towel and doing a low five and click/rewarding when he would give the five and his paw would land on the towel. Lvoss: That's what i'll try next as soon as I can get him to exhibit a bit of the behavior. Thanks! Cool. Let us know how it works out.

It was so fun to watch. I hope my Basenji will like it to.

Well said and advised Fran!

Congrats to both of you! Wonderful news.