Puppy training classes…questions

Basenji Training

  • I swear they make stacking training a snap. I love them. LOL and it isn't a TORTURE device, lol.

    Although speaking of across the pond, do you watch Graham Norton? I laughed til I was sick over his bit on American's FANNY PACKS. For us, fanny is the buttocks. I had no idea it was the front bottom for y'all. Part of his rant was about the confused Pilgrim changing the concept of fanny.


  • @Basenjimamma:

    I've seen those…guess I need them?

    No, those are torture devices :rolleyes:


  • LOL… I have used Happy Legs for years... and would not say they are "torture" devices... depending on the people that use them.... I have never had a baby puppy freak out with them... it is all the handler...


  • I didn't really have a problem with sit and stand in the show ring. I took some advice on this forum and if Zoni sat as default without a cue at home, I asked her to stand. If she was standing, I asked her to sit. I tended to ask and reinforce stand more heavily than sit for a while though when we were starting out. After she got used to showing, I really didn't have to worry about it. She knew what the routine was.


  • Dogs are really clever little creatures, especially basenjis. Your pup can learn sit, down and stand. The other thing is that the collar/leash should cue the expected behaviors. So you'll want a different collar/leash for obedience class versus show class. I've trained all my basenjis sit and have finished 2 basenjis as an amature owner/handler and put all the points on Digital and Zest! while showing in agility at the same time. (Hubby showed Jet the trying and we did have a pro handler sometimes on him, but he also learned sit vs stand and what his job was based on external cues.)


  • Great point… they do learn the difference between collars and what each means.. since most of us use a thin choke chain for the show ring and that is the only time on that collar... they figure out pretty quickly that collar means "Show Time".


  • yes, and it's just fun to have different sets of collars and leashes. There are so many pretty ones out there now a dog HAS to have several.

  • Houston

    Very good ideas..So I have a show chaincollar for Moses..i.e huge gauge and all..I mean bigger than I want for Pippin..What do y'all recommend as far as a good starter collar/lead for me and him? Should I go chain or just nylon? Ideas would be nice.


  • If for show, you want small thin/fine chain. If you look at pictures of show dogs, you can see how small the chain is… ususally for a full grown male 16" is about the normal size, 14 for a puppy to young adult depending on how fast their "jowls" develope.

    For general use, I use nylon, usually the martingale types and a good leather lead. I like the thin leather leads (1/4 to 5/8) that are around 5'.


  • I always used chain for show collar, White Pine nylong martingale collar/leash for everyday, wide leather martingales for therapy work. The agility collar/leash differs for each dog.

  • Houston

    Awesome, thanks Gals…I will "go" shopping..


  • @Basenjimamma:

    Awesome, thanks Gals…I will "go" shopping..

    And when you return… people can ask you... "why do you need all those collars and leads for one little dog?".... :D

    And in fact I just ordered some new leather collars and new leads from my favorite leather maker... He makes awesome show leads... and the quality is excellent.

    http://www.masterspride.com/

  • Houston

    Tanza..what loveley leather goods..I will probably shop there too..:) WHat size do you get on your show leads? Same as your general leads?


  • The show lead needs to be much thinner than a typical lead, it's more like a cord. You need to be able to ball it up into your hand. I think typical length is around 36" but some like shorter and some like longer. I used to have a 42" but never used it effectively. I went down to a 36" and really like it, much less to deal with. I had trouble throwing it over my shoulder when I was stacking on the table with the shorter one but that's just handler issues on my part. :rolleyes:


  • Exactly as thin as you can get… and since I am short with small hands, I use as thin as I can get... 1/4" or smaller. And I use 30'. While you can't really hang it around your neck that easily, I just let the extra hang down when the dog is on the table.

  • Houston

    Thanks Nemo and Tanza..come to find out there are millions to choose from..well maybe not, but it sure seems that way..lol. I have 36" with Moses, don't love it, the quality more than anything…think I will upgrade for Pippin..:)


  • And you can also use braided leather (I use both, braided plain, braided with beads, and the thin leather from Rick) for show… here is a link to Sal Wuornos, Sonbar Basenjis who makes them.

    http://sonbar.homestead.com/Leads-with-beads.html


  • @tanza:

    And you can also use braided leather (I use both, braided plain, braided with beads, and the thin leather from Rick) for show… here is a link to Sal Wuornos, Sonbar Basenjis who makes them.

    http://sonbar.homestead.com/Leads-with-beads.html

    I really like those with the beads.. have looked at them before.. but first need a puppy ;)


  • @Janneke:

    I really like those with the beads.. have looked at them before.. but first need a puppy ;)

    :D that could happen soon, maybe…..... and yes, I like the beads also.. my only comment to people is make sure you know who you are buying from and their quality.... it really does make a difference.

    And Sal knows Basenjis since she is a breeder... so she know how to make them hold up to a Basenji


  • @tanza:

    :D that could happen soon, maybe…..... and yes, I like the beads also.. my only comment to people is make sure you know who you are buying from and their quality.... it really does make a difference.

    And Sal knows Basenjis since she is a breeder... so she know how to make them hold up to a Basenji

    She will probably ship them to Europe.. right? I don't know anyone else who makes these!

    And yes… I'm saving money until next week.. If there are girls.. I'm going to spend it all :D :D

Suggested Topics

  • Training Question

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    elbrantE
    Just a suggestion: When you see him "misbehaving" by chewing on 'less than ideal' items, offer him one of his toys and use the word "trade". In other words, 'chew on this instead', and when he accepts the toy - praise him. And when you see him get the toy on his own, praise him again. It could help him understand that certain toys are just for those times when you want to "rip someone's head off*". (*not meant literally, only in doggy world play)
  • Puppy training at night

    Basenji Training
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    Baba BamideleB
    The rule of thumb I was taught is that a puppy can only wait an amount of time equal to their age in months plus one. So, at eight weeks old (two months), your pup can hold it three hours tops (1 month + 1 month + 1). You should probably schedule a couple of potty visits outside during the night, even though it will be a pain. When we got Cosette, my wife and set a timer for three hours and three hours beyond that. We took turns taking her outside. At twelve weeks old, we were able to lengthen the time between breaks to 4 hours, then 5 hours at sixteen weeks, etc. It's tough, but it will keep your home (and her crate) clean!
  • Puppy behavior

    Basenji Training
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    6k Views
    lvossL
    There are many different ways to train loose leash walking. I like training it in a class with distractions and for my baby puppies that is really where they learn what a leash is. I took my boys to class for the first time this week and the only thing we worked on was loose leash. We started just standing in place and click/treat for loose leash. Then we would like a step and when the puppy followed we click/treat again when the leash is loose. The boys were walking pretty good with me and my husband for most of the class. I also like using a long line for loose leash, it really seems to help them understand that being near me is the behavior I want since they have the choice to go quite a distance from me but are only get a click/treat if they are close enough for me to touch them. Make sure you are using really yummy treats in class, it helps you to compete with the distractions. Many people bring kibble or other so-so treats that the dogs are happy working for at home but can't compete with the excitement of class.
  • Clicker Obedience Training Question

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k Views
    NemoN
    @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.
  • Abby's first training class.

    Basenji Training
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    dashD
    Glad to hear she did well. She must have heard what you said and wanted to prove you wrong. They are such stinkers!
  • Puppy crate question

    Basenji Training
    26
    0 Votes
    26 Posts
    9k Views
    QuercusQ
    Sounds like progress! I am sure he will adust perfectly!