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Kismet learned to lay down!

Basenji Talk

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  • Learning not to pull

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    eeeefarmE
    I like wide martingale collars. They can't back out of them and the collar gives you more control without risking damage to the neck if they do pull. Look for Whippet or Greyhound collars. The one I used is three inches wide and tapers to the back. But bottom line, the reason dogs pull is that it is rewarding to them......they get closer to whatever is attracting them. So stopping until the leash is slack will work (if you have patience), changing direction every time the leash tightens will work, targetting will work. Many roads lead to Rome. You can experiment and find out what works best for you, but it isn't good to let the dog reinforce the habit, which is what makes it difficult to sort this problem out when you also need to give him exercise! One solution is to give him exercise with one harness or collar and practice your loose leash walking with another, until he "gets it". IMO, retractable leads teach the dog to pull. They are also dangerous. Ask a vet. They treat many "hit by car" injuries suffered by dogs that were on a retractable when the owner didn't react quickly enough. There is also the potential for injury when the dog wraps the leash around a person or another dog. And in many places they are illegal, i.e. the leash laws specify 6 foot maximum leash length.
  • Being picked up/ laying on back

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    eeeefarmE
    @Shaye's: Just give your boy his space, gently try to pick him up and quit when he resists, rub his belly any way he will let you, and eventually, he'll calm down for you probably. I would respectfully disagree with quitting when he resists…....you are then reinforcing the resistance. If you can anticipate and release before you get resistance, that would be best, but if he starts to resist best to wait a moment and release as soon as he is quiet, which tells him what behaviour will get him what he wants. Reward profusely when he doesn't resist. When you know they don't like something, look for a tiny bit of success and build on it gradually. When you do get acceptance, don't insist on maintaining the position for very long. :)
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    Shaye's MomS
    Shaye loves the sun - will lie out in the heat for as long as she can get it. Gemma, being a basenji/sheltie mix and furrier, lies on the cool tiles on the porch, and when the sun hits her, she heads for the A/C. At the beach, Shaye lies in the hot sand in the sun until I get her into the shade, and because she is also a heat seeking thing, wants to be totally under covers to sleep at night. Stands to reason the tris and b/w's would absorb more heat and not prefer it as much as the r/w's do.
  • Things I have learned from/since getting my Basenji…

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    krunzerK
    I thought hydraneas were poisonous to dogs?
  • Finding Kismet a playmate!

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    E
    I've decided on the name Faithful. It's the name of a cat in one of the series by Tamora Pierce, great read btw if ya like young adult fantasy type. Just didn't want a name bunches of pets might have like Mojo.
  • Lesson learned…

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    SchouiffyS
    Omg birdseed in the carpet for years!! that's just so excellent. =) Lycia never destroys things at home. Never. We have visited other's houses - she has been good. Then we stay at a new friend's place for 4 days and she manages to eat a pair of high heels, tupperware, 2 brushes, trash etc.. of course doing it to the roommates of my friend who I literally met that week… thank god they were forgiving, I was mortified.