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How trainable are Basenji's?

Basenji Training
  • Hello, I'm new to the forum and am about to purchase my first dog, I have been looking at getting a Basenji for years and have a few questions.

    1. How trainable is this breed? My best friend has a Boxer, most obedient dog I've seen. Listens to every command without hesitation, never gets into trouble at home and always listens when he hears "No". Are Basenji's able to get to this level of obedience with firm proper training? All I ever hear is how rebellious this dog is and how much trouble it can get into.

    2. What kind of training do Basenji's best respond to? How well do they do around other dogs? Other people?

    3. If anyone has any stories of a worst case scenario with a rebellious dog turned obedient and well trained I would love to hear it, as well as how long training took to stick with this breed.

    Thank you!

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    @DebraDownSouth: Okay that is pretty funny! Glad the judge passed her. Hey, perhaps the judge appreciated the intelligence to go check something out then resume business? Thanks everyone. She had really lovely runs all weekend (except Sunday's Std run) and I'm so very, very proud of her. She went through a fear(?) period on courses towards the beginning of the year, so she's come a long way. And, DDS, no, agility judges do not appreciate creativity on course. If you don't believe me, ask Jet the trying. :D Of course I always thought maybe the judge watching Jet would think "Gosh, that really is a nicer course."
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    Well done Malaika.
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    @CanisBasenjius: Lysh, You didn't say why the trainer suggested a Halti. To what end? I normally only recommend the Halti to owners of large dogs who are having serious pulling or reactivity problems. If Hope pulls, I prefer the Sense-ation or Wonder Walker to the Easy Walk, as I do not like the martingale effect on the EW and feel it gives less clear feed back and they seem to require more frequent adjusting for fit. WRT spitting out treats I have two thoughts: Try higher value (think real food, like boiled chicken) She may be slightly anxious and unable to accept food One of my dogs is an anxious fellow and usually cannot accept food in certain environments because he is too "on". It took roughly 2 years of living in our new neighborhood before he could accept food on our walks. Just a thought there. It took me a long time to realize that's what was going on with him. She has a lovely play style. Lots of give and take. Love that! Hi Thanks for the information. I agree with you and wasnt too interested in using a Halti on her and would prefer the easy walker etc. The reasoning she suggested we try the halti is because she wouldnt settle down and was basically like a fire cracker on the end of the lead no matter what you did and no matter the treat value, her food, liver treats, meat etc. But i took into consideration that it was a new place, other puppies and her 2nd outing and that shes a basenji, possibly even that she was bored. (maybe the trainer hadnt as all the other puppies where much more "easier" to calm down?) I think she was overwhelmed by everything as-well because by the next lesson, she was top of the class and even demo dog. She was calm and happy and vocal when she wanted to be. She done everything to a T. So we did not bother with the halti. Now that she is fully vaccinated and we have been out and about i walk her in a harness and she is a perfect little puppy apart for the occasional "omg its a bird" … yank! she even does anything strangers ask of her (sit, drop, stay etc). She accepts food whenever we are out and gladly ate her lunch at our recent fundraiser pet markets event for the RSPCA (attached some pics) Im very happy with her progress and we are starting puppy primary school for 6wks next month and then we are beginning agility and obedience classes. :) [image: attachment_p_120540_0_hope.jpg] [image: attachment_p_120540_1_pig-ear.jpg] [image: attachment_p_120540_2_poser.jpg]
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    Glad to hear the trip went well. I'm sure there are people on here that can tell you more, but Bs are about 17 inches at the shoulder. I use my crate all the time. Deke LOVES it. He'd rather sleep in there then with us! It's also his "safe" zone. I have two (human) girls 6 and 10 they are not allowed to bother him in there.. other kids that come over are also told to leave the him alone when in his crate. It is in our kitchen so he's always near us. He actually likes it covered(it's like a den), he's in it when ever we're not home and at night. When he goes to my parents it goes to and his bankets and the cover. He gets a treat most times he goes in. We trained him to go in with the command "crate" but "bed time" works at night. When he was little we just picked him up and put him in we said "crate, good boy" and gave him treats. He just learned to love it. Good Luck
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