Zaki says hello again

[elbrant]

@zande said in Zaki says hello again:

btw, what is a 'slider' ?

Sliding doors. One door will slide to the side creating easy access to the patio or porch. Locking them is best done with a wood rod to prevent opening it. Mass popularity in the 70s with American Suburb Construction.

[slents]

@donc Yes, that is what we tried over the weekend. He really loves chasing it. I purchased a buggy whip and tied a "chaser" to the end and have plans to take him to the park and run him hard once the weather settles down a bit. Her REALLY loves to run.

[slents]

@pawla He is very handsome. I did notice that he does not have the wrinkles on his forehead. Do they lose that as they grow? which would be a shame cuz that part of them is sooooo cute and everyone mentions his wrinkly forehead.

[tanza]

@slents - On the other Basenji colors like Brindle, Tri, Black, sometimes it is difficult to see the wrinkles... they do tend on all Basenjis to somewhat smooth out, but if you get a good expression you can see the wrinkles... however that said depending on the head shape/ear set some do not have as many wrinkles as others.

[Pawla]

@slents
Thanks for the compliment on Mojo. He does not have any wrinkles unless he's on high alert and really curious bout something with ears focused forward. Like Tanza said, the wrinkles do tend to smooth out on many b's (not all) as they get older. Puppies have looser skin in general. If Zaki's parents have pronounced wrinkles, then he will likely have them too as an adult.
I love how basenjis seem to look adult at an earlier age (yet mentally are pups until at least 2 yrs old) and then stay young looking to a very advanced age. People would ask me how old my puppy was when she (a basenji) was 14 yrs old!

[slents]

@pawla I love that. I am very surprised as I walk around and have people come up to us and ask what kind of dog he is and how many of them have never heard of Besenjis. I especially love how loyal he is, when ever I leave to go into the garage and come back I find him just sitting there at the door waiting for me to come back and tell him "you are such a good boy"

[Zande]

@slents said in Zaki says hello again:

waiting for me to come back and tell him "you are such a good boy"

You are learning - fast ! Basenjis react to voice and need to hear reassuring words. Use it all the time training Zaki, and he will get the message in not time. Even if you pretend to growl at him, he will pick up the humour. Bs have a tremendous sense of that !

My new boy knows several words - at least I kid myself he does cos his ears prick up when he hears them, although it could just be reaction to the fact I'm talking to him. He seems to know 'puppy', his name and I am teaching him the most valuable of all (almost) -
TRADE ! That means I will trade whatever he has stolen for a treat.

No ! is always the most difficult !

[slents]

@zande I like the "trade" idea I will incorporate that one for sure. As far as "no" is concerned, I know he understands what I am telling him, because of the 'look' he gives me. Its almost like he is saying "make me" but sometimes he does get the message and stop what ever he is chewing-tearing-digging etc on.

[Pawla]

Zaki sounds smart and slents sounds like a wonderful b-slave already!

Trade is a great tool. Love it.

Here are some things my current b boy came "pre-loaded" with that I really appreciate - you might want to work with Zaki:
:
"Look at Me" - this is so helpful when you want to get your b to focus on you and not something distracting. When I feed him, he must first sit and then look at me after I put the bowl down. He has to look at me and wait until I tell him "okay". This can be helpful when you want his attention - like passing another dog on leash or while at the vet.

Not to bolt from an exterior door. I've never before had a b (after owning 3 and fostering 59) who didn't try to bolt (run/escape) thru an open door. Mojo is pretty good, but I will NEVER trust him completely.

Recall. From the beginning, I have made "come" a happy/good/rewarding behavior. We often visit an off leash dog park with winding trails. I keep treats in my hand and have a special whistle that makes him come flying back to me to get a treat. We started close in and then extended the distance. It is ever SO cool to see him racing back to me at full speed with a smile on his face. Again, I'd NEVER trust him off leash, but should an emergency happen, he's more likely to return when called. Sometimes, at the park, I hide from him and then call him. It's a fun game and way better than chasing a b!

Does anyone have other favorite things they've taught their basenji?

[eeeefarm]

@pawla said in Zaki says hello again:

Does anyone have other favorite things they've taught their basenji?

"pick it up" is fun and useful for them to know. I teach it as a generic command......I point to an object or identify it by name if they know the name of it. Very easy to teach with a clicker using small steps to get what you want, i.e. click for being near the object, click for sniffing the object, touching the object, opening mouth near the object, eventually you will get to picking up the object. Yes, you can teach by throwing the object, and possibly get there quicker, but I find the method I outlined to have lasting results and understanding, plus it works with a dog that is disinclined to retrieve.

I might mention, there is one difficulty with "trade". Basenjis are smart dogs. Some of them will figure out that a way to get treats is to grab something they are not supposed to have. My own method, depending on the situation, was a stern "no" or "leave it", or a milder "is that yours?" My dogs understood and responded to what I asked in most situations, and if a dog gets hold of something that could harm them if ingested you don't want to hesitate to get it away from them, even if that means prying open their jaws and removing it. If "no" is understood, respected, and seldom invoked, it will usually give you the time you need to act. (in my world, "no" always means stop what you are doing right now).

[elbrant]

@eeeefarm said in Zaki says hello again:

(in my world, "no" always means stop what you are doing right now).

Mine, too. I use a very firm "no!" when I catch doodle misbehaving. Somehow... I never seeem to catch her.... which means the 9inch strip of edging that suddenly went missing from my down comforter went unpunished. I don't know why she did it, but I know she did. I found out when I fluffed up my blankets and surrounded myself with down "snowflakes" in the middle of the night. Dogs don't understand when you punish after the fact... so I never said word one to her. I think she understood by the look on my face as I stood there stitching it up at 5am... poor thing, probably had to defend herself from a pinfeather pushing through the fabric.

[Zande]

@eeeefarm said in Zaki says hello again:

Some of them will figure out that a way to get treats is to grab something they are not supposed to have.

Exactly ! Hoover nicks paper hankies from my pockets as I sit at table - she'd be a great Artful Dodger (DIckens) - and I never even notice. Then she sprints across the kitchen and back to me. . . asking for her 'trade' !

So far, Mku, who is just as good a thief, shreds the paper immediately !

He'll learn !

[eeeefarm]

@elbrant said in Zaki says hello again:Dogs don't understand when you punish after the fact... so I never said word one to her.

This is oft repeated and accepted wisdom, but I don't entirely agree with it. From personal experience I would say that dogs do indeed understand, provided that they knew what they did transgressed established rules, and even in some cases learned what was unacceptable even when not "caught in the act". Two of my non-Basenjis were farm dogs that did not come in the house, but did reside in the barn at night when my horses were there due to cold or inclement weather. I explained in no uncertain terms that I was not amused to find dog poop in the aisle when I arrived in the morning. After a few profanity laced outbursts from me, both dogs figured out what I was upset about, and thereafter "held it" until let out in the morning. One of these dogs went on to become a house dog for my sister, and he arrived already house broken although he had never resided in a house up to that point.

As to whether dogs understand that they have done something wrong, once they know the rules they absolutely do. I have lots of evidence for this, but if you have ever arrived home and witnessed a "guilty dog" expression before you discover what has transpired (not after, because they could read your body language), you know that they know you will not be pleased. I hasten to add, this does not happen with many Basenjis. The little darlings are great at dissembling. At one visit to my breeder's house, one of five adult Basenjis had peed on the floor. All five surrounded the puddle, each with a look of total innocence, as if to say "Who did that?"