Skip to content

Training to be alone

Behavioral Issues
  • First, remember you're dealing with a puppy - nothing will happen overnight. It always takes time to form a behavior. DonC's advice about not making a fuss when you return is excellent. So is BrindleBasenji's advice to tell your pup you're leaving, he's staying, and all will be well - you'll be back soon. I can't say for sure that b's understand everything, but I do believe it really helps them when you talk to them. I always tell my b what I'm going to do and what I expect. Maybe it helps ME stay in a calm focused/assertive mind. Whatever, it works. Finally, RGK9Ruler reminds us of an important fact: a tired basenji is a good basenji.

    Get your pup tired out. Don't make a big deal. Tell your pup you're leaving. Leave him with a treat that will occupy him for a while. Don't make a big deal about your return.

    A second basenji might not be possible, but perhaps you could borrow a friend's dog for awhile (it doesn't have to be a basenji). It has to be the right dog - a calm, well-balanced, well-mannered dog who gets along reliably with your pup and who does not exhibit separation anxiety. If you could have this dog live with you for a couple of weeks or a month, or even off and on, it might do the trick.

    I think these creatures are so interesting! They are programmed to manipulate us to get us to do what they want! Be strong and be patient.

    Let us know how it's going.

  • @pawla said in Training to be alone:

    can't say for sure that b's understand everything, but I do believe it really helps them when you talk to them. I always tell my b what I'm going to do and what I expect.

    So do I. Always have. maybe its just the reassuring sound of Mom's voice but 'I have to go out now, will be back very soon and its raining outside so you would hate it anyway !' seems to help.

  • @zande said in Training to be alone:

    @pawla said in Training to be alone:

    can't say for sure that b's understand everything, but I do believe it really helps them when you talk to them. I always tell my b what I'm going to do and what I expect.

    So do I. Always have. maybe its just the reassuring sound of Mom's voice but 'I have to go out now, will be back very soon and its raining outside so you would hate it anyway !' seems to help.

    Talking to my dogs and horses has always been my way, and they understand more than you think. Dogs especially will learn to pick out the significant words, although they also read your body language extremely well. I would argue horses read body language even better!

    One thing I have practised since reading Charles Eisenmann's books is teaching my dog specifically to listen and pick out the pertinent information in my verbal ramblings, e.g. I might mention in passing that "I would kill for a red bone right now", which resulted in Perry bringing me his red bone without a "formal" request to do so....of course, if you reward the behaviour you will find your dog paying even more attention and finding the information encoded in your speech. It's a fun technique. Another example when a dog is underfoot in the kitchen "be somewhere that is not here!" or a variation on the theme. My dogs understood me very well.....and learned the meaning of many phrases that could be spoken casually and result in a response from my dog.

  • @zande
    I totally agree! I talk to my basenji all the time - I swear she understands what I’m saying! (I’ll only need to be concerned when she starts talking back to me! ) 😝

  • @eeeefarm said in Training to be alone:

    I might mention in passing that "I would kill for a red bone right now",

    My favorite on this theme is 'you get a bickie at the bench.

    Especially since my hip and then knee replacements, I welcome the chance to sit on the (very few) benches in the forest. These are all on the main walkways and because I tend to go off-piste, I have various logs and low branches I have designated 'benches' for the purposes of communication, and to ensure that, from time to time, I can be sure of their whereabouts. They wait at them for their treats.

    The dogs have always received a bickie when I sit for a spell. This did not stop Hoover especially, dancing backwards in front of me long before I stopped.

    Those two words have been instilled into generations of Basenjis - and now Mku !

    NB, these bickies are not extra treats, they are pieces of kibble I have removed from the daily food ration and put into my bum-bag.

    Sneaky but saves unnecessary weight gain !

  • @pawla - Just a comment, I would not use the paper towel tube as you have noticed that they will tear/eat/chew cardboard, not really good for them and as you have seen, all cardboard is fair game. And I don't agree with the comment that 5 or 10 minutes is a "long" time to a pup... Dogs have no real concept of time.... in my 30+ years in the breed (Basenjis) if we left for 10 minutes or 8 hours, the response was the same.... excited to see us and if it was 10 minutes the greeting was the same as if for 8 hours

  • As mentioned above Kong is great, frozen Kong even better, it lasts longer.... I'd recommend leaving her inside the house ie go to a different room, garden, out the front, and ideally try and come back and reward her before she notices, no reward is she makes a fuss or comes looking for you. Camera would definitely help to know how bad the problem actually is.

  • Sorry to be so ignorant, but exactly what is Kong ?

  • @zande
    0_1606603893889_37348a92-61d8-4741-bdf5-e876c9b0736f-image.jpeg
    Sally - it’s a rubber chew toy that you can fill with treats - like kibble. You can also fill it with peanut butter and freeze it.

  • @kembe said in Training to be alone:

    You can also fill it with peanut butter and freeze it.

    Which is great... until you realize how many calories you've given your dog! I'm sure that's why doodle gained weight when I first got her!!

  • @elbrant
    Luckily Kembe doesn’t like peanut butter - she just likes everything else! Lol

  • I have "Intelligence" cubes and balls which you put kibble in and the dog has to figure out how, by rolling them around, to make the kibble fall out.

    But no 'extra' rations !!!

    Only some kibble from the daily allowance goes into them. I am such a mean Mom but my pack stays svelte !😁

Suggested Topics

  • Dog Training

    Behavioral Issues
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    eeeefarmE
    What type of training are you interested in? Is this a housebreaking issue, obedience problem, or some behaviour you want to discourage? Since you have posted in behavioural problems, I assume you are having some difficulties with something. If you are more specific it might be easier to point you in the right direction, i.e. to an obedience trainer or an animal behaviourist.
  • Potty Training Issues

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    4k Views
    M
    I set up a schedule for my dog's and they always potty train quickly. I take the puppy outside first thing in the morning, after meals, after playing, after nap and right before bed. That usually works well. Of course, I have the luxury of working from home. But this should work for you on weekends.
  • Apparently crate trained?

    Behavioral Issues
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    D
    Usually aggression during eating is when you would put your hand over the food bowl while the dog is eating or touch/pet the dog while it is eating and the dog will try to bite you. Shelters will often test dogs while doing the first one. Many dogs flunk because they will bite the fake hand and they become rescue only because of it. Jennifer
  • Crate Training

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    dmcartyD
    hard to say if crating was a big negative in her puppy place for her that could account for her behavior now? Have you called her breeder to ask her/him? They sometimes can give you wonderful ideas that can help faster than the rest of us because they know their puppy.
  • Should basenjis live alone?

    Behavioral Issues
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    5k Views
    KiroGurlK
    thanks for the info on the MD BRAT!!! ill look into it! maybe we can set up a playdate :)
  • Is off leash training possible?

    Behavioral Issues
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    5k Views
    M
    I mnt bike with my Basenjis- off leash. This is couple of hours per day on the weekends and on National Holidays, a Monday. I found that water is a very good training aid. In the heat of summer, when water is scarce carry a small water dish and a Camel's Back. When they get thirsty, they will come back. It is important for pack cohesion to let them out and be Basenjis. The rest of the time they should be fenced in. My 3 have about 10 meters by 8 meters. They spend most of the time sunning themselves by the rosemary. This is beneficial because rosemary, like Basenjis, loves full sun. So throughout the rosemary season thats what my Basenjis smell like. Having a balance of freedom and confinment makes a happy Basenji. The only things I have to concern myself with is keeping the rubbish up and the toilet paper off the roll. I don't know what your situation is. If you live away from major roads, carve up some mnt bike trails and take your Basenjis with you. Rocky Mountain, Canadian grown, makes a killer mnt bike. And your B's will love chasing you all over God's Acre