Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Training
  3. Training Devices for Anti-Pulling - I vote for Sporn

Training Devices for Anti-Pulling - I vote for Sporn

Basenji Training
  • WBLW

    As we all know leash training a basenji is a daunting task, especially the pulling. Martingales are nice, but to train the dog up into not pulling, I don't think its a good step, because well they still pull.

    So my first step was the gentle leader, I trained my boxer on it and so thats where I started. My review is that it's still a great product. Tiggy will wear it and does great on it, but I found it's not good for extended wearing (several hours, meaning going out to events or picnicking, anything that is longer than about 45 minutes).

    Next I tried him on the Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness. Didn't buy, just tried it on in the store, review there not good for a basenji. Basenji's are on many things I've found to be a "in-between" sort of dog. Here's why I say that, I tried the small on Tig and extended out all the way, it did fit bordering between snug and too tight and the straps are thin (about the width of a cat collar) so I didn't like that, so I tried the medium on him. Well heres the in-between part, every part of it tightened it was way to big for him. I also know that he'd out grow the small because he's only eight months.

    Moving on, I tried on the Sporn, well the normal Sporn small, I again ran into the to tight extended out all the way problem. I then tried on the medium, cinched the collar as tight as it would go, still a little loose around the neck but the rest made up for it. SO….I got it (wasn't happy that the collar part was red, but I'd survive. I had it for about 2 weeks and Tiggy does great on it. But I still couldn't get over the red collar, and there was so much extra strap from the piece that sits over the shoulders (for those that don't know the Sporn I'm attaching pictures below) that when Tiggy was pulled in close I'd end up be holding the ring.

    Then to my excitement I discovered the Sporn mesh harness, debated over it for a week, then Tiggy and I went to the store and I tried it on him. Guess what, the small fits perfect with room for growing, and unlike the original version he'd sometimes choke himself, there was no choking, we walked around the store in it for about 10 minutes, and well I left it on him, paid and we walked out. It does the safe thing as the original but fits better and his normal collar doesn't get in the way of the collar that comes with the original sporn.

    Okay so here's the pictures, first we have the Original Sporn Training Harness LINK

    This it the one I just got the Sporn Non-Pulling Mesh Harness LINK

    Also to end my long thread, the mesh one you just slip over the dogs head and slip the legs through and then tighten the cordlock

    0
  • lvossL

    @WBL:

    Next I tried him on the Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness. Didn't buy, just tried it on in the store, review there not good for a basenji. Basenji's are on many things I've found to be a "in-between" sort of dog. Here's why I say that, I tried the small on Tig and extended out all the way, it did fit bordering between snug and too tight and the straps are thin (about the width of a cat collar) so I didn't like that, so I tried the medium on him. Well heres the in-between part, every part of it tightened it was way to big for him. I also know that he'd out grow the small because he's only eight months.

    The Easy Walk Harness by Premier sells tweener sizes. You can order a S/M which fits a basenji pretty nicely. The straps are the same width as the Medium but the size is between a medium and a small. The tweener sizes are not carried at the stores but most trainers who sell them will have them and will make sure that they are properly fitted to your dog. Three of my puppy people use them and are very happy with the results.

    0
  • WBLW

    @lvoss:

    The Easy Walk Harness by Premier sells tweener sizes. You can order a S/M which fits a basenji pretty nicely. The straps are the same width as the Medium but the size is between a medium and a small. The tweener sizes are not carried at the stores but most trainers who sell them will have them and will make sure that they are properly fitted to your dog. Three of my puppy people use them and are very happy with the results.

    Great to know, thank you. I'll look them up online

    0
  • tanzaT

    One thing I would recommend, if you are showing your dog, be careful using any type of harness.. they can and do alter the front shoulder movement and dogs stop using their shoulders in a straight forward movement and start a swinging motion.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • WBLW

    @tanza:

    One thing I would recommend, if you are showing your dog, be careful using any type of harness.. they can and do alter the front shoulder movement and dogs stop using their shoulders in a straight forward movement and start a swinging motion.

    Good point, and that I do know, I should add that for Tiggy, I only use these devices when we go into places like Pet Smart or when we're in Germany out on the town shopping. Gives more control in crowded places. As for normal walks we use just a hound collar. When we are in busy crowded places Tiggy is still learning to behave like he does when we walk through the neighborhood and trails.

    0
  • lvossL

    If you have never seen the Easy Walk Harness here is a basenji wearing the s/m.

    attachment_p_36952_0_ringooffleash.jpg

    0

Suggested Topics

  • E

    Crate training

    Basenji Training
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    5k Views
    ZandeZ
    Exactly as it should be ! Happiness well deserved :grinning_face:
  • J

    Potty Training

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    5k Views
    AntigoneA
    My Dog used a Litter Box until 12 Weeks of Age. After that, I took her to the Horse Farm and let her 'Pack' with older well-trained Dogs. She mimicked their behaviors and she learned how to Sit, Stay, Come when called and lay down. The Dogs did a great job of training mine. I did not have very many problems. these dogs get a bad reputation for being hard to train but they really aren't. They are very stubborn and would rather die than negotiate. Therein lies the importance of understanding the Dog's body language, that tells you all you need to know. They are extremely intelligent and never forget a thing, including people and other animals. Good luck with it!
  • K

    Inconsistent training

    Basenji Training
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    8k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    @Kosuzu: I will get into agility when he is a little older, his bones are still too immature for that yet. I would also like to get Khalani into becoming a "therapy" dog as he has a beautiful nature, He can't be assessed for that until he is at least 18 months old. You must tell me more about the "skateboard", does he ride it? Have you ever videoed your agility, I'd love to see that. There are a few youtube videos of Zest! doing agility. Just seach "Zest Agility" and the r/w little basenji is mine. Those are all from her Novice days. She's now in Excellent. We've had quite a few set backs, but she has achieved her excellent agility titles in AKC. You can see my other 2 here: https://www.basenji.org/BasenjiU/Activities/Agility/AOb/stacles.html All but the dogs on the table are mine. Zest is also the star of the Agility Manuevers videos. Hopefully, you'll be able to find a local agility class. There are lots of foundation work you can do with puppies before you start doing jumps and weaves. The other two (Digital the brindlewonderkid and Jet the trying) are retired, but have certainly done a lot. Therapy work is so rewarding! You'll love it. Z and I are off to the Alzheimer's facility tomorrow. Both my boys also really loved it.
  • KipawaK

    Whistle training

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    KipawaK
    @agilebasenji: for this sort of thing (big value treats over long time period), the best thing i've found to use is frozen liverwurst. i buy it, slice it and put it in a small container (the leftover cream cheese containers work GREAT for this) then put the container in the freezer. the pup gets to lick the frozen stuff for her high value treat - LOTS of treat over a long time, but not lots of calories or lots of treats in the tummy. the dogs at my house swear liverwurst pupcicles are wonderful. sometimes they will try to nibble, but given it's frozen and in a small container, it's hard to get lots of treats. I will try this, but I myself love liverwurst. Hopefully I will not eat it all before getting to the park. At the park today, I was about 75% successful with the whistle/treat recall. Not bad for the first time out, I think. Especially because there were easily 20 dogs there, and Kipawa is Mr. Social and has to visit with all of them.
  • thunderbird8588T

    Training words

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    P
    What an interesting article - I must say I do use 'No' but in future will think first before I say it!
  • EdwardE

    Clicker training

    Basenji Training
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    4k Views
    lvossL
    Edward, Positive reinforcement methods like clicker training work wonderfully with basenjis. All four of my basenjis are clicker trained. I guess you could even consider Sophie to have started before birth since I was clicker training her mom while she was pregnant with the litter. The purpose of the clicker is to mark the behavior that you want so you could also just use a word like "yes" or "Yay" or "good dog" followed by a treat. I use clicker training to train a variety of behaviors such as sit, down, attention, name response, stay, stand, go to mat, front, point, hand targeting, and the list goes on. I also use it in agility training.