Can he stop?

[Janneke]

We walk 5 times a day 15 minutes, because I don't believe it is good for a puppy to walk too long. We add 5 minutes every month: 3 months, 15 minutes; 4 months, 20 minutes etc. When we walk further/longer, I carry him.
(this is also being told on training classes)

He can run and play in the house and the garden. I don't let him off leach outside, because there are cars all over the place. We do run and play outside, but on the leach.

Today went much better btw. I think yesterday was just a 'bad day'. He hasn't been in his crate all day, he is just playing in a normal way..

[Janneke]

About the five times.. I think it's a bit more.. It's 3 pm now and we already went out four times.

[Barklessdog]

Since you're covering the walks then puppy training can tire him out as well.

Another thing I remember to keep a puppy occupied was to tie a long lead to your belt or waist and to the puppies collar. It keeps him occupied, your know where is is and helps train him with excepted behavior in the house.

I still do that outside sometimes with our 7 year old tri, but I use a leash, when I work in the garden out in our front yard (no fence). He excepts it and enjoys it if it's a nice day. Sometimes he will just lay in the grass or sun, while I work.

It was funny he used to follow my son when he would cut the back yard (fenced in). He just walked several feet behind him, walking row after row. It was funny because it was like he was cutting the yard too.

Maybe a chew toy in his crate might help calm him down (teething?)

Our first dog is and was very needy of attention as a puppy (still is) when we got our second dog that made a big difference in keeping him occupied.

Basenji's seem to do well in pairs.

[Everliene]

Our Basenji Gaia is now 15 weeks old. In the morning we do a 20 / 25 minutes walk with her. In the afternoon we usually go to a place where she can run and play freely with other dogs. When we see that she is getting tired (she stops chasing other dogs, losing interest in the other dogs) we know that it is time to go home. Sometimes she is tired after an hour, somtimes after a longer time. I know that some people use the method: for every week of age, a minute walk. We used this methode in the beginning, but we discovered that our Basenji simply had to much energy left over. We asked our vet for advice.
He said that it is better to watch your dog getting tired.

[tanza]

@Everliene:

Our Basenji Gaia is now 15 weeks old. In the morning we do a 20 / 25 minutes walk with her. In the afternoon we usually go to a place where she can run and play freely with other dogs. When we see that she is getting tired (she stops chasing other dogs, losing interest in the other dogs) we know that it is time to go home. Sometimes she is tired after an hour, somtimes after a longer time. I know that some people use the method: for every week of age, a minute walk. We used this methode in the beginning, but we discovered that our Basenji simply had to much energy left over. We asked our vet for advice.
He said that it is better to watch your dog getting tired.

Excellent advise!

[Janneke]

Ok, We extended the walks and put his food in the Kong or in his ball. It works pretty well.. He is only very energetic around 14.00 - 17.00. We can live with that.

I do notice that he can't really find his rest. He doesn't just lay down, but when we put him in his crate or sit with him, he immediatly falls asleep and snores.

[tanza]

@Janneke:

Ok, We extended the walks and put his food in the Kong or in his ball. It works pretty well.. He is only very energetic around 14.00 - 17.00. We can live with that.

I do notice that he can't really find his rest. He doesn't just lay down, but when we put him in his crate or sit with him, he immediatly falls asleep and snores.

I have found that is pretty typical especially for male puppies…. they are too busy and "forget" or think they are going to miss something to rest on their own....

[Everliene]

@Janneke:

Ok, We extended the walks and put his food in the Kong or in his ball. It works pretty well.. He is only very energetic around 14.00 - 17.00. We can live with that.

I do notice that he can't really find his rest. He doesn't just lay down, but when we put him in his crate or sit with him, he immediatly falls asleep and snores.

We live in Naaldwijk, a little town. As we walk with Gaia in the neighbourhood we don't let her off leach, because of the cars. But we find it important that she can play freely everyday. So we discovered some places a bit further and use the car to get there. Maybe there are some places nearby Utrecht?

When Gaia is energetic although we went out with her, we sit with her, and give her something to chew on. Then, she falls asleep.

[Janneke]

@Everliene:

We live in Naaldwijk, a little town. As we walk with Gaia in the neighbourhood we don't let her off leach, because of the cars. But we find it important that she can play freely everyday. So we discovered some places a bit further and use the car to get there. Maybe there are some places nearby Utrecht?

When Gaia is energetic although we went out with her, we sit with her, and give her something to chew on. Then, she falls asleep.

We live in Bunchoten, provincie Utrecht. It's a little town as well. There is a forest in A'foort and Baarn (only 10 km) and we have a small beach. (no dogs allowed, but it's too cold to swim now..)

The problem is: I'm really scared he just takes off :eek: I had him off leach the other day and he just walked away and when I called him, he was like.. yeah right.. When he is on leach he listens very well..

My other dog was off leach from the age of 8 weeks. She always followed. I'm scared Mirtillo won't..

[lvoss]

Do you have really yummy treats with you? I usually start with name response to condition my dogs that when they hear their name something really good is likely. Then when we go on country walks and I call their name they rush over to get their goodie. They also usually just check in on their own to see if I will give them a bit of something yummy. This has worked really well for me.

[Janneke]

@lvoss:

Do you have really yummy treats with you? I usually start with name response to condition my dogs that when they hear their name something really good is likely. Then when we go on country walks and I call their name they rush over to get their goodie. They also usually just check in on their own to see if I will give them a bit of something yummy. This has worked really well for me.

I have done this from the beginning on leach and in house/in the garden and it works well then. He loves his treats, so he comes in full speed when I call him. But when he is really loose, there is so much to discover..
Maybe I have to bring something more yummy..

[tanza]

Some pups are just like that, especially at this age… if mine, I would not chance on letting him off leash. And some never "respond" to coming when called...

[lvoss]

What are using as treats? When I am out of the house or yard, I really make sure to have some very yummy treats. The more distracting the situation the higher the value the treats need to be. Try working with him on a long line when you are out and bring a variety of treats to see what is high value for him. Some of the highest value treats I have found for mine are duck jerky and freeze dried chicken hearts.

[Janneke]

@tanza:

Some pups are just like that, especially at this age… if mine, I would not chance on letting him off leash. And some never "respond" to coming when called...

No, we don't let him off leach now. With puppytraining we get the chance to let them all walk freely and practice with coming to us. We'll see how it developes.

[Janneke]

@lvoss:

What are using as treats? When I am out of the house or yard, I really make sure to have some very yummy treats. The more distracting the situation the higher the value the treats need to be. Try working with him on a long line when you are out and bring a variety of treats to see what is high value for him. Some of the highest value treats I have found for mine are duck jerky and freeze dried chicken hearts.

It's a good idea to practice on a long line. We'll bring some cheese etc. Maybe it will work.

It's too bad that there aren't a lot (none?) fenced places around here. Only gardens, but he does listen well then.

[Everliene]

We started with Gaia when we got her (7 weeks).
Our breeder warned us for her to escape, but we thought: well, we try to train her in a safe environment and see how for we can get.
No shooting is certainly missed (dutch expression)
We went to very quiet places with no traffic at all.
When we were sure that there were no (other) dogs, humans etc. we let her off leach.
Then, at certain moments, we played hide en seek.
When Gaia had no attention for us, we quikly stand behind a big tree.
We saw that she became nervous and then we called her and rewarded her.
Later on, we learned her that the dogwhistle (we bought) means that there is something nice to get.
First we trained this at home.
And that something must be special!!
I understand that you are very carefull, and we would be to if our Gaia takes the "kuierlatten'" (dutch expression) but so far she listens, except when she plays with other dogs.
If the other dog leaves, Gaia goes with her / him and we have to walk back to catch her.
In Monster, a little town, just 5 kilometers from Naaldwijk, there is a place 1,5kilometers long, totally fenced ,where the entrance locks behind you.
Something like that is a perfect training place.

I hope you find something for Mirtillo!

[Janneke]

Haha, jah, nooit geschoten, is altijd mis

Today we had Mirtillo walking loose, but with his leach still attach to his collar. This worked very well. When he doesn't feel like coming, we just run away from him and then he thinks it's a game and follows.

I hope we will find a fenced place like that. It sounds great.

May I ask you from which breeder you got Gaia?