As many of you know I have been walking Roo in our local part for several weeks now. We gradually worked up to 2.5 miles in the morning and 2.5 miles in the evenings for a 5 mile total during a day. We do this 7 days a week and Miranda joins me for the second half after she gets off work.
After our walks, Roo and Bonzo our Boston Terrier get a water break, and Roo gets put on a 16 foot flexi leash. As soon as Roo gets on this leash, he waits for me to tell him to go and takes off in a dead run. You would think the dog would be somewhat tired after all that walking.
By the way Roo is now 15 weeks old. When we got him he was only 4 lbs. Its been more than a week since I weighed him but he was 10lbs at that time. I suspect he is probably 12lbs now. He appears to be eating more and going through a growth spurt. Roo appears to be all muscle, so that must be from the exercise. He is getting longer by the day, but I am hoping he gets more barrel chested before its over.
Since part of the walk is for my health, as well as the benefits for the dogs, I decided to add 1/2 mile in the morning, and 1/2 mile in the evenings. That brings us up to a total of 6 miles a day. So far it appears that niether dog has any issue with the distance. We could cover 2.5 miles in a record time of 39mins if no one has to stop for water or go to the bathroom. If we make a water potty stop it takes us about 51 mins. So I figure the extra 1\2 mile will add about 10 mins in the morning and evening to our total walk times.
So now I have a 6 mile Basenji that swims, sits, lays down, and comes on command. Hopefully Roo will be comfortable when we finally get him out on the sailboat.
Jason
wow! that has to be good for both of you…i am envious, i wish i had the energy! comes on command? are you sure that is a basenji? hehe. your avatar is so cute.
We do the same as you do with Roo. We walk around an hour in the morning and the evening and we walk for half an hour twice in the afternoon. We put Mirtillo on the flexi during our walk in the evening, so he can run and play before he goes to bed.
There is a lot of practicing involved. Mirtillo is now 22 weeks old and he can stand, sit, lay and stay (in both sit and lay-position while I walk in circles around him) on command. He can come on command and he doesn't pull on leash. When he does, I stand still and he knows I will stand there for an hour if I have to… so he returns immediatly (ok.. confession.. not always :p ). He can follow on leash and will sit when I stand still. We are now trying to learn him to change from side during our walk.
Mirtillo's favorite 'things-to-do-on-command' are: high five and of course giving kisses. Oh... and everything that gets rewarded highly: staying on the foot of the stairs while I run up to get a bone... and of course going to his place when it is feeding time 
On showtraining there are also agility obstacles.. Mirtillo LOVES those! Best way to reward him for nicely standing still and showing his teeth?? Going over the bridge and through the tunnel..
I believe every dog is trainable.. if you have enough time.. My sheltie-mix could sit, lay, stay and follow within two weeks. She never tried to steal anything and she didn't mind staying at home alone. The only 'bad' thing she did was lay on the couch. (totally forbidden here).
A basenji is a totally diffirent dog.. If you don't have a lot of time, I believe it is almost impossible to train them. We are lucky enough that we do have that time..
One but: I don't believe that every dog can learn the same thing. My sheltie walked off leash from the first moment I got her (8 weeks). When she saw something and wanted to go for it I only had to say 'no' and she wouldn't. I will never let Mirtillo off leash with traffic nearby. I know he will not listen when he sees a cat, dog, bird...
Congrats on him keeping up his growth and energy. Wow I hadn't realized he was only 4 pounds when you and Miranda brought him home. I am so glad that you are having all the great puppy adventures again. 
Oh and remember…..when you get him out sailing, we just MUST have pictures. :p
Way to go Jason! Keep up the great work. Samantha and I usually get out for two to four miles a day and sometimes we take longer walks in the forest. This is my third B (not at the same time) and I got her to help me get exercise too. I've had Samantha out on my friends Sunfish sailing before, and this last Winter we bought a Lido 14. I've been out three times already this Spring, but wanted to get comfortable with handling two sails instead of one before I take Samatha out sailing with me. What kind of a boat do you sail?
We have an MC Scow. It doesn't have a deep cockpit like your Lido, and it sails at a pretty good angle so having a dog on board will be interesting. We race most every weekend, and are looking forward to a fun season!
Way to go Jason! Keep up the great work. Samantha and I usually get out for two to four miles a day and sometimes we take longer walks in the forest. This is my third B (not at the same time) and I got her to help me get exercise too. I've had Samantha out on my friends Sunfish sailing before, and this last Winter we bought a Lido 14. I've been out three times already this Spring, but wanted to get comfortable with handling two sails instead of one before I take Samatha out sailing with me. What kind of a boat do you sail?
Miranda made the last post. Actually we have 2 smaller sailboats, a 12 Foot ZEF of french origin and design, and a 16 foot MC Scow. The MC Scow is made in Zenda Wisconsin and has a 26 foot mast and a single 135 Sq ft sail. While it does not have a deep cockpit, its deep enough for us to feel it would be secure enough for Roo.
Here is a link to the MC scow and then I will attempt to link a picture of Roo in his life Jacket for you on the boat. We have not sailed with Roo yet because we want him to first get comfortable being on the boat without it moving around.
http://www.melges.com/mcscows.html
Here is are a couple of Roo in his life Jacket on the boat. There are more in the member gallery under ComicDom1
http://www.basenjiforums.com/gallery/data/581/medium/Roo91.jpg
http://www.basenjiforums.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/2376
I grew up sailing on a Capo 26 with my folks….they now have a Frers 33 that they take their dog out on (basenji mix, we think) and she hangs out on the deck. They take her when they cruise- maybe 4 or 5 times a year (the boat is mostly a racing boat). Their biggest problem is getting her into the dinghy to go to land for her to potty. I've heard that some dogs can be trained to go over the side.
As many of you know I have been walking Roo in our local part for several weeks now. We gradually worked up to 2.5 miles in the morning and 2.5 miles in the evenings for a 5 mile total during a day. We do this 7 days a week and Miranda joins me for the second half after she gets off work.
After our walks, Roo and Bonzo our Boston Terrier get a water break, and Roo gets put on a 16 foot flexi leash. As soon as Roo gets on this leash, he waits for me to tell him to go and takes off in a dead run. You would think the dog would be somewhat tired after all that walking.
By the way Roo is now 15 weeks old. When we got him he was only 4 lbs. Its been more than a week since I weighed him but he was 10lbs at that time. I suspect he is probably 12lbs now. He appears to be eating more and going through a growth spurt. Roo appears to be all muscle, so that must be from the exercise. He is getting longer by the day, but I am hoping he gets more barrel chested before its over.
Since part of the walk is for my health, as well as the benefits for the dogs, I decided to add 1/2 mile in the morning, and 1/2 mile in the evenings. That brings us up to a total of 6 miles a day. So far it appears that niether dog has any issue with the distance. We could cover 2.5 miles in a record time of 39mins if no one has to stop for water or go to the bathroom. If we make a water potty stop it takes us about 51 mins. So I figure the extra 1\2 mile will add about 10 mins in the morning and evening to our total walk times.
So now I have a 6 mile Basenji that swims, sits, lays down, and comes on command. Hopefully Roo will be comfortable when we finally get him out on the sailboat.
Jason
I think Keoki was about 20 weeks when we started taking him hiking. His first hike was 6 miles - 3 miles in {uphill}, played at a lake for a while {he does NOT get in the water!} and 3 miles back out.
Didn't faze him at all, although he did sleep well on the drive back home.
I love the pictures! Roo looks very handsome in the life vest!
We got a life jacket for Samantha after she showed interest in being on the boat. We had her out on a sunfish in a light breeze and stayed close to shore. After that we've had her out in a canoe a couple of times. One time I was in the canoe and my daughters were on a paddle boat. Samantha wanted to go to them, so she jumped out of the boat (with life jacket on) but on the way out she went in head first! Even though she was paddling furiously, (Basenji feet don't seem like the optimum swimming feet!) she turned around and I pulled her up in the canoe. Now that it's warmer I'm looking forward to taking her out in the Lido.
The MC looks like a fun boat! Where do you sail?
I love the pictures! Roo looks very handsome in the life vest!
We got a life jacket for Samantha after she showed interest in being on the boat. We had her out on a sunfish in a light breeze and stayed close to shore. After that we've had her out in a canoe a couple of times. One time I was in the canoe and my daughters were on a paddle boat. Samantha wanted to go to them, so she jumped out of the boat (with life jacket on) but on the way out she went in head first! Even though she was paddling furiously, (Basenji feet don't seem like the optimum swimming feet!) she turned around and I pulled her up in the canoe. Now that it's warmer I'm looking forward to taking her out in the Lido.
The MC looks like a fun boat! Where do you sail?
We sail mostly at Clinton Lake in IL. We are members of the CLSA (Clinton Lake Sailing Association). We sail competitively on most weekends. We also travel locally for competitions at Regatta's held within a 200 mile range of our home location. I am the fleet captain at our Lake for the MC Scows. The MC Scow is the fastest growing style in One Design boats. We are always learning in hopes that we can be more competitive.
Jason and Miranda
