Skip to content

Training classes?

Basenji Training
  • I need to find a good basic training class. Everything I've read on the forum seems to point to formal training. however, my boarder is reluctant becasue Diesel is already a year old and she hasn't had a lot of success with Bs at that age. I don't want to go to Petco etc but know I can't do it on my own with him. Any suggestions?
    thanks

  • Any dog of any age can be trained. Remember when you do start a training class. Practice, Patience and Persistence. You will want a positive training class. I'm sure the others can chime in with ways to locate a good trainer in your area. (references from your friends are helpful.)

  • thanks for the input-I'm looking forward to reading more responses on how to find a good trainer for him

  • Well PetCo may not be a bad choice, depending on what techniques the trainer uses. Most of us here recommend positive reinforcement or clicker training..as it seems to be the most successful technique for Basenjis. You can find good and bad trainers anywhere, and using any techniques. One good place to start is http://www.apdt.com/po/ts/default.aspx

    And yep, it definitely isn't too late to start training him. One of the great things about positive reinforcement training is that there is no wrong age, breed, species, etc…it works on everything and everyone :)

  • I suggest training classes for all rescues, no matter what age.
    The important thing is that the classes use positive methods and that you work with your dog with a good attitude.
    If its fun and play, you both will enjoy it.

  • I took EL D to obedience class when he was 5 years old - the instructor evaluates all potential students first (that impressed me) and she said she didn't usually take dogs that old but when she ran him through various paces she felt he would do okay (for a basenji). So I guess you'll just have to search around and interview instructors.

  • Um, sorry, I've trained dogs ages 13 and 14. Most dogs are willing to learn with positive reinforcement. So 5 is not old. Should she have evaluated first, yes, I believe so simply to know what the dog is like and how much the dog is willing to work, but I still believe any dog can be trained. But if she thinks 5 is old, she's totally wrong.

  • I agree that there is no such thing as too old to be trained. I have worked with dogs at all ages at the shelter, many with no training at all, and they all responded well to positive training.

    Here is another trainer directory, many are also on the APDT list, http://www.trulydogfriendly.com/blog/?page_id=4

    From your other post, it sounds like you may want to look for a behaviorist first, here is a link to a directory of behaviorists, http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSAppliedBehavior/caab-directory

  • How young is too young to train with classes? Thinking about doing this for our little Basenji.

    And there can't be an age limit, I am still trying to train my faince' on a few things and she is almost 30!

  • most puppy classes start at age 12 wks

  • I am wanting to put Kenya in training classes but my vet and the class instructor told me to wait until she has all her shots. She will get her third set Monday and then I have to wait another three weeks before she gets her last ones. At that point she will be 15-16 weeks.

  • @c-bus:

    I am wanting to put Kenya in training classes but my vet and the class instructor told me to wait until she has all her shots. She will get her third set Monday and then I have to wait another three weeks before she gets her last ones. At that point she will be 15-16 weeks.

    I think this is dependent on the preferences on the training facility or vet. The kennel club I will be taking my dog to only requires that the puppy is getting its routine shots but not necessarily completed with them. And the person teaching the class works at my vet. That being said, my breeder has mentioned that she prefers that the shots be completed first.

  • You are missing out on critical socialization if you wait that long. Most puppy kindergartens take puppies after their second set of shots. These classses have only puppies that have been vaccinated and are low risk with high gains in the socialization and experiences the puppy gains.

  • @lvoss:

    You are missing out on critical socialization if you wait that long. Most puppy kindergartens take puppies after their second set of shots. These classses have only puppies that have been vaccinated and are low risk with high gains in the socialization and experiences the puppy gains.

    I completely agree with this.

  • @Nemo:

    I think this is dependent on the preferences on the training facility or vet. The kennel club I will be taking my dog to only requires that the puppy is getting its routine shots but not necessarily completed with them. And the person teaching the class works at my vet. That being said, my breeder has mentioned that she prefers that the shots be completed first.

    I think you are waiting too long. You should have two complete sets of shots before class. Waiting till they are 15/16wks you are missing critical socialization skills. Waiting for "all the shots" is pretty much old school these days.

    My pups go out even before that to things like lure trials… you just need to be careful and not let them "get" into anything like "old poop" laying around.

  • @lvoss:

    You are missing out on critical socialization if you wait that long. Most puppy kindergartens take puppies after their second set of shots. These classses have only puppies that have been vaccinated and are low risk with high gains in the socialization and experiences the puppy gains.

    I totally agree

  • @tanza:

    I think you are waiting too long. You should have two complete sets of shots before class. Waiting till they are 15/16wks you are missing critical socialization skills. Waiting for "all the shots" is pretty much old school these days.

    My pups go out even before that to things like lure trials… you just need to be careful and not let them "get" into anything like "old poop" laying around.

    I'm planning on taking her around the time of the 2nd shots if I can. But the problem is that the next round of puppy classes doesn't start till the last week of March, which would be around 14 weeks anyway. Maybe they will let me join the last half of the previous class but I'd have to check into that.

Suggested Topics

  • Training Question

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    elbrantE
    Just a suggestion: When you see him "misbehaving" by chewing on 'less than ideal' items, offer him one of his toys and use the word "trade". In other words, 'chew on this instead', and when he accepts the toy - praise him. And when you see him get the toy on his own, praise him again. It could help him understand that certain toys are just for those times when you want to "rip someone's head off*". (*not meant literally, only in doggy world play)
  • House training

    Basenji Training
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    2k Views
    No one has replied
  • Inconsistent training

    Basenji Training
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    7k 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.
  • Recall training

    Basenji Training
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    Shaye's MomS
    I also have a Verizon air card USB - the video may use it all up. Also, instead of using the laptop with the air card, I used my home computer to call it up and found you have to subscribe to something in order to watch - it's my policy not to do that. So, even though the video may be great, you do have to sign up with something to do so.
  • Whistle training

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k 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.
  • Training basenjis

    Basenji Training
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    NemoN
    Arlo does "downs" like Zoni (Aries' niece :)) does….with extreme enthusiasm by slamming her paws to the ground. Love it.