Skip to content

Kismet learned to lay down!

Basenji Talk

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    6 Posts
    791 Views
    Agree with @elbrant and I'd like to add, when you return be very matter of fact, do not make a big fuss, particularly if she is excited and effusive in her greeting to you. Sure, acknowledge her if you must but don't make any sort of big deal out of it. Go about your business, e.g. if you've been shopping, put your things away before spending any time with her. Your goal is to make your absence just part of a normal routine, nothing to be excited about. I've had two separation anxiety dogs, and you know you have won the battle when the dog just glances at you in an "oh, you're back" way and doesn't bother getting off the couch! Yes, people like it when their dog greets them and makes a big fuss, but if you feed that behaviour you give too much emphasis to your absence and that can grow into anxiety in your dog.
  • Learning not to pull

    Basenji Talk 25 Mar 2019, 18:18
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    7k Views
    I like wide martingale collars. They can't back out of them and the collar gives you more control without risking damage to the neck if they do pull. Look for Whippet or Greyhound collars. The one I used is three inches wide and tapers to the back. But bottom line, the reason dogs pull is that it is rewarding to them......they get closer to whatever is attracting them. So stopping until the leash is slack will work (if you have patience), changing direction every time the leash tightens will work, targetting will work. Many roads lead to Rome. You can experiment and find out what works best for you, but it isn't good to let the dog reinforce the habit, which is what makes it difficult to sort this problem out when you also need to give him exercise! One solution is to give him exercise with one harness or collar and practice your loose leash walking with another, until he "gets it". IMO, retractable leads teach the dog to pull. They are also dangerous. Ask a vet. They treat many "hit by car" injuries suffered by dogs that were on a retractable when the owner didn't react quickly enough. There is also the potential for injury when the dog wraps the leash around a person or another dog. And in many places they are illegal, i.e. the leash laws specify 6 foot maximum leash length.
  • 0 Votes
    14 Posts
    6k Views
    Shaye loves the sun - will lie out in the heat for as long as she can get it. Gemma, being a basenji/sheltie mix and furrier, lies on the cool tiles on the porch, and when the sun hits her, she heads for the A/C. At the beach, Shaye lies in the hot sand in the sun until I get her into the shade, and because she is also a heat seeking thing, wants to be totally under covers to sleep at night. Stands to reason the tris and b/w's would absorb more heat and not prefer it as much as the r/w's do.
  • 0 Votes
    23 Posts
    14k Views
    Me too. We had a Siberian Husky mix growing up in NJ and she always sang with the noon or the fire whistle. I hope you hear the sweet sounds of Cooper singing soon…
  • 0 Votes
    45 Posts
    15k Views
    @Kona: Shaye's Mom - That's what I was worried about too with getting a second one, but since we got to do a trial run with Keoki I was able to calm my fears. He is so calm and trustworthy, but he is also 6 years old. Yes, I understand Keoki and Kona are doing really well - wish I'd been at West Park the day you went over - unfortunately, Shaye had been spayed the Friday before, so we missed you, and them. We have been talking with a woman who has a 7 year old Jack Russell female - of course we were going to get her dog almost a year ago, before we got Shaye, and it fell through because she changed her mind, so, who knows, but Shaye really really needs another dog, I think - older, more calm.:rolleyes:
  • 0 Votes
    3 Posts
    956 Views
    It's good to hear that your boys are getting along so well. When you do have internet access then you can post more pictures and stories. I'm excited to hear about basenji's on boats.