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Bonjour from Canada! Interested in conformation, bloodlines and genetics.

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  • Isn't the shelf the curvature of the rear? If you stack a B, you should definitely notice the shelf or lack thereof. I notice the shelf just by looking at Bs. Does the shelf have any thing to do with the tail set?

    My Arnie has a decent tail set but has no shelf at all. I joke that one could turn him over and use his rear as a table as it is so straight! He should be used as a study for a B with no shelf. He is out of commercial breeding dogs.

    Jennifer

  • This link that was already post is a good example of a good shelf

    http://www.afrikenji.com/leeloo.html

  • @dcmclcm4:

    Isn't the shelf the curvature of the rear? If you stack a B, you should definitely notice the shelf or lack thereof. I notice the shelf just by looking at Bs. Does the shelf have any thing to do with the tail set?

    My Arnie has a decent tail set but has no shelf at all. I joke that one could turn him over and use his rear as a table as it is so straight! He should be used as a study for a B with no shelf. He is out of commercial breeding dogs.

    Jennifer

    i'd love to see a pic if you have one handy.

  • Here is a picture of one of my boys (bred by me)… note that he doesn't have much shelf and is straight behind... his movement was OK and had other parts that were very good, however on the lure field he could not turn to save his life... he would lose his rear on a tight turn so had to always go wide... he could not "lay" it down and use the rear to turn.

    http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Tego_for_web.jpg

    By contrast, his litter sister who could stop and turn on a dime at any speed…

    http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Fatia_35__Show__format_change_to_JPEG_High_Quality_.jpg

    And yes, both are a bit long in the back…..

  • @tanza:

    Here is a picture of one of my boys (bred by me)… note that he doesn't have much shelf and is straight behind... his movement was OK and had other parts that were very good, however on the lure field he could not turn to save his life... he would lose his rear on a tight turn so had to always go wide... he could not "lay" it down and use the rear to turn.

    http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Tego_for_web.jpg

    By contrast, his litter sister who could stop and turn on a dime at any speed…

    http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Fatia_35__Show__format_change_to_JPEG_High_Quality_.jpg

    I was just trying to describe what you posted in the first picture (I'm glad you posted it first :) ). I think that means the angle of his pelvis is too flat and as a result there isn't enough surface area to attach muscle too. The proper angles (requiring a shelf, I believe) allow more muscle attachment and are generally more forgiving to the joints. If the tail set is low that means the angle of the pelvis is too steep.

  • Yes, Clay…. I think that is a good description and I have no problem posting links of my own dogs.... the only thing that I would say is that I have seen Basenjis is a low tail set, but with a decent shelf and second thigh..... not many.

    Personal Note: Sorry for just posting links to pictures, but the rules of the forum are that pictures posted become owned by the forum owner... I don't totally agree with that... so I will not post that many pictures directly, since I believe that these are my pictures and my ownership

  • Interesting to see that the picture of Leeloo, from Afrikenji Kennels in Australia, was used by someone, ?agilebasenji? to illistrate the correct shelf… Her owner and breeder, Helen, and I have had discussions about the shelf a few times now, and she is of the belief that we are beginning to lost the correct shelf in dogs all over the world. It is something that she is justifiably proud of, in her dogs ;) :).

  • @tanza:

    This link that was already post is a good example of a good shelf

    http://www.afrikenji.com/leeloo.html

    Wow is all I can say…...

  • @tanza:

    Here is a picture of one of my boys (bred by me)… note that he doesn't have much shelf and is straight behind... his movement was OK and had other parts that were very good, however on the lure field he could not turn to save his life... he would lose his rear on a tight turn so had to always go wide... he could not "lay" it down and use the rear to turn.

    http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Tego_for_web.jpg

    By contrast, his litter sister who could stop and turn on a dime at any speed…

    http://www.tanzabasenjis.net/files/Fatia_35__Show__format_change_to_JPEG_High_Quality_.jpg

    And yes, both are a bit long in the back…..

    I could understand what you were talking about when seeing the pictures. Thank you for sharing.

  • @saba:

    Her owner and breeder, Helen, and I have had discussions about the shelf a few times now, and she is of the belief that we are beginning to lost the correct shelf in dogs all over the world. It is something that she is justifiably proud of, in her dogs ;) :).

    This is why I feel we need cooperation between all the breeders worldwide. The breed needs cooperation to strive, grow and improve (while keeping the desired positive characteristics) :) .

  • Absolutely spot on Sandra :)…

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  • Bonjour from Montreal!

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    I know what you mean, Tp3, things change a lot when a second dog comes! Anyhow, I've decided not to get a second dog yet. Uma has had some "incidents" in the past few weeks that have made me realize she probably still doesn't feel 100% stable yet with us. As much as I wanted a second dog for her to have a friend, she's shown me that we still need to work on bonding and making her feel secure.
  • Hello from Sorel-Tracy QUEBEC Canada

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    @ElfinSailor: eeeefarm I assume you went tilt at my opening statement and were unable to read anything else I said fallowing that. No, I read everything you wrote. Most people I know consider a dog that follows directions and obeys commands a trained animal. The definition of biddable, if not playing cards, is following directions or obeying commands. Something you agree is is not particularly Basenji like. With which I totally agree. However, saying they are untrainable is a different thing. Positive Punishment? Now that is a curious phrase. I am certain if you try using it on my very Alpha partner JaBok You would be unable to be in the same county with him unless you kept him tied up. Positive punishment, in the Operant vocabulary, simply means something added that tends to diminish the unwanted behaviour. It doesn't have to be severe to be effective, and definitely will work with Basenjis if…...and it is an important "if"......they are absolutely convinced that this consequence will occur every single time they perform the unwanted action. Think horses and electric fence, and you get the picture. I do agree with the cat in a dogs body analogy. Cats are also pretty much un-trainable. There are videos on line of cats doing agility obstacles on command. Again, this is using positive reinforcement and will work well for cats…..and Basenjis......if the reinforcement is salient enough. Most people seem seem to think that a dog that learns to do everything you tell it is smart. I have always felt that dogs that do everything you tell it are kinda dumb and are unable to think for themselves. There is "smart" (intelligent) and there is "biddable", and it doesn't have to be one or the other. Some dogs…...Border Collies would be a good example......are definitely both. Eager to work with the handler, but capable of working on their own. A good sheepdog is amazing to watch, particularly in a "silent gather', where no help is offered by the handler and the dog must make his own decisions. Basenjis, while not usually biddable, can certainly demonstrate they are intelligent, often while outsmarting their owners! :) When JaBok and I go out to move the horses from one pasture to another He is right there and knows just what to do. He once saw what I was doing and because of his bond with me he wants to engage and assist. I never taught him any of it. He sounds like an unusual Basenji. None of mine have been the least bit interested in herding, although I believe we have another member on here who does have Basenjis with such an inclination. Than I am unable to stop him when he sees a deer and he will chase it until it disappears That is instinct and he does not understand why I don't help him catch it. I would really like it if I could train him not to chase them. It has been ten years now and I have had no success. Doable but not easy, and would definitely involve consistent positive punishment. If chasing them doesn't put him at risk, why bother? I am 70 And have worked with lots of dogs and horses with a reasonable degree of success. JaBok is a different story. We do everything together he comes when I call him he usually gets into the truck when I tell him. If he does not want to go he won't get in. I am completely unable to catch him if he really does not want to be caught. He will run to the house though and that tells me he wants to stay home so I let him in. Does he have me trained? If you re-read my previous statement I think you will see that I was attempting to explain how to get that which is Basenji to live in co-existence with you. Yes, I do understand that. I am not a lot younger than you, and have had 5 Basenjis over a span of 40 plus years. My first was the most like your JaBok. She was the most biddable Basenji I have owned. She would come when called quite reliably, and seemed to care about pleasing me. I wrote about her here: http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?11775-quot-You-can-t-do-that-with-a-Basenji!-quot&highlight=
  • Hello from Canada

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    I believe we are meeting on Feb 7-lots of people are planning to attend. Should be a fun time. One of the most (what I consider) informative Basenji People is going to be there-Anne Smith.
  • New from Canada

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    Just love the pics, you've got yourself a couple of cuties there!!!:D
  • Bonjour!

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    Chelbell26C
    Boy is Chai a CUTIE!!! I loved the picture of him chewing on the stick and the man in the picture doing the same thing. TOO FUNNY! :-)
  • Greetings from Canada

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    lvossL
    @longshot: Yes, I would love to adopt him myself… but I am a first-time dog owner, and I am a little intimidated by the reputation of the Basenji --even though in this case he is 1/2 Pug which has an "easier" reputation. Are they sure he is a basenji mix or are they just guessing based on the curly tail and erect ears? He looks more like a Chi mix to me. I just found out on Monday the new "hybrid craze" is the "chug" a Chi x Pug. http://www.flickr.com/photos/troynielsen/2236562915/