What a typical Basenji boy! OK to get mucky when you're doing something you enjoy!
Kipawa is growing up so well…I'm jealous, his sister doesn't get to run free like her big brother.
Wow! he is gorgeous, his sister Lyric is having the time of her life with their other sister Olive staying with us this week so together they are running around our place. They both seem to not mind the mud one bit. What a great place to run the dogs. If the rain would just stop I'm sure they would enjoy it all the more.
Therese
Wonderful day with your "little b guy"!
I am so happy he found his way to your home!
What a typical Basenji boy! OK to get mucky when you're doing something you enjoy!
How true! Today Kipawa just made me roar. He was sniffing something in a muddy area of the ground and then just decided to plop down and roll around and around in the mud! All I could do was laugh. It was so precious to see him enjoying himself so much. After he was done, I checked the area, and all I saw was 'cough up' - the remains of some animal that had been another's (quite likely a bald eagle) dinner.
Kipawa is growing up so well…I'm jealous, his sister doesn't get to run free like her big brother.
The key for me was to find a place that was absolutely safe for Kipawa. I keep him on a leash until we are well into the park and I then let him run free. It's beautiful to watch. Then when I know we are heading home, I leash him up and we practice free leash walking and heeling. He does quite well as he is usually tuckered out by then. 
Have you searched out your area for any safe places for your girl to romp around in? I have to drive to these good places, but it is so worth it for us.
@Therese:
Wow! he is gorgeous, his sister Lyric is having the time of her life with their other sister Olive staying with us this week so together they are running around our place. They both seem to not mind the mud one bit. What a great place to run the dogs. If the rain would just stop I'm sure they would enjoy it all the more.
Therese
I'm biased, but I think he is gorgeous too! I know I will live the rest of my life so thankful that you and Kevin have given us such a 'gift' - Kipawa's name in Swahili.
I'm finding he is selective to what he does, based on what the value is for him. Getting his toes wet in our backyard is horrible. Rolling in mud to the point of looking like he is a brindle is perfect!
I will search out some safe places for Scarlett to run free…I am not a fan of dog parks in general, so I don't go to those places. I am worried she will see a squirrel or something and not listen to her recalls!
I will search out some safe places for Scarlett to run free…I am not a fan of dog parks in general, so I don't go to those places. I am worried she will see a squirrel or something and not listen to her recalls!
Walter, you might want to try training Scarlett to come back when you whistle. That is working so well for me in safe parks where me yelling Kipawa's name might not be heard well enough. I bought a decent whistle at a dollar store. It was actually $1.25.
I've decided that the big fenced in dog park (play area) is only going to be a once in awhile thing, if that. The play there can get a little rambunctious, whereas I notice that if Kipawa just 'comes across' a dog in an offleash park he does a little visiting but then prefers to get on with investigating the wilderness.
Hello Fran,
I have enrolled Scarlett into an obedience class starting on April 9th…hopefully it will give us both the beginnings of the necessary skills needed to fill the holes in her training. She is great at some things but I really want her to not jump up on people and walk with a leash better...she is great with dogs and people in general (plenty of socialization). She sits, stays, lays down, comes when called and heels (not consistently!).
You and Scarlett will enjoy the class - and it already sounds like you have a lot of the basics going very, very well. I found the part of the class I didn't like was the first 10 minutes where all dogs were allowed off leash to socialize. With FoPaws puppies being so well socialized, I found that first 10 minutes just wound up Kipawa so much, with all the playing! Then, it took me a good 10 minutes to calm him down enough to really work well in the class. The good news is that I am seeing as Kipawa ages and becomes more respectful he doesn't need to go wild when he first meets a new dog. I also think that not taking him to the play area off leash park is also helping him.
