Different Strokes…..

[curlytails]

I have very little experience or expertise in formal training methods myself. I am interested in learning about different methods and especially the history of methods, as I think we can place different "popular" techniques within social contexts and timelines. I know what has worked for me personally, and what I am not comfortable using with my dogs. FWIW, both my dogs do go off-lead quite regularly, and they're fantastic about keeping me in sight. I like how you described that "having an off leash dog changes your relationship." However, I'm not sure that I would have the same kind of relationship with my dogs had I been lead to believe that a shock collar was the most effective way to achieve success and communicate with my off-leash dogs.

I do have a couple questions. As I've heard other people describe it, there are actually several types of "electronic" collars. Does the "electronic" element always mean voltage to you? I met a lady once who had her two Basenjis trained with sound-generating e-collars – at least that's how she demonstrated it to me. When their collar beeped (and it was just sound), they knew to return immediately to her. She could call one or the other or both at the same time; her dogs appeared to have excellent recall with this tool. For example, when one of her Basenjis started grumbling like she was about to pounce on Bowpi, she broke the tension by calling her back immediately to her side.

I've also heard of rumble collars that merely vibrate and do not shock. Why wouldn't this be enough to have the same effect as a shock collar?

[Patty]

There are also collars that emit a scent which have been used to good effect for some purposes but I'm sure not on a Basenji.

Eeeefarm, apologies if I used the word lethal as an exaggeration but I still think that wrongly used the collars could be very cruel.

You saying that you've had nasty jolt from your electric horse fence - i do know from bitter
experience that such a jolt doesn't stop a Basenji when he spots his prey!! I cerfainly wouldn't trust an e collar! However this discussion is interesting to me because I've never even seen such a collar let alone experience its use.

[eeeefarm]

@curlytails:

I do have a couple questions. As I've heard other people describe it, there are actually several types of "electronic" collars. Does the "electronic" element always mean voltage to you? I met a lady once who had her two Basenjis trained with sound-generating e-collars – at least that's how she demonstrated it to me. When their collar beeped (and it was just sound), they knew to return immediately to her. She could call one or the other or both at the same time; her dogs appeared to have excellent recall with this tool. For example, when one of her Basenjis started grumbling like she was about to pounce on Bowpi, she broke the tension by calling her back immediately to her side.

I've also heard of rumble collars that merely vibrate and do not shock. Why wouldn't this be enough to have the same effect as a shock collar?

Yes, collars that vibrate or sound a tone are an excellent way to communicate at a distance. There are times when it is not possible for the dog to hear you if he is ranging quite a way upwind on a breezy day, so anything that gets his attention when he can't hear you is a good thing. No reason at all not to use it. I would wonder whether the woman you encountered was using collars that had the capacity for shock, since most can be configured to sound a tone as a warning. The settings allow for warning tone or vibration, which can be followed up by a shock if the signal is not obeyed.

@DebraDownSouth:

And I am not interested in having a dog do ANY of those things due to a shock collar training. You seem to think that performance, show or "companion" makes a difference– the training is the same even if the goals are different. I don't need a shock collar, I won't use one and I will never ever agree one is necessary except life-threatening unavoidable situations.

I have said (several times!) that I did not use an e collar to train my dog…....before I got one I had already done the training, both on a long line and loose. What I needed the e-collar for was to ensure a recall in circumstances where it was dangerous to my dog if he didn't pay attention to me. The only e-collar "training" I did was to familiarize him with the correct response should he feel that "tingle". Many people on this forum repeatedly caution that Basenjis are unreliable off leash, since they are sighthounds with a high prey drive. I concur with this conclusion. However, I wanted to allow my dog off leash freedom, and an e-collar was a way to achieve that goal. Yes, some Basenjis make reliable off leash dogs. I have had one......my first one. And my second girl was also semi reliable off leash.......she kept an eye on me and I knew she wouldn't disappear, but at the time I lived in northern Ontario, and picked the places I let her loose carefully. Where I currently live there are hazards. A busy road at the front of the property, coyotes, skunks, my neighbour's Rottweilers, and to keep my guy safe I need to know I can control his impulses if necessary.

As to your point about training.....I am not interested in having a dog do formal obedience at all, no matter how he is trained. I agree that methods to train show, performance or companion are no different, but I object to the rigidity of formal obedience (no matter how trained), and I don't like the effect it has on many dogs. If I were to pursue obedience titles, I would not be using an e-collar for the training, as I don't think it is the right tool for the job.

You don't need a shock collar. Good for you. I don't "need" one either, but I have one because I won't compromise my dog's safety over the possibility that he may have brief moments of discomfort when he crosses the line and receives a correction. He knows the rules, he knows when he breaks them, he is not frightened by the collar, and he enjoys his freedom off leash. Seems like a simple choice to me. Do you have off leash Basenjis? Do you trust them implicitly to return no matter the distraction? Perhaps you are fortunate and have one like my first, or perhaps you are simply a better trainer than I am. Good, I'm happy for you. For myself, I have only to look at my dog to know the decisions I make for him are the right ones. He enjoys his life far more than he did when restricted to the end of a leash, and he enjoys his freedom in safety.

[eeeefarm]

@Patty:

There are also collars that emit a scent which have been used to good effect for some purposes but I'm sure not on a Basenji.

Eeeefarm, apologies if I used the word lethal as an exaggeration but I still think that wrongly used the collars could be very cruel.

You saying that you've had nasty jolt from your electric horse fence - i do know from bitter
experience that such a jolt doesn't stop a Basenji when he spots his prey!! I cerfainly wouldn't trust an e collar! However this discussion is interesting to me because I've never even seen such a collar let alone experience its use.

Patty, you are absolutely right about the potential for abuse. No question at all! Of course, there are many ways to be cruel to a dog. The "good" thing about the collar is that although the pain is real and immediate, it is also gone. Like the electric fence, there is no lasting effect except the psychological one of not wanting to repeat the experience (which of course is why it works for horses…...they can certainly go through it with the right incentive, e.g. a nasty herd boss on their heels trying to bite them! Happened to one of mine when he was young.....the fence didn't even slow him down!)

You have obviously had a Basenji go through electric fence......was it a physical fence or an invisible fence? The difference with a collar and a handler is that the handler controls what the collar delivers. A dog can learn to bolt through a fence, suffering only one nasty jolt, and some learn they don't mind this trade off. A handler can apply a follow up with a stubborn or insensitive dog, which might make the difference. The collars were originally designed to keep hunting dogs off illegal game, and the original versions were pretty crude and pretty nasty, unlike the modern ones that can deliver a very slight sensation......but can be dialed up if necessary to interrupt a chase situation.

I know from my own experience with Perry that I can stop him in mid chase. I haven't had to use it much, but on those rare occasions when I did, he yelped and quit chasing. I called him back to me and praised him for coming, and that was the end of it. He has never shown any "after effects" or fear of the collar. (and he is "collar wise", I have no doubt). As you know if you keep horses inside an electric fence, they don't panic if they accidentally contact the fence, it is more of a "oh, darn!" reaction when they are accustomed to it. With the e-collar I use only a momentary higher level shock, and that is all that has ever been needed. If you overdid it you could probably create a dog that would tune it out, just as hanging on the bit with a horse can create a runaway. I do use the collar occasionally at a low level slightly higher than Perry's working level.......if he blows me off when I ask him to "leave it". He reacts to this with an "oh, all right!" look, no drama and no vocalizing. Nothing more than you would get from pulling a dog away from something with a leash.

BTW, if you think electric fence is nasty, try having a nerve conduction study done on you. Worse than standing in the field holding on to my Gallagher horse fence for half an hour!

[agilebasenji]

I think everyone has to take responsibility for their relationship with their dog and what does and does not belong in that relationship.

But I also keep hearing Bob Bailey talk about training all sorts of interesting animals (cats, ravens, dolphins, chickens, military bomb dogs, etc) to perform reliably by using only operant conditioning. And I look at choke chains, that strange collar CM came up with, e-collars, etc and think there's really got to be a better way.

http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB893
This is the Bailey video I have. I haven't watched it in a while and really should re-watch it. I'd happily suggest it to anyone interested in training. I wish he'd write an autobiography. I think it would be fascinating reading.

[eeeefarm]

@agilebasenji:

But I also keep hearing Bob Bailey talk about training all sorts of interesting animals (cats, ravens, dolphins, chickens, military bomb dogs, etc) to perform reliably by using only operant conditioning.

Remember that operant conditioning includes both reward and punishment. I haven't looked at the video, but I am guessing this is training by positive reinforcement only? (basically what clicker training is). Perfect for teaching new behaviours. "Chicken camps" are popular for people learning the timing necessary for effective use of a clicker.

As far as effectiveness goes, contrary to popular opinion, positive punishment is extremely effective if the timing is right. Problem is, most of us don't want to use it. Which is fine, most people don't employ it correctly in any case. Positive reinforcement is absolutely the way to go for training new behaviours…....but what to do to extinguish bad behaviours? That is the tricky bit. Ignoring something that is unwanted is fine, if you can. If the problem is serious, however, it may be necessary to try to prevent or eliminate it. I think that is where e-collars came in, to keep hunting dogs away from unwanted game. I really can't think of a method that is likely to work for that purpose that doesn't involve some type of punishment. (the "nature of the beast" comes into play here. If you are dealing with a "biddable" dog......Border Collie, Sheltie, GSD......your disapproval......a form of punishment in itself I suppose......would likely be incentive enough. Not so much, for most sporting dogs)

I know a lot of dog people. From observation, I would say consistency is the key to a dog/handler relationship. Regardless of the training method used, if the animal always, always knows where he stands, he has a much lower stress level and a better relationship with his trainer than the dog who is subject to an erratic, inconsistent handler. Skinner's experiments would bear this out.....

[agilebasenji]

I believe he said he'd used only +reward for training the bomb dogs for the military, but the military wanted believed the dogs would be more reliable if they'd encountered +punishment, so the Baileys did one test with +punishment but Bob Bailey felt it was totally unnecessary. Of course it's been a while since I've watched it, so some finer details may be off.

"
I know a lot of dog people. From observation, I would say consistency is the key to a dog/handler relationship. Regardless of the training method used, if the animal always, always knows where he stands, he has a much lower stress level and a better relationship with his trainer than the dog who is subject to an erratic, inconsistent handler. "

Yes, consistency is a cornerstone of training. Seems I heard about a blind trainer in one of the chicken camps. The trainer was consistently late with giving clicks, but the chickens learned b/c of the consistency. Took longer for them to learn, but learn they did.

[Patty]

eeeefarm, I didn't mean an invisible fence but a proper electric fence designed tpo keep stock (sheep in my case) on a part of a field. I had a Basenji slip the leash and plunge straight into the flock. He didn't even seem to notice the jolt!! Luckily it was a young dog and he merely chased the sheep rather than hold on to one. He was 'well trained' on a recall and eventually paused when my huisband gave the command and we managed to grab him.

What a coincidence that you mentioned NCS - yes I've had one and totally agree with you!! I swear never again!

Agilebasenji - I've tried the Illusion collars (CM) and have found them effective in getting my b's to walk to heel and no cruelty involved. For them to be effective you have to have a goal in mind and want a Basenji who does walk to heel. Personally for their normal walks I'm quite happy to have them on ordinary collars of various sorts. I tolerate some pulling as long as its not so much that I lose control. I enjoy a Basenji quartering and stopping to have lots of sniffs around. Our walks are pleasurable and we're all very miserable if we can't take them!

[eeeefarm]

Patty, you have sheep. Do you also have Border Collies? I had one…...no sheep.....but what a great dog, and talk about instincts! My neighbour had sheep for awhile, and sometimes a lamb would get through the fence into my field. My dog, without training, would circle the lamb, lie down and put the "eye" on it, and freeze it so I could catch it. What a fantastic dog he was! Best dog I ever owned. Whatever I wanted, if I could make him understand he would do it for me. No treats required. He would work his heart out for my approval. I loved that dog, but for some reason my Basenjis.....worse than useless most of the time on a farm.....have always had my heart. I wish I liked to hunt. It would be good to use that aspect of them, but for now the companionship and entertainment my guy supplies in abundance will have to be enough......and it is.

[DebraDownSouth]

A part of me agrees about keeping their natural instincts/uses. But intellectually I know the actual practical side is limited. If dogs were kept only for their purposes, most breeds would be extinct. Few "pet owners" want those herding/guarding/fighting/boar hunting/badger hole whatever abilities. Much of those abilities make for poor pets. We do fake things like sheep herding trials and pretend it is the real thing. We do field trials and pretend it is real. We do a lot and pat ourselves on the back claiming we are keeping their original purpose, and it is false for the most part.

In the end, animals, including dogs, are bred to fit new situations and needs. I have no desire to ever hunt (in fact it is against my personal and religious beliefs except when your actual life requires it). I don't want Basenjis bred to be like small coatless Golden Retrievers. I like their quirks and personalities. But if they lose their hunting skills beyond their natural ones most dogs have, oh well. If I were in Africa and needed those skills it would be different. But what I need is a good companion animal. I am much more concerned we breed for health than ability to hunt.

There are breeds where the working/pet or show lines are so divided you can almost not recognize them. But a club that forbids entry to a show dog has missed the boat. Hell, they missed the freaking OCEAN the boat is on. The goal should be to have both working and conformation.

One breed that comes to mind is the Jack Russel. What makes that dog great for work makes it a terrible pet for most owners and ends them up flooding rescues. The animal aggression of Pit Bulls has gotten them banned in many countries and on the hit list for most insurances here in the states. I have moderated PB boards and I know totally how the "guardians of the breed" feel about breeding animal aggression OUT of them. Yet their beliefs will result in more and more BSL.

So yeah, for those needing a dog to hunt, why not get a dog from hunting breeds? Or if your dog from any line has instinct and ability, train it. But for 99 percent of the basenjis in this country, hunting ability doesn't enhance their value as a companion animal.

[eeeefarm]

@DebraDownSouth:

We do fake things like sheep herding trials and pretend it is the real thing….....But a club that forbids entry to a show dog has missed the boat. Hell, they missed the freaking OCEAN the boat is on. The goal should be to have both working and conformation.

I'd like to point out that many of the sheepdogs that do trials are working farm dogs that the rest of the year are working sheep "for real" on their owner's farms. There is still a need for a good herding dog, and the club that I mentioned doesn't want to lose that in their dogs. They are passionate in their beliefs, since they have seen so many other breeds spoiled by confirmation showing. The International Sheep Dog Society is so sure that a true Border Collie is the only dog capable of higher level trialling that they allow "Registration on Merit" for an unregistered dog. If he can cut the mustard in a test of his ability, he becomes a registered Sheep Dog. At the Kingston Sheep Dog Trials, which typically has over 100 dogs entered in Open, any dog can compete. It is not limited to Border Collies, and occasionally you do see another breed in the beginner levels. In the Open, it is all Border Collies. Other herding breeds simply don't have what it takes. (yes, there is always the exception that makes the rule, but I haven't seen it yet)

I agree that most don't need a hunting Basenji. My contention was that neglecting that aspect of the dog will sooner or later fundamentally change the breed, which may be just fine with most people. I'm old enough that such changes are unlikely to make any difference to me. But it's a little contradictory to preach "keeping the breed pure" and not oppose changing it by selective breeding that alters its fundamental nature. As well cross it out to a poodle, or whatever else has the traits you would prefer to see in your pet Basenji. JMHO. BTW, Poodles were once great huntiing dogs. Some people still use them, a bit like Basenjis!

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/hunting/2010/04/chad-love-finest-gun-poodle-around

[Patty]

Yes, eeeefarm we do have sheep (mainly Beulah Speckle Face) but because we only have under 200 we don't keep more than one BC nowadays. Although she is not a youngster she is still not trained as well as we would like. Probably because she was 14 months when we had her. She is a bit strong for our flock but she learns daily. My OH used to also compete in trials with one of our previous dogs but not evry BC is ideal for that and Fern certainly is not.

I agree that Border Collies are a lovely breed but there is never anything but a Basenji for me ( not that I let Fern know! - she thinks she might be a Basenji any how!).

Not quite true that a Basenji is useless on a farm. In the past we have used them to help with the rounding up but these were ones who were reliable with sheep. This is not a trait that has been inherited in any of our current Basenjis.

[dcmclcm4]

I met a woman at the ASFA II in Lexington KY many years ago and she owned a Standard Poodle that hunted. I almost did not recognize the dog as a Poodle because the coat was different than what I was used to seeing in the ring!

Jennifer

[agilebasenji]

I took Digital and Jet out for a herding test once many years ago. Diggie showed quite a bit of interest in that new game. It would have been fun to see how far I could have gotten in training with him. Diggie has always been marvellously talented with anything asked of him. He will also do a slow border collie stalk of the goats next door. I shroud try to film that sometimes although he now does it less than he used to

[eeeefarm]

None of my Basenjis have shown herding instinct, but to be fair they haven't had a lot of opportunity. Perry is interested in the horses and loves to greet them (and steal their carrots, if he can!), but they are a little big for a small dog. They were even a challenge to my Border Collie, but when all else failed he would get them moving by a nip at their noses. He was well aware the back end was dangerous! I have a picture in my mind (didn't have the camera with me) of him flying through the air snapping at my gelding's nose when the horse had been ignoring him…..

On the subject of temperament, and my recollection that my earlier dogs were if anything better than today's........I had lunch with my niece today and asked her if she had the same memory as I did of my earlier Basenjis. She remembers a very tolerant Lady, who put up with a great deal from her and her sister when they were young. This was back in the seventies. There was never any worry that Lady would bite a child. When the kids were young she put up with everything, including physical abuse, without a murmur. (I once caught the two sisters fighting over the dog, each pulling on the opposite end, literally trying to pull her apart!) When they were older and they got out of line, she would warn them, but it never went further than that. Never a problem with adult guests either, although she would help herself to their beverages if they weren't looking.