FINALLY got my Basenji BUT…

[lvoss]

Hand feeding is really useful in helping to develop a bond and raise your value to your dog.

[lisastewart]

Hand feeding helps build a bond as does play. My two youngest are in love with our son because he plays laser pointer tag with them. Last week Gambit came running out of his room and jumped in my lap and handed me the laser pointer. Seems when he is not home to play I'm an acceptable stand in.

[agilebasenji]

You may want to take him to a positive training class. There are many, many fun things available in dogsports right now - agility, rally, nosework, tracking, flyball, free style, etc.

[Lysh]

When I got my first basenji (female) she was supposed to be my dog. I also have a significant other that she bonded better with naturally. I used to get annoyed (he'd get the cuddles n play) so as soon as she was old enough I started taking her special places (just me n her) and I also done fun training classes with her. I made sure I was the one to feed her and I taught her all her tricks (and then the OH would just have a go at tricks from time to time or would occasionally comes on a walk with us but I still walked her). Now we have bonded together n she's my girl when I added my 2nd B to the pack a year or so later for some reason she was quiet the opposite and took a long time to bond even just a lil with the OH. I think it's just the dog but if u work on it- anythings possible. Try all the advise above ^^^

And take him special places that he loves just u n him, do training classes, teach him, ignore him sometimes, make things curious/interesting.

[Patty]

I agree totally with the hand feeding and the other advice you've been given. I just want to say be patient - it sometimes takes a long time for the bonding. We adopted a Basenji who'd lived with a lady for the first 9 years of his life. Mine was then a 5 male household and although Bernie bonded fairly quickly with my sons it took him a whole year to bond with my husband.

[MacPack]

First, congratulations! Second; I agree with all the others, be patient. Ours prefer me sometimes, my husband other times. Our newest guy bonded right away with husband, (I think he must have belonged to a nice man before us) but now he divides his attention between us. Also agree, let him wonder about you and seek you out, basenjis seem to gravitate to the humans that are least interested in them, like cats! Walks, training treats, patience and lots of love (but not smothering) will have a pup who loves you too!

[weitzel]

Okay thank you everyone for the helpful responses. Today is literally the third day we have had him so I know it's early. My boyfriend is going out tonight and I'm going to stay in with Maverick and try some training with him myself, and I'll take him for a walk, too.
Can someone explain to me what exactly hand feeding is? He still has to have his dinner so is it literally him eating it from my hand?

[lvoss]

Yes, hand feeding means that all of his food comes directly from your hand. It doesn't have to be one kibble at time he is not eating from a bowl. You can use meals to reward good behavior or during a training session.

[weitzel]

@agilebasenji:

You may want to take him to a positive training class. There are many, many fun things available in dogsports right now - agility, rally, nosework, tracking, flyball, free style, etc.

Where and how would I find these classes in Vancouver? We're starting his obedience classes Tuesday but I would love to join something like this he may enjoy more but no idea where to find them. I just googled it and not having much luck

I will try hand feeding tonight

[Moth]

Not sure about where you are, but when I am looking for classes I started by googling for dog trainers in my area. I also talked to people at the local humane society, and looked up our local kennel club.

The place I go to for my obedience classes is also a doggy day care and offers some for fun type classes as well.

[agilebasenji]

@weitzel:

Where and how would I find these classes in Vancouver? We're starting his obedience classes Tuesday but I would love to join something like this he may enjoy more but no idea where to find them. I just googled it and not having much luck

I will try hand feeding tonight

Try looking for dog training places, NOT big box shop training stuff.

examples
this place has an intro to clicker class
http://dizinecanine.com/classes

this has a canine good citizen class
http://www.hnk9.com/group.html

this some agility: (but normally you'll need an obedience or pre-agility class first) and a Sdao seminar class coming up and check out the training tips link!
http://www.dogsmart.ca/programs.html

this one also has agility/obedience
http://www.balancedcanine.ca/dog_training_classes.cfm

You will want to get a few possibilities and go watch a class with the trainer you'll be taking classes from. See if it seems like a good fit. Listen to your gut. If the trainer is telling people how to jerk the leash, you can cross that off your list! Here's some tips on finding an agility class (or any sort of training class)

https://www.basenji.org/BasenjiU/Activities/Agility/Find/AClass.html

Anyway , that's a start for ya.

[agilebasenji]

I should say i just googled those links and I don't know anything about the individual places.

[Shaye's Mom]

@weitzel:

Can someone explain to me what exactly hand feeding is? He still has to have his dinner so is it literally him eating it from my hand?

Yup, that's exactly what it is. Giving him other stuff besides dinner from your hand is also good - treats, veggies that he may like, etc.

[Kipawa]

Amber Cottle runs a great training school in Delta - offers classes, individual private lessons and doggie daycare. She is promoted by many veterinarians in the Tsawwassen, Ladner, Delta area.

http://ambercottle.com/

Kipawa took his puppy classes there. We were very happy with the basics that were taught and will be looking at other classes, maybe agility. I tried another dog training facility in Vancouver (DogSmart) but was not impressed as the training was not based on positive reinforcement. After 2 sessions we left the class. The owner/head trainer locked a dog in a dark closet for barking. One dog got mouthy (teeth on flesh, but not biting) with an owner and the trainer yelled at it SUPER loud (startled the dogs AND the people), grabbed a leash, put it on the dog and threw the dog outside and closed the door (the leash was around the inside door knob). This was in just ONE class, our second class. I didn't even ask for a refund. Seriously, I was so disgusted I did not want to waste my energy dealing with them.

[lvoss]

You can find Nosework Instructors by going to the North American Canine Scent Work website, http://www.nacsw.net

Also, though there are only a couple right now in BC, many new people are getting trained in this fun new sport, but I would make sure you go to someone who is an ANWI, CNWI, or at the very least enrolled in the Instructors in Training Program. The philosophy of the organization is a big part of why this sport is so good for all dogs.

[Lysh]

How's the bonding going?

[TwinDogsDifferentMothers]

A couple of quick suggestions on bonding with your Basenji.

First thing I would do if you are up to it is take him for a long walk. By long walk I mean a couple of miles. This is a wonderful time to bond because you have the alone time together, you are going new places with new smells, and migration is something that is natural. In a lot of ways walking as a pack be it you and the dog, or you, your boyfriend and the dog, you are forming a pack.

The second thing I would do is allow this dog some lap time. My basenjis really like their lap time and the special pets and attention that they get. I found once I let them take a nap in my lap they bonded with me pretty quickly.

Since this basenji has only been with your three days, if you have an old tshirt that you are willing to give up, wear it around the house for the day and then put it in his crate. What you are doing is getting him comfortable with your scent. This will also help you bond quickly.

Yes you can feed your Basenji from your hand, but I think you are better off finding a special treat. If he does not already know, teach him to sit and when he does treat him. If you repeat this a couple of time and treat him, he will also start to bond with you and appreciate the treat more. Dogs do love to please their owners. Basenji's might be independent, but they are still dogs.

[weitzel]

okay thank you everyone

The bonding is going well… I taught (reminded) him how to sit, shake a paw and lie down. We're in obedience classes currently so he's catching on to "stay" and sits before I give him his meal. Walking is still not the greatest but better. He IS a snuggler! But the thing now is he clearly doesn't like being disturbed while sleeping or sleepy. He fell asleep on my lap and I went to scratch my leg and he growled and went to bite me, mouthed but not a full on bite, I still felt his teeth though. I was completely caught off guard so this seems to be the issue now. Clearly there is a dominance struggle going on right now as his growling is very much increasing, and it's almost been a month having him

[DebraDownSouth]

The issues isn't alpha… as the others pointed out it is bonding time, feeding, letting in and out.

That said, sometimes it won't matter. The heart does what the heart does. I do full care of Cara, but when my college student is home, it is clear beyond any doubt that she is her person. Utterly, totally her dog. No it isn't novelty cause it's the same over long breaks and summer. My daughter is currently studying in France and Cara CRIES for her on skype.

As for the last post... please I am begging you let go of the dominance/alpha etc thinking. It is old, outdated and has done more damage to relationships and training than any other concept.

The old adage "let sleeping dogs lie" is not for nothing. SOME DOGS HATE BEING WOKE UP. You need to call his name FIRST, rouse him before you actually move him. He has been there a month... guess what? Honeymoon is over. Fortunately you are already laying great groundwork with training. And while putting teeth on you is not ever okay, that there was no real bite tells you that the dog was simply showing displeasure, not intending to harm. I would suggest that you write more about what is going on when he growls, or if it only when awoken. Basically when a dog growls I tell them NO GROWL and totally ignore in many situations. Others take more effort, like if the growl is to threaten/bully to not comply. It really depends on what is going on.

[TMartin]

Total newbie here as Loki is our first B. He bonded with my husband immediately, but then again I insisted on having my husband be the one doing all the cuddling and holding the weekend we brought him home as I knew come Monday he'd be gone for 12 hrs a day and I had all day to be with the puppy. Once we started Puppy Pre-K we switched to completely hand feeding and using his meals for training purposes. As I am the one home, I do the majority of feeding and training and he bonded to me very well. I wouldn't say he's bonded to either of us more than the other, they are just different bonds. My husband is the one who chases him in the backyard for an hour and really rough-houses with him. I play, feed, train, cuddle, take places, etc., mainly because I am here more often. He is still mainly hand fed except for when he gets a raw bone or the rare occasion I use his busy buddy. And we've also begun using treats during his training, which is good as he no longer really cares for his food and we're switching him to something else.

I will say that before Pre-K and the hand feeding that I was beginning to have issues with him growling and trying to bite when I would stop him from doing something he shouldn't be doing. I haven't had that problem since I began hand feeding and doing multiple short training sessions per day. I know the next dog we get, be it B or not, who will probably be a rescue, I will definitely begin hand feeding to help get that bond started.