In need of a little assistance

Basenji Training
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  • E

    Yeah, he's a pretty boy. I just love his white markings.
    Say… when Wattson gets tired does his tail go limp? I'm not sure if its just my boy or a breed trait.

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  • MothM

    Yeah, they uncurl their tail when they are tired, relaxed, or not feeling well…so yes it is a breed trait :)

    Visit the Curly Tailed Brigade

    http://curly-tailed.blogspot.com/

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  • E

    I'm a little worried about having a child and him being so hyper and possibly hurting the child. Granted I may not be popping out a kid for a year or two but meh. Do you have kids?

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  • MothM

    No…we have no wee ones here. But I believe there are a few members on the forum that can help out with basenji and child advice :)

    Visit the Curly Tailed Brigade

    http://curly-tailed.blogspot.com/

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  • E

    Thank you again I will get right on that…after I get a few hours of sleep in. I appreciate all the help. Feel free to give me a message anytime

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  • agilebasenjiA

    Here's a great way to start playing with clicker training:
    http://www.clickertraining.com/node/167

    You can even get the kids into doing this. It's fun; treat it as a game.

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  • D

    How old is he?

    Jennifer

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  • P

    You've got plenty of time to get him trained before having children. If you look for posts by Buana, especially the earlier ones - she has some great advice and lots of pictures showing how Basenjis and children can be raised. We have followed through from the pre-birth of her son to the present day (she now has 3 Basenjis).

    There are plenty of us here who've had experience of Basenjis and babies together with every success.

    Any way don't worry about that, if I were you I'd concentrate on the clicker training as a prelim to anything else and as agilebasenji suggests get the children to participate but only under strict supervision. It would seem that he's had bad experiences with the hand.

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  • E

    He just turned a year in May. I'm going to find a nice clicker this upcoming weekend and start on that. =) I will def. search for those posts.

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  • Chealsie508C

    Oakley has been a difficult pup, mainly my own fault because I over spoiled and under disciplined. I will say, clicker training has been a hit from day one, it really is successful with difficult and independent minded ones….and a side note- I bought a clicker but ended up usin it maybe ten times....I just use a "clut" sound, ony because it was difficult to ALWAYS have a clicker around when he did something good. For example, if I was in the kitchen cooking and I told him "down" when he jumped up at the stove..I'd be able to just make the clicker sound and he knew that was why I wanted from him. It's been the best thing for him and I...

    "I know I've found the breed for me because he totally turns my life upside down and I love it!"

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  • eeeefarmE

    I find using a clicker is often misunderstood or misinterpreted. You only need the device when you are training or trying to capture behaviour. Once the behaviour you want is put on cue, you don't require the clicker (unless you are training something new). Of course, you can dispense with a clicker and train perfectly well using a marker word instead. It is just that the clicker is a consistent sound with no inflection to cause confusion. But once the dog understands the command and the action associated with it, all you need do is invoke it and when he (hopefully) complies, reward with praise, treat, or whatever. No click is required, as he knows what you asked him to do and what you are rewarding. But do progress to intermittent rewarding, which is more effective (once the behaviour is set) than rewarding every time! (those casinos know what they are doing…....intermittent rewards are addictive!)

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

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  • E

    Agh, Diesel has now taken on biting(hard) at all times. I can be sitting down doing nothing and he just runs up and clamps down. He's even doing it to our guests now. Heeeelp.

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  • tanzaT

    @Enigmatic:

    Agh, Diesel has now taken on biting(hard) at all times. I can be sitting down doing nothing and he just runs up and clamps down. He's even doing it to our guests now. Heeeelp.

    I would think at this point you need a behaviorist, nothing here is going to help… only someone that can see in person what is going on....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • T

    Ok, we do not know how others feel about this but we came across this during some of our research. One post suggested that if you have a dog that is biting to use a mint flavored breath spray, and spray it in their mouth and tell them no.

    It would be interesting to see what the opinions are in this forum of using a Mint flavored breath spray as way to teach a dog not to bite.

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  • eeeefarmE

    How do you respond when he does this? And how often is it happening? Any particular circumstance? You might want to leave a short leash on him so that you can immediately take control of him, hopefully when you "see it coming", not after the fact. I concur that you need outside help with this….

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

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  • Chealsie508C

    I could be wrong but it doesn't sound malicious but it does sound like he has no bite inhibition or that he knows when it is appropriate or not to play bite, I agree that if you can't come uP with some super disciplined rules about how to teach him and corrections to use while teaching him then a behaviorist will work to implement these techniques. Since its escalating it's important you correct 100% of the time he exhibits this behavior and be 100% consistent in the household an with guests on training

    "I know I've found the breed for me because he totally turns my life upside down and I love it!"

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  • MothM

    I agree that it is really important that you find someone at this point to help you with this. I have looked up a few places for you to get in contact with and see if they might suit. These three are all in the Eau Claire area and all offer private lessons. I do not know about their training philosophy so that is something you will have to look into. I am not trying to endorse any of these, but I am hoping to give you a place to start in your area. If you have a local kennel club in the area you can also contact them and ask for recommendations ( I think the Indianhead Kennel Club might be in your area http://www.indianheadkennelclub.org/).

    http://www.abctc.com/

    http://www.rudedogu.com/rdu/index.html

    http://embarkdog.com/

    I also agree with the poster that mentioned that it sounds like he has a problem with bit inhibition.

    Has he ever broken skin? How are you currently responding when he does this? How are you correcting him?

    Be very careful not to correct him in a way that might escalate or compound his problem…the suggestion of spraying him with something like mint spray is probably not the way to go.

    I really do think you should get an experienced trainer/behaviorist to assist you with this. It can most likely be fixed with training...but the wrong approach could also make it much worse. Since we here have to rely only on your description of his behavior and never actually get to observe him our ability to help is limited. :)

    Visit the Curly Tailed Brigade

    http://curly-tailed.blogspot.com/

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  • D

    I suggest having a complete thyroid test done.

    Jennifer

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  • D

    Hi again, I wrote about my training my 5 year old, she took till she was 2 and a half to really start listening, although she knew the basics and was quite good. I would love to have a boy to go with her as I am told that frequently a female will not be happy with another girl. Though there is also a risk integrating ANY other Basenji to another, I think my girl would love the company. I am in Michigan outside Detroit but would drive most of the way if you'd consider meeting me somewhere. Perhaps we could at least discuss it, a new home must be as carefully chosen as the original choice of a Basenji….I hope you will not allow him to go with whomever has the cash. I hope to hear from you, my e-mail is dedavis321@yahoo.com (Dave)

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  • MothM

    @DAVE&PIPET:

    Hi again, I wrote about my training my 5 year old, she took till she was 2 and a half to really start listening, although she knew the basics and was quite good. I would love to have a boy to go with her as I am told that frequently a female will not be happy with another girl. Though there is also a risk integrating ANY other Basenji to another, I think my girl would love the company. I am in Michigan outside Detroit but would drive most of the way if you'd consider meeting me somewhere. Perhaps we could at least discuss it, a new home must be as carefully chosen as the original choice of a Basenji….I hope you will not allow him to go with whomever has the cash. I hope to hear from you, my e-mail is dedavis321@yahoo.com (Dave)

    Did you also respond to their Craigslist add? Just in case they do not come here and check this thread?

    Visit the Curly Tailed Brigade

    http://curly-tailed.blogspot.com/

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  • M

    Books or videos? Need some info

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    lisastewartL
    I train all mine with the plastic bag or fur lure on the end of a lunge whip from the day they arrive at my place. After a few weeks of solo training, I add one of my older dogs so they get used to chasing with another dog. Most trials are going to be a significant distance away for you. You might contact some of the coursing clubs and get on their various yahoo groups etc to see if anyone is traveling from your area that could provide transportation to some of the practice runs. I would recommend looking atl locations for LGRA/straight track racing in canada as that is a good way to learn follow and focus before starting to course.
  • S

    Needs Help-Potty Training

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    NerdyDogOwnerN
    It's a natural puppy instinct to NOT pee/poo outside their "cove". This is to prevent predators in finding them with their smells all round the area. Sometimes it takes longer for some to go outside. A neighbor of mine got a puppy, and they too where having a hard time with pee/poo inside. I told them to just take it easy, and don't punish. Spend a good time outside, and award when he/she does go outside. It took until their dog was 8 months until he started going regularly outside.
  • J

    Naughty Basenji need advice

    Basenji Training
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    C
    @jinxed_1980: Beau has decided to take things out of the garbage in protest of being gated in the kitchen. The wierd thing is it is only in protest, he doesnt eat anything he just takes it out of the garbage usually the diapers and strategically places articles around the kitchen. Dogs don't do things "in protest". He is probably bored and just finding a way to entertain himself. That or he has learned that this behavior gets a reaction from you. Dogs are natural scavengers so he is only doing what dogs do. I'm surprised he doesn't eat it. Mine are inveterate trash hounds. Just get a good covered can so he cannot do this. Another thing he does is when he gets seperated from me he poops… He could have just went outside and did his business but if i leave for the gas station he will find the energy to realease another present for me on the kitchen floor. You might need to do a little remedial alone training. Sounds like it might be nervous deification. That or he learned not to poop in front of you, and is waiting for you to leave. I hate crating him and i dont think he likes it either, and i feel like a bad mommy. He screams and crys if i crate him up and i can hear him half way down the block when i come home from the gas station, so yeah thats a no go. This tells you he is not adequately crate trained, as others have said. Start from ground 0. Make the crate a super neat place where great things happen. Start by delivering rewards whenever he approaches it. Work up to him going inside, then inside with the door swung closed, then clipped, then inside door locked and he stays there a few seconds, etc. Also he wont be a good boy on the leash. I dont know how many dogs i have leash trained ( i have worked at kennels and doggy day cares and a vet) i know i know how to leash train a dog… Beau aint havin it. He even gives me the dirty eye when i correct him or suddenly change directions to get him to pay attention. The methods you're using are older, less effective ways of loose lead training. I suggest you get a Sense-ation harness or a Wonder Walker and sign up for classes with a good, positive reinforcement based trainer who can walk you through a good, fun way of teaching your boy to walk politely on lead. Good luck
  • U

    Need HELP!

    Basenji Training
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    JannekeJ
    @lvoss: My basenjis learn new things very quickly but they also get bored more quickly. In classes that ask for you to repeat over and over again to make sure the dog "gets it", basenjis start to goof off. All of mine get to a point where their behavior and attitude clearly say, "What is wrong with you, didn't you get this the first 5 times I did it?" This is so true! Tillo starts to talk when it takes too long for me to get the fact that he already understands the command.. so there's no need to practice anymore :D
  • spitfirekrl1S

    Need some advice…

    Basenji Training
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    QuercusQ
    <> He may not find a kong with PB all that important. I am sure there is something out there, that he would find rewarding enough to go into the kitchen when he KNOWS he is going in for the day. Try a raw marrow bone...like a knuckle or femur that you can get from a butcher. Try not feeding him at all, until he goes into the kitchen in the morning...if he wants to eat, he has to go into the kitchen. Other than that, it sounds like you are handling it very well. He may have to wear a lead to get him into the kitchen, then you can remove it. I imagine he was allowed to pretty much do whatever he wanted in his last home...so he is confused with the new restrictions, and boundaries you have put in place (ones that he should have had from the beginning). It is hard when a dog has to start from square one, especially when they have learned that using their mouth can get them what they want. Good for you for hanging in there. He will eventually learn that he has to cooperate. I would definitely use his food for reward for good behavior. Doesn't mean you have to withhold his food if he doesn't cooperate...but you can use his food to help him realize what you want him to do.
  • J

    Another little brag

    Basenji Training
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    JazzysMomJ
    Way to go, Max!! See, all that energy is there for a reason! I love Max; he's beautiful and funny. LOL, one day I joked to Darren, "Don't you think Max and Jazzy would make beautiful puppies?". I think the look I got resembled this, ":eek: " Poor guy. I love doing stuff like that to him.