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How trainable are Basenji's?

Basenji Training
  • Hello, I'm new to the forum and am about to purchase my first dog, I have been looking at getting a Basenji for years and have a few questions.

    1. How trainable is this breed? My best friend has a Boxer, most obedient dog I've seen. Listens to every command without hesitation, never gets into trouble at home and always listens when he hears "No". Are Basenji's able to get to this level of obedience with firm proper training? All I ever hear is how rebellious this dog is and how much trouble it can get into.

    2. What kind of training do Basenji's best respond to? How well do they do around other dogs? Other people?

    3. If anyone has any stories of a worst case scenario with a rebellious dog turned obedient and well trained I would love to hear it, as well as how long training took to stick with this breed.

    Thank you!

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    :) Watching basenjis coursing really makes me smile. They truly love it. Congrats on the results. Darn those plastic bags! I remember last summer Kevin and Therese had to have a significant number of replacement bags on hand.
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    @CanisBasenjius: Lysh, You didn't say why the trainer suggested a Halti. To what end? I normally only recommend the Halti to owners of large dogs who are having serious pulling or reactivity problems. If Hope pulls, I prefer the Sense-ation or Wonder Walker to the Easy Walk, as I do not like the martingale effect on the EW and feel it gives less clear feed back and they seem to require more frequent adjusting for fit. WRT spitting out treats I have two thoughts: Try higher value (think real food, like boiled chicken) She may be slightly anxious and unable to accept food One of my dogs is an anxious fellow and usually cannot accept food in certain environments because he is too "on". It took roughly 2 years of living in our new neighborhood before he could accept food on our walks. Just a thought there. It took me a long time to realize that's what was going on with him. She has a lovely play style. Lots of give and take. Love that! Hi Thanks for the information. I agree with you and wasnt too interested in using a Halti on her and would prefer the easy walker etc. The reasoning she suggested we try the halti is because she wouldnt settle down and was basically like a fire cracker on the end of the lead no matter what you did and no matter the treat value, her food, liver treats, meat etc. But i took into consideration that it was a new place, other puppies and her 2nd outing and that shes a basenji, possibly even that she was bored. (maybe the trainer hadnt as all the other puppies where much more "easier" to calm down?) I think she was overwhelmed by everything as-well because by the next lesson, she was top of the class and even demo dog. She was calm and happy and vocal when she wanted to be. She done everything to a T. So we did not bother with the halti. Now that she is fully vaccinated and we have been out and about i walk her in a harness and she is a perfect little puppy apart for the occasional "omg its a bird" … yank! she even does anything strangers ask of her (sit, drop, stay etc). She accepts food whenever we are out and gladly ate her lunch at our recent fundraiser pet markets event for the RSPCA (attached some pics) Im very happy with her progress and we are starting puppy primary school for 6wks next month and then we are beginning agility and obedience classes. :) [image: attachment_p_120540_0_hope.jpg] [image: attachment_p_120540_1_pig-ear.jpg] [image: attachment_p_120540_2_poser.jpg]
  • Here's one that'll mix it up a bit

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    My Basenjis have always loved radishes… I would start them young with them... just tossing them on the floor whole... they would roll and toss them around the floor and then finally biting into them... a couple of days of that, they were hooked... makes a great treat... but I did make sure they were a bit on the sweet side then the "hot" side
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    That was very nice for a first try. She will improve greatly as she becomes more seasoned. Beautiful little gal. You're doing well with her. Heck, just getting a Basenji to do all that is a triumph. I thought it was cute how she went around to greet the judges. Such a little ambassador.:D
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