Skip to content

Training Question

Basenji Training
  • Good morning,

    We have had our besenji now for about 6 months. He is a rescue that had some traumatic experiences and we had to do alot of work to get him adjusted with his new home. We have been to obedience training and he did great if you show him treats then he will do anything we ask. But without them good luck. Lately he does not want to listen at all and its like he completely forgot everything we tough him. For example if we dont pay attention to him for 5 min he goes and digs in the couch or chews on storage containers and often when we put him in his cage he will have a tantrum and wreck his bed and blankets. Anyone else with this issue? Anyone have any tips?

  • For starters, treats should be good quality and low calorie.
    I always used special treats for different activities. For example, treats I used in obedience class had to be high quality to counteract class distractions (often I took cheese) but treats for home practice could be simple Zuke minis. Treats that I use for recall rewards I never give any other time.
    Never use the crate as "punishment" - even if it is for "time out" give a treat - always make it a happy place. My dogs get a biscuit for crate time and never get that biscuit for any thing else.
    Yes it means I have bags of different treats around (yee gads).
    Additionally treats have to be gradually removed with lots of praise substituted. If you do clicker training, this will go a lot easier.
    Most importantly, the sudden change in behavior could signal a medical issue. Perhaps a tooth has gone bad. Check with your vet.

  • How old is he? What do you know about his background? Using food rewards in training is usually an effective way to teach new behaviour but it is important to move to a variable schedule of rewards once the dog understands what you have taught him and has it on cue, i.e. will do it when you ask for it. If he does not know when he will be rewarded but that there is a chance it will be this time, he is more likely to comply with your request.

    Having treats visible is a mistake, IMO. If you are working on something in your house vs when you are out walking, then don't even have the reward with you. When you get the correct response go and get whatever you are rewarding with. That way the dog doesn't refuse to work when he knows you don't have the goodies on you. (make sure you "mark" the correct behaviour either with a clicker or with a marker word when you get it, so he knows what he did to gain the reward).

    In what context does he wreck his bed and blankets? When you routinely crate, or when you crate after he has been acting out, digging the couch, whatever?

  • Your dog is telling you he is bored. Honestly the more tired you get him, the better he'll behave.

  • Just a suggestion: When you see him "misbehaving" by chewing on 'less than ideal' items, offer him one of his toys and use the word "trade". In other words, 'chew on this instead', and when he accepts the toy - praise him. And when you see him get the toy on his own, praise him again. It could help him understand that certain toys are just for those times when you want to "rip someone's head off*".

    (*not meant literally, only in doggy world play)

Suggested Topics

  • Couple of training puppy questions…

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    6k Views
    K
    i did get some bitter apple…the thing works like a charm! I got her some toys as well and she does so much better now with knowing what to chew and what not to! its like night and day from 2-3 weeks ago....I rarely have to redirect her now...I tell you, these B's are smart!
  • Chief in training

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    renaultf1R
    @Forever: Zoe on the other hand has turned into a little witch. As was suggested I think she is protective of chief. She even turned on Lizzy when she came over the first few minutes than they were fine. But all her previous doggy friends get snarled at when chief gets near them. I hope she settles soon. She has one old dog who looks forward to seeing her on his walks flinching around her now. When Liyah was a baby - if Brando started to go off on her, Ruby would put herself in between Liyah & Brando. Ruby was very protective of Liyah when Liyah was a pup. Ruby doesn't interfere as much anymore - once in a while she gets involved - she pretty much just lets Brando handle it now.
  • Alone training

    Basenji Training
    71
    0 Votes
    71 Posts
    32k Views
    AnetteA
    Just curious - have you tested the drug yet? How is it working? I take it you can read norwegian as you live her. If you want to, I can email you som info I got after a session with Gry L?berg regarding my Giants seperation anxiety, it has a training program in it, and some general info.
  • Training classes?

    Basenji Training
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    6k Views
    NemoN
    @tanza: I think you are waiting too long. You should have two complete sets of shots before class. Waiting till they are 15/16wks you are missing critical socialization skills. Waiting for "all the shots" is pretty much old school these days. My pups go out even before that to things like lure trials… you just need to be careful and not let them "get" into anything like "old poop" laying around. I'm planning on taking her around the time of the 2nd shots if I can. But the problem is that the next round of puppy classes doesn't start till the last week of March, which would be around 14 weeks anyway. Maybe they will let me join the last half of the previous class but I'd have to check into that.
  • Training the Termite

    Basenji Training
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    nala121498N
    That is too sweet! Keep us posted on his progress…and more pictures, please!
  • Training Brags

    Basenji Training
    43
    0 Votes
    43 Posts
    15k Views
    DukeD
    @Quercus: I would probably do that. But the benefit to taking them each to class is that they learn to do the behaviors in a distracting environment. The flip side to that is how on earth would you be able to train both dogs at the same time in the class? LOL!! I was thinking that my son would come with me and train Daisy, while I train Duke. Duke is the toughest student - REALLY spastic. :eek: Everything is a distraction. Daisy is much calmer. So I should bring Duke to class and then go thru the same training exercises at home with Daisy. I agree that training in a distracting environment WITH instructor's help is best. But, yeah - I should save some $$ and only take one. Gasoline prices are killing my budget! :mad: