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  • K

    @rugosa Yes, re heads up. My dog is in sentry mode, scanning things close and distant. And since they can turn their heads so far to both sides, I think they get a very big picture of their environment

    -1
  • KembeK

    @kembe
    My friend say that the "sniffing" the dogs do in their walk is "FACEBOOK FOR DOGS!" - lol

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  • ZandeZ

    Mine never stop sniffing - watching Hoover quarter the ground always makes me laugh. I am lucky though, I drive to the forest, open the tail gate and out they jump. A short whistle and they change direction instantly. I like to vary the walks so we seldom go the same paths twice in the same week. Weekends I do hitch them as we approach the carpark cos they are over friendly and over curious and other cars might yield a treat ! But today, for example I let them run and and hide under the car out of the rain until I caught up and opened so they could jump in.

    There is no way I could cope with them on a lead although they do both walk well without pulling if someone else takes them out. That will happen more often through July cos I am having total replacement hip surgery on 29th June !!! Once I can walk again, I could take them on the leash - but why bother ? They enjoy their freedom, get along fine with all the dogs we meet and with their humans.

    In the past, I have used a 'gentle leader' on dogs who pulled on their way in to a show venue. They work very well - NOT a halti cos they can damage the dog. Gentle Leader - and I know you can get them in USA cos that is where I got the idea.

    Sally Wallis

    Zande Basenjis

    www.zandebasenjis.com

    https://pedigrees.zandebasenjis.com

    SKYPE zandeuk

    DebraDownSouthD PawlaP D 3 Replies
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  • DebraDownSouthD

    @zande
    Good luck on the hip replacement. Speedy recovery!

    Debra

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  • A

    I took him to a dog training class and asked the trainer about his behavior. He assured me that his "defensive mode" was just him being protective and curious. My dog is toy driven, so he advised me to distract him with a toy or pet him to let him know that everything is okay. Thank you guys for the comments! I have invested in a harness, and I've noticed that he seems to walk with more ease when wearing it. He still sniffs around (but from what I've read from the comments, it must be pretty common).

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  • PawlaP

    @zande
    Best wishes for a successful hip replacement and speedy recovery!!!

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  • D

    @zande Yes, good luck on the surgery. Here the results are excellent and it's now done as an outpatient procedure. Show up in the morning and you're home by noon. The surgery sounds scary -- and it is -- but the surgeons really have it down.

    Note that the replacement part weighs more than the original, so don't fret if you gain a couple of pounds!

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  • ZandeZ

    Thank you for all the good wishes ! Some local hospitals get you out the same day but they may have to control my rat poison intake (blood thinner - Warfarin (Coumadin ?)) Anyway I am hoping to be home after two nights maximum.

    @donc said in Walking:

    Note that the replacement part weighs more than the original, so don't fret if you gain a couple of pounds!

    Bless you for giving me an excuse !

    @abbyh said in Walking:

    He still sniffs around (but from what I've read from the comments, it must be pretty common).

    Absolutely, completely normal for dogs to sniff the ground, each other and their owner's breath - Just checking !

    Sally Wallis

    Zande Basenjis

    www.zandebasenjis.com

    https://pedigrees.zandebasenjis.com

    SKYPE zandeuk

    1
  • R

    @ktiefen1 Hello - would you please share the type of harness that the behaviorist recommended? I have two basenjis and they're hunting instinct for squirrels and cats is taking its toll on my shoulder and back. Thank you!

    DebraDownSouthD 1 Reply
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  • ZandeZ

    Gentle Leaders. Ideal for controlling the dogs without any risk they will get rubbed sore by any other form of 'harness'. The dogs don't pull on them and they can't be harmed (no fur rubbed off the shoulders and none of the restriction of a no-pull.

    Sally Wallis

    Zande Basenjis

    www.zandebasenjis.com

    https://pedigrees.zandebasenjis.com

    SKYPE zandeuk

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  • DebraDownSouthD

    @ryanp said in Walking:

    @ktiefen1 Hello - would you please share the type of harness that the behaviorist recommended? I have two basenjis and they're hunting instinct for squirrels and cats is taking its toll on my shoulder and back. Thank you!

    Behaviorists aren't in agreement on much of anything.

    Gentle Leaders have a lot of fans, but I'm not one of them. I believe in going back to step one and teaching your dogs not to ever pull on the leash. If someone is disabled or for some reason really needs one, that's different. But training your dog is best. If I had to use one, I'd back it with a harness or collar, especially walking 2 dogs, since getting out of one might be easier.

    Should add some DOGS need harnesses, not collars or head harnesses if they have neck injuries or even some eye issues. And even though I am not a big fan, they can provide more security. This article is from professionals and they prefer harnesses, as well as tell you how to choose:

    https://activepet.co.uk/dog-harness/

    Abstract
    The effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) from dogs pulling against a collar or a harness was evaluated in 51 eyes of 26 dogs. The force each dog generated while pulling against a collar or a harness was measured. Intraocular pressure measurements were obtained during application of corresponding pressures via collars or harnesses. Intraocular pressure increased significantly from baseline when pressure was applied via a collar but not via a harness. Based on the results of the study, dogs with weak or thin corneas, glaucoma, or conditions for which an increase in IOP could be harmful should wear a harness instead of a collar, especially during exercise or activity.>>
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16611932

    For harnesses, there are currently a lot of articles about research on harnesses, which work best with the least inhibition to natural movement. This is a great article on it for anyone on facebook:
    https://www.facebook.com/notes/tierphysiotherapie-brigitte-jost/reflections-on-chest-harnesses/1369929759778331/

    Debra

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    @DebraDownSouth: I do 2 kinds of walks with my dogs, both do no permit pulling. On most walks, I like to use a longer leash and I allow them to sniff and do whatever… it is what is fun for them. On exercise walks, I make them heel and keep head up. That way they get that sometimes they can meander and sniff, other times it's business. I have never tried it, but I suspect you can teach sniff, then NO SNIFF lol. We do both on our walks, free leash and then heeling. But I would love him to have his head up more during free leash walking.
  • J

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    Stinkers. ;)
  • S

    Reluctant to go for walks

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    @SNA: Thank you very much for your comments. I probably have been expecting too much of her. I had a think about what had changed for her to be so obstinate, and I realised that I had been going without my kids. Good for me as it's less work, but my four year old, I realised, was excellent at getting her going again when she stopped, simply by walking ahead, and, if needed, calling her name. Taking my four year old son also means taking my 20 month old daughter in the sling, but at least we can do our 20-30 minute walk around the block. Now I just have to think of a way of convincing my once enthusiastic son who now complains of being tired and who doesn't want to go, of coming on the walk every day! LOL at carrying Dallas, I have to do that with Jessie nearly every time at the end too! Does your puppy have a favorite toy? If so put it in your back pocket and then put the leash on your pet and see how that works. Just make sure your pet cannot get it by jumping. In fact you can make a game of it by playing in your home with the toy and the dog for a about 5 mins before you walk. If your dog likes squeekie toys then you can also buy a replacement squeekie and keep it in your pocket. When you are walking and want the dogs attention you can squeek it inside your pocket. We use Martingale Collar's. Our Basenji seems to tolerate this style well. I also have noticed that leash control is very important when walking my Basenji. For that purpose I use a regular type 6 foot lead that I can wrap around my hand when I wish to take more control of my dog. I also have a very short lead ( about 2 feet or maybe less) that I use when I want the dog to concentrate on walking next to me. After my dog gets his business done, we are all about a constant pace walking. My perception is that if we are out for a walk to exercise him that we should concentrate on that aspect. I also have a 20 foot lead that I do use when we go on a leisure type walk. On that type of walk, I usually allow him to sniff and explore but I keep moving. He might run ahead slightly but then he will stop and wait and then do it again. The only time I use a flexie type or retractable leash is when I am going to let him have the room to run in a circle. Of course like any dog, the more rope or leash you give them the more they will take advantage of. My puppy does not walk perfectly, but what he does is pretty tolerable. After he does his business and we get our first 1 1/2 miles in, he settles down and gets the next 1 1/2 mile in quite nicely. Of course we did not start at that distance but we did start with at least a 1 to 1 1/2 miles when he was a little over 8 weeks old. After the walk, we worked on sit, stay, come, and lay down for about 10 to 15 mins. I always treated him with a couple of cheerio's or something similar directly after the walk. Actually he refused to drink any water until he got his cheerios. Hope this helps, Jason
  • M

    Help!!! Mishka cant walk with collar on…

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    @JazzysMom: I am not a "show people" as I've never been in the ring, and only have the one dog that actually finished her championship, but I keep collars on my dogs 24/7. I used the rolled leather collars, and they don't leave any marks on the neck at all – necks are nice and smooth. Well, really they do leave marks… but they are pretty little.... I always don't leave collars on in the house for a number of reasons... (this is after they get used to them of course)... 1. I am always afraid that they will get a mouth caught in them when playing... and 2. they will/could get hung up on something... however that said, mine are not crated, as we have a doggy room for them.. and they have a doggy door to a secure fenced yard.
  • luzmery928L

    Pee time/walk time..how do i train

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    luzmery928L
    great news. I know for myself the concret hurts my knees but my concern was Champs. Great the running will continue.