O.k so we've had champ for almost 7 months and never really bothered to attempt to leash train him. Just didn't think it mattered much , just a dog thing. But now I'm wondering..what will happen when we dicide to get pregnant, I sure can't be pulled and twisted so now what….My ? is can he still potty if I'm making him walk on one side and next to me? Hope you understand the question. Now he walks from side to side and I follow and he chooses where to do his business but if I'm in control he can't do that or at least not supposed too. I don't have enought time to take him for a million walks, some being for potty and some for exercise. Any suggestions. I already started this morning making him sit when other dogs come by or people plus he is obsessed with bikes and motorcycles so I need to train him to this also. Plus this past week I was walking and stepped wrong and down I came and off Champ went. Luckily my husband was there and ran after him before he crossed the busy street. So I have to work aon that on also. Just like a human child, it never ends!!!!:o
He can still pee, even if controlled on leash.
Either you can choose to stop at some point and give him the time to pee, or you can watch for signs from him that he's trying to sniff, etc indicating a need to pee at that time, so you stop walking.
Leash control doesn't mean he's held tight to you w/no room for movement. It just means that he walks comfortably with you, w/out the tugging and pulling ahead.
o.k thanks…though he walks sniffing EVERYTHING bit I might be able to tell. Would it be o.k to let him wonder to the side just as long as he's not up front pulling and tugging and keep him on one particular side?
Having leash manners does not mean you have to have a dog that is in perfect heel position. If you want him in heel position then you can train that and train a release word that means now you be out of position and find a potty spot. If all you want is a dog that is not pulling you down the street and to every tree and bush so he can do what he wants, you can do that without training the dog to heel and instead reward loose leash which doesn't have a specific position just that the leash is loose, clip hanging down.
hmmm that seems somewhat complicated to me. I sort of understand. O.k so maybe I can use the word potty and he'll know he's off for potty time and then when that's done bring him back. I do want him to stop jumping up like a rabbit everytime he sees another dog, bike, motorcycle, etc. I will be bringing the trainer back in 2 weeks…haven't done much if any training for a long time so I'm sure he can help me out but still you guys are great and your advise is always appreciated and best of all WORKS!!!!
A release word is really good thing to teach dogs and can be used in many situations. It can release the dog from heel so it can go pee, it can release the dog from a stay, it can be used as the word that gives permission to exit or enter. I had trained Nicky to have a release word without really knowing I was doing it when he was a youngster by requiring him to stop and wait at all street crossings until he heard the words "go ahead". I was really lucky I had done this because the one time he was loose everyone who spotted him said he would get to street crossings, stop and then change direction without crossing the street. So he just stayed on the very large block running in circles until he was finally found by someone in our apartment complex. I use a release word now in agility and for things like stay or for getting out of the car.
that's really great.
I went through training- he did great Heeled while walking sniffed a bit went potty and moved back to heeling great. He knows sit stay, heel everything and if you go through the training motions he totaly obeys.
Over the years he learned that he took a little bit longer, he gets more free time or if he pooped sometimes we would just head home. Inch by inch over the years (7) our walks have become constant sniffing walks. This did not happen over night. I corrected him he would stop, then pull really hard to go potty, when he was ready. Now I wont pull/correct on his leash if he does not pull. I can hold the leash with two fingers and gentle do a small tug and he slows down. It's a system between me & my dog only.
I would love to know how you keep them going walk to potty and define the times. Give them a time limit to go potty?
o.k will try tomorrow or at least try. I guess I'm a bit slow but I'm not understanding too well.
When I first started (attempting) leash training (this is still a work in progress) I would keep him close to my left side with yummy treats in my left hand. I kept the leash close to me so he understood that he needed to stay by me and as a reward, he would get a good treat. That also kept his focus on me.
I switched from a flexi to a regular nylon leash so I had better control. Those flexi's can be really dangerious and give you a bad burn. 
As for wanting to go everywhere to pee…I try not to allow that. I dont like walking on the sidewalk cuz all he wants to do is sniff everything and pee 1000 times! We have 1 tree...his pee tree 
which he goes to and does his business. It works out great!
I would keep him close to my left side with yummy treats in my left hand.
the problem with treat training is either you always carry it or the first time you dont have one, all that goes down the toilet.
the problem with treat training is either you always carry it or the first time you dont have one, all that goes down the toilet.
I don't think that is true…. conditioning is conditioning and a praise or pat is as good as a treat... in fact when training, IMO they should be intermixed... treat, pat, treat, praise... especially as you progress further and further into training...
Our male always will come if you call him. With our girl she will only come or do anything for a treat, praise she seems to care little about. Treats are the world to her.
I tried that with treats/praise on walks, once she sniffed I did not have them, she lost total interest like a light switch turned off. Bring back the treats full attention. They know when you have them and don't instantly.
They have great noses. The first thing she checks if the treats are there. You better have something better, if you dont have a treat, they care little what you want or give. The world revolves around them.
Our male hates to have any attention at all shown to him on walks. It's not the time or place for it to him.
The female tolerates a good pat or hug on walks.
I'm certainly not blaiming the dogs for our training faliures, just being honest with my personal situation.
You can't really blame a dog. Maybe others, including myself, can learn from my mistakes & failures.
the problem with treat training is either you always carry it or the first time you dont have one, all that goes down the toilet.
I've never had that problem. You dont always need treats to train your dog. Especially praise. They love to be praised. 
Something I do which seems to work really well is to speak really high pitched and get excited. My B loves it. He will come when called because he knows that he made me happy and at that point, he knows that I am going to give some special attention.
I use treats to train and my dogs will work for me with or without a treat as long as the situations are right for the level of training they are at. I start out with lots of treats and few distractions but transition to more distractions and less treats. Another thing, I reward my dogs heavily for behaviors I find important so that if I need them to do that behavior there is a high likelihood I will get that response whether I have a treat or not.
When you go into the obedience ring or agility ring you can not have treats but that doesn't mean that when you teach the behaviors you should use treats to reinforce the behaviors you want.
I should also add that in addition to using treats when it comes to loose lead walking, being interesting to the dog makes a big difference in success. Like Vanessa says if you use a high pitched voice and sound excited so the dog thinks it is missing out on a party, it is more likely to come. If you ignore your dog while you walk and are not aware of what the dog is doing then the dog will ignore you. If you can capture the moments when your dog gives you its attention while you are walking and acknowledge them, they go a long way towards getting good leash manners.
IMO when training is used is should be 95% praise-either verbal or physical and 5% treats. This gives you the edge because the dog never knows when the treat will come.
I would love to see a basenji performing agility. You guys need to post a video. The crowning achievement in basenji training.
You guys are telling me for an hour long walk you guys are talking to your dogs in high squeeky voices or giving them treats to hold their interest in you?
Here is one of my pups that I co-bred, Lucy with her owner/handler, Brenda in agility…
Great pictures and what fun those dogs have!
Basenji's really benifit from showing, lure coarsing and agility. They really need things to keep their little & bodies brains active.
I wonder if other agility people can appreciate a basenji in agility?
