Register for an obedience class - B's are notorious for treating obedience as kind of an afterthought, but if you can teach them even the basics you've done something…plus it's great for socialization.
Do any of you recommend going to Petsmart for the puppy training class? I have heard both positives & negatives with their classes from various dog owners, none with a Basenji however. There is a local kennel club that offers training also that I could do instead…
It really depends on the location. The trainers at Petsmart have a curriculum that is good, but some of them aren't very experienced with positive reinforcement training, and rely on old methods…which aren't as productive with dogs like Basenjis. I would look around, and meet the teachers/trainers first, ask them what techniques they use; If the person seems like they *enjoy spirited, free thinking dogs...they would probably be a pretty good trainer for Basenjis....if they think all dogs can be trained to act like Golden Retrievers, then probably not the best match.
I had great success at Pet Smart, but my trainer had been training for 5yrs and used the positive reinforcement methods. I didn't have a Basenji when i went to her but I did have a VERY head strong boxer (worse than my basenji) and Reggie is now 5 yrs and has his CGC
Do any of you recommend going to Petsmart for the puppy training class? I have heard both positives & negatives with their classes from various dog owners, none with a Basenji however. There is a local kennel club that offers training also that I could do instead…
We took ours to PetSmart for both Beginner and Intermediate training…I think it's really down to the trainer. It can be difficult for them when they've got about six to eight dogs, each with a varying degree of "puppyness" about them, and they have to deal with all that. That said, our trainer was absolutely great with our, understood that Basenji's are "special" when it comes to training, and was big on positive reinforcement.
After two courses (eight classes each) She-Ra can sit on command, knows her name, can come when called even when you're out of sight, and while she doesn't like to "stay" (sit and let you walk away), she will stand in place when you walk away, so we're okay with that.
The advantage to PetSmart vs. an individual trainer is the socialization aspect, but you'll definitely want to keep an eye on your B around other dogs. She-Ra's snapped a couple times, but nothing horrible.
Whatever you choose to do - Get Training of some kind and even more important - BE PATIENT. It can be really..>REALLLY<...frustrating when all the Beagles, Labs and Bulldogs around you are sitting for their owners while your B is looking at you like "What?!? I'm not gonna be a tool like those other dogs, man!" but when you finally DO get that "Sit" out of them, it's all worthwhile.
I would like to just second what Andrea said, it is really all about the trainer. Good trainers can be found in many different places. The trainer that I currently take my dogs to was the dog trainer for the classes offered through the Parks and Rec department for the City of Davis when I started taking classes with her. What is really important is the trainer's methods and philosophy. Find a good positive reinforcement trainer who offers a puppy class where the puppies get a chance to socialize as well as learn basic manners. Talk with the trainer and maybe even ask if you can stop by and watch a class. The one thing that I have found is that some trainers have a strong bias against basenjis. I have had personal experience with that where even though I had been going to the trainer for 2 months prior to the bad experience with someone else's dog she would not touch my dog after that. In the case of one of my puppy people, the instructor from the first class would tell the other students, don't get to close to the basenjis or be careful that is a basenji. My poor puppy was nearly expelled because it was so frustrated about being gated away from the others during play he finally just scaled the gate and raced over to join in. Luckily, his owner was able to find a class with an instructor who truly appreciated the unique qualities of the different breeds and the puppy got to be the star of his new class.
I'll vouch for Pet Smart training. However, as Quercus advised - check out the instructor. The one where I went was totally up to speed with positive reward training. She even suggested us to bring in extra high value treats for sessions that would be challenging for the "extra" special dogs (meaning my Duke). I brought in cream cheese, prime rib, corned beef - she always had peanut butter on hand. However, regular training treats worked most of the time. The high value treats also kept Duke focused on me when he was in a scrappy mood. Duke did the Puppy, Intermediate and Advanced training with the same instructor. I couldn't imagine what life would be like if we had not taken these classes. He was always so excited to go there. He would burst with excitement everytime we got to the intersection in the road just before the parking lot. Oh . . . the screaming!!!
Get the Basenji Owners Manual put out by the Evergreen Basenji Club in Seattle.
Its a great workbook and the price isn't bad either.
Post to me privately, and I will send you the site.
Its very helpful!
When Lexi was young, I was able to take her to the offleash dog park and run with her. This is something I am REALLY glad I did. I think it helped with her socialization (off leash) and really made a strong bond with us. She learned to come when I whistled and to stay around me when I ran- yet she had the freedom to run and play and chase squirrels all the while. I think dogs, especially Basenjis, really appreciate when you make an effort for them. Lexi LOVED going to the park. I was fortunate enough to be close to a really good one. Hopefully you can find something similar. It also helped because she was exercised and tired when we came home; listened better. 
Good dog.
*But note that she was off leash and could go as fast or slow as she needed. I didn't drag her along on a leash. And she was old enough to handle the situations with other dogs-I'm not one to baby my dogs in the sense of if a big dog comes over, pick up my dog. I like for my dogs to be able to fend for themselves. I think most Basenji's do this naturally.
But I'm not saying you should take your tiny puppy and go run miles and miles!! But when he/she's old enough, make sure you get out there and exercise and socialize! 
When Lexi was young, I was able to take her to the offleash dog park and run with her. This is something I am REALLY glad I did. I think it helped with her socialization (off leash) and really made a strong bond with us. She learned to come when I whistled and to stay around me when I ran- yet she had the freedom to run and play and chase squirrels all the while. I think dogs, especially Basenjis, really appreciate when you make an effort for them. Lexi LOVED going to the park. I was fortunate enough to be close to a really good one. Hopefully you can find something similar. It also helped because she was exercised and tired when we came home; listened better.
*But note that she was off leash and could go as fast or slow as she needed. I didn't drag her along on a leash. And she was old enough to handle the situations with other dogs-I'm not one to baby my dogs in the sense of if a big dog comes over, pick up my dog. I like for my dogs to be able to fend for themselves. I think most Basenji's do this naturally.
But I'm not saying you should take your tiny puppy and go run miles and miles!! But when he/she's old enough, make sure you get out there and exercise and socialize!
This has made ALL the difference in my relationship with Booger. I take Booger to the park (might be the same one in Georgia) & it has a trail around the fence. We run a few laps along the fenceline, and he pretty much stays with me. But he has the freedom to run off & explore where I can see him. When I can't see him anymore, I call him, and he comes running. Once we're finished running, I have to tell him he can "Go play" so he doesn't hover by my side while there are other of dogs to run with. After running together, I let him spend plenty of time just being a dog with the other dogs, and the dogs all pretty much play in sight of their humans. After an hour or two, he's pretty tired, and 90% of the time will walk up to the exit gate when I call him (if he's not tired enough or just having too much fun I have to physically put the leash on him & walk him up to the gate). He's a happier dog at home, and doesn't get into as much stuff because he burns off a lot of energy & he's not so bored with sitting in the house with just the cats to play with.
When we first started taking him to the park, he'd stay with you until he found something better & then you could never get him to come back to you unless he got bored with the something better. I never used food treats as a training tool in the park because food of any kind is not aloud. Instead, good behavior just got a "good boy" & longer time at the park. Bad behavior shortened our visit. Now, he seems to WANT to stay with me until I give him permission to play, and I feel its because he gets the freedom he needs in a safe, secure environment. Going to the park also taught him to play with other dogs. He had no clue what to do with other dogs the first few times, because he'd only ever met the dogs that live near us, but never been outside, off leash with them.
However, while a doggy park is great when they work, many times they do not…... I never will take mine to an off leash park....
However, while a doggy park is great when they work, many times they do not…... I never will take mine to an off leash park....
Me neither.
But then, I don't take mine to PetSmart or places like that either – any place where there is potential for problems/injury, etc. Off leash, I'd have no control over my own dog, let alone others, and in a store I have no control over other people and their dogs.
The vets in the clinic I go to don't encourage it either. They often talk about the high number of emergency visits they get with dogs from off-leash parks or in-store visits.
I do know, however, that many, many here completely disagree!:)
Yes, it's true. There is always going to be the great debate over off leash dog areas.
And that's okay. What works for one does not always works for others.
From my perspective, I think if you start young and socialize your dog you have a better chance at having positive results from off leash areas. (You also have to consider the individual dog's personality.) That is of course with the understanding that you accept that if you take your dog to these areas, there is always the potential that something could happen- because you can't control other people's dogs. But, IMO, that's the same risk we ourselves take by stepping out of the house every day. Something could happen to us- car accident, (heaven forbid) shootings, etc… You have to find the balance between risk and benefits that is right for you.
And that's okay. What works for one does not always works for others.
From my perspective, I think if you start young and socialize your dog you have a better chance at having positive results from off leash areas. (You also have to consider the individual dog's personality.) That is of course with the understanding that you accept that if you take your dog to these areas, there is always the potential that something could happen- because you can't control other people's dogs. But, IMO, that's the same risk we ourselves take by stepping out of the house every day. Something could happen to us- car accident, (heaven forbid) shootings, etc… You have to find the balance between risk and benefits that is right for you.
You are right about socialization, but it is usually the other people's dogs that are NOT socialization at dog parks and that is where the problems start… but for those of you that it does work, that is great...
Me neither.
But then, I don't take mine to PetSmart or places like that either – any place where there is potential for problems/injury, etc. Off leash, I'd have no control over my own dog, let alone others, and in a store I have no control over other people and their dogs.
The vets in the clinic I go to don't encourage it either. They often talk about the high number of emergency visits they get with dogs from off-leash parks or in-store visits.
I do know, however, that many, many here completely disagree!:)
In a store (Pet Smart) all dogs are on leash, they're all under control to a degree. It's important to have a good training foundation in place - to control your own dogs and have the ability to distract them long enough to avoid unwanted confrontations. Anywhere we take our fur kids, we need to be "on guard" at all times when strangers (human or canine) pass.
I certainly respect your preference for when and how to expose and socialize your furry kids. Utilizing pet training stores and dog parks are one way. Friends, neighbors, other family homes, dog shows and athletic pet events are options. But many-many dog owners don't have same advantages for socialization. Encouraging pet owners to use the resources they have available is a good thing, no matter how or when their fur kids are socialized. People should also access the safety of their pets and know when to stay or leave from any environment.
We actually have a very nice off-leash dog park close to our home & I have planned on taking him there when he gets old enough. I want to try & socialize him as much as possible while he is young so he won't be as aloof when strangers come into our home or protective if other dogs are around. I will be sure to allow him doggy-time but also know when to remove him if I see any dogs that may not be properly socialized. I know some people love the idea of dog parks, others hate it. I think you just need to find the balance, know that not all dogs are going to be socialized & therefore trusted, & know when to leave a bad environment, whether that is the dog park or Petsmart.
Now another question, I know many of you have your dog sleep in your bed at night (or at least bedroom) but what about when they are still a puppy and not housebroken? Do you put them in their crate at night to sleep until housebroken?
All my guys let me sleep in the king size bed with them, lol. Have since they were pups (well the basenji still is a pup, but he's potty trained now).
As for at night well, I have honestly never had a problems with potty accidents at night. I am not a really light sleeper but I always seem to know when they move around that its more than just getting comfortable. Also, I put a very light weight lead on them and attach it to a 5lbs weight giving them enough room to move around but not enough to fall off the bed and get caught up. I only do this long enough to get used to their sleeping pattern.
I did. When Duke was a puppy - I got him used to the crate ASAP. I made it a happy comfortable cozy place. Put an old quilted bed spread draped around 3 sides. (he chewed thru and destuffed the spread - I didn't mind.) Crate training can be found on other threads here if you do a search. My dogs are comfortable and happy to go in their crates as trained. He was house trained by 6 mos, but our night-time habits remained the same till he was 10-11 months old when I let Duke sleep on our bed one very tiring Thanksgiving night. BTW - Duke and Daisy are crate trained and stay go in their crates when no one is home. They actually love the peace and comfort in there. Neither one exhibits a wild behavior to get let out when I/we come home. We never make a big deal about seeing them either. We stay calm and they do too.
Because you really need to crate train, I would not let them sleep in bed until crate trained and house broken….
That said, if you are going to crate your B during the day, then I think it is unfair to then crate all night too.. (AND while I love the Evergreen basenji manuel, this is one section that I totally disagree on)
We crated Nexa at night for the first month, the crate was in the bedroom right next to our bed. Her first night in the bed was the best night of sleep we got in a month:) I think it helped to establish that our bed is a special place and we don’t have to give that privlege.
Savannah loves the dog park, she is able to run around like crazy and still have the feeling of security that i am nearby and so is the rest of the pack, caesar, cairo , nikki, topper, eddie , callie , jack and a handfl of other basenjis that come on sundays.
She has been sleeping with me and she definately loves the bed.
