The NILF program is exactly the sort of thing your basenji needs. She has hit teenage time and like human teenagers is pushing authority. In this case, don't push her off the couch or yank the afghan from under her or any of those sorts of manuvers. Start by getting her attention just before she is going to jump onto the couch by offering a treat diverting her attention away from the couch. If she decides to come for the treat, she gets it, and then gets to be on the couch as a double reward; if she decides to complete her jump to the couch instead, she doesn't get the treat. Once she starts to look at you first ("asking permission") before she takes the couch then the reward becomes the couch. And to get her off the couch, use the reverse. Offer her a treat in such a way that she has to get off the couch to get it and click as soon as she decides to get off Once she understands that, add the "off" word. You might have to use treats just for this exercise that she wouldn't get any other time to make this more enticing to her. You might also want to introduce mat work so that she has to go to her mat or afghan or whatever, on the floor, instead of getting on the couch in the first place.
Greeting Problem
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How do I get Sahara to stop jumping on people when they come to my door, or inside? As soon as the doorbell rings she is off to the front door like lightning struck her. She does not jump on me, I taught her to set to get petted when I come home from work. I say, "Sit Sahara" and she does, do I do the same when people come to my door?
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<_>
Yes. And…keep a leash on her when people are coming to the door. Step on the leash to keep her from jumping when greeting. When she is calm, ask her to sit, reward her when she does. Don't let anyone give her any attention until she has four on the floor._
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Amen to the leash. That was my salvation in terms of fear of Gibby bolting out or jumping on visitors. After many months of making this the norm, he now sits and waits for the leash to go on and allows people in without immediately jumping on them. Naturally, he is curious after he is unleashed but he doesn't feel the need to jump up to get attention. With B's it sure does take months of reinforcement to get the concept identified but they will respond if you are consistent.
