Let's also consider that when you chase your dog, the dog thinks it's a game and will run away from you. Like... "you can't catch me!" Man, Basenji's can bolt! On the other hand, when you are the one running away, the dog instinctively joins you because you are part of the dog's family/pack. This is not to be confused with a learned command to chase an assailant, in Police work, for example. That would be a totally different game of chase.
Walks not enjoyable
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Joanne,
We bought a Gentle leader yesterday. Since we walk through a forest preserve type park on a dailiy basis we have all kinds of animals that will get our dogs attention.
We just finished the easiest 4 miles that Roo and I have ever done. Kudo's to the inventor's of the Gentle Leader. By the way those 4 miles today were in the Rain and Roo did not balk at the rain a bit.
Jason and Miranda
What specific Gentle Leader and what size did you get for your B?
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Benny, we bought the small. Our dog is 21 almost 22 lbs of Pure Muscle. We walked 3 miles twice a day every day last summer, rain or shine, and at least 3 miles on most days in the winter conditions permitting. The small size is for dogs up to 25lbs. Please read all the directions and view the CD/DVD that comes with it. It is important to put this head collar on your dog properly and important to adjust it properly also. We bought ours at Pet Smart on sale.
Jason
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An Easy Walk or Sensation harness is also a good option for preventing pulling. Mine never adjusted to the Gentle Leader. They would refuse to walk and just try to get it off rubbing on everything. I have used the Easy Walk harness and it effectively stopped the pulling without the resistance they showed with the Gentle Leader. Both are made by Premier. Basenjis are the 'tweener size S/M.
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I used harnesses on both. Hold the leashes with the right hand and always keep them on on your left side holding the leash as well with your left hand for control. Keep them close to your left side. When you hold the leash with your right hand put your hand through the loop so it wraps around your wrist and then grab hold of the leash that way if they try to bolt suddenly the leash will not pull out of your hand.
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I tried the gentle leader, head harness; however, at the time Rocco was between sizes, so I did not feel I could get it quite right. I used the harness version, and that worked pretty good?until he stole it from the closet and chewed it up?I highly recommend you use a combination of a harness with the clip on the front (as this will make pulling more difficult) and training classes. As far as managing a dog in the car, the safest way is with a crate. At first they might not like it, but over time with more practice they will adjust. It only took a few classes for Rocco to figure out that riding in the crate meant he would be going to ?hang? out with some other puppies.
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We have never been able to enjoy our walks with Shaye - she pulled and slipped most harnesses, and choked herself constantly with every type collar we tried. With the Gentle Leader, she simply threw herself on the ground and would not stand up, and pawed the nose piece continually. BUT - at obedience class the other night, the insructor told us about the Easy Walk Harness, and we put one on her. I cannot tell you what a difference it made! She cannot slip it off, she knows she has no control, and she walks next to us with no problem at all - when she needs to do her business, we simply give her the length of the retractable, then when she's done shorten it up again and she pretty much walks loose leash, the way she should, for the rest of the walk. Wish I'd known about this when she was a little puppy - she's 6 months now, and we'll never have a walking problem again. I really really recommend this harness - no pulling on her neck, no discomfort at all, and it made all the difference in the world to us when it comes to walking her.
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I am also a huge fan of the Easy Walk harness and posted a recommendation on another thread. In our case, the timing also coincided with when her leash training finally began to progress. But there is no question that the harness helped a lot. We have the 'tweener size called small/medium.
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we tried both the leader (jonny can get it off in about 3 seconds) and the harness (it rubbed raw in his arm pits) so we are back to the collars for now. yikes.
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I have used gentle leaders and haltis, mine got used to them very quickly, I only use a gentle leader on Chico at the moment (linked to a collar), Chico is the opposite of Jonny, he can't get his gentle leader off but he is good at slipping his collar!
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Stinkers.
