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Walking tips for Duna.

Basenji Training
  • BasenjimammaB

    I think the gentle leader or any head leader would work for that because he is not going to be able to lounge at all. However you would have to use it all the time, when walking in an environment that has people. cars and what not around. I haven't gotten one for Otis yet, but spoke to a friend last night that got one for her 80 lbs mutt and swears by it. He used to tug her into ditches and into the road..no more..as soon as he starts tugging he will be torqued to the side and it will divert him from what he initilally focused on, and I believe it is fairly uncomfortable to be pulled to the side so the dog tends to learn not to to tug or pull. I hope it helps..

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • Kalima62K

    basenjimamma…i'm wailting for you to buy it first and try it :p
    i've found this italian link...is it the same thing?
    And what size must i buy?
    At the bottom it gives you the breed for the size..where does the basenji come in??
    http://www.theidealdog.com/store/comersus_viewitem.asp?idproduct=297

    M@ri & Dun@

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  • BasenjimammaB

    Mari,

    That is it. I think the size Wizard said he got was a in between size S/M. Apperantlt S is too small amd M is too Large. i will get mine today..I think..

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • Kalima62K

    I've just read on the italian net of people writing that if you misuse the gentle leader, it can lead to seriouse problems and can become dangerouse! Is that correct? has anyone out there had any negative experience with the gentle leader???:mad:

    M@ri & Dun@

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  • BasenjimammaB

    I guess the clue is "if you misuse it" anything could happen. Shoot if you misuse a child carseat it can become dangerous, right? If it is used for its intent and properly put on, I can not see it being dangerous, but hopefully somebody with actual experience with the leader will chime in soon.

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • wizardW

    Kalima - I think the piccolo would be the size you want.
    I went and rechecked and the halter says S (although the package said S/M).

    The important thing to fit it properly (it's not difficult) - pay attention to the diagram and it will work fine.

    Since your leash is attached to the halter from below, if the dog starts to lunge it (the halter) pulls the head down and to the side a little and that's what stops the dog.

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  • nala121498N

    @Shaye's:

    …just threw herself down and pawed at it no matter how many times we tried, the Easy Walk Harness...

    I agree with this…although I've never tried this type...Nala did the same thing as Shaye's Mom says...she threw herself down and pawed at it...she lost hair from it...it was a nightmare! Also, people thought it was a muzzle (not that I cared), but the other type that goes around the chest and/or legs seems a bit better to me...In my humble opinion, that is!:o

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  • BasenjimammaB

    I went to the store today and looked and looked at the head leads and the regular harnesses…and looked some more...and I still walked out of there without either..I could not make up my mind. I am determined to get Otis good at walking on his martingale collar. I dont like the thought of the head leads, and I don't like to look of the harnesses...silly, I know. A few more weeks of puppy classes, once we are done with that..if he is no better, I will cave in and get...one of them. There are two labs(huge, like small horses) in Otis' OB classes and they hate their head halters...keeps on pawing at them and are looking plain miserable the whole time, I want Otis to enjoy the walks as much as I do..so we have to work on it.

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • Kalima62K

    Ok..i'll check my local vet distributor ( pet shop, only this place sells even animal medecines) to see if i can find it there or i'll order it online…......yesterday Duna behaved well in town...is she improving or was it a "GOOD" day for her??? :)

    M@ri & Dun@

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  • Kalima62K

    I think mommies and daddys all, would not like to see their fur babes with a harness or gentle lead that makes them unhappy…but i think its just a way we feel for our loves, surely they get used to it in the end if it's introduced to them positivly ( gosh my spelling!!!!:mad:)
    I my self like you basenjimamma, is hesitating hoping that Duna will all at once behave during city walks....I'll give her some more time before i order the gentle leader...but it will only be in "extremis" when i'll really realize that i need to try an other method for her.:D
    Maybe the result will be so positive ( as read on this forum) that i'll think to myself: " Shucks!!! Why didn't i decide earlier???" Instead of looking like an isterick jerk, correcting, talking and stopping and turning back with a dog on the lead???:rolleyes:

    M@ri & Dun@

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    Using a harness for walks (Gentle Leader)

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    @SNA: I tried a head halter ages ago, for at least 3 weeks, but she just hated it. She kept trying to get it off, even after three weeks, and I just couldn't do it to her anymore. A couple of books I'm following at the moment say that head halters suppress rather than correct the behaviour. She's doing well now. Well, both the head halter, and the chest harness suppress the pulling behavior. You have to train the desired behavior at the same time. The idea is that you have to stop them from pulling, or else you can't make any progress training the correct behavior. Pulling is a self rewarding behavior; in their minds, they pull, and it makes them get to where they want to be. You have to stop that association, and retrain them that when the leash is loose you get to go where you want to be. Neither walking aide can do that, only the training.
  • 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
  • VanessaV

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