Skip to content

I know we all know they're smart….

Basenji Talk
  • I know we all know just how smart our basenjis can be, but I still love it when they surprise me.
    Tonight I took a couple of treats & worked with Callie & Lola at the same time (which is difficult because Callie often times just ends up lunging at me maniacally while I'm trying to get Lola to do something, so it can be counterproductive!!!). I used Callie's natural instinct to lunge & bat at me with her paws & rewarded her for just getting my hand with one paw & said "Good gimme five." I repeated it several times while Lola watched patiently & got Callie consistent with batting my hand with one paw when I said "Gimme five." Then I put Callie in a crate & took Lola to a separate room. I told Lola "Gimme five" & held my hand in front of her. After about 30 seconds, she raised her paw & touched my hand. Treat & praise, repeat to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Nope… she did it quickly & consistently several times in a row.
    I've heard many times that training them together can, in some ways, be easier, because they learn from each other. But holy crap!!! That was REALLY impressive!!! Callie learned it in under 5 minutes & Lola learned it just by watching!!!! These guys really are amazing....

  • Unfortunately, it can work for "evil" as well as for GOOD !

  • Sounds great Andrew, clever girls you have there.

  • Way to go Andrew that was neat.

    Rita Jean

  • That is great..yes they are smart..scary smart..

5/5

20 Jan 2010, 22:58

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    30 Posts
    17k Views
    wow! nic memories! Here on my city my sister cant belive that people even stop theirs cars to ask "what breed is your dog"? some people get pictures with the cellphone or with their tablets so a walk with my girls on the downtown is a secure chit chat with the people. A remember 3 ladies, they were so amazing! Maca dont put so much atention on people specially girls, but those ladies was talking to Maca saying she was sooo pretty sooo sweet sooo everything and Maca start to bend those ears and make noises they were more happy and carry on and Maca more and more sweet Whilw They was saying Maca was soo sweet and bla bla and i was thinking.. ha! she is a little naughty and sometimes so dominant.. but that day Maca plays her role to perfection. She deserves a Oscar.. Other day she was confused with a male chihuahua, a lady ask if we can breed our dogs, i said, well is a SHE and is not a chihuahua, the woman start to apologize i dont care well.. i dont like Maca be confused with a male dog, but was funny at the end. But on general people use to think they are like foxies or pitbull or little deer. I said to some kids that i was ironing the tale all days to get curled. They believe it and i was worried they try to iron his own dog, so i said that noooo! that was natural and ironing a dogs tale is a ugly idea. Oh one day i lef Maca with the policeman at the bakerys door ( he was at my sight anyway) and when i was out i found the man with several people asking him if was a police dog or some kind of new police dog because looks so nice and so naughty hahha The poor man have no words and just was smiling while the people was taking picture of him and the dog. lol So the last time that i walked with my sister she was wow! i cant believe it.. the people stoped to ask what breed is.. Yes, my girls are used to some fame.. and i like they socialize with the kids.. not so much with the grown people and with so many thief getting his eyes on pure breed doggies not so nice but well… i said the are naughty some times.
  • What SHOULD I know about…

    Basenji Talk 6 Apr 2012, 14:52
    0 Votes
    34 Posts
    14k Views
    So, I've talked with Oakleys breeders and met for play date with some of their pups…things went really well, Oakley took really well to the other pups with me around, so much so I really didnt exist. One pup just clicked and fit perfectly, she would be the perfect temperament and disposition to compliment Oakley and our life...so I'm really glad I got to see what works and what doesn't...one female pup and him just couldn't click the whole time, tensions and such...the dog I originally fell for is a retired female and we tried that as well, didn't go as well- I think Oakley is too abrasive for older females to tolerate...he's a big puppy and acts like it. That cemented for me that a pup really has the best chance of working out. I learned a lot about basenji interaction and behavior, possible issues to be aware of and really just more about Oakley.. It was a very insightful visit and I feel more confident that Oakley will accept the right dog into our home, the decision is really up to me now to see if I can part with Oakley and I being two peas in a pod....still a little worried about having two and not yet having gone through the "having children" phase...the thought of eventually being pregnant with two seems more daunting than one...perhaps some insight into that would be helpful!
  • 0 Votes
    5 Posts
    4k Views
    Oh! It's a baby b! Ugh. Wish you'd told me that before I looked. I've got a bad case of puppy fever.
  • Kipawa's first 'rehab' test

    Basenji Talk 5 Aug 2011, 16:50
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    4k Views
    I had nose surgery a few months ago and when I got home I was worried the dogs would be so excited and jump all on me, but it was crazy how mild mannered and dare I say tame/domesticated they were. I swear they knew I was hurt and gave me a day or so of good behavior. They are truly great dogs to own!
  • 0 Votes
    35 Posts
    11k Views
    Awesome news.. I am glad he knows he can trust you won't hurt him..great feeling..:)
  • 0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    We hear so many weird noises coming from ours, sometimes it sounds like there's an Exorcism going on downstairs:eek: ….......then there's the Cewbacca sound Max makes....Willy's chimp imitation...Cleo's wolverine sounds.......ya got to love em!:D The Little Af Boy may be the most vocal Basenji I've ever come across......he's always saying something.....so cute:)