Skip to content

Puppy training by breeder

Basenji Training
  • Are there anyone else in this forum, who are able (= has time and ability) to give their puppies basic training, before they leave to their new homes?

    I have a training plan for Ciara?s puppies as follows:
    1. Transport box behaviour ( = puppy nest so from the beginning - later on staying alone for a couple of minutes in transportbox)
    2. Toilet training (from 3 weeks old)
    3. "Come here" -commando by whistling when giving them food (from 3 weeks old)
    4. Companionship with people and other dogs from 4 weeks old
    5. Being calm in moving car (from 6 weeks old)
    6. Walking free by following the pack leader (from 6 weeks old)
    7. "Stop" -commando by clicker training (from 6 weeks old)
    8. Learning their names (as soon as the new home is found and they give me the decission of the puppy name from 3 weeks until 9 or 10 weeks when puppies are delivered to the new home)
    9. Tricks by clicker training method ie. agility tunnel.
    10. Mobility training (ie. following the lure)

    Any ideas what else should the basenji puppy know before moving to the new home?

    Regards,
    Camilla

  • I think that is a great list of things to begin with training… one thing that I would add that I think is important is many different sounds. TV, radio, vaccum cleaners, pots/pans banging, door bells, telephones... all the normal noices that you have in a household every day.
    And I start my pups with "companionship" as soon as the eyes are open (people/visitors and other dogs).
    Also wearing collars, I start with yarn around the neck and then buy little collars that they wear for a couple of hours each day (only when being supervised).

  • I put collars on my pups at 3wks old.
    This year I had 6 b/w with identical markings.. so this kept the right pups with the right litter [um, after I had switched two inadvertantly and my son noticed it! lol].
    I also have the kids [all the kids friends that come over each day] holding pups constantly from birth.
    My pups are bomb proof … there isn't a noise or person that bothers them... all noises and people are just "there" and no big deal.

    Until 7-8 weeks you cannot make a final decision which pups go where, so calling them by other names is kind of hard. You can give basic names but be well aware they will be changed.
    I say 7-8 weeks because you aren't going to have puppy eye exams until at least that age... final decisions should not be made prior to that appointment, IMO.

    We don't generally have more than a week of teen temperatures.. so my pups start going potty outside at 4 weeks of age and are virtually potty trained when they leave my house at 8-10 weeks old.

    I also start them in the plastic crates about 5 weeks old... so they are used to both wire and plastic crates at an early age. With this comes feeding separately. My pups eat 2 of their 3 daily meals in their crates. One meal is eaten in the big puppy pan together. I want them to be okay with another dog next to them eating... but also want them to learn that eating in their crate is okay too... makes them more than happy to go in their box!!

    I am sure there is more that I do... but can't think of it right now!

  • Thanks for the ideas! I had forgotten the collar training totally - as well as walking in leash nicely. Fortunately I have some training collars at home, before my order of measure made sighthound leather collars will arrive (at age of 8 weeks).

    We have now -20 Celsius and 1 meter snow in South-Finland, so it is impossible to start potty training in the garden ;)

    More ideas are welcome!

Suggested Topics

  • Training techniques

    Basenji Training
    33
    2 Votes
    33 Posts
    8k Views
    ZandeZ
    @elbrant I hope it will arrive today and I will let you know of its success or otherwise. We will try it out immejutely it arrives. Mku slept with me last night. He slept like a log. I didn't, but at least it gave Paul a rest. The diffuser is supposed to diffuse comforting pheronomes. I like the idea of changing it to encourage eating etc. You could be onto a winner there !
  • Puppy biting

    Basenji Training
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    11k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    @drew82 I've been doing rescue and breeding (not Basenjis, and not for 20 yrs now)... and I have to say that among responsible trainers, rescues, breeders and professional veterinary behaviorists, you won't find any who will say under 8 weeks is okay for any breed... and for many, 10 to 12 weeks is recommended. It is in fact illegal to take puppies under 8 weeks from some states and it should be in all of them. Call a few dozen rescues and ask them how many animals they deal with that have issues started from being placed too young. It is good you are working on things, just hopefully the physical responses won't continue. No breed needs to be swatted or even mildly hurt for training. Basenjis even less so than many. It hurts your relationship with the puppy, and you are punishing a baby for being a baby... there is no "rebellious thing"... just normal behavior you have to patiently train away from.
  • Training a puppy

    Basenji Training
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    Robin_n_JackR
    HA! We did the up& back method at my petsmart class. Jack is so flexible, he would actually follow the treat back with his head, until his head was almost lying on his back. I think what I finally had to do was push his butt down with one hand, while holding the treat in front of his face with the other. He got really good at it…now, he sits when I snap my fingers, when I say sit, or, my favorite, when I salute him. Good luck!
  • Puppy pads and other potty training ?

    Basenji Training
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    8k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    @dmcarty: When mine are babies I do paper train them within the kitchen - then gradually reduce the amount of paper until just one section remaining. Then comes the interesting part - when they head for that paper - I know they need to go out. I also have a 'paper' by the door we use to go out to the dog yard - so head for paper - go outside - pretty quickly don't need paper at all as they go to the door. With adult dogs who know the 'door' I find that the puppies just follow and the previous generation teaches the new generation. (guess they only need me to bring the food) and they don't tear the paper? Geez, mine LOVE LOVE LOVE to shred paper. No paper on the floor is safe. I am amazed that yours leave it alone and actually use it properly!
  • Puppy training tips…

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    7k Views
    firefoxkatanF
    @Mantis: when Cairo cries in his kennel ( in there with Caesar) it means he has to go to the bathroom….i have found that immediate potty once out of the kennel is a great way to help with the potty training.... yes I take her out after sleeping in the crate and when ever she has a nap it helps ~Kat
  • Training the Termite

    Basenji Training
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    nala121498N
    That is too sweet! Keep us posted on his progress…and more pictures, please!