Hi all

[thunderbird8588]

Welcome Myke, Kirabo sounds like a great Dog, i will be interested to hear how you get on training her to be a service Dog. What does the training involve ?
Have you any pics of Kirabo and Joe.
I have two tabby Cats, Tom and Jerry and a Basenji Pup called Malaika.

[Patty]

Welcome Myke - you obviously have a very special dog, I'm sure you'll be very successful with your training.

[Kipawa]

hi there Myke, Kirabo sounds so special! I don't have a basenji yet, but when I get one I too am looking to have my basenji do some work as a service dog/hospital visitor at a physical rehab facility that has para and quardriplegics. I know some people will say there are much better breeds to do that with, but the fact is I love the basenji breed first. The opportunity to have one suitable for a hospital environment is something I would work towards but not have as a pre-requisite for my dog.

You must feel so confident having Kirabo with you. I know that can make a ton of difference in the lifestyle of someone with medical challenges. So glad to have you both on this forum. Have you any pictures of Kirabo, the breeder's name and the name of Kirabo's parents? Many of the basenjis on here are related!

[Basenjimamma]

Welcome to both of you. She sure sounds like a special little lady.
We love pictures..hint hint :);)

[curlytails]

Welcome, Myke. And welcome Kirabo. Would be curious to know how seizure-detection training is actually done, what the dog actually senses. I find that very impressive! A few months back, I saw a Craigslist ad for an older, 9-year-old basenji who had served some time as a service dog doing exactly what you're training Kirabo to do – detect seizures. I'm new to the world of basenjis myself, but I see that they're obviously special dogs!

[Kirabo]

seizure detection or alert is natural in some dogs, they have to be very focused on you. Kirabo seems to have this ability. seizure response you can train for.like k9 good citizen , have very good manners in public & train them to get your meds & stay with you while having a seizure, some dial 911 with a special phone. were still working on good manners in public.

[thunderbird8588]

@Kirabo:

seizure detection or alert is natural in some dogs, they have to be very focused on you. Kirabo seems to have this ability. seizure response you can train for.like k9 good citizen , have very good manners in public & train them to get your meds & stay with you while having a seizure, some dial 911 with a special phone. were still working on good manners in public.

Sounds very interesting and useful Myke

[Patty]

Kirabo is certainly a very clever and useful Basenji. I'd be very interested in the process

I went through a period of three years having fits and when I was about to have one my Basenjis would all pile on top of me - I had ten then. They then stayed beside me through the fit and lay on top again when I was coming round. This seemed to be instinctive for them as they weren't trained.

I hope you can keep us up to date on Kirabo's training, it is all very interesting.

[Buana]

Welcome Myke!

How nice to hear your girl has such a feeling for your health, I hope she will grow really into it!

Our Chafuko has sort of the same feeling (we think) when I ate someting bad and got a allergy attack, before I notice the allergy attack, he will stay very close to me.
He does this for a while now, weird thing is we just found out! I have a allergy for some things and now I know that, all the pieces fall at the right place.. Chafuko felt it long before we knew it…

[Kirabo]

When I 1st got Kirabo, I had named her Hollie. A few mths later my wife told me every time I had a seizure, she would go crazy & wouldn't leave my side. Then 1 night I had a dream & God told me to name her Kirabo which means " a gift from God". She truly is God sent. Kirabo stays by my side & is constantly keeping her eyes on me, always observant of every-thing I do.