@elbrant said in Operant Conditioning (explained): @eeeefarm said in Operant Conditioning (explained): some professional trainers suggest to their classes that they starve dogs that aren't all that food motivated This is just disturbing... in today's society, this type of behavior would be considered animal cruelty. Certainly we can find a way to encourage compliance without depriving an animal basic care. I know, it shocked me too when I heard it. The first instance was a friend of mine whose Border Collie was disinterested in food rewards, and she was advised by the instructor not to feed the dog anything on class days so there would be an incentive to accept treats. The second instance was my niece, and in this case a German Shepherd dog that again didn't want to take treats, and she was given the same advice by a different trainer, in fact in a different city, so it appears that it isn't unusual. Both these dogs work well for praise and in both cases the owners declined to starve the dogs....

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.

@eeeefarm - Totally agree with both of you, while I don't do the "restrain the pup", but if it works great and in a pinch it does work for me if really needed. When we have pups (babies) and Mom is tired of them and puts herself in a position that they can't reach her, they turn to the next adult in the house.... same thing will happen if they get over excited and yes, I have seen Basenji Moms, pin the pup to the ground and/or other adults in the home.... so it is something that a pup understands. Walking away works for me... or I try to change up the "game" by turning to working their minds and getting them to think about other things. In the Basenji Breed this is another way of teaching them that the prior behavior is not acceptable. They learn pretty quickly. Thanks for posting this thread eeeefarm... well needed...

Thanks for posting.

Oh my.... It was a little tongue-in-cheek my comment about the Basenji looking "pudgy". All 3 dogs appeared well fed. (or hey.... maybe the painter used fat brushes.... :face_with_tongue: ) That was the extent of my "analysis".

@eeeefarm Brag as much as you want bcoz you have the right ~ he was beautiful as could be! He reminded me of my 1st. B, the colors & the way they blended together! I couldn't hear him, guess my pc needs an update but Yes ~ Perry is one to brag about!

@nikolitak said in Perry 2003 - 2016: @eeeefarm unfortunately we just lost Leo on the 9th of this month. He was also an excellent dog. He did like tissues but thats all he would chew. We could leave him alone in the house uncrated and he wouldnt bother anything. They were amazing pups! We got Leo from Jan when he was about 14 weeks. I believe we met Perry while we were there meeting Leo for the first time but I cant be certain. I miss that dog like crazy. I am so sorry to hear this. So difficult to lose them and how devastated you must be. I still have tears whenever I think about losing Perry. I can talk about him and smile with memories, but if anyone who doesn't know he's gone asks about him I just dissolve in tears still. I'm crying now thinking about him. If Leo was anything like Perry I know how much you could trust him and how much you must have loved him. BTW, Jan's dogs are taught from puppyhood not to chew things up. Perry adored his plush toys and never harmed them, and I put that down to Jan's training. He had the run of the house and I knew absolutely that I would never come home to a mess. No dog will ever replace him in my heart, but perhaps with time I can find space for a rescue.

@kjdonkers: How civilized! I can't imagine getting Lela or Binti to do that. You would be surprised! I taught him "pick it up" with clicker training. It's a very useful generic command. You add the names of things as you go. Getting him to bring the item to me was a natural progression, starting with insisting he give it to me to "earn" his reward. Increasing distance gradually leads to a very good retrieve! Perry works best just before his supper time. He knows when he gets it right, dinner will be served. Motivation! :)

I don't think being upside down makes it easier, quite the reverse. Sunny liked to howl. He would tune up on his own or with prompting. My current boy will howl if I encourage it, and occasionally when triggered by something….....e.g. the telephone ringing, if I am not immediately available to answer it. Certainly some dogs are more vocal than others.

Congratulations from Lela and Binti!

Well, as long as I'm with Mama. I'm probably OK…

That is why when I am asked I always include the caveat that the introduction to the collar (whether with invisible fence or remote training) be done carefully and correctly. It might interest you to know that I tried unsuccessfully to use invisible fence with Perry at the farm before I started using an e-collar, and I was unsuccessful because I was not comfortable with the level of correction…....way too high IMO for a sensitive dog! I have no doubt, given my subsequent experience using the remote collar with him, that he would have been one of those dogs who respected the fence, and the failure was entirely mine because I was reluctant to subject him to a high level correction when he didn't understand "why". With the e-collar, I made sure he understood the collar at a very low level (irritating but certainly not painful), and that he knew that the "consequences" were entirely under his control. I think I would be happier with an invisible fence that varied the level of correction in relation to distance from the fence, but that's another topic. I also would not advocate invisible fence for small dogs where the likelihood of trespass by a larger dog is high, since they are then at risk of being attacked "at home". I think the best use of the fence is as backup to a physical fence, to deter climbing or digging out. My views on remote collars for training are also a bit ambiguous, but I do love it for the ability to enforce an already familiar command at a distance. That is how I use mine, and I make no apology for a fleeting application of pain if it keeps my dog safe and under control. It's a trade off I can live with for the freedom I am able to grant him, and he seems to agree with me.

Thanks for the info Debra. They are on HealthyMouth and brushing. Like Arwen, Tucker was diagnosed with CUPS, so we are trying to figure out what works best with him. I am hoping once a day is good, I get in a good two days of brushing usually on the weekends.

@Tp3: Awesome… Perry still looks bad-ass. My B is about to turn 3. How old do you think Perry thinks he is... Cheers I am sure he thinks he is just a young fellow, in the same way he thinks he could beat up that Saint Bernard he sees out for a walk! ;)

Cheers , my basenji gets along with just about every living thing…... Well maybe not birds & squirrels Ha I would love to be in a room with all those basenjis crazy, but so cool.

@Voodoo: If he sees a rabbit, I can stand still for a long time, he wont come to me then. :p Yeah, rabbits certainly rate higher priority. As do deer. One little trick I know from way back when I was a teenager walking dogs for folks, is that if an untrained dog accidentally gets loose and wants to play "keep away", a good trick is to lie down on the ground. Almost invariably, I find the dog will come to check you out. If your timing is good, you can then grab him. But most aren't fooled more than once. :)

Love the pic of the two curly tails looking out the window! They seem so happy together. Wonderful pix. Thanks for sharing them!

Merry Christmas to you too!!!!