Hello - I haven't been on the site for a while but want to tell you your little girl looks just like our Sophie - also a Lab/Basenji (we think - no way to prove it because she's a resuce). After MONTHS of trainers & weekly dog school, I can finally take her for a walk - she has a terrible prey drive & it's been a very long introcution. GOOD LUCK - very cute little girl.

jkhandjls & SOPHIE LOUISE

THANK YOU!! I finally feel there is somebody out there that 'gets it'. Our girl does not respond to any of the 'pack leader' stuff - I'm sure she was dumped because she is just such a stinker. Everytime I hit bottom somebody helps me through the disaster with encouragment (that's why I joined this group.) THANK YOU for your good thougths - things do progress - her private trainer is coming this weekend & we're doing the prong collar. Last night she sat in her crate for almost 45 minutes. No matter what, she's here to stay & she is so darn cute!!!!! That tail is really precious - thank you so much for all your e-support!!

Joanne & Sophie:) :) :) :)

Thank you - I can't tell you how much this website (Basenji Forum) has helped us. We had such a rough 6-7 month beginning with her - we happily hooked up with a great dog school (AKC accredited) & all of their trainers are very positive & helpful. I can actually say that there was a long time period that we didn't even like her - that's all behind us now & we're sooooo in love with her :)
THANKS for the link

Hi - thanks for the suggestion - we're not walking her at all now (per the dog trainer) - will start again in June. We've used the Gentle Leader but will now try the prong collar - not an easy decision!!! Our 'Basenji' is only part B & part Lab - weighs 50 pounds & she is so prey-driven I almost lost her a couple months ago. (I am not a tiny person!! and I know how nuts she is - it was very scarey) So we're working with the trainer & maybe we'll be able to go back to the Gentle Leader as she gets a better idea of who's in charge??!!

THANK YOU - I have no idea why I didn't think of this sooner (the Internet) - we have had a very unpleasant time - we have never resorted to horrible human behavior (& as she is a rescue we assume she's seen that) - but I have had LOTS of sleepless nights & really questioned whether I should actually leave her long enough to go to the grocery store!! SHE IS SOOOOO MUCH BETTER & we work with a good group (3 trainers & 9-10 students) every week & have additional private sessions scheduled. I hate to sound so goofy but it's taken us 6 months to LOVE this girl (we did take good care of her but . . .) in the past month we've all fallen IN LOVE (Spring???)
THANKS BASENJI FORUM

Hello again - we've tried a 'clicker' but I'm not very good at it - by the time I get the darn thing clicked I've lost the moment. But we never used it as you suggested - I'll try that this week & we're building on the crate. Our trainer emphasizes that we need to go very slow with her - she will go in the crate & 'wait' but we have the door off & I always sit on a chair so she can see me. But we're feeding her in the crate & working on it every day. And yes for the 'high value' treat - I cooked chicken this afternoon. Really, it's just recently that we've fallen 'in love' with her - we had so many months with the wrong trainer - wrong theory whatever & when i started reading about Basenjis so many things made sense. We've 'wasted' some time but we've all learned a lot & I don't think she'll have to spend time on a psychiatrist's couch. I love the photo of your two dogs & notice how they cross their legs - so does Sophie. Thanks for all your ideas!~

I just want to thank everyone for all their help - we had no idea what our 'puppy' was - we adopted from a resuce & her story was very tragic - it's taken us a long time to accept her craziness. I wish I had contacted all of you wonderful people before. Just knowing that our little girl is 'normal' is such a relief! THANK YOU - we continue to work with her with new found understanding!!

Hi - thank you - yes - the training classes we went to were through the Humane Society & really weren't meant for our girl. We did get some help & she did get some socialization (Puppy Kindergarten). Her prey drive is lun- ging at anything & everythng that moves - bikes, kids, other dogs, aquirrels, etc. We have spent a lot of time on the wrong processes (hindsight) but every class teaches us something. And we really do love her & she is getting better. YES - she's motivated by food - the "watch me" is at her discretion. We're really convinced that this behaviorist will guide us to helping Sophie become the best little girl in the world. And - thanks for the book reference & the harness suggestions - we don't want her to lose her precious personality - amazingly, she is getting a little more settled with us (6 months) & she's getting older. Have I mentioned how we love this little imp??

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP & SUGGESTIONS - sometimes this is just so intimidating!!

Any suggestions on controlling the 'prey drive'? We adopted a 'part' Basenji & part Lab (we think - she's a rescue that was dumped so we're guessing). She has wrinkles on her forehead, curled tail, almond eyes & she yodels. She is 13 months old - 50 pounds - we've had her for 6 months & attend an AKC accredited dog school every week. Per the dog school behaviorist, we're not walking her until I get better control of her & her prey drive. We ARE NOT discussing an electric collar - we ARE discussing a prong collar. We are hoping we can walk again in June - she & I do almost-daily training sessions (crate & 'heel'). She is so prey-driven. We have tried all the easy stuff (noise cans, water gun, etc.) Any ideas? Any success stories? As much as we were not prepared for this we LOVE her like crazy (her rescue story was so sad we really didn't consider what breed she might be - and truthfully didn't care - still don't care - - - but she's really a handful!!) Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.