Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Training
  3. Training a puppy

Training a puppy

Basenji Training
  • AndrewA

    I need some advice on training Lola. Our first basenji, Booger, is very laid back and exhibits very few of the "basenji" traits such as destructiveness, escapism, etc (of course he overturns the trashcan occasionally…). But he was very easy to train. Armed with a handful of treats we could teach him any basic command within 5-10 minutes (sit, lay down, come, high 5, high 10). He hasn't mastered stay, but he's pretty good with everything else.
    I'm having trouble with Lola. She's 6 months old now; anytime I try to teach her anything using the same method, she gets so over excited about the treats she doesn't realize I'm trying to teach her something. She just tries to get the treats from me & grumbles at me when I try to put her in the "sit" position (I just gently push down on her rear end). I've heard clicker training works well. And obviously I only use positive reinforcement, but it just hasn't "clicked" with her yet. Should I give it more time? Take her to a PetSmart class? She is so different from Booger I don't really know how else to train her. Suggestions please.
    She is decent at coming when we call her. It might take a few tries because she's still not great at figuring out where you are if you're at the crowded dog park full of humans & tall dogs & you're only 16" tall.

    Carrie & the Brindle Babes, Callie & Lola (Not Andrew)

    0
  • DukeD

    Yes to Pet Smart. I've taken Duke there from Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. They've taught me how to get him to sit with hand signals (with training treats). To get her to sit, let Lola know you've got the treat in hand and put it to her nose, up and back a bit till she naturally sits for it. Don't let her get it until her butt hits the floor. As soon as her butt hits the floor, click and treat her. They taught me the techniques with how to get Duke to do the commands followed with immediate "click-treat". I think one of the first commands was "watch". Soon as he looked me in the eye - click-treat. I've never needed to physically push his rear end down, it's about how you put the treat in hand and where you put your hand as she watches it. Positive reinforcement - is a wonder. I thought Duke was untrainable. He was not quite 7 months old when we went to the Beginner class. Before that … I didn't accomplish much.

    Jill

    0
  • AndrewA

    I'm laughing through my clenched teeth. Haha. I just jumped up & tried the up & back trick once. She just kept scooting back. After about 30 seconds she decided it wasn't worth the trouble & turned to leave the room. She's so smart/stupid. I love her. Haha.

    Carrie & the Brindle Babes, Callie & Lola (Not Andrew)

    0
  • lvossL

    Clicker training is great. I have found teaching finger targeting makes teaching so many things easier. Place finger to one side of your dog's head at about eye level when your dog touches it click/treat. When dog is reliably touching finger, move the finger and if she touches click/treat. Always deliver the treat in the same place the dog touched your finger. You can then teach sit by raising your finger above their head, the head goes up and usually their butt goes down. Teach down with finger on the ground between their front legs, etc. Also great for just getting your dog to move out of your way by pointing your finger off to the side.

    If the treats you are using are too exciting, not usually a problem for mine, try something of a little less value, just regular kibble for in the house and then go from there.

    0
  • S

    Keep trying, its worth it.
    Maybe you need to walk her good before you start…burn off some of that energy!.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • 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!

    0

Suggested Topics

  • J

    Potty Training

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    AntigoneA
    My Dog used a Litter Box until 12 Weeks of Age. After that, I took her to the Horse Farm and let her 'Pack' with older well-trained Dogs. She mimicked their behaviors and she learned how to Sit, Stay, Come when called and lay down. The Dogs did a great job of training mine. I did not have very many problems. these dogs get a bad reputation for being hard to train but they really aren't. They are very stubborn and would rather die than negotiate. Therein lies the importance of understanding the Dog's body language, that tells you all you need to know. They are extremely intelligent and never forget a thing, including people and other animals. Good luck with it!
  • lvossL

    Puppy Coursing

    Basenji Training
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    thunderbird8588T
    Rio sounds like the type of girl to think things out ;) Loved the vid of L'Ox, he's realy grown.
  • lvossL

    Puppy Nosework

    Basenji Training
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    lvossL
    I will try to be good and update each week so if you want to follow along you can. The things that you need is at least 5 boxes, one that should be labeled "Food" and is the only box that gets food in it, so the others aren't cotaminated with the food scent, treats that your dog really loves, and some different areas to work in. The first week the boxes are all in a line. Before I set L'Ox down to work, show him that I am putting the treats in the treat box then I do a "shell game" with the box, tapping it against the other boxes in the line and usually saying things like, "Where's your treat? Is it in this box? Oh, look at this box it looks so good." etc, and at some point switching the food box with one of the other boxes so that he doesn't just cue into the last box I was at and has to really work to find the treats. We do 3 searches in a training session and our goal for the week is to work in 5 locations. Mine will probably be the kitchen, the living room, the backyard, the school down the street, and at a friend's house. It makes things much easier if you have someone to help you but you can work by yourself using a tether or baby gate.
  • cazC

    Crate training

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    basenji_fanB
    When you feed him in the crate and close do you walk away? I had a foster that was terrified of the crate and also suffered terrible anxiety w/peeing in the crate too. So I would feed him in the crate and then close the door and sit right there with him. At first I only closed the door half way, did that way for about a week then was able to close it all the (without latching) for another week. I would sit right next to the crate and praise him for eating his meals. Then I would scoot a few feet back at one meal, move back at the next and do that for a for a few times. Then I would stay at the few feet back. It is a slow process but it really really helped him in his crate training process and getting him over his fear. I was soon able to feed him in his crate and walk away. He was running to his crate and sitting for his meals. He still had his anxiety for long periods w/the peeing problem but we even worked on that were we could leave for short times and he wouldn't pee in his crate
  • A

    Potty training

    Basenji Training
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    14k Views
    tanzaT
    @lisatest: Does a puppy have soft poop and as the puppy gets older the poop becomes more solid? It has been a while since I had a puupy so I can't remember. No… a puppy should also have a solid poo...
  • MiaM

    Puppy pads and other potty training ?

    Basenji Training
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    7k 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!