Hello Max,
Clarisse and I, like the outdoors, so fishing and hiking is a norm in this household and one of the many things I do with Kairoe when it comes to bonding. His mom has him for the show ring and when Kairoe and I are together, I get to show him what it's like to be a loose dog in the wild.:p In fact, it was at Shaun's age was when we began recall training with our B - which we've concluded as an everyday adventure. We haven't gone camping yet, but came back from the cottage over the weekend; a first for all of us. Our big worry was the fire pit, ticks and insect bites, but he did quite well and enjoyed the warmth in a pit he dug by the fire. We also kept Benedryl close by just in case he got bit.
We only have off-leash advice to offer, as most of Kairoe's training sessions happened during our hikes or on fishing excursions. It's great that you have this opportunity with Shaun, as camping = hiking = a more relaxing way to figure out the trust issues you'll have with your B and a wonderful way to help you understand his quirks. Shaun being 6 months old, will not have his legs or the confidence when it comes to his full out running potential. So, testing him off leash in an unknown environment is a lot simpler because your dog will look to you more for guidance. If you think your B is fast now, wait til' he hits 12 months…then you'll be more paranoid as to how fast he can bolt out of your sight. I used to be able to out run Kairoe, but now, he's almost twice as fast as I am and he's just 19 months old. I consider myself physically fit and was a former track athlete.
Some advice would be to definitely know your trails, just in case he does wander off. Always...always keep your B's leash tethered to him, this will give you that extra 6.5' to grab onto for the "just in case" times - like squirrels, rabbits and other dogs. I believe some people on the forum have 12' & 40' training leads when out and about; we're also considering adding more length to his hiking lead because as you know, there's nothing more beautiful than watching your dog enjoying itself off leash and running in the wild. Always...always, look ahead of you for said critters until his recall is good enough to keep him from bolting. Many people would disagree to keep the dogs leash tethered to him while roaming freely but I think it's more logical to have some sort of tether on him. I figure that IF he does bolt, the leash will eventually get caught in some brush and he'll call out for assistance and will give you that extra time to catch up to him. I would never use a chain leash and opt for his climbing rope leash just in case the little guy needed to chew his way out of a predicament. I also attach a carabiner to the free end of the leash which makes for easier tie downs and serves as a noise maker when I do let him investigate into the bush. A bell on Shaun's collar is another option, while a whistle on hand is a great way to get his attention. And, even a walking stick comes in handy from time to time.
All this may seem easy, but like anything with a B, it took time. We were a bit nervous at first, but knowing the lay of land and having no roads nearby, helped sooth our thoughts. At first, we started off by holding onto the leash to make sure that he was calm. Then we began dropping the leash unsuspectingly to see how he'd react. One key training method that helped keep Kairoe at bay was to make it a habit to randomly step on Kairoe's leash just to remind him that he's not the Alpha and that he had gone too far ahead. We do this with Kairoe and it works like a charm. It keeps him close to our side and makes him more attentive when he's off leash.
Hopefully, you'll get over any your fears, because having our free roaming time made playing games like "catch up' - keeping him in the middle of the path while one of us walked ahead and called for him, was fun. I like taking photographs during our walks, so having your B come back and stare at you like he's saying "c'mon, catch up" is a beautiful thing. Sooner or later the games would have us running away in the opposite directions and have the dog catch you. lol - reverse psychology for B's.
One of the best advices we got was from a Weimaraner owner who was out in the bush when his dog decided to chase after a bear. He was so peeved at his dog's recall that he decided to play hide and seek with his dog. He'd wait til his dog wasn't paying attention to him and then hide behind a tree and watched how his dog would react. We learned so much just by playing this simple game.
Recall training was some of the best times we had with our B. We hope that your hikes will be as pleasurable and hopefully you'll figure out that some of the paranoid stigma that's attached to this breed doesn't necessarily pertain to your own dog.
Enjoy your trips together and stay safe!
BTW - we have a 12' wire tether wrapped in a plastic outer for the cottage or camp site and works perfect - even moreso when your dog understands the 'leave it' command. It's light and fits perfectly in any camera bag / back pack and gives the pup a little more freedom to roam with the added bonus that he cannot chew through it. We rarely use the corkscrew tie down that comes with the package and prefer to latch the tether onto a tree, picnic table or even a back pack.
Cheers,
Emmanuel + Clarisse + Kairoe
Posted are a few pics from some of our hikes.
Kairoe @ 6 Months - "C'mon, catch up!"
Kairoe @ 9 months - THE one time I knew I should've brought my own camera!
Kairoe @ 11 months - My Fishing buddy!
What cute pictures - and what a beautiful pup!
Beautiful Basenji amongst beautiful scenery.
Beautiful puppy.
Great stuff and nice photos. Its nice to see pics of Basenjis outdoors.
When we used to take basenjis to a big off leash area (unfenced, but remote) I trained them all to come to a sports-type whistle. That sound carries much further than your voice, and with only a short time of treat training, my guys would come back immediately (if no rabbits were involved) and after 10 or 15 minutes with intermittent whistling, if they bolted into the swamp! I am a huge fan of a good whistle (usually part of hiking equipment, anyway) and "high-value' treat training for recall, before venturing off leash.
That sounds like a really good suggestion, MacPack - I think I'll try that with mine - they aren't great for returning when called, which is why they are never offleash.
Success! Shaun had a great time during a quick two day camping trip to Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound. Weather was perfect. Shaun enjoyed hanging out at the camp site, running off leash on the beach and lots of hiking in the woods. It got a little cold at night so he managed to nestle way into the warmth of our sleeping bags. He also seems more used to car travel which is great.
More details and photos to come…
Success! Shaun had a great time during a quick two day camping trip to Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound. Weather was perfect. Shaun enjoyed hanging out at the camp site, running off leash on the beach and lots of hiking in the woods. It got a little cold at night so he managed to nestle way into the warmth of our sleeping bags. He also seems more used to car travel which is great.
More details and photos to come…
Now you have done it:eek:
Every time you start packing the car for a trip guees who thinks he is going camping..
Great to hear Shaun and yourselfs had a great time, looking foward to the photos.
Great news SeattleMax.
My hubby and I are renting a house on Whidbey for a week next month. There is suspose to be a very nice beach the dogs can run on. I am looking forward to seeing how the 2 b's do.
Thanks for this post.
OK Guys, I finally posted a bunch of photos and a trip report from this brief camping trip here: http://basenji-shaun.com/beach.html
Enjoy…
Max
Hi, i know this is an old-er thread. but im glad its here. me and my partner do alot of camping/hiking etc. we are planning our first camping trip with our B for the end of september. its to my home town Muttaburra (Queensland, Australia - home of the Muttaburrasarous)…. a little town surrounded by cattle/sheep stations. (for example: towns population.. 20 lol). It has a school, a pub and a museum lol.
So.. it is out west and we will be camping. Our b is crate trained. but this is the plan so far:
Nights: sleep with us in a tent (she sleeps in bed with us at home) so thats fine. we are taking the crate incase we need to crate her (and for travelling)
Days: we will be out fishing/hiking/exploring etc as well as hanging around campsite. it is the aussie bush though (LOTSSS of kangaroos, lizards, rabbits, possums etc) and so im not keen on letting her offleash ...at all. But when we do lounge around campsite i will be tieing her to a post that has a 360 spinning part that you clip ur lead onto (im thinking of getting a chain as seen in previous comments).
We will be bringing our own water from home or bottled water (the town runs on bore water- gross). So thats fine. We are going to be roughing it out (tent, esky and portable bbq, no lights except gas lights etc)... No electricity and going to the loo "old style" LOL
Is there anything i should be concerened about? Can i use mozzie repellant on my b? or is there special dog friendly stuff?
I am a little nervous taking her out first time, im sure she will love it. As the whole family is going (parents, brother and sister and my partner). So she will always have someone to play with (my sister is only 9 and they both just love playing together).
Any tips for travelling? She will be crated. Just pit stops and plenty to drink/eat?
We are taking for her:
Food
Water
Crate
Numorous leads
Her soft bed
Toys
? Also she has a white nose, can i use some sort of sunscreen? id hate it if she got burnt on our walks.
...
We also hunt. I plan on getting her used to the sound of guns (.22 to begin with, which isnt loud. Then a larger gun later once she knows what they are). She wont be out on any hunts but if we need to use the rifle around her to protect ourselfs (it is the bush, we have wild boars etc). i need to make sure she wont bolt/freak. Any tips on this? should i hold her the first time or show it to her or distract her and play like nothing is happening? We have been making loud noises around home and shes not too fussed with anything but a gun shot is still unique noise in its self.
Hi Lysh,
I think you, and what is more important, you b will have a wonderful time away. I am an Aussie too, but live in NSW. For your b, I would be looking for something to prevent it from ticks. They are a worry and can be deadly. As for using your guns to protect yourself, please don't forget how dangerous the kangaroos are. Then there is the saber-toothed koala, deadly at night. (kidding)
As for mossie repellant, the basenji tongue is a wonderful thing and will remove anything from it's body that it doesn't want.
Have a wonderful trip and please post lots of pictures.
Glad you had a great time camping!!
I take Maya caravanning to the shows, she LOVES it! Never done a tent cos im a bit of a wimp but Maya would enjoy that too im sure. She gets so excited when she sees the caravan getting sorted and drives everyone mad jumping in and out of it "helping" 
Here's a few pics of our caravanning experience:
Maya - with all the dogs taking the bed, do they at least leave you the floor to sleep on - or do you have to sleep outside? :D:D:D:D
Maya - with all the dogs taking the bed, do they at least leave you the floor to sleep on - or do you have to sleep outside? :D:D:D:D
You know, they would happily let me sleep outside on the floor and not feel in the least bit guilty :rolleyes:
What i actually have to do is perch on the edge of the bed around them and try not to fall off it in the night :rolleyes: Then i wake up with a very achy back, but with some very comfy, relaxed, refreshed dogs
With respect to the insect repellant - human repellant is toxic for dogs, and really shouldn't be used. If you go online and type "insect repellant for dogs" into your browser, you will be able to find a great recipe for making one specifically for the pups. I don't know, of course, what your local pet shops offer, but maybe they have one as well. Good luck on your camping trip - ours love camping, and I know yours will too!
Hi, i know this is an old-er thread. but im glad its here. me and my partner do alot of camping/hiking etc. we are planning our first camping trip with our B for the end of september. its to my home town Muttaburra (Queensland, Australia - home of the Muttaburrasarous)…. a little town surrounded by cattle/sheep stations. (for example: towns population.. 20 lol). It has a school, a pub and a museum lol.
So.. it is out west and we will be camping. Our b is crate trained. but this is the plan so far:
Nights: sleep with us in a tent (she sleeps in bed with us at home) so thats fine. we are taking the crate incase we need to crate her (and for travelling)
Days: we will be out fishing/hiking/exploring etc as well as hanging around campsite. it is the aussie bush though (LOTSSS of kangaroos, lizards, rabbits, possums etc) and so im not keen on letting her offleash ...at all. But when we do lounge around campsite i will be tieing her to a post that has a 360 spinning part that you clip ur lead onto (im thinking of getting a chain as seen in previous comments).
We will be bringing our own water from home or bottled water (the town runs on bore water- gross). So thats fine. We are going to be roughing it out (tent, esky and portable bbq, no lights except gas lights etc)... No electricity and going to the loo "old style" LOL
Is there anything i should be concerened about? Can i use mozzie repellant on my b? or is there special dog friendly stuff?
I am a little nervous taking her out first time, im sure she will love it. As the whole family is going (parents, brother and sister and my partner). So she will always have someone to play with (my sister is only 9 and they both just love playing together).
Any tips for travelling? She will be crated. Just pit stops and plenty to drink/eat?
We are taking for her:
Food
Water
Crate
Numorous leads
Her soft bed
Toys? Also she has a white nose, can i use some sort of sunscreen? id hate it if she got burnt on our walks.
...
We also hunt. I plan on getting her used to the sound of guns (.22 to begin with, which isnt loud. Then a larger gun later once she knows what they are). She wont be out on any hunts but if we need to use the rifle around her to protect ourselfs (it is the bush, we have wild boars etc). i need to make sure she wont bolt/freak. Any tips on this? should i hold her the first time or show it to her or distract her and play like nothing is happening? We have been making loud noises around home and shes not too fussed with anything but a gun shot is still unique noise in its self.
We used a flea/tick collar that went around his usual collar and it seemed to work fine. We didn't notice any insects nagging our B and we checked for flea & ticks every night before going to bed.
OK Guys, I finally posted a bunch of photos and a trip report from this brief camping trip here: http://basenji-shaun.com/beach.html
Enjoy…
Max
lol…Fantastic pics and vids posted on your site! Glad you all had a great time camping and keeping the B safe. Great set-up you have for your cam.
Your site has been marked in Kairoe's fav's folder, so now you have fans in Toronto!
Cheers!
As for using your guns to protect yourself, please don't forget how dangerous the kangaroos are. Then there is the saber-toothed koala, deadly at night. (kidding)
LOL "argh! DROP BEARS!!" hahaha aussie drop bears = the koala lol jks. Kangaroos arent too much of a bother 
its the boars that go running and scurringing through you campsite at night when your in bed thats the worry 
I look forward to taking many photos and sharing our adventures
Already have tick prevention underway - but that is a good point, when we were out there last year we each got a couple of ticks on ourselfs each. Ill always check her though 
Anyone came across any ideas whilst out camping with the whole "i should do this 'idea' next time" ?
@Shaye's:
With respect to the insect repellant - human repellant is toxic for dogs, and really shouldn't be used. If you go online and type "insect repellant for dogs" into your browser, you will be able to find a great recipe for making one specifically for the pups. I don't know, of course, what your local pet shops offer, but maybe they have one as well. Good luck on your camping trip - ours love camping, and I know yours will too!
Thanks - i will suss it out. I wasnt too sure or not so i wasnt goin to use it until i found out. We use normal repellent on our horses here so was just seeing if it was possible on dogs (of course horses and dogs are different hence why i asked the q. hehe) All i do know is - mozzies are terrible and even though shes a dog, id prefer to offer some form of comfort rather then constant annoyance from them. I know the horses enjoy the relief from them once they get sprayed.
