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Leash training

Basenji Training
  • Hi there, I have 2 Basenjis ( 1 male 1 female ) and they like to pull…..especially when they see another dog. It seems to come and go as an issue. My wife is 6 months pregnant and she will sometimes have to walk the dogs alone with the little one and having dogs that get crazy when another one shows its face is not good. Pulling in general isnt good. Another thing, its usually one that is super excited/anxious/crazy to see the new dogs and when they start pulling the other usually lashes out at the puller. Im assuming trying to correct it. You im sure know the noises basenjis make and this creates a big scene as well. Just looking foradvice as to how others have handled it. I know patience and being calm are an asset or must, but it is trying at times. Thanks in advance, sorry for the ramble. :)

  • My most hated thing is a dog pulling on a leash. Fortunately, loose leash walking isn't that hard to train. I can take a feral dog and have it loose leash walking in a week. Unfortunately, because their pulling is related to excitement over other dogs, you have quite a bit more work to do with this.

    Loose Leash Walking
    http://www.clickerlessons.com/looseleash.htm

    Leave it
    http://www.clickerlessons.com/leaveit.htm

  • @DebraDownSouth:

    My most hated thing is a dog pulling on a leash. Fortunately, loose leash walking isn't that hard to train. I can take a feral dog and have it loose leash walking in a week. Unfortunately, because their pulling is related to excitement over other dogs, you have quite a bit more work to do with this.

    Loose Leash Walking
    http://www.clickerlessons.com/looseleash.htm

    Leave it
    http://www.clickerlessons.com/leaveit.htm

    Very good articles, Debra. Kipawa still does some pulling, so I am going to work with him on the suggestions given. I am not 100% happy with the obedience class we are in. There were 12 dogs there last week, which is a huge distraction for my social Kipawa. Of course, he needs to focus on me, so in a way, the number of dogs there is a good training item for him too.

    Thank goodness there are folks on here like you on this forum that over the years have found all of these excellent websites.

  • My male rottie was definitely male dog aggressive (except little dogs that he allowed to terrorize, chase – I swear you could see him laughing -- and pretended fear of). The best command I ever taught him was "look at me". It enabled me to take him into crowded dog shows and anywhere because the second I gave the command, he locked his eyes on me. I then gave the "leave it" command. Once a dog at obedience (my 8 yr old child did obedience with him for HER practice) a Great Dane puffed up and challenged him. From 20 feet away he obeyed both look at me and leave it. (They removed the Dane from the class permanently.)

    Loose leash walking is so simple. You stop, or back up, the second there is ANY pressure on the line. No pop jerk, just back up.

    THAT said, if you plan to show, you want a dog working the line to show enthusiasm so don't make the pressure too light, lol. Show dogs don't look good heeling. :)

  • Has your breeder helped you at all?
    If they are pulling as bad as you say, it sounds like it would be easier to work with them if you were walking them one at a time.
    Yes, it means more time on your part, but you have two dogs that need training.
    You could also try using a Halti-Collar..those work great for training a BADsenji. Don't go by the sizes on there… unless your dogs are monster-sized... Basenjis actually wear a Size 1.

  • Love that Kathy…. BADsenji!!!!! Too perfect

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    These front-attaching harnesses work really well in my experience. As soon as the dog starts to pull, it will turn itself towards you, slowing it down. Otherwise the dog has every bit of freedom to do what it wants.