Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Leash Behavior (or lack thereof)

Leash Behavior (or lack thereof)

Behavioral Issues
  • J

    I just switched all three of my dogs to Martingale collars. Prior to that we were using a choke chain, a harness and an old martingale style collar. Two of my dogs are fine, the harness dog however is quite feisty and since we stopped using the harness she is crazy when we're trying to walk. Depending upon the length of our walk we have to cross two busy streets. Last night she had Guppy on his back in the middle of one of the streets wrestling with him all the while a car was coming and I was tangled in leashes. We got away safely but I'm not sure what to do with her. Not walking her isn't the answer, I thought about putting her back on the harness but I want her to learn to behave on the walks. Any suggestions??

    0
  • lvossL

    It is really hard to train new behaviors if you are trying to work multiple dogs at once. When you do not have time to actively train the dog while out on a walk, use a harness so she does not practice the bad behaviors. Set aside time to train her to walk nicely on the martingale. Reward her for good behavior. As she gets the idea of where she is supposed to be and what she is supposed to be doing, then you can start to go to variable reinforcement. Until she has a good grasp of what is expected, don't use the martingale on her when you are walking her with another dog and she will have the opportunity to practice bad behavior.

    0
  • Shaye's MomS

    Jacquie: I stand by the Easy Walk harness - the ring being in front of their chests gives you more control over where they are headed. Walking our B's with just collars, of any kind, can be a real problem, and walking three, as you have made clear, is a mess. To save my shoulders and wrists, mine are never out without their harnesses when I'm walking both. Walking one is possible on just a collar by putting it high on their necks, just under the chin, and keeping the leash short. (Like they walk them in dog shows; I call it Shaye's "princess walk") But that's tiring and doesn't teach them much. Ivoss' reply is right on. PS how you doin' out there?

    0
  • Buddys PalB

    You can try walking her with the familiar harness on her as well as the martingale. Try this a few times with just her. You may feel a little like a puppetier, but concentrate on the leash attached to the harness and she'll feel the collar on her neck at the same time. when you heel or stop apply a little pressure on both leashes. This is in essence sensitizing her to the 'new' sensation and she will eventually get it if there are no harsh tugs etc….Try to stay calm, do not correct with the leashe(s), and if she 'death rolls' just be patient and keep safety in mind foremost. (get her untangled calmly after her tantrum should it happen.....) PRAISE-PRAISE-PRAISE when she is walking calmly and she should get it, throw in some treats along the way and have a fun tone to your voice for reassurance!

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    My suggestion is that you start with short walks with just her, a couple of times a day, teaching loose leash walking. While heeling is not a fun way to take walks, you may also need to do that.
    http://www.clickerlessons.com/looseleash.htm So easy you'll feel faint once you try it. :)

    Debra

    0
  • BettawhippetB

    I've had to re-train Kiora on leash walking now that she is an only dog. When I used to walk her with Ananda she would match her speed more or less…turns out walking by herself she pretty much thought anything goes. What I did was as soon as soon as she applied pressure to the leash I would stop until she let it go slack. Continuing the walk was her reward for having a loose leash. If she stopped and sat she got a treat as well. Now she is walking on a loose leash pretty consistently...she only tugs if she gets worked up about something and then she will stop, sigh and then sit....

    0
  • Buddys PalB

    @Jacquieoutwest:

    I just switched all three of my dogs to Martingale collars. Any suggestions??

    Hey Jacquieoutwest! How's it going?? what have you tried and did it work????

    0

Suggested Topics

  • C

    strange behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    First, yeah they do the flip and butt in face. I see it as invitation to play/chase mostly. Kind of shaking my head here over the rest. You already have a breed known for dominance and protectiveness of property/family with the Boerboel. Basenjis (I assume you mean 6.5 not 65 years old :) ) are not known for tolerating same sex. Sometimes they do, but not a sure bet. Plus, your Boerboel is still a puppy. By age 2 or 3, that compliance with the Basenji being alpha can go down the drain at a drop of a hat. That happens, and he hasn't killed the basenji... you have to keep 2 packs running, ensuring they never have contact. Then you bring in a mixed breed... which is all a Mastador is. No way on earth to know how much it will take after the lab side or the Mastiff. AND it's another male. So now you have potentially 3 dog aggressive male dogs, with 2 of them large enough to inhale the basenji. I am not sure about the breeders who placed the Boerboel, certainly not the owners letting you bring in the Mastador. I want my male dogs to have a chance of a peaceful, unstressful life. I think the chances in your home are already approaching really low numbers, and the Mastador is going to bring that closer to zero. The safety of that poor basenji is beyond precarious. I wouldn't want those 3 males in the most experienced of homes, one already fully ready to and experienced in running separate packs. I sincerely hope you reconsider the Mastador. And no, getting a female won't help. Until the Boerboel is fully mature and you have a handle on what your pack is, adding any dog is going to up the risk of issues.
  • H

    Collar and Leash

    Behavioral Issues
    23
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    7k Views
    C
    My experience with my Belle, who was 8weeks old when we started leash trainning, is the old standard "link leash" no cloth or material leash, My vet sales a brank of leash and collars and if your dogs chews throug, no question asked, you return it and replaced on the spot….It has worked so far, I will check out tomorrow of the brand I don't remember but the collars are great....I will let you know. Check out my album and see my husband and the 3 B's on the first walk together after the new fosters came.....
  • nobarkusN

    Off leash and good behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    26
    0 Votes
    26 Posts
    6k Views
    nobarkusN
    My past Basenjis did great off leash right away and stayed right with me. This youngster is not aloof and loves to play and see everybody. So it was too early to try that test.
  • KanangaK

    Outside Behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    7k Views
    KanangaK
    @LBRunyon: I have a supplementary question along these same lines . We got our BRAT Ricky two weeks ago ( YIPPEE!!!! ) He is WONDERFUL . The only problem we are having is that he WILL NOT potty in our fenced in yard . In fact , it seems he won't go within 1 block of our house . We walk in the am and pm . He is very particular about where he will go, though he sniffs every available surface . While the weather is nice , I really don't mind this . We would be walking anyway . But when the frigid cold hits , it would be nice to open the door and have him go out , do his business quickly , and return . We have tried waiting him out in hopes of praise and treats once he goes in the yard . But Mr. iron- bladder- steel- sphincter WON'T go in the yard. Are there any suggestions ?Oh , by the way, once we are out of the yard and down the street he goes after a few quick sniffs . I have to take my B outside no matter what. It's nice during the spring/summer/fall, but the midst of winter is just simply brutal. -20F with a nice wind (colder windchill) will make any B go quickly, but it's still painful for us humans.
  • BasenjiByTheBayB

    On-Leash Snarking

    Behavioral Issues
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    5k Views
    jessi76J
    @sharronhurlbut: Training with treats will work, if you take it slow. Clicker training works as well. I was going to say the same thing. I would carry a treat bag with me, and a clicker when out on leash. Use the clicker to mark correct behavior, i.e., sitting calmly while another dog passes. If my dog gets snarky on leash, I promptly stand in front of him, and put him in a sit/wait with a focus on ME (not the other dog). if he persists, I simply become a "goalie" and continue to block his path, get eye contact, and again, get a sit/wait.
  • luzmery928L

    Agressive behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    38
    0 Votes
    38 Posts
    12k Views
    luzmery928L
    Well last night was good. My daughter wasn't feeling to well so I went to lay with her on her bed and our B came with us. When it was time to get off the bed, my daughter took him down and he did not show any aggresive behavior and when it was time to exit the room he didn't growl or anything. This is a good step though I still haven't been able to stop the nipping but hey it's still good!