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Looking for advice on . . .

Basenji Training
  • what kind of skateboard to buy for Zest!.

    At our last freestyle obedience class, the instructor brought a skateboard. Zest! loved it. She went up to it and put one foot on it and then I blinked and 3 feet were on it. Did not want to let the other dog have his turn at it, so I had to pick her up and bodily remove her from "her" new toy. So, now I'm looking for a skateboard. But, alas, I know nothing about these things. Granted, cheaper is better and we will have to go into "town" to use it. (We live on a gravel road with a gravel driveway and the kitchen is not big enough.) I don't think they make special skateboards for dogs, do they? Do they make color-your-own boards? She'd like something sparkly in pink/purple/gold with her name or pawprints or ???

  • You go, Zest! How fun!

    You can probably find a Girl skateboard (complete) with a 7.75" or 8" deck for around $50 or $60 on Amazon. For a better selection, check www.girlskateboards.com. That's a good beginner board– maybe more than you want to spend for your new B-boarder?

    But when she gets really good-- or if you feel like indulging a budding talent-- you can build a personalized princess board with bling-bling and pink wheels:

    http://www.zazzle.com/pink+princess+skateboards

    Don't suppose she'd go for a pink sparkly tiara helmet?

  • thanks, but yes, that's a bit more than i wanted to spend. at least until we find out if she really likes this new interest or if it is just a passing fancy. you know how kids are. i stopped by goodwill on the way home, but all they had was one without wheels, which seems to sort of miss the point. I can buy a cheaper board without wheels at Lowe's.

    if you see a sparkly pink tiara helmet that would fit a basenji, please let me know.

  • I would think at this stage the best strategy would be to borrow or "rent" one. Do you have any kids in the area that might be willing to loan their board in exchange for watching your girl learn something new? Or perhaps canvas your fellow agility competitors, :)

  • You can also make a beginner board with a piece of plywood and cheap storebought wheels. I had a neighbor who cut a piece of plywood into a bone shape and put wheels on it for his dog. You could paint it pink and purple, decorate with a glitter pen, stickers, you name it! That would run you $20 or so, if you can't find something on eBay. The shipping costs might get you there, though. Hope you find something cute!

  • How is Zest's skateboarding going? And we'd love to see pics. :)

  • Thanks for asking! I did manage to find a 'board at goodwill a few weeks ago. I think it was about $4, so I brought it home. Unfortunately, we havent' done much with it. We have just a small space to practice and we had some weird weather. so we've only had one or two practice sessions. BUT, I did find a press on light at the dollar store. (a light that you press to turn on/off) And that was a big hit! We can play with that inside. Zest! thought it a lot of fun, but tended to think it needed to be scooted around the kitchen like a hockey puck! (Hmmm, maybe i need to find a hockey puck)

  • Is that a common thing with basenjis that they put their foot on something and scoot it around the place, Kaiser does that a lot. We have wooden floors so they are perfect for scooting.

    Jolanda and Kaiser

  • LOL, Cara too. I throw soda boxes on the floor and she jumps on them then uses as a way to push and slide around the floor.

  • Oakley too..he likes pasta boxes and treat bags…scoot around like a skateboard!

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    @Hooligan: Hello all, Plus it was expensive! Over 3k! I'd do it again in a heartbeat but it can only happen so many times, lol. yikes! I know some people have suggested getting another dog for separation anxiety, but he doesn't like other dogs at all, so that's not an option for us. Does anyone have an opinion on kennel vs. crate? I want either one to be positive - his home & refuge, not punishment. I don't want him to dislike going in the basement because of the kennel, because we want to encourage him to go hang out with Josh in the studio. I worry it's colder in the basement, but he'd have more room. I don't know if we should try covering all the wood somehow so he has only chain link, or if we need to buy a separate, fully-enclosed chain link & metal kennel? Or stick with the crate? I feel bad about putting him in the crate. He can stand and turn but it's not that big. It's kind of nice that we can have the crate upstairs anywhere and we have been playing games of find-the-treat with him so he gets to associate the crate with good things and it's not as easy to do that with the kennel. What do you all think? Thanks guys! I am sorry that I suggested the other dog, didn't know he 'came' that way to you. I have provided a referral list from the website of certified trainers and behaviorist in your state. http://www.ccpdt.org/index.php?option=com_certificants&task=directory&state=WI I personally know Sarah Kalanjas by way of attending her seminars. http://www.bluedogtraining.com/problem-behavior.html If you do hire someone, make sure that they understand the CAT/BAT or counter conditioning process for your boy and his (possibly) fear aggression with other dogs. Maybe in stead of having any wood in the chain link kennel, just have one or two kongs and such in a plain ol chain link with a chain link topper on it. Construct it so it is large enough for him to use a corner to potty (grass mat?) if he so needs (don't know how long you both are gone….) a medium large one or so for long periods. http://www.doghouses.com/dog-kennels/dog-kennels-and-runs/cottageviewdogkennel1.cfm hoping for the best for you!
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    Some dogs, as the others have said, just run better by themselves. I'm not very fortunate as mine, for the most part, won't run away from me, but I'm working on it. We wear muzzles up in Canada and after they get used to them, they get excited when they see them come out.
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    Sorry I didn't back sooner I was out of town for the weekend. I'll look for some other sites, my problem is I have four different computers at home I use and each one has different favotires LOL. I know somewhere I have a site that lists a varity of different ones. Here's some more sites http://www.kristalas.com/leads/525adjustablelead.htm http://www.kristalas.com/leads/2125021adjustable.htm http://www.dogdishsupply.com/index.cfm/fa/subcategories.main/parentcat/23104/subcatid/54526 http://www.prestonleashes.com/6WayEuropeanLead.htm (picture doesn't show right leash and it's a new zealand site, but I have a rogz multi purpose leash and its great, very durable) http://www.furrkids.co.nz/shop/SHOP+DOG/Leads+&+Harnesses/ROGZ+Multipurpose+Lead.html http://www.genuinedoggear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=GDG&Category_Code=dog_multi_leash
  • Need some advice…

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    QuercusQ
    <> He may not find a kong with PB all that important. I am sure there is something out there, that he would find rewarding enough to go into the kitchen when he KNOWS he is going in for the day. Try a raw marrow bone...like a knuckle or femur that you can get from a butcher. Try not feeding him at all, until he goes into the kitchen in the morning...if he wants to eat, he has to go into the kitchen. Other than that, it sounds like you are handling it very well. He may have to wear a lead to get him into the kitchen, then you can remove it. I imagine he was allowed to pretty much do whatever he wanted in his last home...so he is confused with the new restrictions, and boundaries you have put in place (ones that he should have had from the beginning). It is hard when a dog has to start from square one, especially when they have learned that using their mouth can get them what they want. Good for you for hanging in there. He will eventually learn that he has to cooperate. I would definitely use his food for reward for good behavior. Doesn't mean you have to withhold his food if he doesn't cooperate...but you can use his food to help him realize what you want him to do.