Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Training
  3. My B will not listen to me

My B will not listen to me

Basenji Training
  • C

    How do you get your Basenji to listen? I've had my little girl for over a year since she was 8 weeks. She's very sweet and smart and knows commands but acts completely deaf sometimes. Anyone have any tips or tricks on how to get her to listen better?:confused:

    0
  • etzbsederE

    You come up with tricks. Usually it is a treat that they like, sometimes a toy, and sometimes they just feel like listening. Try to (re)teach her with a clicker and then maybe she'll listen more. The only downsides are that you have to have a clicker nearby when you want her to listen consistently, and you may spend a tad more on treats. (depending on how much you give her now)

    Michael Feldman
    Gilbert, AZ

    Chaverim Basenjis

    0
  • lvossL

    Start hand feeding her at least one meal a day. If you raise you value to her, she will want to be where you are and find you when you call her. Clicker training is a wonderful tool and you do not need a clicker nearby to use what you have built through clicker training. The function of the clicker is to mark the behaviors you like, and you reward with a treat, toy, etc. The more you reward behavior that you like, the more the behavior will be offered.

    I like using the clicker when working on recall work because I can use it to mark that instant that the dog makes the commitment to move toward me. Since they know the click means a treat is coming they usually hussle to get to me after hearing it. After the dog is responding pretty reliably to hearing their name, I start clicking for speed of response.

    Consistently rewarding name response and building your value through hand feeding can work wonders.

    0
  • wizardW

    I tried using the clicker but I think I couldn't get the hang of it. Then I took EL D to an obedience class - where he never did anything right in class but responded nearly perfectly at home :) Now I just use the simple treat method. I recently trained him to respond to a dog whistle using treats reserved for that and he comes to the whistle on the first blast (though I haven't yet tested it when he's chasing a squirrel).

    0
  • S

    Make sure when you call her, you never scold her or punish her.
    No matter how mad you are, if you call her and she comes, she gets a treat, a pet, or nice warm words.
    I also use treats…once they think they will get a treat most of the time when called, they really do pay attention.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • agilebasenjiA

    you also have to increase you criteria slowly. if you can do a great recall of, say, 20 feet in your backyard, you can NOT expect to go to a park and do a reacall of 40 feet in the midst of squirrels, other dogs, etc. If you only practice "sit" in the kitchen, the dog honestly may not understand "sit" in the front yard. There are 3 D's in training criteria - distance, duration and distractions. be aware of what one you're working on and don't up the criteria of all 3 at one time.

    0
  • JazzysMomJ

    I'm sorry, but I had to chuckle when I first read the question, "How do your get your Basenji to listen?".

    I mean, isn't THAT the $64,000 question?

    0
  • renaultf1R

    @JazzysMom:

    I'm sorry, but I had to chuckle when I first read the question, "How do your get your Basenji to listen?".

    I mean, isn't THAT the $64,000 question?

    Ha, ha, ha…yes it is! ;)

    0
  • AndrewA

    @JazzysMom:

    I'm sorry, but I had to chuckle when I first read the question, "How do your get your Basenji to listen?".

    I mean, isn't THAT the $64,000 question?

    I have no idea what you're talking about… mine are great at listening!!! Its responding properly they sometimes have trouble with. :rolleyes:

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

    0
  • dmcartyD

    My first basenji had a hearing defect. There was only one sound that she consistantly responded too - the toaster popping. So that wasn't too bad - at least it was something - I never could figure out how not to trip on the 50 ft extension cord though so I never used it in the ring.

    As she got older - she would 'bait' in the ring but only for money - paper money and I swear she could 'read' the demoninations. Had to hide it from the judge though cause I couldn've gotten in bit trouble for that.

    0
  • renaultf1R

    @dmcarty:

    My first basenji had a hearing defect. There was only one sound that she consistantly responded too - the toaster popping. So that wasn't too bad - at least it was something - I never could figure out how not to trip on the 50 ft extension cord though so I never used it in the ring.

    As she got older - she would 'bait' in the ring but only for money - paper money and I swear she could 'read' the demoninations. Had to hide it from the judge though cause I couldn've gotten in bit trouble for that.

    Ha, ha, ha…that's classic...will 'bait' for money! :D :D
    Yah, there are days I'd think Ruby was deaf except she always hears the "cheese drawer" open in the fridge!

    0
  • snorky998S

    HAHAHAHA…. yes, listening and responding are 2 different things. There's 'I'm listening but not responding because I choose to do so', there's 'listening and I'm looking at you but I'm pretending you're speaking a foreign language', there's 'Im listening, but the treat you have is not good enough.'

    0

Suggested Topics

  • P

    Teaching B to keep his bones outside?

    Basenji Training
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    16k Views
    mixieM
    We do prey-model raw and mostly feed indoors for a variety of reasons. Animals are fed in their own areas in the utility room. The cats very quickly learned that we strictly defend their food in their places, but if they try to carry it away, the dog(s) get to take it. Our older (non-basenji) dog was never given the option to eat anywhere else except by special circumstance. In the event he gets a bone he can't finish in one sitting, we bag it up and put it in the fridge or the dog food freezer for another time. We mostly feed softer bones, though, so they're generally consumed in no more than an hour or two. Hard weight-bearing bones are bad for teeth. Our nifty new basenji's first raw meal will be in the morning, her first bones later this week!
  • K

    Cycling with 2 B's is possible!

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    M
    wish you can post some photos, these is Zulai, i think that stuff is the best option because is low set on the bike, i use another and cant keep and eye on Maca all the time. So in the future will buy these. Its expensive but well… [image: attachment_p_167712_0_zulai.jpg]
  • PujiP

    Training two b's at once?

    Basenji Training
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    5k Views
    F
    I've got two B x's and I really feel your pain about trying to train them both at the same time! As others have said, it's best to try to get some alone time with each of them and then work them together….. As for when out walking, I have the same issue...our first born is much better behaved, except when they are together in which case he just stirs up trouble with the other one. What we have found works the best is to take them down to the park on leads, and then let the better behaved one off the lead and attach his lead to the others lead (so it's now twice as long) and do a few laps of the park with one off lead and the other on a long lead. Once we've gotten them around a few times and they are both a bit more settled we let the other one off. This works brilliantly. Once they are both off, they behave fairly well and come when called. If we started off with them both off they just tend to wind each other up and end up running around like crazy animals. As far as getting them to 'leave it' when off lead....I have had some success with this, although not always (foster rubbed his face in something very gross just the other day YUCK). I find a very stern 'leave it' works most times, however if it doesn't, I get as close to them as possible and clap my hands really loudly followed by a 'leave it' as loud as I can. I think this just shocks them and gets their attention away from whatever disgusting thing they were looking at. Best of luck to you!!!
  • S

    Wa state "B" match

    Basenji Training
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    3k Views
    MarleyJoM
    Sharron are you going? Thinking about it myself.
  • C

    Travelling B's

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    senjiS
    Glad to hear the trip went well. I'm sure there are people on here that can tell you more, but Bs are about 17 inches at the shoulder. I use my crate all the time. Deke LOVES it. He'd rather sleep in there then with us! It's also his "safe" zone. I have two (human) girls 6 and 10 they are not allowed to bother him in there.. other kids that come over are also told to leave the him alone when in his crate. It is in our kitchen so he's always near us. He actually likes it covered(it's like a den), he's in it when ever we're not home and at night. When he goes to my parents it goes to and his bankets and the cover. He gets a treat most times he goes in. We trained him to go in with the command "crate" but "bed time" works at night. When he was little we just picked him up and put him in we said "crate, good boy" and gave him treats. He just learned to love it. Good Luck
  • RockysWomanR

    My housebroken B now pees in my house!

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    This is really a mystery… I have no other thoughts.... I still think the key somehow is related to the fact that he just "pees"... without thinking about it.... very strange... You might want to just be sure and repeat the urine for a UTI... like I said they can be hard to detect sometimes... I have seen that before... One more thing, has his eating or drinking habits changed?...