Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Training
  3. Whistle training

Whistle training

Basenji Training
  • KipawaK

    Just thought I would share this. Kipawa is very good on recall with his name and visual come command. We go to an area for running that is enclosed, but large enough that Kipawa can get out of my sight. And I really hate that. It's hard on my nerves! :) So, I bought one of those nice and loud referee-type whistles a couple of days back. We have been training him to come when he hears the whistle, as an addition to coming when we call him. He is doing really well with this. Of course, high value treats are given with this exercise. :) I wonder if anyone else has used a whistle? Positive and negative remarks always welcomed here, as I have never owned a basenji before.

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • BenkuraB

    I have a friend with Bs who uses a whistle successfully for recall. I haven't tried it myself yet.

    Victoria Miller & the hounds of Benkura

    www.benkurabasenjis.co.uk

    0
  • thunderbird8588T

    Fran, i have just bought a whistle to try. I find it hard to project my voice loud enough sometimes.

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

    0
  • MacPackM

    This subject is dear to my heart! I trained our 5-pack to all come to a whistle many years ago, when there were no fenced areas to let them run. The whistle sound carries way further than voice, can be heard at a good distance. High value treats came with each return and they were 100% reliable.
    Current pair are not well trained to it as we are always in fenced areas, but I do think it is a great thing to train. I wish all rescue dogs were whistle trained and the whistle went with the dog to the new home, then those that escape will hear a familiar sound. I used to keep my whistle hanging on the back of the front door, first thing I grabbed with an escape.

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

    0
  • agilebasenjiA

    i don't think i could do it! i have a hard enough time keeping up with clickers (over the years I've bought around 30 of them; literally bought 25 at one time), i'd for sure loose a whistle and I myself am incapable of whistling. but I actually think it is an excellent idea. you may want to get Leslie Nelson's Really Realiable Recall booklet and pair it with whistle training.

    0
  • NemoN

    I agree with agile, the approaches in really reliable recall could help enhance the training. With the high value treats, you can do what she calls "fine dining". So don't just give the high value treat but draw it out and break it up into little pieces and feed him one after the other when he comes back. It's like jackpotting.

    You can also use a check cord and work on more intermediate distances to get that really solid.

    Connect with the Basenji Club of America on Facebook

    http://www.facebook.com/basenji.org

    0
  • agilebasenjiA

    @Nemo:

    I agree with agile, the approaches in really reliable recall could help enhance the training. With the high value treats, you can do what she calls "fine dining". So don't just give the high value treat but draw it out and break it up into little pieces and feed him one after the other when he comes back. It's like jackpotting.

    for this sort of thing (big value treats over long time period), the best thing i've found to use is frozen liverwurst. i buy it, slice it and put it in a small container (the leftover cream cheese containers work GREAT for this) then put the container in the freezer. the pup gets to lick the frozen stuff for her high value treat - LOTS of treat over a long time, but not lots of calories or lots of treats in the tummy. the dogs at my house swear liverwurst pupcicles are wonderful. sometimes they will try to nibble, but given it's frozen and in a small container, it's hard to get lots of treats.

    0
  • KipawaK

    @agilebasenji:

    for this sort of thing (big value treats over long time period), the best thing i've found to use is frozen liverwurst. i buy it, slice it and put it in a small container (the leftover cream cheese containers work GREAT for this) then put the container in the freezer. the pup gets to lick the frozen stuff for her high value treat - LOTS of treat over a long time, but not lots of calories or lots of treats in the tummy. the dogs at my house swear liverwurst pupcicles are wonderful. sometimes they will try to nibble, but given it's frozen and in a small container, it's hard to get lots of treats.

    I will try this, but I myself love liverwurst. Hopefully I will not eat it all before getting to the park.

    At the park today, I was about 75% successful with the whistle/treat recall. Not bad for the first time out, I think. Especially because there were easily 20 dogs there, and Kipawa is Mr. Social and has to visit with all of them.

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0

Suggested Topics

  • J

    Potty Training

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    AntigoneA
    My Dog used a Litter Box until 12 Weeks of Age. After that, I took her to the Horse Farm and let her 'Pack' with older well-trained Dogs. She mimicked their behaviors and she learned how to Sit, Stay, Come when called and lay down. The Dogs did a great job of training mine. I did not have very many problems. these dogs get a bad reputation for being hard to train but they really aren't. They are very stubborn and would rather die than negotiate. Therein lies the importance of understanding the Dog's body language, that tells you all you need to know. They are extremely intelligent and never forget a thing, including people and other animals. Good luck with it!
  • S

    Training Question

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    elbrantE
    Just a suggestion: When you see him "misbehaving" by chewing on 'less than ideal' items, offer him one of his toys and use the word "trade". In other words, 'chew on this instead', and when he accepts the toy - praise him. And when you see him get the toy on his own, praise him again. It could help him understand that certain toys are just for those times when you want to "rip someone's head off*". (*not meant literally, only in doggy world play)
  • K

    House training

    Basenji Training
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    2k Views
    No one has replied
  • NerdyDogOwnerN

    Alone training

    Basenji Training
    71
    0 Votes
    71 Posts
    29k Views
    AnetteA
    Just curious - have you tested the drug yet? How is it working? I take it you can read norwegian as you live her. If you want to, I can email you som info I got after a session with Gry L?berg regarding my Giants seperation anxiety, it has a training program in it, and some general info.
  • cazC

    Crate training

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    basenji_fanB
    When you feed him in the crate and close do you walk away? I had a foster that was terrified of the crate and also suffered terrible anxiety w/peeing in the crate too. So I would feed him in the crate and then close the door and sit right there with him. At first I only closed the door half way, did that way for about a week then was able to close it all the (without latching) for another week. I would sit right next to the crate and praise him for eating his meals. Then I would scoot a few feet back at one meal, move back at the next and do that for a for a few times. Then I would stay at the few feet back. It is a slow process but it really really helped him in his crate training process and getting him over his fear. I was soon able to feed him in his crate and walk away. He was running to his crate and sitting for his meals. He still had his anxiety for long periods w/the peeing problem but we even worked on that were we could leave for short times and he wouldn't pee in his crate
  • AndrewA

    Training a puppy

    Basenji Training
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    Robin_n_JackR
    HA! We did the up& back method at my petsmart class. Jack is so flexible, he would actually follow the treat back with his head, until his head was almost lying on his back. I think what I finally had to do was push his butt down with one hand, while holding the treat in front of his face with the other. He got really good at it…now, he sits when I snap my fingers, when I say sit, or, my favorite, when I salute him. Good luck!