Impressive behavior

Basenji Training
Log in to reply
  • wizardW

    As some of you may remember, I was having trouble with Gossy zooming off in agility class after we started with sequence training. To try and counteract this, we've been working with leash attached. In addition at home I've been working my way through "Control Unleashed" and we've also been taking a "Revamping Recall" class.

    So last night in agility class, we started right off with a complicated (for me) sequence to do. I decided to run Gossy without the leash to see how she'd do and because I didn't want her to get tangled.

    OMG - did she ever surprise me! Not only did she not zoom off, she stayed relatively close and was obviously paying attention to me. She ran slightly ahead of me so I couldn't always use hand signals on some of the obstacles but she did whatever I called out. Even our instructor was impressed. There's hope afterall ;)

    0
  • BasenjimammaB
    Houston

    Glad to hear you found something that seems to work..sometimes giving more (or less ;) ) rein works.

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

    0
  • agilebasenjiA

    wonderful news. so glad you are getting to see those moments of brilliance ;-)

    0
  • lisastewartL

    great news,

    Joe & Lisa Stewart

    Rolla, MO

    http://khursdogbed.com

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    YEAH! Now, video please!

    Debra

    0
  • KipawaK

    I'm with Debra - would love to see a video of Gossy!

    How our basenjis surprise us! Further proof that they are not an unintelligent breed, but rather one that will do things when the time is right for them. :)

    Good work - keep it up!

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • P

    < Further proof that they are not an unintelligent breed, but rather one that will do things Exactly so Fran!
    Wizard, congratulations to you and Gossy.

    0
  • agilebasenjiA

    this is actually part of a master plan by your basenji to humble you in public. she will be oh, so awesome in class only to look blankly at you when you speak her name at a real trial. Not that I have anything like personal experience with that sort of scenario. :p

    really, it's a very fun trip. ;)

    0
  • tanzaT

    LOL agilebasenji… that is what all Basenjis live for, regardless of the venue!!! Same happens in the show ring... I do what? I stand how? I gait easily? I think NOT

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • agilebasenjiA

    Oh hard stacking Zest in the show ring was always a major PITA. You could pick a foot up, but then she was NOTNOTNOT going to put that foot down. You could put it down for her, but it would spring right back up.

    Digital the brindlewonderkid would never put a foot wrong in the show ring, easy to stack, wonderful to gait (all I ever had to do was just hold on to the other end, literally, and he'd trot out to the end of the leash), but he would do it all 1/2 asleep. For some reason judges like to see alert looks on the dogs' faces.

    Ah well, best to have a sense of humor.

    0

Suggested Topics

  • eeeefarmE

    Operant Conditioning (explained)

    Basenji Training
    10
    3 Votes
    10 Posts
    2k Views
    eeeefarmE
    @elbrant said in Operant Conditioning (explained): @eeeefarm said in Operant Conditioning (explained): some professional trainers suggest to their classes that they starve dogs that aren't all that food motivated This is just disturbing... in today's society, this type of behavior would be considered animal cruelty. Certainly we can find a way to encourage compliance without depriving an animal basic care. I know, it shocked me too when I heard it. The first instance was a friend of mine whose Border Collie was disinterested in food rewards, and she was advised by the instructor not to feed the dog anything on class days so there would be an incentive to accept treats. The second instance was my niece, and in this case a German Shepherd dog that again didn't want to take treats, and she was given the same advice by a different trainer, in fact in a different city, so it appears that it isn't unusual. Both these dogs work well for praise and in both cases the owners declined to starve the dogs....
  • eeeefarmE

    Learning from nature

    Basenji Training
    3
    5 Votes
    3 Posts
    450 Views
    tanzaT
    @eeeefarm - Totally agree with both of you, while I don't do the "restrain the pup", but if it works great and in a pinch it does work for me if really needed. When we have pups (babies) and Mom is tired of them and puts herself in a position that they can't reach her, they turn to the next adult in the house.... same thing will happen if they get over excited and yes, I have seen Basenji Moms, pin the pup to the ground and/or other adults in the home.... so it is something that a pup understands. Walking away works for me... or I try to change up the "game" by turning to working their minds and getting them to think about other things. In the Basenji Breed this is another way of teaching them that the prior behavior is not acceptable. They learn pretty quickly. Thanks for posting this thread eeeefarm... well needed...
  • eeeefarmE

    Communication

    Basenji Training
    1
    3 Votes
    1 Posts
    875 Views
    No one has replied
  • L

    Brain stimulating

    Basenji Training
    11
    1 Votes
    11 Posts
    1k Views
    S
    Chase is great... if he's chasing you. But if you're chasing him, this is very bad. Playing chase, with him chasing you, will also help with engagement. Play chase with food. Also, I would recommend hand-feeding for (at least) a month. You want to build value in you. In addition, it has to be said, that some puppies are just lazy and like being bummy. You can encourage active behavior by making yourself valuable (so he wants to be around you) and by making activities valuable. At 6 months however, you might be out of luck. Still, it's your dog, so it's probably worth it to give it a dedicated try. You also, might want to try using more valuable food rewards (like steak, cheese, etc. (whatever he loves and doesn't typically get much of)). Best of luck.
  • Lisa67L

    Puppy behavior

    Basenji Training
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    6k Views
    lvossL
    There are many different ways to train loose leash walking. I like training it in a class with distractions and for my baby puppies that is really where they learn what a leash is. I took my boys to class for the first time this week and the only thing we worked on was loose leash. We started just standing in place and click/treat for loose leash. Then we would like a step and when the puppy followed we click/treat again when the leash is loose. The boys were walking pretty good with me and my husband for most of the class. I also like using a long line for loose leash, it really seems to help them understand that being near me is the behavior I want since they have the choice to go quite a distance from me but are only get a click/treat if they are close enough for me to touch them. Make sure you are using really yummy treats in class, it helps you to compete with the distractions. Many people bring kibble or other so-so treats that the dogs are happy working for at home but can't compete with the excitement of class.
  • WBLW

    Training and Behavior Ideas (Long)

    Basenji Training
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    luzmery928L
    o.k just printed ur posting and will study this carefully…trying to leash train champ...wish me luck. Ready to put a leash on myself and have him walk me for a change..lol