The NILF program is exactly the sort of thing your basenji needs. She has hit teenage time and like human teenagers is pushing authority. In this case, don't push her off the couch or yank the afghan from under her or any of those sorts of manuvers. Start by getting her attention just before she is going to jump onto the couch by offering a treat diverting her attention away from the couch. If she decides to come for the treat, she gets it, and then gets to be on the couch as a double reward; if she decides to complete her jump to the couch instead, she doesn't get the treat. Once she starts to look at you first ("asking permission") before she takes the couch then the reward becomes the couch. And to get her off the couch, use the reverse. Offer her a treat in such a way that she has to get off the couch to get it and click as soon as she decides to get off Once she understands that, add the "off" word. You might have to use treats just for this exercise that she wouldn't get any other time to make this more enticing to her. You might also want to introduce mat work so that she has to go to her mat or afghan or whatever, on the floor, instead of getting on the couch in the first place.
Chewing problems
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Hello,
My 10 week old Basenji puppy Aurora loves to chew. She chews everything, including people and it can hurt a bit. Unless she is sleeping or winding down from playing if she can get a hold of your fingers she will. I know lots of puppies chew its a phase a lot of them go through but out of all the puppies i have had i have never had a puppy bite and chew this much. I have just been ignoring her when she does it by putting her back onto the floor and refusing to play with her if she bites. Does anyone have any good suggestions on how to deal with this? Any replies will be helpful.
Thank You!
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It sounds like all of us with 10 week olds are having the same problem. Pretty sure we all have to just stick it out. I'm sure it'll pass. Scarab is doing the same thing. x)
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@i<3mybasenji:
I have just been ignoring her when she does it by putting her back onto the floor and refusing to play with her if she bites. Thank You!
That is one good way to work on the nipping/biting issue. She's attempting to entice you to play, but she has to learn that what she is doing is not the right way to initiate play. How old was your Aurora when you got her? Puppies learn the first phases of bite inhibition with their mothers/siblings. Make sure Aurora gets plenty of exercise and good safe dog toys to chew. And continue what you are doing (the ignoring). If you make a fuss when she bites, she's learning that she is getting attention, which is what she wants. Be consisitent.
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It sounds like all of us with 10 week olds are having the same problem. Pretty sure we all have to just stick it out. I'm sure it'll pass. Scarab is doing the same thing. x)
Welcome to the forum…. who did you get Scarab from? Many of us are related by our Basenjis, especially here on the West Coast
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I got her when she was 8 weeks old. She has lots of toys and lots of walks and play time. Thank you for confirming i was taking the right approach with this.
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Basenjis chew,this s a fact of life.
It might sound like a crazy thing to do,but I bite my pups back.
It teaches them that I'M THE BOSS !
It has worked for me for the almost 36 years that I've lived with
the little beastys.
You can call me crazy,or wrong
I don't care
Works for me,and my dogs all respect me,and love me.Kathryn
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My 10 week old is doing the same thing, constant biting despite ignoring her and stopping play when it happens. I did get bitter apple spray from the pet store and she won't go near anyones feet or ankles when we spray them.
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I got my basenji Aurora from Beaubri basenji in BC.
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Basenjis chew,this s a fact of life.
It might sound like a crazy thing to do,but I bite my pups back.
It teaches them that I'M THE BOSS !
It has worked for me for the almost 36 years that I've lived with
the little beastys.
You can call me crazy,or wrong
I don't care
Works for me,and my dogs all respect me,and love me.Kathryn
Wow, Kathryn - that's funny! I'm sure you just nibble a little. Their feet smell like Tostitos, so just wondering -does the rest of the dog taste like a snack??? LOL
