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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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  • Naughty Basenji need advice

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    @jinxed_1980: Beau has decided to take things out of the garbage in protest of being gated in the kitchen. The wierd thing is it is only in protest, he doesnt eat anything he just takes it out of the garbage usually the diapers and strategically places articles around the kitchen. Dogs don't do things "in protest". He is probably bored and just finding a way to entertain himself. That or he has learned that this behavior gets a reaction from you. Dogs are natural scavengers so he is only doing what dogs do. I'm surprised he doesn't eat it. Mine are inveterate trash hounds. Just get a good covered can so he cannot do this. Another thing he does is when he gets seperated from me he poops… He could have just went outside and did his business but if i leave for the gas station he will find the energy to realease another present for me on the kitchen floor. You might need to do a little remedial alone training. Sounds like it might be nervous deification. That or he learned not to poop in front of you, and is waiting for you to leave. I hate crating him and i dont think he likes it either, and i feel like a bad mommy. He screams and crys if i crate him up and i can hear him half way down the block when i come home from the gas station, so yeah thats a no go. This tells you he is not adequately crate trained, as others have said. Start from ground 0. Make the crate a super neat place where great things happen. Start by delivering rewards whenever he approaches it. Work up to him going inside, then inside with the door swung closed, then clipped, then inside door locked and he stays there a few seconds, etc. Also he wont be a good boy on the leash. I dont know how many dogs i have leash trained ( i have worked at kennels and doggy day cares and a vet) i know i know how to leash train a dog… Beau aint havin it. He even gives me the dirty eye when i correct him or suddenly change directions to get him to pay attention. The methods you're using are older, less effective ways of loose lead training. I suggest you get a Sense-ation harness or a Wonder Walker and sign up for classes with a good, positive reinforcement based trainer who can walk you through a good, fun way of teaching your boy to walk politely on lead. Good luck
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  • Need some advice…

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    <> 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.