Advice for potential first-time basenji owners

[wizard]

Follow the steps and that should take care of the touching - you never have to touch him to get him in the crate anyway and the leash part will take some time. Don't do all the steps for the leash at one time - gradually increase to his threshold. I would also treat him anytime while handling (random petting, touch an ear, etc.) so he becomes more accustomed.

[dogelover]

Hi all! Update time. We met our potential B today and we are going to get him! He is an absolute love bug - Loves people and giving kisses. We won't be getting him until this summer because he is finishing his show season. Here are some photos of the darling:!!

[Nancy Berry]

@dogelover He is SOOO Handsome!! Very happy for you! Be sure to get another while this one is still young or middle aged. I've had a B in this apartment since I moved in 15 yrs ago. Now it's so empty .... I can't even sleep more than a couple hours before I wake up - all alone. Every room had a B in it, back yard too & now, it's all just so empty & it"s worse than horrible.... It's hauntingly empty. So if you love this one fiercely, get another!!

[DebraDownSouth]

He seems absolutely wonderful! Congratulations!

[dogelover]

Thanks you guys!! Since we have a couple months before he comes home, does anyone have any book recommendations on training basenjis? He has never lived in a house before, but he does have basic manners because he is used to being shown.
I guess the one thing we are nervous about is him adjusting from kennel life to home life. Right now he has a kennel with a large open dog run for him to run in. He is very energetic so I want to make sure to meet his energy needs!

[tanza]

@dogelover - who is his breeder?

[dogelover]

@tanza His breeder is Marjani Basenji in Purcellville, Virginia (Julie Hartigan). He is Fanconi clear and PRA normal.

[tanza]

@dogelover - Thanks for the pedigree. Didn't know that she had her Basenjis as kennel dogs..... It will be a period of adjustment going from a kennel dog to a house dog. Do you know if he has had "house time" or always in a kennel? If always in a kennel, everything will be new/start from scratch for training. Back to house breaking 101.... and needed to be confined when you are not home. Try to keep it as routine as possible for the first couple of months.

[dogelover]

@tanza It doesn't seem like he has house time, but I can't say for sure. He is okay hanging out in his crate because he has to be in there when traveling for shows. He is not housebroken. But he is very food-motivated so that will help when training.

[tanza]

@dogelover - Like I said then, back to house training 101. You may have issues with him marking in the house
since he was never housebroken. You should ask the breeder if he has had any house time... Will you be having him neutered or will he be neutered before you get him? While I have never used one, you might consider a belly band https://www.bellybands.net, Here is a link so you can read about them. There might be people on the Forum that have used them.

[dogelover]

@tanza thank you!! The breeder says she has never seen him mark while she has him walking around at dog shows, but who knows what he will do in a home setting. We will be getting him neutered after we take him home.

Is it true that intact males generally do not do well with other males? The breeder says he gets along well with females.

[tanza]

@dogelover - That is true for most all dogs... breeders will recommend male/female combo and not same sex. This is a rule of thumb, not to say it can't work. And unless you are breeding, no reason to keep intact and not neuter. In fact, males can be collected and semen frozen, so can still be neutered and sire litters.

I have to laugh a bit about the comment "never seen him mark to shows".... honestly, I have never NOT SEEN a male mark at shows... or female for that matter.

[wizard]

He sure looks like he's happy.

[dogelover]

@wizard He was smiling the whole time we were with him. He loves people - his tail goes crazy when he sees someone coming. He also gives lots of kisses!

[Kebasmom]

I just might recognize that pup. Does he live in Virginia?

[dogelover]

@Kebasmom Yes! Where do you know him from?

[Kebasmom]

If he is from Julie, then I may have had the honor of holding onto him ringside.

[dogelover]

@Kebasmom Yes, he is! What a small world

[dogelover]

Happy update - this little dude just got his championship this past weekend. Here he is looking adorable ringside!

[DebraDownSouth]

OH MY GOODNESS! Congrats on the championship. How adorable!