• Oh sure basenjis are difficult to train – but not if you're training them to do something they want to do in the first place! It took only a couple of attempts to get my EL D to stop and hold up his paws to get the snow/mud wiped off when he comes in the house but get him to fetch anything - no way. 🙂 My previous basenji taught himself how to get the sliding screen door open and it was just a couple of weeks worth to teach him how to open it from the inside! It really just depends.


  • @wizard:

    Oh sure basenjis are difficult to train – but not if you're training them to do something they want to do in the first place! It took only a couple of attempts to get my EL D to stop and hold up his paws to get the snow/mud wiped off when he comes in the house but get him to fetch anything - no way. 🙂 My previous basenji taught himself how to get the sliding screen door open and it was just a couple of weeks worth to teach him how to open it from the inside! It really just depends.

    ooo okay.. well are they easy to train for obedience ??
    like the basics. sit, stay, come, heel, off, (stop jumping), walk on a leash, down. and maybe flyball and or agility? ?


  • @Nexa:

    The learning portion is easy…very smart dogs, listening is another story. Those big ears turn off when there's no reward:D

    Dan

    oo okay ahha obviously there will be a reward 🙂


  • Housetraining is one thing. PEOPLE training is another. :p

    Better get everyone in your house started now on remembering to SHUT THE BATHROOM DOOR! :eek:

    And, PROTECT THE LAUNDRY HAMPER:D Actually, protect the laundry. Doesn't matter much if it's clean or dirty. Socks and underwear are favorite targets, but sweaters and bathrobes are great fun also.

    And, make sure your trash containers are in "safe" locations. Just because it has a lid, doesn't make it safe!:mad:

    These dogs sleep A LOT, but when they are not sleeping, they are BUSY!!!!!


  • @porsh:

    ooo okay.. well are they easy to train for obedience ??
    like the basics. sit, stay, come, heel, off, (stop jumping), walk on a leash, down. and maybe flyball and or agility? ?

    I haven't tried agility or flyball. I think agility may be easier than flyball, since Basenjis tend to chase what it thrown and run with it,LOL.

    Basic obedience can be pretty easy, except that whole "walk on leash" thing.
    The whole concept otally escapes a lot of them. :rolleyes:
    Neither of mine mind being attached to me by a leash,but it's hard to get them to not pull. I gave up, but many here have had success.


  • @porsh:

    ooo okay.. well are they easy to train for obedience ??
    like the basics. sit, stay, come, heel, off, (stop jumping), walk on a leash, down. and maybe flyball and or agility? ?

    NO they are not… easy.. it is hard work with a Basenji and the minute that you think they "got it" they will do the exact opposite... Not to say that it can't be done, but it is a big challenge... period.... there are many that do OB, Rally, Agility.. but in the end with a Basenji it is a lesson in humility...


  • @porsh:

    ooo okay.. well are they easy to train for obedience ??
    like the basics. sit, stay, come, heel, off, (stop jumping), walk on a leash, down. and maybe flyball and or agility? ?

    Based on my own lil' bundle of joy:

    Sit - If you have a treat, yes. If not, she'll think about it.

    Stay - Heck no…they want to see what you're up to. The only time she's ever listened on this one is if she can sense I'm angry or serious.

    Come - Usually they're already there.

    Heel - She-Ra's fairly good at this, but if she sees something in the distance,
    forget about it and get ready to RUN! You can try a Gentle Lead but she absolutely hated hers and ate it when I wasn't looking! 🙂

    Off - Depends on who it is. Me or my father-in-law she's all over when we come in the door. Other people she'll just baroo at for a while.

    Walk on a Leash - Does a great job and knows the leash means a walk is in the immediate future. You have to watch the pulling and also the occasional zig-zag in front of you (both are no-no's when training).

    Down - Again, if you have a treat

    As has been said, Basenji's are very smart...almost too smart...and that works against them (and you) where training is concerned. They will attempt to out-think you, they love to test your limits and "play games" with you (a big one at our house is "I have to go outside to pee!" so you get to the door and then she'll walk away "Haha...just wanted to see if you'd get up!"), and obedience is kind of an after-thought. You really have to be on your toes.

    Potty training wasn't too difficult for us. We lay out pee-pads near the back door where we let her out so if we're not there she has a place to go...and she uses them.


  • @tanza:

    It was Afgans that were last.. but Borzois would be low too, because Hounds are thinking dogs… and therefore there needs to be a reason to "train"

    My former boss and his wife had 2 borzois that were very sweet and docile. Just like overgrown lap dogs.
    I just think that basenjis are TOO smart. They're always thinking 3 steps ahead and have that "what's in it for ME" attitude.


  • IT's funny that other people will interpret the difficulty in training to mean that the dogs are "stupid". They really can't see that it's quite the opposite!


  • @JazzysMom:

    IT's funny that other people will interpret the difficulty in training to mean that the dogs are "stupid". They really can't see that it's quite the opposite!

    exactly!:p


  • @JazzysMom:

    I haven't tried agility or flyball. I think agility may be easier than flyball, since Basenjis tend to chase what it thrown and run with it,LOL.

    Basic obedience can be pretty easy, except that whole "walk on leash" thing.
    The whole concept otally escapes a lot of them. :rolleyes:
    Neither of mine mind being attached to me by a leash,but it's hard to get them to not pull. I gave up, but many here have had success.

    ok:)., well i guess we will see how it goes when i get the puppy :).


  • @torchsong:

    Based on my own lil' bundle of joy:

    Sit - If you have a treat, yes. If not, she'll think about it.

    Stay - Heck no…they want to see what you're up to. The only time she's ever listened on this one is if she can sense I'm angry or serious.

    Come - Usually they're already there.

    Heel - She-Ra's fairly good at this, but if she sees something in the distance,
    forget about it and get ready to RUN! You can try a Gentle Lead but she absolutely hated hers and ate it when I wasn't looking! 🙂

    Off - Depends on who it is. Me or my father-in-law she's all over when we come in the door. Other people she'll just baroo at for a while.

    Walk on a Leash - Does a great job and knows the leash means a walk is in the immediate future. You have to watch the pulling and also the occasional zig-zag in front of you (both are no-no's when training).

    Down - Again, if you have a treat

    As has been said, Basenji's are very smart...almost too smart...and that works against them (and you) where training is concerned. They will attempt to out-think you, they love to test your limits and "play games" with you (a big one at our house is "I have to go outside to pee!" so you get to the door and then she'll walk away "Haha...just wanted to see if you'd get up!"), and obedience is kind of an after-thought. You really have to be on your toes.

    Potty training wasn't too difficult for us. We lay out pee-pads near the back door where we let her out so if we're not there she has a place to go...and she uses them.

    THANK you soo much :).. now i can get an idea about them a little more 🙂


  • I brought Mia home when she was 2 1/2 months, and she only had 2 accident in the house and that was on the 1st day! I trained her to ring a wind chime (which I saw in a Basenji video) 4 days after that! I think it was becasue Mia's mom took really good care of her pups and brought them to relive themselves outside their living area. So ask the breeder maybe how the mom is might be helpful in determining how the pup will be. If the mom kept the area clean, most likely the pup will too in her new home. Just make sure to bring him/her out often after they have eaten and drank alot of water (which, I find mine doesn't really drink alot unless it's after her runs and walks)


  • o okay thanks :).
    i could teach it to ring a bell at the door 🙂


  • as for the other basic trainning…Mine does sit, shakes and lays down really well (with treats most of the time, but usually sits anytime I tell her). The "come" command, umm not so much lol. She has a mind of her own when it comes to coming and going where SHE wants lol. Read some books to get tips and maybe try to research a good trainer in your area. I tried Petsmart but it didn't really do anything for her.


  • @porsh:

    o okay thanks :).
    i could teach it to ring a bell at the door 🙂

    yes we just hung ours by the door and it worked! it's really cute once they get it! I think alot of Basenji owners do it too


  • okayy. well my friends mom owns Luv-A-K9, and i kno everyone there and ive helped out with a few agility classes . and mimi matches 🙂

    i kno everyone there and ive been to like every class "D


  • @Mia:

    yes we just hung ours by the door and it worked! it's really cute once they get it! I think alot of Basenji owners do it too

    Yes, we have a bell by the door that Keoki rings. It is really cute, and quite effective.


  • okay i guess i could give that a shot 🙂

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