Gentle Play?

Behavioral Issues
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  • KonaK

    This weekend we finally got our fence installed. Kona loves having the ability to run free and not be held back by the leash all the time. My husband and I play with her all the time inside and sometimes she plays a little rough but a simple "no bite" command and she settles down.

    Now that she has free roam of the yard, she has become more aggressive during our playtime. We take her outside now and throw the ball with her and play chase. However now she uses her mouth more and does not respond to the no bite command. I don't think she is being mean, she is just SO excited to be outside playing.

    Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop this? My main concern is that she will start playing with my nieces and nephew this same way and cause them to become frightened of her.

    Any ideas are appreciated!

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  • S

    How old is Kona?
    Also, have you done any basic gentle obedience classes with her?
    If not, I would get her into one asap.
    It will help!

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

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  • KonaK

    They tell us that Kona is just over a year old. We got her as a rescue in November. We know she has done some training in her past life because she responds to sit every time. Everything else other than "treat" is unreliable. Any suggestions on training? We are in the Tampa area. The last time I took a dog to obedience school it was when they still offered it in the high school after hours for community education. Is PetSmart or the like reliable with our special breed?

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  • MacPackM

    Check out 'Dog training club of Tampa'. I did obedience with Topper with them, 2 classes of agility and 1 of obedience with Nicky. Their building is on N. Lois, about 2 blocks south of Hillsborough avenue, and they are very reasonable with classes once a week. I have had great luck with all the volunteer trainers, they use positive reinforcement and gentle techniques.

    Many young basenjis get "mouthy" and reinforcing 'no bite' and changing the subject helps. Whimpering to indicate that you are hurt may help, it did with young pups (back when we were brave enough for pups) Whimper, yelp and stop playing, they get the idea.

    Good luck! Meet up with us some Sunday at the dog park!

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

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  • lvossL

    I would also cut out the chase game. For alot of dogs this sort of game gets them over threshold where they "forget" things like off, no bite. Focus more on games like tossing toys or the come game which if there is more than one of you. Reinforce Kona when interactions are not mouthy so you communicate what your expectations are.

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  • JazzysMomJ

    @lvoss:

    I would also cut out the chase game. For alot of dogs this sort of game gets them over threshold where they "forget" things like off, no bite. Focus more on games like tossing toys or the come game which if there is more than one of you. Reinforce Kona when interactions are not mouthy so you communicate what your expectations are.

    I agree with that. The only sort of "chase" game we play with ours is with a bag or stuffed animal on the end of a lunge whip where it is quite clear that we are not being chased but the item is. The whips are long enough that the item being dragged is no where near our body.
    We never allow them to chase a person, and we do not chase them.

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  • MacPackM

    I know a private trainer, she is a vet tech and lives in the country and does training there. She is great with our basenjis. Let me know if you are interested in using her. I have no idea what she charges, but will put you in touch.

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

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  • KonaK

    Thank you MacPack. I called the Dog Training Club of Tampa. They have a basic class starting on Wednesday that we are hoping to get Kona into. We have known that we need to take her to training, but were not sure where to take her. This place looks perfect. If needed I will take you up on the private trainer, but I am hoping this will help.

    Also, does anyone have suggestions about who should take her to training? Should my husband and I both take her? Should we take turns? Should just one of us go?

    Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks!

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  • tanzaT

    It would be great if you both went… but whatever you decided, both of you have to work with her the same way and do the same things.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • KonaK

    Ok. Thanks. We would love to go together, but I wasn't sure if that would be confusing to her.

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  • KonaK

    Well Kona started obedience training last night and she did really well. We are also very lucky because our trainers are good friends with a couple that has two basenjis, so they are familiar with our special breed. Thanks Anne for the suggestion.

    Also there was an advance class going on where they had all the dogs lined up and the owners left the room for 5 minutes and the trainer would make loud noises or show toys and all of the dogs just sat there, completely still. I was amazed by it!

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  • MacPackM

    Glad you liked the class! Not many basenjis do that 5 minute down-stay with owners gone!

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

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    thanks clokatys, i must to say that here we got 35-40 C i think 95 F -104 F and even we get at 44 at top 111F So when its to hot my girls sleep on the floor getting fresh .. inside the house of course or inside a cartoon box that they like and even with these hot weather they take some sun baths. But they dont like so much the comfort beds at the day because is too hot. So i cant explain to me leaving them inside a crate, i think is too hot. I even let a fan directly to my bed so they can go there and sleep with the air. I let almost daily the tv or the computer with the radio on, so they got the same noises that get when im there. And i left some clothes or pijama over my bed in case that the smell give some comfort. I adopted Laika because dont want that Maca was alone all day sure, i dont have such advise here or i were getting a male. They sleep all day and are very happy at nights getting outside the house to walk and getting some fresh. The house is so hot on the second floor, but the first floor is more fresh and they spent the day on that place and can go outside to make pee well… Maca does, Laika dont.. Or can go to check the lizards or the neigbours dog, we have 5 months on these new house and some days i left separate.. pff i must do that today.. Maca was anxious and i fail to read that.. just know writing i get the idea that i must left one inside and one outside on the garden, that have a little roof to give shelter from the sun and the rain. Well, so i thinks is too hot and boring having them crate.. so i separate them when Maca is anxious and these is the days that i must do that. Will carry on checking their plays and stoping when is too much. I notice too, lately that sometimes one invite the other to play rolling and showing the belly so the other grab the neck of the one showing belly or try because the other escapes and then they switch. Some times Laika do that, i mean push Maca with her side and then Laika seek the belly position to escape asap. The day they fight was when i was leaving the house to work and was on january i think was the strees of the new house, i must left separte and fail to recognize that. I need to learn to read them. I hope wont find any injury bad. On weekends i spent all day at home and they sleep and play or go to take sun baths or follow me while i do my house chores and get happy at the door to take walks that days. Will carry on checking his plays.. will make a video so you can check the kind of plays, sure all with hunting practice..
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    @Chealsie508: When he wants to play he bites too hard and also tries to run and nip at your bum or arm.. I always say no and off the couch he goes but it's a game to him, he tries repeatedly to get back up and aims for my hands… All in play but still, he will even think nothing of aiming for your face if that's right near him. Last night I had two people over and the entire time he kept biting their hands and lunging to play, I told him no, I held his mouth, he went in his crate... I'd like for him to learn to have a soft mouth and I'd like to have company over without them being play mauled. I should note that it's poor socialization on my part specifically that I rarely have people over my apartment so I don't honk Oakley knows how to handle people being in his house... Ok, from what you described he needs 1) you to initiate the play. he should not initiate it on his terms and be in control. Control his environment by being the one to play. Certain times of day, you will know the times because it will be when it is at your convenience and can spend quality time etc. If he tries to play, leave the room, don't even say "no", just ignore. When you ignore the 'bad' behavior and only give attention when it is 'good', the theory is -is that it should become extinct. 2) impulse control yes. Do so by the ignore and leave the room exercise, REDIRECT his energy with a sit-stay series or puppy push ups: sit-down-sit-down-treat! and on it goes…..stay-increase distance-COME! treat! FUN STUFF!!!! 3)have toy will travel...have one somewhere all the time, esp when you have guests. Have them throw it before the nip, and voila! humans in control. I know it is not as easy as writing this, but I have redirected some growlies toward the older dogs in the 'pack' or biting the doggy beds, or the new couch I have(or rug...) and it works! Patience, persistence, consistency are the keys....
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