Spray bottles or squirt guns can work well to get your point across. Yes, it's an aversive, but very mild. The dog can make a choice here. The breeder I got my current boy from used a spray bottle to good effect, and as a result I have the best Basenji I have ever owned in terms of house manners. He doesn't destroy anything, and doesn't even get into tissue. There is no question that aversives work, and work well if timed correctly. Nature trains with aversives and so do bitches, for that matter. I see no harm in it. When positive training gets the results you want, it's the best way to go, but when you are struggling with a problem that isn't responding to what you are doing, it's time to consider something else. Stealing is potentially harmful to the dog and needs to be controlled.

If you have an adult dog in the household, it will save you a lot of grief. The adults will usually put manners on the pup. I have yet to hear an adult "yelp", but sure have seen them snarl and pin the little so-and-so down momentarily, and when released the pup is usually a bit chastened and leaves the adult alone for awhile. Some need more convincing than others! Lady used to snarl in Tamu's face while holding her down, and watching her is what started me using the "bear hug" (minus the snarling) to correct this behaviour.

Not allowed on the couch was the first rule we made and the first we broke, I only made it to please the hubby, but know I wanted snuggles and cuddles so not sad it went out the window. I just wasn't willing to spend sooo much time correcting Kaiser over the rule that I knew he was going to win and seemed to be wrong as he is all about human contact and just glad he loves to sleep in his crate and the bed rule never got broken. Knowing how Kaiser yearns to have human contact and how he likes to be up high I don't think I would have made it a rule in the first place, but if you stick to it and give your puppy a comfy, warm, high, sunny spot and lot's of cuddles it may learn in time to love the spot you have chosen for it, but will say good luck with that. Jolanda and Kaiser

Loki's picky eating comes and goes, even after Kaia got here. He has had no problem letting her finish his dinner when he didn't feel like eating. I've added yogurt and/or pumpkin to his kibble and that has helped him finish his dinner. They are oddballs in that they will sit and wait for the other to finish, then switch bowls to make sure every last bit has been cleaned up. They also frequently trade bully sticks with one another, but higher value stuff like meaty bones are a no-no to come near. Last month I started them both on Nupro and he actually gets excited at meal times! That has never, ever been the case prior to adding that in. I haven't had to utter the dreaded "finish your dinner" in weeks ;)

Bring your paperwork that the breeder gave you to your first visit because they will want to know some things like birth date, always (in the first year or so when lots of shots are administered) bring the vaccination record book Pam and Sheila gave you and ensure they make a copy of it and not just write it down..you will also want to update your copy as your pup receive shots so like I said..bring it so they can fill it in for you. Any questions you have regarding vaccinations I highly suggest asking your vet but also getting in touch with Pam to ask her opinion, she knows her dogs and her lines and she is better equipped than the vet to give you an honest evaluation on which to give. Also try to follow her guidance on neutering and spaying (if you plan to). I know with Oakley I followed their advice. It might be true or not but in my opinion basenjis tend to mature slower and I find they need more time for the growth plates to close before castrating is a wise choice.

Crates for bedtime should be in the same room you sleep in… especially with a puppy... if you are rooms away, how would you have any idea that he/she is having a problem? And if you are home, the pup should be with you... and you should be watching him/her.... every minute... the crate is not for your pleasure, so you can do other things... .... or you are bored with watching them every minute.. Certainly if you have to crate when you are out of the house.. that is one thing... but if you are home, they are totally tuned into you being there. If they fall asleep as puppies will do, you can pick them up and put them in the crate... just leave the door open.. and go about your business... but check on the very often.... I have raised many a litter that they are in our family room crashed out or on the back porch for hours sleeping... I can get stuff done while they sleep.. but I keep the eagle eye on them all the time..

Very common to scratch. Usuually the breeder will begin to put collars on pups at 3 to 4 weeks to get the used to it…. can take weeks. Chewing leashes is certain common for babies....

I can say we just had a blizzard and have been getting one to two storms a week. Oakley has a Hurrta coat, a snood which he sometimes uses as a neck warmer and boots used for wet snow or extremely cold weather. Despite that his paw pads started bleeding yesterday mid walk…he really can't handle the constant snow,ice,cold and ice melt.. I think you should be able to bring your pup out; just keep an eye on any signs of hard shivering or motionless (not wanting to move), lifting up of one foot at a time and staring at you. All those can be signs of cold uncomfortability. Congrats on your new pup and I do agree to use caution around dogs you aren't familiar with, but also keep in mind socialization is super important as well. Try for positive experiences with dogs at a safe distance and try to get in up close experiences with dogs whose medical history and owner reliability are there

These are really things you should be talking to the breeder about….. And if the sire was an import, could be as already noted just take time for the ears to stay up, or they might never.... same with the tail... Note also, it is not uncommon when they start to loose the baby teeth that the ears don't stand up....

Eldorado does litter box train and they were always very successful at it when I visited..I know they line the outside of the box with newspaper too..so I would make sure to do that also so she's as familiar with the process as she can be. I would suggest if you can't get her to start using it for pooping soon to just get her a coat and start outside. The longer she goes without pooping where you want her to the harder it'll be when you need to change it. Bad habits develop fast. I wish I started Oakley outside right away versus litter training. He always would pee in it but he wouldn't poop in it. He got very used to pooping next to the box on the kitchen floor and to this day prefers going on hard surfaces. I know it's hard to imagine potty training outside in this weather but you might be better off in the long run. I'm not against the litter box, I also have an eldorado pup; I just know the entire process would've been easier and more beneficial to is both if I braved the weather and did it in the first plAce