Category: Dog Training

5 Tips on how to Train your Basenji Breed Dog

Posted on by Shirley Santiago

Basenjis are highly intelligent dogs and will learn very quickly. What they do with what they learned cannot always be foretold. They will learn new commands quickly, but will also get bored with them, just as quickly. They are a stubborn breed with certain characteristics and will obey you only if it suits them at that moment.

5 Tips on how to Train your Basenji Breed dog:

You won’t do well with a Basenji if you are a timid owner. Basenjis can be willful and dominant; therefore, you need to have confidence when training them.

1. Establish a daily routine: It is important to set regular times for feeding, going for walks, playtime, night-time sleep time, etc. When the rules are unmistakable and clear, the dog will follow it.

2. Establish a Pecking order: Basenjis are independent dogs and to heed your commands they have to see you as the leader of the pack. Handle these dogs firmly, but fairly, and they will consider you the leader.

3. Teach your Basenji the right words: In a way, he will understand; teach them specific words, spoken in a specific way, in order to learn your dog the words, but also learn them to develop a respectful attitude towards you when speaking these words. When the dog understands what you say, he will feel happy to obey you and them. Knowing the meaning of a word or command, the dog will understand what you need from it. Knowing what you want and understanding it, he will do it.

4. Positive Re-enforcement Training: Food rewards or a clicker-based training method works best for Basenjis. A treat works wonders. But, be careful not to give too much food rewards because the Basenji will eat anything, the whole day. They can become greedy eaters and get fat.

5. Start teaching a Basenji when still a puppy: Puppies will be easier to teach because everything is still new and you can direct them accordingly. They still have their inborn instincts but have not used them yet. With adult dogs, it might be more difficult to re-establish a pecking order and to submit to a new leader, you.

The Basenji Ancestors lived for centuries in their homeland in Central Africa. Hunting duties have been their job; this is still inborn in modern Basenjis. If you should punish them for hunting your chicken or cat, he will hold a grudge, because he would not understand why he has been punished.

Basenjis cannot be forced to obey you, they need to be convinced to do something or obey a command. They might understand immediately what we want but will obey only if it is natural behavior for them.

Train your Basenji Breed Dog in a playful but firm way. Expect them to obey you, they will react to your confidence but never expect an obedient, good dog.

7 Tips on Grooming your Basenji Breed Dog

Posted on by Shirley Santiago

The Basenji breed has a coat of short, fine hair. They come in black, rich chestnut red, tricolor (black and chestnut) and brindle (black stripes on Chestnut) They all have white legs, white up the center of the face and between the eyes or a white collar and also white on the tail tip.

The Basenjis are very clean dogs, grooming themselves, vigilantly, much like a cat might do. They don’t omit the usual “dog odor” and do not shed hair excessively, though they do shed hair throughout the year like any other dog. We spoke to an expert pet groomer, Cesar Rodriguez about some tips for grooming Basenji dogs.  He’s the owner of Mobiledoggrooomingconejovalley.com in Moorpark, California and him and his wife Rita have over  12 years experience in pet grooming, and they’ve had a lot of experience with grooming Basenji’s.

7 Tips to help you groom your Basenji:

1. Eyes: Their eyes should look bright and alert. Use a gentle eye wash during bath time to flush out any possible foreign matter.

2. Ears: To make sure that no ear problems arise, clean their ears monthly with an ear care solution. Clean only where you can see, never further. You may cause damage to the inner ear.

3. Brush their teeth at least twice to three times a week: This will remove the build-up of tartar and bacteria that lurk in between teeth. Daily brushing can also prevent the possibility of gum disease and a bad breath.

4. Trim their nails regularly: Usually, a dog wears their nails down naturally. This will depend on how much activity and walking and running is done daily. When you can hear the nails clicking on the floor, they are too long. When the dog’s nails are kept neatly trimmed, it will prevent scratching on your legs when your enthusiastic Basenji jumps up in greeting.

5. Bathing: Basenjis will require 2 baths. The first bath should be a normal, general bath, to clean the coat and skin of dirt. The second bath is more for luxury and could be done with a fragrant shampoo and followed with a conditioner that will moisturize and keep their coat in great shape. If your dog has allergies or a sensitive skin, use a Hypo-Allergenic shampoo and follow this with a medicated shampoo that is right for your dog’s needs.

6. Paws: It is important to keep the pads soft and pliable to keep it from cracking and becoming dry.

7. In between baths use a hound glove or mitt to wipe down its coat and keep it in good order. Because they keep themselves clean, much in the way a cat does, they do not need to be bathed too frequently.

Accustom your Basenji dog to being brushed from a young age. Handle their paws frequently, all dogs are touchy about their feet and also look inside their ears and mouth. As you groom your dog, check for rashes, sores, signs of infection, tenderness, and inflammation of the skin. Also check the ears, nose, eyes, mouth, and feet.

Courtesy of http://www.sheknows.com/pets-and-animals/articles/1078878/dog-grooming-tips

Doing this from an early age will make your Basenji more used to handling and regular careful examination will help towards spotting potential problems early. They will also be more comfortable when visiting the veterinary when it’s needed.

5 Tips towards Caring for your Basenji Dog Breed

Posted on by Shirley Santiago

It is important that you know what type of care you should provide to your Basenji dog, to ensure that they stay healthy and in perfect condition.

1. The Basenji Dog needs plenty of walks; although this dog will fit into city-life and smaller spaces, you need to take them on long, brisk walks. These dogs love freedom and open, quiet spaces. When taking them out choose the times of day that does not have too much hustle and bustle. Also avoid places with a lot of people around. Be careful with leaving doors and gates open, and make sure that the barriers keeping this breed inside are efficient. They will walk off if the opportunity presents itself.

2. Training is fundamental; start from an early age, spend the time to control the dogs’ character and making it more compliant. When they are small they can be very naughty and will bite absolutely anything they can. They are playful, passionate pups but they can receive orders and comply. Simple commands like sit, lie down, give paw will be learned through repetition and rewards.

3. Feeding; the Basenji dog breed is not very particular or demanding in its tastes in food. You should give a well-balanced food that will keep them strong, vital and full of lots of energy. You can also give treats, for example, to help with training. Keep the treats with low fat and empty calories.

4. By nature the Basenji is a very healthy dog; there are no weaknesses known but that it does not do too well in cold weather. In winter make sure that its bed is near heat and raised above the cold ground. This dog race is known for its strength and you will only have to take it for specific medical check-ups. Always remember to get vaccinations and deworming on the set dates

5. Basic Hygiene requirements are few; this breed shed few hairs and does not give off odors, therefore, the frequency of washing should be like that of a cat. You can brush their hair to keep a pristine mantle. Also, try to keep their eyes clean by using saline soaked wipes. Accustom the dog, from puppy time to regular brushing of their teeth to prevent the build up of debris and residue on the teeth.

A Basenji has a unique personality. It is playful, nervous and somewhat independent like a cat. It is an intelligent pet and feels great affection for its human family.