Behavioral Issues

Farley Mowat recounted in his book, "Never Cry Wolf" that when he "marked" the territory around his tent, the male wolf in the area respected his marking, but the wolf also marked the same places from the other side, not intruding on his space. So that method could backfire if the dog decided he had to reciprocate. Reminds me of a cartoon where a man catches his dog lifting his leg on the couch, takes him outside and demonstrates how to pee on a tree, whereupon the dog, back inside, stands on his hind legs and pees on the couch. Funny! :)

I've been considering this since you first posted . My pregnancies are many many years ago but I can't think that the Basenjis I had at the time reacted differently to it, but if this coincided I would give it some consideration and of course if she returns too normal after that would more or less clinch it. If you go down the homeopathic road, I would give her Sepia to help stop the peeing as long as you're absolutely sure there's no infection.

LOL Arlene, some spammer hit it, I opened it and didn't notice the dates. Okay so any idea what happened?

Kipawa went through a rambunctious stage at 13 months - he didn't do anything bad, but he seemed to be 'testing' who the boss was. He was reminded, consistently. (Grin) At 15 months he started to show very nice maturation qualities and a complete understanding of his place in our family pack. Be patient, be consistent, give him lots of exercise and really praise him when he is good.

I am SO SO happy to know that I am not the only one with a B with B behaviors. I was getting a little worried about the eating grass and throwing up issue, but it's JUST like what all of the rest of you described. So I guess queen Zola is OK and normal after all. I do have a question about her collar…... I think I will start another thread for that one..... :)

Hello again - well it's been a couple weeks and though I think the growling at my husband is improving, we are still having issues with her peeing in the house when we are home and in her ex-pen when we are not home. She has been trained to use a litter box which is inside her ex-pen during the day, and she uses another similar litterbox in the bedroom at night. It really seems like the peeing she is doing in the house is deliberate. I don't know if she is doing it cause she senses my pregnancy and is acting out, or if she's being lazy to go outside since it's been colder out… or maybe a combination of both? IF I catch her peeing inside, I will firmly say "NO!" and pick her up and put her outside to finish her peeing. Sometimes she's already done though. Shouldn't this work? :( It doesn't seem to be. Any ideas would be appreciated...

The purr I mean seems to come from the throat - very much like a cat purr but a much quieter gentler noise.

Sorry, I forgot you asked for advice to reduce the incidents. I can only say watch when they're playing and stop the play when it starts getting 'over the top'. When that happens with mine I don't physically intervene but say 'Stop' in a firm voice. I then give them each some calming massage.

It started several months before the second dog arrived. Maybe the lack of visibility is the issue - I raised the platform yesterday so the kennel sits a little higher (though maybe not high enough) so we'll see tonight (of course it will be dark out and cold so probably not a good test).

I guess we did primative puzzle challenges with Jodi. We would play hide-and-seek, make him figure out which hand had the biscuit, or hide a biscuit in a pile of blankets. Or we would tell him get the ________", birdie, hammyster, kittycat, ect and he would run through the house to each room where the animal lived or stare outside at the fence for the cat or squirrel.

What happy great news to read!~

@Patty: In my opinion you shouldn't be showing him like this - even though this aggression seems to be against certain individuals there could be a time when he takes against the judge. Yes, getting kicked out of the ring because your dog growls and won't stand still for the judge is very very embarrasing!! This did not happen to me with a B but the Shiba Inu we had. I was 16, it was her first show and she growled at the judge and would not stand still on the table…...I got excused from the ring.....in my hometown.....and its a small little show, 175 dogs. After that show we got her spayed, as I did not want to carry on that temperment in puppies. She was a very good dog but I am glad we spayed her because she had an attitude! She was my first show dog and we did not do proper research on the breeder first. Sorry, this is getting off topic.

Wow! this is one of many, many threads that I have responded to and I am very interested in the outcome of Poopydog and the nipping. As I was going through the Thread, I really had to bypass any of the responses of those who enjoy attacking one another. I sure hope this behavior did not thwart our member who really needed help. The majority are replies to one another trying to impart important knowledge or experience to someone who did not ask for it in the first place. Don't try to sound important. Everyone is, just give happy good-hearted advice and let us just not dig into the other who has a different opinion. Just dig, digs, and more digs. Really getting old….........................I know you won't miss me, but this is just too much.................................................................

Be aware that if a Basenji gets really stressed he is well able to chew through the metal covering of the cable of heating pads. I have never let my Basenjis sleep without making sure they're very warm at nights especially the older ones who aren't always able to maintain their body heat. Some of mine pile up on each other and some sleep with me. I maintain the sleeping area at 70 degrees F for those that sleep in the living room. I hate warm bedrooms myself!

Thanks so much for all of y'alls feedback. However, today was not a good day for our family. I am just going to start another thread to talk about it…..

I've followed this thread with interest and I think both Debra and Fran have pinned it down. I do think that right and wrong are subjective and that those who say that animals feel guilt are anthromorphising. Guilt is a very human feeling. I raise my Basenji to respect me but I also respect them. They listen to me and I 'listen' to them. I see no need for physical discipline. My dogs are taught from the beginning what their limits are. Not to say that they are instantly obedient. They are just normal Basenjis with normal Basenji instincts. Some are unacceptable to me and that is where I draw the line. I believe the tone of voice is very important as is the Basenji's vocalisation. I feel it's good that we don't always agree - after all it would be a very dull forum if we did!

@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....

@DebraDownSouth: link doesn't work. Actually the link works, but it will not connect to the 'q & a' part. (a second link as such) If you go down to the 13th question, it will highlight the second 'link' with that answer I found so interesting….

Yeah our dogs do similar things to each other all the time, but usually in order to steal someones spot on the couch. Our dogs act like their is something outside, then when the other dog comes, they steal it's spot on the couch or with someone.