Behavioral Issues

Forever Amber - I'm so pleased that you seem to be making good progress. Hopefully this will continue and you won't need to distinguish the growl any more.

@Patty: Spaying is not usually the answer so don't expect miracles! Please don't neglerct to follow advice given on the site. Well put Patty. While I agree that she should be spayed, it is not the end to end problem solver… the suggestions regarding training are just as important and maybe even more so. You might even want to look into a behaviorist to come to your home and work with you and her.

We've had barely a dusting here but its been cold enough to keep it on the grass. Mr. Annoyance is acting like its "rutting season". In, out, in, out. If I don't jump up to let him out he proceeds to pull at the blanket over my feet, or worse yet, bills/mail on the coffee table (much like teachers, bill collectors won't believe "the dog ate my check"). It's kinda fun though 'cause he's also just more playful in general right now. A couple more weeks and he'll probably hate the cold and snow like every other self respecting Basenji is supposed to….:D Silly Basenjis...don't they know their rep???:)

we don't have a problem with the trash, but we no curtians left as Chaos thinks they are her personal chew toys.

I've taken my previous basenjis to the closest dog park and everything was fine for the most part. There were occasional dominance type snarkiness events but only once did a real fight start (and the owners pulled their dog immediately). Never encountered a jerky owner. But I was very careful not to go when the prime times were - Saturday mornings (and if I had a day off then around noon) were usually the times only a handful of dogs were there and it was easy to keep an eye on them. I haven't taken Gossy since she goes to doggy care once a week and has a lot of fun there. Also I've discovered that though she is exceptionally friendly, if another dog becomes nasty aggressive to her, she will definitely fight back. So the dog park will require more vigilence on my part I think - this park is half wooded and kind of large - I'm a firm believer in owner socialization comimg second to keeping a watchful eye on the dogs.

Ryan is such a cute baby! I hope your article gets published. I have enjoyed reading about how you adjusted your family to include the baby, of course a lot depends on the humans and I think you and Kas are exceptional in that regard. YOu have good dogs to start with, but I think including them in the pregnancy has kept them from being jealous of Ryan. Whatever you are doing, it will be a gift to share that with others!

When we see other dogs on our path, I tend to move off it and let them "play through". Every now and then you get someone curious about the breed and we'll instigate a meet and greet, just to see how far either dog will go. I tend to look for the "mohawk" - those bristled up back hairs that let me know she's on edge. Plus She-Ra's a growler, so you can usually get a little forwarning if she's not happy about the situation. Generally that's enough for both me and the other owner/walker to realize we should pull back. I get more incidents at the dog park than we do on walks, but I think that's almost to be expected. Never anything bad, though…She-Ra knows to run like hell if it gets too hairy, and she can pretty much outrun anything that's shown up in the park (so far). :)

we built an indoor and out door kennel. inside is on a basement/ cement floor. it is a chain link 5x5x4 with a gate(that we now lock with a chain,as they got the gate latch up and out and open, so we chain it with a carbiner lock.) we used chicken wire on the roof and wired it on so they cannot jump out. they seem to be very content (unless they know we are home, so we dont leave them in there if we are home). the outside one is exactly the same but with a 10x10x6 with the wire roof and chain/lock. it also has a tarp over one side for shade/rain protection… but we really try to not leave them outside if it is going to rain or it is cold. we put doggy beds inside and a dog house outside. we had excapers too.. at thru 4 kennels. and would get out .. this relly really helped. we got the small one from walmart .. ordered it online and the large one from a farm and home.. came with a gate too. they were both very easy to assemble and we also lined the outside one with cement garden type blocks so they cannot dig out. we are all happy now.

@torchsong: I agree with you. The beauty of these dogs is that while they have traits that are unique to them, I've never really seen two behave the same way. At the dog park we take ours to, we've had more than a few people ask about her, and I try and tell them the complete story because once you tell them she's "barkless" you see their eyes light up. :) So I'm quick to add the "negatives" with all the good stuff so they know what they're getting into with one. I tell them they're like switching to black coffee…once you get a B, no other breed will do, but there's a definite learning curve. :) Yes you mention "barkless" and the eyes light up with an "I'm sold". Then you have to quickly give all the traits. :D

My previous boy loved to chase cars also but I lived in an apartment complex with lots of "green" space where we could walk without being near the well traveled areas. There was also a 98 acre (I think that's the right amount) wooded area right next to the complex that was great fun (when it wasn't muddy). Very glad I don't live there anymore as those 98 acres are now a mall!! And the balcony that we had would have looked right to it. Can't even imagine all the basenji craziness from all the activity if we still lived there. Current boy really doesn't care too much about cars (thank-you previous owners, whomever you are) but he has still run a path in the back yard from running from side to side trying to watch the joggers/bike riders/even just walkers coming down the street…and they don't even need to have a dog with them, although its worse if they do. But he also chases all the squirrels that come to my hickory tree, the bunnies that (I think) live under one of my pines, the neighbor dog, etc.,etc. I'm not sure it can be completely stopped, its their nature, but it can be curtailed. Some good advise here. Good Luck!

thanks :) HAHA not my boy he wouldn't do anything that doesn't involve him getting some kind of snack out of it lol

Welcome to the forum

I agree. Restart your crate training using small increments of time but also work on this while you are home. That way she doesn't equate the crate with your leaving. The crate/kennel should be a place she wants to go to - feed her in there, put her there with her favorite toy while you are in the room doing something else, give her her treats in there, etc. In fact, give her a treat (or lots of praise) every time she goes in there on her own. Bring the crate into your bedroom at night (even if she doesn't sleepo in it. She should not feel it is a place of punishment but a place of safety and comfort.

@Lesco: We got her from Debbie Hauri in New Hampshire Welcome and congrats on your new pup…how exciting! Is this one of the pups from the Tango & Dora breeding? One thing that I did when I brought my pup home last winter was set up a crate, a litter box (with wood shaving pellets - equine pine) and put an xpen around it (also had a top on the xpen). That way when Liyah was crated for an extended time when I wasn't home, if she had to potty she could use the litter box. It was a great setup and consequently she never went to the bathroom in her crate...sometimes she partially missed the litterbox, but she was just a baby so I was happy she did as well as she did. I left the crate door open with treats, toys and soft bedding so she would choose on her own to go in the crate to sleep. I clipped the xpen closed. If you have space, I highly recommend this sort of setup so that your pup can keep her crate clean. The only other thing I would add is don't hesitate to contact Debbi with questions. She is a wonderful person, super helpful and a good breeder. Not to mention she is a good trainer so I'm sure she'd have plenty of tips. Please post pics when you get a chance...we love pics!

@Vicki: Great information - I agree, ladies, that many human compounds are dangerous for animals. That is why herbal remedies for pets should be administered by a vet who is familiar with herbals treatments. +1 "All natural", "herbal", etc. are not by definition "safe" for animals or humans, which unfortunately some people confuse. The risks can be just as great as for man-made drugs if used improperly.

Thank you, Ms. Pat. I will look at that.

So the family is all together and all is well great news. Love the last picture that is really a good one. Rita Jean

Unlike other breeds male basenjis go through rut. It does not matter if there are females around or not, when fall hits, the boys' brains turn to mush as they go into rut. My male is much easier now that he is neutered but he still knows the reason for the season.

Packs of dogs or wolves will groom each other during "down time." I would venture to say that is what is going on with your Basenjis. It is a bonding type thing, bonding the pack together. When I saw a pack of wolves in Denali, one of the young wolves had wandered off. The rest of the pack was howling for him/her to come back. When he/she finally did, the alpha came up and sort of rolled him/her, then the rest of the pack all ran over and began to lick his/her face, while he/she kind of cowered down. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.