Behavioral Issues

Has he had a full medical check up? Especially a full Thyroid panel done? I really would doubt that his being neutered has anything to do with it… certainly I have never heard of that before.... but I would first get a full medical done (including an eye exam with a Ophth), with full blood work and full thyroid panel (which typically must be sent out separate from normal blood work that your Vet might do) and then contact a behaviorist to work with him (and the family).

@dmcarty: For those that are a bit more interested in the Gentle Leader - it was designed by a long time trainer in MN Ruth Foster with a vet from the University of MN. Here is the story for some background that might interest you. http://www.inventionatplay.org/inventors_fos.html Thanks for posting the link Diane. Even though we use Martingale collars we have always been concerned that there could be damage to the dogs trachea if they pulled hard enough or decided to lunge. We can see the Gentle Leader assisting our Basenji to teach himself without causing him undue stress or the possibility of him harming himself as he learns. Jason and Miranda

My dogs were very "clingy" when I was pregnant & the same with Tayda when she stayed with us one weekend. :)

Ha, ha - boy does that video look familiar. In my house it goes like this: Brando goes to Ruby in the dog bed (usually the one in front of the stove)…starts pawing and pulling at the dog bed. Ruby makes noise. Brando starts poking her with his paw...Ruby makes more noise. Brando starts really poking her, rolling his head on the edge of the dog bed, and tail starts flipping wildly. Ruby then charges and an all out brawl followed by a b500 ensues. If the noise escalates to angry noise and neither seems to be playing any longer, I will redirect their attention. That seems to only happen at night when they are both tired. Otherwise, I usually witness a shake-off at some point and see the tension break. Oh, and they usually end of sharing the bed after the play. There is also the Liyah/Brando turf war. Usually over the couch. I can tell instantly if Brando wants to play...as soon as his mouth opens. If he isn't interested he turns away and makes a soft growl. That is usually enough for her to stop. If she keeps at it when he doesn't want to play, I usually let him tell her off with a much more forceful growl... There are no rules in my house, I let them work it out unless I sense it really start to go in the wrong direction. Brando and Ruby both put their teeth on Liyah's face and vice-versa and both Ruby and Brando put their teeth on each others faces. I watch it and it really seems to be play (or lessons in biting in Liyah's case). I will say that in my house it can get really LOUD...not for the uninitiated. I also usually stop it if furniture starts being moved around. :eek::D

I think that sounds perfect! You want the younger dog to be comfortable going new places without the older one; and you want the older one to still have some special one on one time with the humans…but there is no need to get carried away with having them do things separately! Dogs like to act as a pack :)

It takes a bit of doing, but if you get him up for success…it will work. Keep in touch.

Mine have all done that - but usually in an attempt to make a bed. Never amounted to anything serious - my carpets are berber so nothing really to grab hold of either.

You need to work on calming her – I've done this with mine by making sure I ignore the outside noises, yawning and sighing when there's noises, anything to show her that as alpha dog you choose to ignore the outside distractions and she will catch on -- it does take some time though. You might have her do some sit+reward or other behavior+reward to help her calm down when she hears the noises.

@Quercus: …I can't imagine a dog in a real fight taking the chance of turning his back on the attacker. Though, I am used to seeing girl, girl fights...where neither girl is willing to surrender...it could be that a dog who really doesn't want to fight will try to protect his head and neck by offering other 'parts'...it would definitely indicate that the other dog wasn't reading his signs correctly...either by the dog offering surrender, or running away...it isn't really appropriate for the attacking dog to continue attacking... This is probably what may have happened. I don't think anyone actually saw the fight… So it's hard to tell, but my friend now thinks it is a part of male dominance fighting! I told them I would ask on here and see if it is common or not...

Thank you so much for your help! I was talking to my husband about Buster. He and I are working on some of the things that you all have suggested (i.e. not letting him on the bed, making him sit before doing anything). What is nice is that prior to this event, I always talked to Buster before doing anything, so we aren't changing everything in his routine.

When Stella was a pup, she would get quite mouthy and pushy, so we would restrain her movement (hold her to the floor) until she relaxed and calmed down. She would only get a little aggressive, but we both thought that it was just crazy puppy behavior. We have found that the restraint was enough to show her that she is not in charge, and she needs to do as we say.

@tanza: Well, seems that "he" Nemo is not following the "normal" thinking… remember this pup has come into his home and "taken" over his space.... so you have some adjusting to do... you need to just step back... and make sure that he is secure.. and it takes time... and you need to make exceptions to what would be the normal... try different things.. and remember as each day passes... Nemo will understand this girl is "not" leaving....ggg Not the best answer to your questions... but we have all been there... done that.... it is like a game of chance Thanks, Tanza. I think I probably knew the answer should be…"stay out of it". I'm sure it's usually the owner who needs the "behavioral adjustment" and not the dogs 9 times out of 10. :rolleyes: I'm pretty good now at not interfering with them than when I first got her, particularly if Zoni is pestering Nemo. I just need to remind myself not to interfere when he is pestering her. @lvoss: If she is sleeping in the crate, shut the door. You don't necesarily have to lock it that way she can open it and leave but he might be deterred from pestering her. Thanks. I'll give it a try, that might help.

My concern with this situation is that the issues these two are having is something that should have come about during a trial period. Were they introduced on neutral ground? Were they in the same space for HOURS before you decided to adopt the lab? I think that maybe the decision to adopt the lab wasn't thought through as completely as it could have been and it's unfair that as a result Lady will have to go through another major life change. If you're going to add another animal to the household, and this is as big a life change for Lady as it is for you, I think you owed it to her to make sure this other dog could be her friend and integrate into the pack. Maybe your assumption was that all dogs do (should?) get along, no questions asked. Not all humans get along, that is for sure, so why do we expect this of dogs? I agree with other comments that in no way should Lady be labeled aggresive for how she interacts with Raven. Also Lady's growling when you pick up her possibly suggests that she sees herself as leader of the pack. Basenjis need a very strong alpha human to keep things in order. If she sees herself as ruler of the household she's dealing with an intruder who became part of the family without any of her input and certainly not her approval.

Lovely photos, so glad your pack is accepting of the "new puppy". I feel that if you just expect basenjis to be good, they will be!

Guys, thanks so much for all your help! We are absolutely making progress! Bassit isn't exactly happy to go into 'puppy jail' (the gated off area where we keep her when we're mopping floors or something/not at home), but the screaming has lessened HUGELY. 2 walks a day, kong full of peanut butter, and doing this over and over again, has things greatly improved. Now all we have to do is get her to stop getting into everything while I'm working, we'll be just fine! PS - This community is great. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

Thanks for all the comments - I think too it has been frustration with my being gone too long (so I've shortened my work days for a few days anyway, thank goodness I can do that). And I'm working on treating her outside when she goes so hopefully that will do the trick.

I am not sure what kind of harness I have and can't find a 'proper' name for it online. This link shows what it looks like although I didn't purchase it from this site: http://www.dog.com/item/adjustable-nylon-harness-black/ . I have double checked and it isn't pinching or pulling them in anyway. It is not really tight, but is a little snug so I don't loose control of them when I am walking them. One dog I have had for awhile and at first she liked it (I actually got it on loan from the rescue where I got her to use and had to end up buying it from them because she got out of all other leads that I had for her - think she just wanted that particular one). After being fine with it for around a month she no longer wants to put it on. I have to lure her into it and put it over her head…once it gets over her head she will sit and lift her leg nicely for you to put it all the way on. The new dog hasn't been here two weeks yet and acts like her about the harness - he too liked it when he came, but now no. Any help would be great - I really lilke the harness because I feel like I am not hurting them too much, can keep control on them, and feel secure that they won't get loose using the harness. I have seen the one's that go all the way around them with the harness clip at the top but not sure if it would be safe to use - they could probably escape? Not sure what to do from here..but they have to walk and will have to use a lead. The gentle leader I feel will not keep him or her secure. I live in an apartment but we are around a lake with tons of land and wild animals. They are always trying to track something and with the surroundings so inviting they will be gone if they get loose. TristA

It took 2 months with COngo to learn how to sleep in his own bed. He was sleeping in the bed with my boyfriend until I came along and I sleep walk so I don't like having dogs in the bed with me. Everytime he would try to get in our bed I just put him in his own bed. It took a lot of patience because he would whine, hit me, cry, howl. It took a lot of sleepless nights but we got there eventually and now he actually prefers his bed. The only time I let him cuddle in the bed is in the mornings when we sleep in on the weekends.