Basenji Talk

Very sorry to hear this. Thinking about you.

@weedtrek Possibly Basenji mix, nose looks a bit wider and the eyes are less oval. Could well be a Basenji mix though.

Nice pictures. Great to finally see them! :smiling_face:

I think that Basenji people have to have a special sense of humor to choose this breed in the first pace, and Basenjis have the same sense of humor, doing things that crack us up and then cuddling up and demanding attention and love. Of course we love our Basenjis and want to gush about them...it comes with Basenji territory!!!!

I like wide martingale collars. They can't back out of them and the collar gives you more control without risking damage to the neck if they do pull. Look for Whippet or Greyhound collars. The one I used is three inches wide and tapers to the back. But bottom line, the reason dogs pull is that it is rewarding to them......they get closer to whatever is attracting them. So stopping until the leash is slack will work (if you have patience), changing direction every time the leash tightens will work, targetting will work. Many roads lead to Rome. You can experiment and find out what works best for you, but it isn't good to let the dog reinforce the habit, which is what makes it difficult to sort this problem out when you also need to give him exercise! One solution is to give him exercise with one harness or collar and practice your loose leash walking with another, until he "gets it". IMO, retractable leads teach the dog to pull. They are also dangerous. Ask a vet. They treat many "hit by car" injuries suffered by dogs that were on a retractable when the owner didn't react quickly enough. There is also the potential for injury when the dog wraps the leash around a person or another dog. And in many places they are illegal, i.e. the leash laws specify 6 foot maximum leash length.

Thank you all. I will know how to field questions now (it’s not like it was anyone’s business but it was making me feel uncomfortable. I felt people were looking at my beautiful girl like there was something wrong with her!) I love her so much and she truly is beautiful as are all basenjis. Now I know what to say. “Her nipples are proud nipples as yours would be if you had nursed 10 babies twice in your life. “ lol! Thank you all.

I see your post was back in Jan. so I hope you have your new basenji settled in. I also adopted a beasenji in Jan. She is my second. I adopted a 5 year old to be with my 3 yr. old, who had had 2 litters in the past and was bred for a 3rd one, but didn’t get pregnant. So the breeder, the same breeder our boy came from, decided to let her go to a forever home. I had to wait quite a while for her to be ready and I felt just like you. I couldn’t wait! I kept texting the breeder questions, request for photos, etc. When we picked her up she seemed comfortable with us right from the start. She has been a wonderful addition to our family, a good match for our 3yr. old boy. He’s a toughie but I think he’s met his match with her. He’s so much happier with his own friend. They love to be together. I hope your new pup is adjusting just as well as mine. Have fun. I think they make us laugh every day. Yes, you have to be on your toes with these guys, you have to make them a big part of your life. They can never just be a fixture. They are work but it’s worth it all. 3 years ago I was a newbie but not anymore, and I’m loving this wild ride.

Wouldn't feel bad about the behavior of your basenji. I got mine six years ago and he acts a lot like yours. I kennel trained him and when I have company he goes in the kennel till he settles down. When I let him out I just tell people to be still till he checks them all out then he is fine. A lot of times he acts like he is going to attack me if he doesn't get his way vicious snarls and all, but I have learned it is just that an act . He also acted vicious around other dogs but after introducing them properly he gets along great. We have recently got him a new basenji mixed sister to play with, after the snarls and viciousness he loves her very much. I wouldn't be afraid to rehome your basenji, it at least give someone a chance to see what they can do.

Gorgeous boy!! Definite Basenji ears :)

Feel better soon/ We have been laid low a;sp

@caleb - And remember that you need to exercise their minds along with physical exercise

@theoriginaldev your life as you know it will never be the same! Patience, consistency, a firm but gentle hand, with a sense of humor is what you are going to need for the duration of the life of your precious gift. WELCOME home little one!! :)

Thanks Don C

I am pretty sure my attempt at humor totally leapt over your head. Hmmm, perhaps, my bad. Trevor is my second best male cat ever. He requires no interventions. Time for me to opt out of yet another social media site. Tah.

@dagodingo - Note that if flying, most airlines have age limits and when I fly American (in cabin) age must be 10wks.

I think signalling is a great idea, although I have never used it. A friend taught her two Bichons to do it with a bell at the door. My dogs always let me know when they needed out. We had a regular routine, but if a potty break was needed at some other time, restless pacing and trotting toward the door was a pretty clear picture. Never a problem. Worst thing is the sound of a dog beginning to retch and jumping off the bed at 4 a.m. Seldom managed to get outside quick enough!

@crazysenji said in Basenji Personality: If they do their homework and know what they are getting into I think they should get the dog they want. If someone has always dreamed of an Akita how many labs must they own before they can have one? Level one lab, level 2 GSD, level 3 Akita? Nah. Sure there are people who are drawn to powerful breeds and have no business owning a dog at all let alone a more challenging breed. I know a lot of great dog people who’ve started out with them and do wonderful. Right person who gets the right dog from the right breeder With that scenario, you are right. Especially if they fostered, had friends with them, actual experience. I hate comparing children to dogs, but your point is appropriate. Everyone who has a child is a "first timer". I'm just locked on the damage a wrong call can end up with when it's a powerful dog. Having worked in rescue so long, as well as breeding, I find woefully few who do the work. But I've said here before... I was beyond dog savvy, with hard dogs and dominant breeds. I laughed at the idea of some 25 pound dog challenging me. We all know how that went. :) Thanks for the redirect.

That good news, Dennis - and you are likely to find, in the long run, that the older boy will teach the pups far more than you ever can. They'll get their street cred from him !

@aileen Everyone makes mistakes. Food guarding/possessiveness is a real thing, often not even an alpha issue. It is actually a survivalist characteristic. I never blame the dogs, it has always been my own carelessness. Pam Hamilton took on training a pretty much feral group of dogs and seeing them eat is inspiring. (video below). You can turn the food issue around. They can learn you own the food. :) I'm lazier. I always fed dogs in their crates (Rottweilers, Chow, basenjis) until I got down to 2 dogs. Like tanza, they knew their spot and bowl and no stealing allowed. With treats, they learned to sit as I handed them out. My current basenji, Cara, is food aggressive with other dogs. When I give treats, she knows to go to my left and the Samoyed to the right. No treats til they are in their spots. As for friends... some dogs are social butterflies, some limited doggie friends, some should be only dogs. You don't know how they'll gel til they have time. Give them time. Even if they don't bond, you are giving her a loving home. And even if he doesn't love her, they may both come to appreciate the company. Often dogs are unforgiving if hurt in a fight, but I personally find that more true with same sex. The breeders here may know better... trust them. You can even do some work to change the neurological response. Usually I suggest it with cats or kids or bikes etc... but it can work here too. Crate one, or leash it to you. The moment the other comes in site, do a happy upbeat "YEAH" and toss both a treat (better if you have an accomplice so you can safely hand them one. Slowly but surely the sight of the other is "yum, treat" instead of "ready to fight". With a buddy, do the same thing several times a day in the yard, out for walks, etc. Don't bring near enough to fight... just close enough so you start rebuilding their responses. Plus, it helps to swap out who has which dog so they both get individual time with you. As for spaying...I admit I've joined the "don't spay til you get the facts". At her age, most benefits are negligible. Plus, he knows she is intact... that may make him like her more. :) When we got our first Samoyed, so many stressful things were going on, including my daughter leaving the country for 2 weeks. Pam too the dogs and worked with Cara and her dog aggression. Cujo walking amongst 15 plus basenjis, calm and confident, really made me cry happy tears. When we got Moose, he became her puppy. She adores him. She sometimes sounds like a tree-shredding machine gone wild, but she doesn't even leave wet places when she disciplines him. It can happen, just relax and let it come. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fe2arAaGdI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp1ZGOfGcwo

You're doing a great job introducing the cat to the basenjis, I would continue to do what you're doing, but don't leave them alone just yet. I would keep them in different rooms while you are away. Also, as another person said, the cat and the bird will be more of a challenge, since the cat is more likely to hunt the bird. Keep the supervision going with all three species. My basenjis always wanted to chase cats they saw outside, but did not chase the cats we had, because they had been socialized and they thought of the cats as part of the pack. Estás haciendo un gran trabajo presentando al gato a los basenjis, yo continuaría haciendo lo que estás haciendo, pero no los dejes solos todavía. Los mantendré en diferentes cuartos mientras ustedes estén ausentes. Además, como dijo otra persona, el gato y el ave serán un desafío mayor, ya que es más probable que el gato cace al ave. Mantener la supervisión con las tres especies. Mis basenjis siempre quisieron perseguir a los gatos que vieron afuera, pero no persiguieron a los gatos que teníamos, porque habían sido socializados y pensaban que los gatos eran parte de la manada.