Are two better than one?

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  • CraighC

    A little background - 19 years ago I rescued my first Basenji. She was a great little special needs dog, but I felt bad leaving her home alone during the day. So, a year later I got her another Basenji playmate; Alex.

    Cassie raised Alex almost like her own pup until Alex reached maturity. At that time, Alex became the dominate and very jealous dog. He became very jealous anytime Cassi got attention and he didn't, and would frequently growl at / attack her to demonstrate his dominance. A few of these demonstrations ended in bloodshead/stitches for Cassi. They lived together for 14+ years. Alex tolerated her for the most part, but the would not sleep together. They did both react badly if separated for any length of time - sort of like a grumpy old married couple.

    Now we are in a similar situation. We've had Bella for a year now. I really think she enjoys being the center of attention, but I still feel bad when she's left home alone during the day (or while we're gone overnight). However, I can't convince myself that bringing another B into the situation would be better for her. Will they get long like best friends, or turn out like my previous two did? If I thought Bella would be just as well off by herself I'd tend to keep it that way. I'd prefer to be a one dog family at this point in my life. However, the thought of giving her a playmate and helping out one of the pups at the local shelter keeps crossing my mind. :confused:

    Bella (Tri female), Alex (Red/White boy RIP), Cassi (Red/White girl RIP)

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  • agilebasenjiA

    have you thought about fostering a dog-friendly dog? Sort of like test-driving a needy pup. If it worked, you could adopt that pup, or start looking for what you want, if not, it's not a permanent situation.

    Does Bella like other dogs? Have you exposed her to play dates to find out what she'd do?

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  • CraighC

    She loves playing with other dogs provided they don't growl. Once another dog growls at her she goes into defensive mode. She's very friendly to dogs she meets while out on walks.

    I'm considering bringing one of the male pups a the shelter home to try over the weekend.

    Bella (Tri female), Alex (Red/White boy RIP), Cassi (Red/White girl RIP)

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  • tanzaT

    @Craigh:

    She loves playing with other dogs provided they don't growl. Once another dog growls at her she goes into defensive mode. She's very friendly to dogs she meets while out on walks.

    I'm considering bringing one of the male pups a the shelter home to try over the weekend.

    If you do that, be prepared for lots and lots of growling and noises like you have never heard before… all natural... and snapping... remember that is how adults teach puppies to behave... and puppies continue to push the limits, over and over.....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • ?

    I just wanted to share my recent experience with adding a 2nd basenji to the house. I've had Sonny for 3 years and he's been an only dog. He's always been content with his spot in the window watching the world go by while I'm at work. But I thought it was time to expand our b family and bring in a sister for him. Sonny loves to play with all sorts of other dogs when we visit a local farm at night for him to run during his off leash time. He can get defensive when other dogs invade his personal space when on leash. I didn't want to bring a puppy into the house so I found a wonderful 1.5 year old girl to add to our family as a companion for Sonny. Well as it turns out Sonny wanted no part of having another basenji come live in our home. We had her on a trial bases for the first few weeks from the breeder which turned out to be a good thing. Sonny did not have one minute when he wasn't in attack mode from the moment we came home. It didn't take long to figure out it was not a good nor safe situation for either dog. With a heavy heart I had to bring her back to the breeder. I love Sonny and he's the most crazy fun loving basenji you'll ever meet but he just prefers to be a bachelor and I'm ok with that…. :D

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  • CraighC

    Sounds like BRAT is picking up the puppies Thursday or Friday, and the earliest chance I'd have to do a trial run is Saturday. Maybe it's fate's way of telling me something. ;)

    Bella (Tri female), Alex (Red/White boy RIP), Cassi (Red/White girl RIP)

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  • renaultf1R

    @tanza:

    If you do that, be prepared for lots and lots of growling and noises like you have never heard before… all natural... and snapping... remember that is how adults teach puppies to behave... and puppies continue to push the limits, over and over.....

    +1. I thought I was ready for the noise and that the noise wouldn't be that different than what I hear with my 2 adults. Wrong - add a puppy in the mix and the noise is completely different and to me, much more alarming:eek:! Oh and +1 also on pups pushing the limits over and over and over and over and over and over… :D:D:D

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  • Shaye's MomS

    I had one B puppy who suffered terribly from separation anxiety. I brought another B into the mix, 7 months older than the first one, and it healed all the problems - except of course now there are two B's under 2 years old, and double the puppy stuff. However, had Shaye been fine alone, I don't think I'd have gotten another. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't. The foster program or trial period would be the best things for you to try until you know how your dog is going to react to another one in the house.

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  • bcraigB

    We have occasionally thought about bringing in a second B, which is shocking because most of our first year with Ella was so hard. But the second year has been so good it has become a fleeting thought. But the description you gave of what happened with Cassie and Alex is exactly our fear. Ella loves to meet all other dogs on walks but is pretty submissive and I have a feeling she very well might get bullied by a new pack-mate.

    We think about it because Ella also stays home alone for much of the day 4-5 days a week. But I do not sense that she is stressed about it at all. She sleeps in the sun or looks out the windows most of the time. I usually have to wake her up when I come home for lunch and at the end of the day. When I am home during the day she pretty much ignores me and sleeps in the sun and looks out the window anyway. After the novelty of a new dog wore off, I think she/they would still do the same thing each day.

    The thought I have is, if you get a second dog do it because YOU want a second dog. Don't do it because you think that is what your dog wants.

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    tanzaT
    Always say, opposites are best... are these littermates? Even with opposites, many times littermates are a problem... as they competed as babies for everything.... and we say, it works till it doesn't... Is there a reason you want two of the same sex? and you need to be prepared that if they don't get along you will need to separate... I was very lucky but very concerned about the two bitches I got at the same time, 2wks in age apart... I looked at the temperament of both before deciding... and LUCKED out... I have one very confident bitch and one not.. but they have meshed well together with the confident bitch not concerned with being "top" in the house, she knows she is but doesn't need to prove it.... still it took till my one bitch had puppies to prove to me that she was OK in her skin and have remained friends since... even with her puppies. IMO (in my opinion) unless you are looking to breed at some point, not worth the chance... been the other route too... and it is NOT fun
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    Hi Sarah, congratulations on your new puppy! I have two females that are 3 and 5; they've lived together for 1.5 years. When they met, the younger one wanted to assert herself as the dominant one, and the older one acquiesced…. they've determined their roles, so there really isn't an issue here. The younger one, Lola, is a "licker" and often initiates playtime. If the older one doesn't want to play, she will snark at Lola, who then decides that the new game is to clean Becca's ears. :) I think the guideline to introduce them in a neutral place is a good one until you know how they will interact when your puppy goes to visit Bananas. Hugs and roos! Patty
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  • BeckisB

    Experince of two B wanted!

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    We have three. The second we got to have a playmate for our first and the third we got because we fell in love with his pic on BRAT (I am no longer allowed to go to the BRAT website ,,,,lol). Three is definately challenging but they all get along most of the time and have given us endless hours of laughter and joy (as well as some very frustrating times!). If I had it to do over again I would definately do everything the same. Just make sure you have the time and resources for a 2nd b. Our first has had some vision problems and the others have to be vetted periodically and it can get a little expensive. Also, with two and three it almost takes two sets of eyes to keep track of them sometimes. One last tip,,,,if you do get a second ,,,baby gates are a must to keep them corraled!
  • C

    Left home with one came back with two!

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    C
    @jys1011: Cute :) But PLEASE do everyone a favor & find Lil Hussy's owners. She can get killed by car, animal, disease, etc. I agree 100 %. There are several dogs who run the neighborhood and we can't seem to get the owners to understand the dangers. One fellow, not the little JRts owner, actually said that he lets his dog out in the morning and if he doens't come home then it was the dogs fault for getting in the wrong place. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHGHGHHGHGHH. Sorry, it didn't help. I live in a rural area and the town is small. A lot of folks don't think of dogs a companions or part of the family, they think of them as disposible things for lack of a better word. At the end of hunting season, our local animal control, pitiful though it is, is full of hunting dogs that either slipped their collars or worse, were taken off their collars and run off since they weren't "huntin good". The majority of these dogs are euthanized withing 72 hours which is hard, but better a quiet death than starving to death in the swamps. I think I have figured out the house where this little JRT female lives. From what I can understand, the father works in a town over an hour away, the mom is a flight attendant and is rarely home and their child is kept by the grandmother. This family needs a dog, like I need to gain back the 70 + pounds I lost!!!! Another neighbor who is great with dogs and works hard in the neighborhood to help take in lost dogs and I had a long chat tonight. She called animal control but they told her they couldn't do anything unless they saw the dog off leash or out of its yard. I forgot to mention that my friend is an older woman with a heart condition and takes her small mix breed female for a walk every morning and evening. The little JRT female will come running up and jump on and nip and bite my friends dog and when her dog tries to get away or fight back, my friend gets tangled in the lead and has nearly fallen. She is getting scared to go out with her dog. She said that this morning, when she spoke with a different person at animal control, that fellow told her she was calling the wrong place, that she needed to call the police since she is in town limits. We both shook our heads. I told her that I was tempted to go to the family and see if they wanted to get rid of the JRT and if they did, take her to the Vet Hospital to see if she has had any shots or has been neutered. The only thing stopping me from asking them for her is I have used up a huge chunk of saving on Beeji and I don't know how he would take to another dog in his new home so soon. However, I am planning on talking to them about why they are letting her out and not keeping her in the fenced area they have. I will work on keeping my temper and try to use all my mediation skills. Pray for me and/or send lots of positive energy my way!! Aloha, Cheryl Wordweaver saddened by the ignorance of humans who get dogs because they are cute, or are popular or adorable as puppies but never take care of them, give them training, love or attention. :(