UGH! Bad ending to a bad day!

[agilebasenji]

@MacPack:

Many dogs have "leash aggression" when being walked,and it sounds like Pearl became very frustrated and took it out on you. We used to sing a little song "if you can't bite the one you want, bite the one you're with" (sorry, Crosby, Stills and Nash) when ours were younger.

I know that song! Sang it a few times myself!

[lindenb2]

My boy basenji has the same problem when he's leashed and sees another dog on his daily walk. He appears to become overexcited and just start biting frantically at the leash, tugging madly, and running and hopping around. He's delivered a nip or two in the heat of the moment and needs lots of pats to calm him down. The thing is, I don't think he wants to be aggressive toward the other dog so much as he wants to meet the other dog. It's really a trial some days, though, unfortunately.

[Barklessdog]

I would try what I posted previously.

Its a bit like riding horses. They sense how you feel. If you get all tense then they do as well. You ignore the other dog, they do as well. It has worked for me.

There are always exceptions however, like if the other dog is realy wild or they are jogging or running by. They seem to have a something running, must catch it switch.

[ibi_n_sane]

I think it is a bit of a basenji thing, all the basenjis I know can act like this , one more often then the other, anyway I do not allow my basenjis to act like this and make sure they remember at those points that I am the boss, not that they care about that at these moments but if you do not do anything it is not good either LOL so I do not let them get away with it as they will remember that!
but sometimes it feels that it has no use at all
sometimes when they are on leash and they see a cat or another dogs they can get furious at well and can bite to each other out of frustration, i do now know the english term for this but it is well known doggy behaviour and ofcourse you must punish them when they do it, when he bites another dog this way the other dog will do that as well!!
so I think this is real basenji behaviour and it is pretty annoying! but you do not have to let him get away with it for nothing

[Barklessdog]

when they are on leash and they see a cat or another dogs they can get furious at well and can bite to each other out of frustration,

Ours do that at the window all the time when a dog walks by.

Our male has a met a friendly cat on our walks and has just been fascinated with this new thing, this cat. If our dog gets to close to the cat, the cat hisses and bats in on his nose. They seem to be OK with each other.

[DebraDownSouth]

@Barklessdog:

Our girl would sit on the bed up stairs, see another dog out the window and she would rip up the sheets / comforter on the bed.

You made me spit coffee on my keyboard. OMG and we love this breed why? LOLOLOL. Sayblee used to go room to room looking out the windows stalking the neighbor's loose dog. It was a little unnerving at first (she was my first basenji), but then I got used to it.

If you cannot hold onto your dog … and trust me we have ALL dropped a leash now and then ... you might go with a harness and 2 leashes, one clipped to your waist or with strap around your wrist. While you can't do that with a 100 pound dog, with a senji at least she can't drag you down the road.

Leash aggression and fence aggression are common with many dogs. Add our guys lack of brotherly love... bingo.

It is one reason I am absolutely rabid about loose leash training. The second a dog pulls on the leash, we go the other way. They learn quickly that pressure on leash gets them precisely what they don't want. We don't go for walks, parks, stores anywhere until loose leash walking is perfected. Then we go to distraction areas and work on it more. It can be taught at any age... have done it with feral dogs and ..lol.. Sayblee after she got her championship.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5986026_teach-dog-not-pull-leash.html

[Barklessdog]

It is one reason I am absolutely rabid about loose leash training.

Agreed. My dog has learned to get his energy out by weaving around quickly within the limits of the leash, keeping it loose.

A few years ago we used a clip lead that when he jerked a certain way the leash would unclip! He would just freeze like (what happened?" I would grab him before he discovered he was free.

One time he got free and terrorized a little flopsy mopsy dog, doing the running circles, bounce around your prey, then go in for little strikes / nips. The owner was an old woman who totally freaked out (deservedly so). No harm was done.

[Barklessdog]

OMG and we love this breed why? LOLOLOL.

I keep asking myself that and that is why I would never recomend a basenji to anyone- . I dont know anyone who could put up with it or who would be responsible enough to do what it takes for these dogs. My family thinks we are crazy.

Its that attachment they have with us & the almost human element to their personality, I think.

[Kipawa]

Barklessdog - bang on with the comment regarding horses. From a former rider, there is just so much information you 'telegraph' to a horse that if not aware, you have no idea of what is happening. Then you find yourself working way too hard to keep your horse in harmony with you. I believe dogs are no different. They pick up on your energy and give back what you are putting out there.

[Barklessdog]

The problem becomes if you are a meek or hyper person in general, that the dog sees through you and it is very hard to pretend to be something you are not 24/7.

This where you can learn from your dog / training and take some of the good for yourself. Being a strong leader, fearless, calm & in control. Who could not use some of these qualities?