Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Lunging/Growling!!

Lunging/Growling!!

Behavioral Issues
  • jennifereverJ

    i posted in a previous thread about how my basenji lunges at my cats. i think this is a more appropriate section to put it in..

    ive got 2 cats, and raleigh, the basenji. they're getting used to eachother, and getting along pretty well now, being only about a week into knowing eachother. things are all fine & dandy until raleigh does this crazy move that completely freaks out the cats:

    it's a very abrupt, in-your-face bow/lunge/jump thing. kinda like he's saying "haha gotcha, scared ya!" i tell him NO! right when he does it, to hopefully show him that that's a definite no-no. help!

    another thing he did this past weekend was: my boyfriend was on 1 side of his dad's backyard, and raleigh was on the patio. eric called him over, C'MERE RALEIGH!! C'MERE BOY!" and raleigh came charging, and eric kind of bounced around, trying to do a little "catch me" thing. and raleigh started growling, and tried to nip at his leg!! what is that about? how do i fix it? his tail was wagging the whole time, he had a huge smile on his face, and it didnt seem very aggressive, but erics dad said that's definitely aggression, and needs to be fixed soon. again, help!!

    0
  • jessi76J

    doesn't sound like agression AT ALL to me. sounds like very excited play! I recommend How To Speak Dog, by Stanley Coren. I've read it, and it helps you understand a dog's body language, what certain types of growls (communication) mean, even facial expressions (ear placement, teeth showing, etc…). it's not the most comprehensive book, but it's a good start to learning that a growl can mean MANY different things.

    from what you described, it sounds like your dog was trying to engage the cats in his level of play, and the same when your bf called - he called in an excited tone and then jumped around - the dog was only reacting to the excitment. sort of like saying "oh this is so fun! I don't want to stop! c'mon keep playing! woooooo! yayyy!"

    0
  • JazzysMomJ

    Our dogs growl at each other when they play, and it IS a different growl than when they are angry.

    I'm also wondering if Raleigh wasn't "talking" to your boyfriend. I know Jazzy's "talk" sounds like a growl to those who are unfamiliar with it. To us it is a completely different sound than her "Tasmanian Devil" "Evil Dog" noise she makes when she's made.
    Sometimes freaks guests out when she greets them – they back up and look at me like, "Aren't you going to DO something?" until I explain that she was just saying, "Hi! Good to see you!"

    0
  • jennifereverJ

    haha thanks for the info. will definitely check out that book as well.

    0

Suggested Topics

  • M

    Growling at bedtime

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    5k Views
    CrazySenjiC
    This is a very common basenji issue! They get comfortable and don't want to be bothered. My brindle dog only does it when he's still delirious from sleep and "snaps out of it" when he realizes what's going on. Teaching a dog "OFF!" is very important! Do it when they are happy and awake and then move to sleepy and grumpy. On the couch, say OFF! and treat them when they get it right. It becomes a game. Both of my dogs know what "OFF!" means and listen to it. One of them will continue to grumble until he's fully awake and then he's back to his happy self. I agree with Pat and the treats for crate time. When I leave for work I say "Who wants a treat?" and off they run to their kennels! I break out the good stuff for going to work time. At night I say night-night and in they go. This didn't happen overnight! It took my red boy months to like his crate. Lots of sleepless nights with a screaming puppy. I actually had to buy him a new one because I discovered he was scared of the all enclosed plastic crates. Now his perfect in his crate and goes in on his own to relax.
  • M

    Basenji puppy growling when woken up

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    10k Views
    C
    I made sure when my girl did it, I con tinued to pick her up and say stop being so snarky and she would stop imedietely and lick me. I have a very unusual Basenji who loves to kiss and maybe that is because we kissed on her all the time from the day we got her, and whenever she got grumpy and than stopped she got loved on and kissed on. She rarely gets annoyed now because we follow through and never let her think she is the boss. So just follow through and tell her no and dont stop what you already started or she will think she is in control. I was literally a nervous owner with mine because I had heard so many stories about Basenjis and how difficult they can be, and I always had Whippets which are so laid back it is not even funny. But now I have totally gotten over it. I would get another Basenji in a minute and not think twice about it. She is the most entertaining awesome dog we have ever had. Just make sure she knows her place in the pack and love on her alot. It has worked with ours.
  • eoyE

    Nipping / Biting

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    10k Views
    eoyE
    Wow thanks sinbaje!
  • D

    My Basenji is growling at Everyone

    Behavioral Issues
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    10k Views
    wubangaW
    ya my male is 1.5 and hardly ever lifts his leg to go, as for the growling my pup about 1 and ahalf yrs old has a similar problem hes super nice with ppl but whenever my other dog goes near a bone hes chewing or his food while hes eating he makes this viscous growling noise. actually any dog he does that to. and he also tries to be dominate over the older basenji and constantly stands over her while shes lying down like hes some big tough guy.
  • youngandtiredY

    Growling!

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    5k Views
    B
    @youngandtired: :rolleyes: This woman is so stupid to let this B's behavior go to the point of looking like it will bite. My Sahara, does growl at times, but I would not allow this behavior at all. I have grabbed her when she tried to keep me from shuting the bathroom door on her, she was growling real loud, she knew I meant business and has not tried that behavior lately. I did carry a water bottle with me when I got into my car recently and told her, "No", and she has not done the growl & grab Mom's wrist since. Yea, the next time company stops by I will put her on a leash when they leave, which is a problem sometimes as she runs from me. Have to get the special sandwich meat treat out for that. haha!!!!! Can't keep her from the mailman and UPS man, I don't know when they come until it's too late. She is doing better about minding my "Leave It" commands, so I think in time of reinforcing no growling she will get better. Thanks all for the advice!:D Sounds like your making good progress C…...good job!!!! Keep it up......Mom's in charge!;)
  • jys1011J

    Resourceful/Territorial??

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    5k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    We have two cats, a 13 yr old and a 2.5 yr old. They have lived in harmony with Gypsy their entire lives. They used to snuggle together to sleep. In fact, the old guy has outlived two other dogs! Then Jazzy moved in. Two years later, it's STILL a battle. We worked hard –HARD -- on "Leave it!!", and Jazzy has EXCELLENT obedience for that , except where the cats are concerned. IF I see the cat first and say, "Leave it", she almost always will. But if the cat catches her eye first, she's gone before I even know what happened, and she won't stop once she's in run-mode. We keep a gate across the hall that leads to the kids' bedrooms and bathroom. The litter boxes, which used to be in the garage, are now in that bathroom {I HATE that!!}, as is the cat food/water. The gate is removed at night after Jazzy is tucked into her kennel and replaced in the morning. The cats have learned to stay in the bedrooms during the day, and roam the house at night. They don't seem to mind; all they really used to do was sleep on the couch all day. Now they sleep on the beds all day. Sometimes the younger cat comes down while Jazzy is sleeping and gets up on the back of the couch because she knows she is safe as long as she stays there {Jazzy is not allowed on the furniture and honestly never breaks that rule, even when the cat is there}. I feel bad about it, but what else could we do? Ah well. maybe it's a more natural lifestyle{?} Some dogs just don't get along with cats. And some cats just can't get along with dogs. Sometimes you just have to take personality into account and make accomodations.