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Help with newly adopted basenji!

Behavioral Issues
  • QuercusQ

    Shoot…I just looked her up, and it is Minneapolis, not Milwaukee...sorry about that. But here is her info, none the less....

    http://www.theenlightenedcanine.com/

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • Patty MP

    Hi everyone,

    When I talked to my sister last night, she was more concerned with the dog's plight than she was with her injuries. I don't think she's given up on him, at least not now.
    To answer some of the questions, I have no idea about the crating while in the car. I'm from Wisconsin, so I guess my opinion is that Wisconsin is not the leader in pro-active legislation… shoot! They just banned smoking in all restaurants/bars this July! :) I can understand your point, and I surely can see the plight of this overwhelming situation for the dog after reading all of your posts. My sister feels like she was responsible, in retrospect, or at least that she wasn't being responsible when she picked him up. In all of her happiness, she said, she overlooked what the dog may be feeling.

    I also see where she was coming from, because when she rescued her first basenji, she travelled from OK to WI with him in the seat right next to her, without any issues. I've never seen a basenji snap, so it seems so out-of-character, in my mind.

    My sister is also confused/angry that the animal control staff didn't clearly explain what they meant when they said, "he doesn't like his tail to be touched"... and I'm upset that they didn't keep the dog longer to work with him, as the worker clearly stated when he picked him up. It reminds me of when you go to get a rental car and it breaks down a mile down the road, and when you get back to the counter, the clerk says, "yeah, I figured that would happen"...AGGGH!!!

    Anyway, thanks for the insightful thoughts. Hopefully we can have a happy ending after all of this. My sister really fell in love with this dog, and wants a happy-ever-after ending. :)

    "I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."

    ~George Bernard Shaw

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  • QuercusQ

    Patty, it is really possible that they didn't see that behavior coming. Not that that excuses it. A dog who mildly indicates that he doesn't like something may not give a serious indication that under stress he may snap. Sometimes a VERY skilled evaluator might catch it…but nobody can predict everything.

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • P

    I am sorry to hear about your sister's bad experience but I'm also sorry for this dog - he has obviously had a traumatic experience at some time in relation to his back end.

    I can understand that your sister is so concerned about the dog's plight - and it seems that he had no real evaluation by the animal control staff but then perhaps it's not their remit. However let's hope that he is given another chance and is taken to a behaviourist by whoever does take him on. I hate to think of a basenji euthanised but I do realise that with the pressure of finding homes for all these dogs there is little time to concern over one who might be aggressive and do major damage to somebody.

    My best wishes to your sister and I hope the bite soon heals.

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  • S

    Please let us know what the outcome is…its just sounds sad for everyone.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

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  • N

    I am so sorry to hear this. I wish your sister the best, whatever decision she makes.

    -Nicole

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  • agilebasenjiA

    Any updates? I was thinking about your sister today; hopefully she's healing nicely.

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  • BasenjiByTheBayB

    Wondering too how this is going - just read through it this evening. Sorry for your sister, sorry for this basenji.

    Wiser heads than mine have already given you insightful answers. All I can say is that we dealt with similar issues with our rescued boy. He suffers from fear aggression and I have lingering pain in my knee to this day from a bite shortly after we adopted him. (Not as bad as your sister's - I can only imagine how dealing with that situation in a contained space at 60 mph must have escalated things.) That aside, our guy is an absolute sweetheart, much more affectionate than our well-behaved girl. It took many, many slow months of gaining trust and training to get there, but if it works out it's worth it.

    As others have said, whichever way your sister decides to go - if she's given the choice by AC - is understandable. If she ends up with this boy in her home she may be in for a long haul, but the payoff could be huge. Warm wishes to her - and to you for caring - however things end up.

    Catt…with no ordinary dogs!

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  • Patty MP

    Hi everyone,

    When the Animal Control took the dog, they said that he would be quarantined for 10 days before any decision was made. My sister just found out that they euthanized him the next morning. She is extremely upset, as she was working with local basenji rescue
    people to find options for this poor dog.

    I really appreciate the support from the basenji family. The outcome was certainly not what we expected. :(

    "I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."

    ~George Bernard Shaw

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  • lukrisL

    What a sad story for all concerned.

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  • N

    I am so sorry to hear this.
    I talked to your sister, and she sounded really motivated to help this little guy. She must be devastated. Give her my condolences.

    -Nicole

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  • P

    My sincere condolences to your sister - what a sad outcome!

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  • agilebasenjiA

    I was afraid this might happen. Perhaps if it is any consolation for your sister, we can be grateful this dog was not placed in a home with young kids. And I think it was better to euthanize him sooner rather than waiting 10 days then euthanizing him. Your sister made an honest effort to help and do the right thing. This is so not her fault, please let her know nobody blames her.

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  • C

    Hi Everyone :) I'm the sister referred to in the posts. My name is Cathy and I'm new to the Basenji world. I rescued a 4 yr old Male at the end of May and he is the most wonderful addition to my family. He came to me with no history but is so very loving and gentle. As you know my 2nd attempt to rescue didn't go so well.

    My hand is healing just fine, but my heart aches. This poor little dog did nothing wrong. It was all human error that caused his death and I'm so sad. Sad that my uneducated behavior had a part in his being destroyed. Mad that the organization didn't give me a better explanation of what behaviors he had been exhibiting.

    If I could only go back and make changes…..but its too late for him :(

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  • agilebasenjiA

    Welcome Cathy! I'm Kim (with 3 basenjis, a hubby and a malinois) and so glad you made it to our forum, but sorry about the circumstances. I'm glad your #2 has not soured you on the breed. They are quirky little creatures. I know your heart (and hand) hurts and I hope you can find peace soon.

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  • QuercusQ

    Welcome Cathy! I am so sorry you had to go through this. Please know that this was no fault of yours…sadly this dog was probably quite dangerous because of his lack of bite inhibition. Hugs to you...and again, welcome...

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • curlytailsC

    I'm so sorry this story had to end like this.
    But thank you for checking in with us. I hope you will be able to have more, less tragic Basenji adventures with us for some time to come.

    M.C. w/ Bowdu (shiba inu) and Bowpi (basenji)

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  • MacPackM

    Cathy, you just had a most horrible all-around 'rescue' experiences. I am so glad your hand is healing, but please don't blame yourself at all. Who thinks of all these things when you are adopting a cute dog from the shelter? I have had many basenjis who were "touchy" about their tails, but never such a reaction. I'm sure there are lots of things you would do differently if you could hit the 'undo' button, but nothing that you did was 'wrong' in any way. Try and look ahead and use your sad experience to educate (as you have done to us). As someone said, thank goodness it wasn't your face, or some small child…kids can't keep their hands off a basenji's tail. Like any accident,it all happened so fast (literally, at 60 mph) but it is past and try and put it behind you. Things work out for a reason, even if it makes no sense at the time.
    Hugs.

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

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  • P

    As always Macpack comes up with the right words. I totally agree with her - you did your very best Cathy, and that's what we all try to do.

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  • Patty MP

    Thanks, everyone, for welcoming my sister, Cathy. Anne, we've met once here in Tampa, but you feel like a kindred spirit, for your words of wisdom and love truly hit home. Thank you!

    "I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."

    ~George Bernard Shaw

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  • C

    Basenji Reactivity- please help!

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    DebraDownSouthD
    Cara is 11. She has only love our Samoyed in her entire adult life. No animal is worthy of breathing air. While Pam did take her about 5 years ago for a refresher course, she learned to ignore the other basenjis, not like them. If she freezes, she is definitely waiting for prey. Usually she keeps walking slowly, eyes seemingly forward, until she is within striking distance. I wouldn't trust my dog to lie in wait until you truly are sure of their intentions. Even then, do you know if their behavior may be stressing out the other dog? And how many dogs and how much time do you have to play out this behavior? On a good day, Moose the Samoyed runs into up to 10 of his harem on a long walk (usually 3 to 5). He's out to play, that's the goal. On a potty walk when my daughter or her fiance are in a hurry, they give him very little play time and he accepts it. No, he's not a basenji...but also an ancient independent thinking breed. They live to play. We get to decide when. My point being, I understand that a behavior may be normal...but I am surprised at owners throwing up their hands and letting it go. There are many situations where you need the dog to keep moving, and you want training in force before that occurs. I am not sure at the resistance against that view.
  • M

    Need help with my new Basenji pup Jax!

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    DebraDownSouthD
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  • C

    Desperate for help with my biting basenji

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    M
    Hi - a few thoughts in case they are helpful, although ours doesn't bite. For biting: Figure out the reasons for biting first. if it is around toys/possessiveness - we gave him the toy on his bed and let him be there gnawing on his own. Then walked close by (not too close) and threw him something yummier in his view (eg a small piece of sausage that he can eat quickly) and walk away. Do this at random (though not too often) and have different people in your family do it. Soon she will associate your coming close to her and her favorite toy as something good. Progressively get closer (ie throw the sausage from closer), and then squat down, then touch on head briefly, then hand sausage to her, then move hand towards toy but don't touch it. By this time she will anticipate your coming to her when she has a toy as "yay, something more tasty coming my way". Evenutally, you should pick up the toy/bone hand her the sausage then hand back the toy/bone. Pretty soon she'll let you pick up her toy/bone without biting or thinking you are going to take it away. The key is to progress slowly in terms of distance etc, and mix up the treats (sausage, cheese, chicken). -if she does bite someone, then immediately isolate her in a basenji-proof room where she cant destroy things. And when letting her out, ask her to sit and be calm for a few seconds first so that she's not hysterical and she learns to watch and listen to you. There may be something else that one does for biting, so maybe others or a trainer would have good ideas. For pulling on walks, 2 things worked for us: A gentle leader - suggested by our trainer. This means she can't control her head (if they pull forward their head moves to the side like a horses halter) and so she won't be able to forge ahead. It will give your arm/shoulder immediate relief while you work on the rest. In the yard and on walks start rewarding with small treats every time she looks back at you/checks on you. At first she'll do it by chance, or if she is checking to see what you are doing, and sometimes it's a side glance. As soon as she does it - give big verbal praise and get her to come to you and give her a treat and lots of pets. She will begin to do this more often. initially treat every time she looks at you, and once she is good at it, then randomly. On walks you'll find her looking back and coming back to you more often, and as a corollary less pulling, which is a relief. We usually keep the leash in one hand and a handful of small, soft treats in the other - so you don't run out and have to keep going into your pocket to get treats. So, she'll come and nose your hand and you can pet some times, treat sometimes, etc. The one thing is to progress slowly, praise the right behavior and don't get impatient (count to 10, stop training or go do something else for a bit till you feel ready to try again). When doing the praise really have an excited voice and go overboard even! Our basenji really loves being praised. It takes more time perhaps than other methods, but it's long lasting because they see these behaviors as rewarding so you don't have to get into a battle of wills. And once they get the idea, they'll improve rapidly, even over one walk. Good luck!
  • SweetpeaelfS

    My Basenji is only aggressive towards other basenjis

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    agilebasenjiA
    You know, my boyz like dogs the same color as they are. Jet LOVES tri colored dogs - Berners, tri Aussies, etc. And last time they were at Anne's dog park, poor Digital was the only brindle basenji. Jet played with the basenjis and Diggie went and hung out with a brindle greyhound. Remember that Anne?
  • U

    Help!

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    U
    Thanks guys! I will be checking those books out!
  • annandaelA

    Same Sex and Basenji to Basenji aggression.

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    T
    I agree with Catherine, socialization is a must, but it depends on the personality of the individual dog. When we had 4, they all slept on the bed together and ran together and rarely did we have any problems. We added a puppy and things were still going ok, just really crowded. However, one day our youngest girl decided she was all grown up and didn't want to be bossed around anymore by our 'wanna-be' alpha. Neither of them was a true alpha. We managed to defuse the situation, but a month later it happened again. The girls could never be together again. In fact, the tri developed a predjudice against all red girls after that! Both girls were terrific with people and with Basenji males and even with males and females of other breeds. I had 2 intact males, brothers, who stayed together with absolutely no problem for almost 4 years until one went to another home. They even got along during season. Terry