Biting

Behavioral Issues
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  • DebraDownSouthD

    Not sure, have honestly never USED one.. but would head harness help avoid the damaged neck area? And where is the damage? Using a collar up behind the ears should avoid most problems. Good luck.

    Debra

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  • lvossL

    Have you considered getting a referral to a dermatologist? Since the fur loss is so dramatic, maybe they are causing her discomfort which is why she doesn't want to wear them.

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  • W

    We have been to a dermotologist. She was given a topical cream and suggested that we use a leather product.

    Wayne

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  • lvossL

    Have you let them know that she is seems to still be experiencing issues?

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  • SeattleMaxS

    Hope this improves…

    But good for you for caring so much and trying to figure this out!

    How about a photo?

    http://basenji-shaun.com

    Basenji Shaun in Seattle

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  • B

    BENNI BABU IS OUR 7 YEAR OLD MALE, HAD HIM SINCE HE WAS PUP RIGHT FROM THE BREEDER. HE HAS BEEN "FIXED". bENNI LIVES IN DOGGY HEAVEN, ON THE BEACH, AT A RESORT IN THE BAHAMAS. HE ALWAYS GOT ALONG WITH PEOPLE, AND LOVES OTHER DOGS. i ALWAYS CARRIED A POUCH OF SMALL TREATS WHEN HE WAS A PUP. i WOULD ASK EVERYONE ON THE STAFF AND GUESTS TO TAKE A TREAT AND GIVE IT TO BENNI, FIRST HE HAD TO DO THE HIGH FIVE TRICK, NO BRAINER FOR BASENJI'S. THIS SEEMED TO GET HIM SOCIALIZED TO ALL COMERS BLACK, WHITE, BROWN, WHOEVER. ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS SNIFF PEOPLE.
    WE DID NOTICE THAT HE DID NOT LIKE HIS TAIL MESSED WITH. LITTLE KIDS ARE ATTRACTED TO THIS CURLY TAIL AND OFTEN THINK HE HAS TWO TAILS. WELL WHEN THEY TRY AND STRAIGHTEN OUT HIS "TAILS" HE WOULD SNARL, AND SOMETIMES MOCK-BITE. WE TOLD PEOPLE DO NOT MESS WITH HIS TAIL, AND THINGS WERE OK. MY WIFE WOULD TELL PEOPLE, LET HIM COME TO YOU OTHERWISE IGNORE HIM.

    NOW AT AGE SEVEN HE HAS BECOME KINDA MEAN AND HAS EVEN NIPPED SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING 2 KIDS. THIS IS BAD FOR BUISNESS, SO NOW WE HAVE TO KEEP HIM IN ALOT, A DOG WHO IS USED TO RUNNING, FREE AND PLAYING ALL DAY LONG. hE STAYS WET IN SUMMER CHASING FISH AND CRABS THROUGH THE SHALLOW MANGROVE FLATS. A DOGS LIFE. NOW HE IS LIKE A PRISONER. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. HE EVEN BIT ME WHEN I TRIED TO PUT COLLAR ON HIM. HE HAS NOT WORN ONE FOR YEARS. ANY HELP OR SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU.

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  • lvossL

    First off, has he had a full veterinary work up recently. Physical exam and blood work. Often sudden behavior changes are due to not feeling well.

    Next, what do you do to build positive associations with touch? Not all dogs enjoy touch so you should be reinforcing touch as a positive experience. Feeding while touching the dog is one way to help build the positive association. Controlling his encounters with people so they are positive does not equate to being a prisner. Giving him a safe place to be away from the hustle and bustle so he doesn't have to put up with tail tugging and what not will help him to be happier but you need to build positive associations with that place so it is a place he wants to be.

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  • DebraDownSouthD

    A sudden change in behavior can be sickness, injury, thyroid, etc. A thorough vet work up is essential.

    Debra

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  • QuercusQ

    My first thought was bad tooth….definitely time for a vet check...

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • MacPackM

    Could certainly be pain: Bad tooth, pulled muscle or back injury (or just arthritis and aches and pains) or thyroid! Have the vet do a 'full panel' not just a T4 (will have to be sent off to lab in States). A 7 year old who turns into a Mr. Cranky-pants might just have low thyroid, simple fix with 2 pills a day.

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

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  • S

    I sure hope you can find out what is causing this behavior change. Sounds like your b have a "golden" life on your island.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

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    I am not gonna sugar coat this.... If you are that worried with him around new people or strangers use a soft muzzles, especially when near small children. A cloth muzzle protects you both. It’s seems to settle them down and they are unable to bite. It’s not meant to be used often, the less the better. They can drink, they can open their mouth some, but they cannot bite. I am sure that over time your B will relax with you in your home and around visitors....always fore warn strangers visiting, it might be startling to them but it is better than them getting a bite. I am at the point I use it almost never.....If we go out with my B we use it, when visiting the vet, we use it, when very young children are around we use it"........if we are walking where there is a possibility he will get a startle...I use it. I am sure there will be somebody on here that will disagree, but I do what I have to do to protect me, my dog and people around me Take this as a positive thing so that both of you can be comfortable in all situations.
  • 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!
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  • wizardW

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    @AJs: This might be relevant… My cat of Questionable Heritage is the most friendly animal anyone will ever meet. She has never met a stranger. There is a very rare visitor who does not wind up with a cat on his or her lap. My step-mom is wonderful with animals, pet-sits for everyone and can approach the meanest junk-yard dogs anyone has ever seen. She can even "pet" bees. They won't sting her. They met each other when Sumi was a kitten. Sumi took an instant dislike to my step-mom. To this day, when Mom comes to visit, Sumi hisses, whacks her on the leg and stalks out of the room. Sumi has never done this with anyone else in her life. My point is, sometimes, animals take a disliking to someone for no apparent reason and there is no convincing the animal otherwise. It is not necessarily a reflection on either the person or the animal. Perhaps this is the case here. Like Forest Gump says " A Basenji is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you gonna get".