Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. New Girl in Town – Part 2

New Girl in Town – Part 2

Behavioral Issues
  • O

    Okay, I feel pretty reassured on the food and the jumping. But I have a bigger/broader issue. Roxy (my basenji mix) not only follows me everywhere (that's normal, right?), she also won't let my cat anywhere near me. Well, I should qualify that: My cat is not assertive enough to ask Roxy to get out of her way.

    Is this a cat issue or a dog issue? Do I teach Roxy to back down when Agatha (the cat) wants affection? Roxy is accustomed to cats. Agatha is not accustomed to dogs.

    Agatha hissed at Roxy once when she was "barking" under her cat tree. Roxy growled at Agatha once when Agatha tried to be petted while Roxy was asking for petting. I have never ever ever had a cat and dog under the same roof … and, overall, it seems they get along. But Agatha got less attention than brother when he was alive (b/c I actually knew he was going to have a short life), and now it looks like she is going to be subordinate again. I really need help teaching Roxy to let Agatha take her turn.

    Oof. I feel a little goofy asking this question. It seems to require a psychic.:rolleyes:

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    I try to NOT interfere when I can as it can escalate the problem. How about crating Roxy when you want time with the cat?

    Debra

    0
  • thunderbird8588T

    I have two Cats 14 1/2 years old and a year old Basenji girl. Cats and Dogs can live very well under the same roof so don't panic.
    If Agatha wants attention and you want to give it then you can't let Roxy push her out.
    Both Pets deserve your attention.
    When Agatha approaches for attention you could encourage calm behaviour from Roxy with praise and treats.
    Malaika isn't too bad around our cats and sometimes they will sleep next to each other on the settee. When Malaika was too much for them as a very young pup we discouraged rough behaviour with a quick hidden squirt of water.

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

    0
  • O

    YAY!!!! I found a solution! Rawhide. Given to Roxy … she goes into a back bedroom and Agatha comes to cuddle. Perfect!

    I'm overly concerned about Agatha since her brother died a month ago. Having a dog is better than being by herself, but I don't "get" cats and when I took her on, I knew I had to be responsible for her and respectful of her feelings and needs.

    0
  • S

    Sounds like you are on the right tract.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • listemeL

    Our cat Sagan doesn't get as much time with us as Simon does. Part of this is because she's comfortable that way – cats are so much less "needy" of human company. But Simon is about to turn a year old and is still pretty rowdy, and she is wise to stay up on her tree when he's out and looking for trouble.

    So I try to give her extra time when Simon's sleeping, for one thing. She stays up much later than he does.

    In my experience, cats want warm bodies to sleep on/with, they want tuna, and they want your attention at the most inconvenient times -- when you're in the bathroom or on hold or when someone is at the door :D. I suspect what she needs most, having just lost a feline companion, is a cuddle buddy. Can she sleep on your bed with you? That's probably the best healing she can have.

    0
  • O

    @listeme:

    In my experience, cats want warm bodies to sleep on/with, they want tuna, and they want your attention at the most inconvenient times – when you're in the bathroom or on hold or when someone is at the door :D. I suspect what she needs most, having just lost a feline companion, is a cuddle buddy. Can she sleep on your bed with you? That's probably the best healing she can have.

    Honestly, Roxy is sleeping with me. Agatha is getting braver about hopping into bed with us, but hasn't actually slept there since Roxy's arrival. Between Sherlock's death and Roxy's arrival, Agatha cuddled with me every chance she got. This evening, Agatha started following Roxy everywhere. So, I think/hope that's progress.

    0
  • listemeL

    That's definitely progress, I agree. If Agatha is hopping up, I predict one of these nights she'll stay. You could rig it a little and turn down the heat to encourage it, haha.

    You know, it really sounds like you're dealing with their conflicting needs in a very balanced way. They both are needy at this point. I'm glad you are looking out for them both :)

    P.S. I love the detective names for the cats.

    0

Suggested Topics

  • Anubis's MommyA

    My new girl in my boy only home…more advice

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    Anubis's MommyA
    I hope so too! Ive also started some training sessions together. Like having them both Sit (they will sit next to each other with no issues). I use a Clicker. Ill have them SIT and they both sit…ill click and they both get treats (a SMALL piece of hot dog). Kind of to teach them that being near each other can be rewarding. So far its worked. They can be inside the house toether with no conflict either. One will be on the couch near me the other in the recliner. The only tension is if one comes over to sniff the other. But neither snap anymore cuz when one growls the other heeds the warning and backs away. I love having another B around...they are like Potato chips...you cant have just one lol
  • M

    Violent lil girl!

    Behavioral Issues
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    13k Views
    M
    Waffles is doing really well! @Patty M, she started Baroo-ing! I was so startled at first it scared me! Now she does it in the morning when one of us wakes up, and she realized we are up for good to play with her and feed her, she lets out a loud baroo, almost like a puppy-rooster. Crate training is going much better- she rarely cries (at least that we know of) she does try and hide in the morning when when she senses we are going to leave for work. she eventually succumbs to the deliciousness of cream cheese , but its definitely an ordeal! We're just taking it one day at a time. She is evening sleeping through the night about 25% of the time. There is nothing so glorious as 6 hours of sleep!!
  • Tayda_LennyT

    Two new issues with Tayda. 1\. Growling @ my husband. 2\. Peeing inappropriately

    Behavioral Issues
    31
    0 Votes
    31 Posts
    14k Views
    Tayda_LennyT
    Hello again - well it's been a couple weeks and though I think the growling at my husband is improving, we are still having issues with her peeing in the house when we are home and in her ex-pen when we are not home. She has been trained to use a litter box which is inside her ex-pen during the day, and she uses another similar litterbox in the bedroom at night. It really seems like the peeing she is doing in the house is deliberate. I don't know if she is doing it cause she senses my pregnancy and is acting out, or if she's being lazy to go outside since it's been colder out… or maybe a combination of both? IF I catch her peeing inside, I will firmly say "NO!" and pick her up and put her outside to finish her peeing. Sometimes she's already done though. Shouldn't this work? :( It doesn't seem to be. Any ideas would be appreciated...
  • Shaye's MomS

    New Behavior - clacking her teeth

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    eeeefarmE
    I had a (spayed) bitch that used to do that…...usually sniffed something, then clacked her teeth. She seemed to do it more as she got older. I had forgotten about it until I saw this thread. :) In horses it is a sign of submission. Foals do it, and usually outgrow it, but I have a 25 year old mare that will still teeth clack on occasion.......usually when she is in heat and shining up to my gelding! Go figure.....
  • KebasmomK

    For those of you that have two girls -

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    3k Views
    renaultf1R
    @Kebasmom: don't even get me talking about the little boy who lives here. Oh the moaning and groaning…...at least he is still eating and maintaining weight. Last year he was so skinny!! Oh, the moaning & groaning…LOL...I have videos on my phone of Brando sobbing & howling last year - definitely a noisy time at my house. And, he was a rail after Liyah's season as I was lucky if I could get part of one meal in him each day. Ruby was fine with Aaliyah last year (granted Ruby is spayed - and she actually acted very motherly to her which was kind of interesting) - but Liyah was quite "bitchy" at times and Liyah mostly acted depressed. Ruby wasn't so fine with Brando though because Brando would have taken "any port in a storm" including Ruby - and Ruby wasn't interested in his advances :D:D - so I just kept him separated from the girls. All in all it was easier than I had thought it was going to be - but then again I had 8 wks of training on running 2 packs when Brando broke his leg - 4 wks felt like nothing to me by that point.
  • B

    Worried - new aggressive behaviour

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    Cats are almost always hypERthyroid; dogs are almost always hypOthyroid. And there is a long list of hypothyroidism, (no idea about hyper, i don't have a cat) and dogs will often just have a few symptoms, not all. just google. Personally, I'd look for a behaviorist and get the Control Unleashed book. It talks about how to create a new history for experiences. It also talks about threshholds which you really need to understand in dealing with a dog like this.