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Aggression ONLY when in trouble…URGENT

Behavioral Issues
  • G

    I think the most important thing to emphasize here is:
    Do not underestimate the power of an angry basenji.

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  • tanzaT

    @gjrcvw:

    I think the most important thing to emphasize here is:
    Do not underestimate the power of an angry basenji.

    Well put…

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • B

    @lvoss:

    Debra stated already, the baseball bat is NOT to be used to beat the dog off but to provide a physical barrier so the dog does not connect with human flesh when it charges the owner. You have latched onto one idea and are not reading what others are saying.

    Trying to touch or restrain a dog that has entered "fight" mode is a recipe for disaster and advising people that it okay to do it because they are ONLY 20 pound dogs is irresponsible.

    I guess I was wrong to suggest something I had read in a book by Cesar Millan and have tried with success my self.
    I did latch onto the idea of a baseball bat, I offered my "suggestion" and just like some on this forum that do not agree with my suggestion, I do not agree with her's! That is all!
    Bottom line is that there is an issue with his dog that needs to be corrected… I was giving a suggestion, Obviously, I do not know her or her dog and can only suggest a method that has worked for me...

    www.basenjiblogs.com

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  • G

    It is good to share your experiences but you need to take seriously the advice of people who have experience and years and years in basenjis. I am telling you that with some basenjis your method will not work and is very very dangerous to both the human AND the dog, who will eventually end up euthanized because of handling in this manner.

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  • P

    Aggression begets aggression!

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  • DebraDownSouthD

    Well that explains your views… Milan. A man who is going to get someone killed. How about I save a lot of typing and suggest you read this thread:

    http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=9598

    And again, you object to using a plastic bat between you and a dog why? You have latched onto the "baseball bat".. let it go, then picked it back up with fervor. Normally I'd quote many passages and go all Debraly on you but I am just going to shake my head and move on. You can stop obsessing over your impressive twisting of using a plastic child's bat to keep the dog off into beating a dog with a baseball bat, or you can stop… read, and let it go. Up to you.

    Debra

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  • C

    I'm brand new to the list. We received Rosie as a rescue dog 18 months ago. Near as I can fugure, she a basenji/lab mix. We go running (I walk, she runs) off leash at a cross-country course every morning, rain/snow/sun. She has boundless energy and I am hopelessly in love with her. Problem: recently she has been running off into the woods and disappearing for 1/2 hour or 45 minutes. Since she has done this on and off for 18 months, I'm not too concerned for her safety. My problem is that I call and call for her, offer her treats when she appears and kove her up all the time. How can I train her to come when I call? Charles

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  • agilebasenjiA

    Try Leslie Nelson's Really Reliable Recall method. available in dvd or booklet from amazon or dogwise.com

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  • C

    Thanks agile. I'll give it a try.

    charles, Rosie Gullywhumper's dad

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  • Anubis's MommyA

    Just an update :) Ive got it under control for good now I believe. Ive got one of those 3 1/2-4ft tall baby gates with a walk through door. I keep it shut so he cannot access the kitchen when I am in the living room on my pc or watching tv. The living room is TOTALLY Basenji Proof…nothing for him to get into. If Im in my bedroom I put a normal gate up in the doorway that goes from my hall to my kitchen. Keeps him confined to my room and the hallway. It's been working great. No incidents...the last one was weeks ago when he got mad cuz he tried to eat my mail I had on the table. When he acts like that Ill just ignore him and walk away and stay calm. My calm body language calms him down fast and within minutes he's his normal spazzy self again.

    Kinda like a bully teasing a kid...if the kid being teased and picked on doesnt react...the bully gets bored with it because he's getting no reaction. Same kinda concept :)

    Owned by Anubis and Casey (the Pitbull mix)!

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  • agilebasenjiA

    thanks for the update on anubis. sounds like you two are creating a new history which is wonderful!

    charles - i should have said welcome to the forum!

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  • DebraDownSouthD

    Glad it is going well!

    Recall: http://www.clickerlessons.com/recall.htm

    Debra

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  • P

    I'm so pleased that you are solving your problems with Anubis. Just goes to show that it only needs the right response.

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  • C

    Agile,
    Thanks for the welcome. I feel so lucky that Rosie has a community of basenji-lovers to refer to. How do I insert an image of my girl?

    charles

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  • Shaye's MomS

    Just another suggestion regarding the trash. Shaye used to get into ours all the time - I'd just go over the pick it all up, ignoring her completely. Eventually there was nothing there so she'd back off. Problem not really solved. Then, we bought a trash can with a lid that opened when you step on a lever on the bottom. She figured out how to step on the lever. So, we turned the trash bucket around, she couldn't get to the lever, and couldn't lift the lid, and the problem went away. Just a suggestion - and be sure to get a heavy one. I also agree with everyone who has said Cesar Milan's methods are about the exact opposite of how to train a Basenji. They just don't care enough what you think when they want to do something, and coming on strong with them triggers aggression. Distraction and showing them something they might want more works best for me. When that does not work, the squirt bottle has saved many many confrontations.

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  • wizardW

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    Sahara never gets grumpy when she has to move or I move her myself. When she was a puppy I always tried to get her use to being moved, and I just couldn't keep my hands off of her when she was sleeping. Just like a sweet little baby, I just had to sweet talk her and rub her, she looked so sweet and lovable. I still have a had time leaving her alone, hubby too when she is sleeping. She is great, when she is sleeping in my lap and I have to get up, I just say, "Sahara, Mommy has to get up". She immediately gets up and moves and goes to lay down in her bed or in the guest room where it is usually nice and dark (no lights on). I read on here when she was a puppy to get her use to being moved when she was sleeping and I thank this forum for that. I took the advice and Sahara is all the good for that. She still growls and puts my wrist in her mouth when I get in my car, she hates to see me leave. I am still working on this behavior, hope the water bottle stops it for good.:D
  • SarahRNS

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    basenjibratzB
    @Quercus: That sounds ideal! I do love the head collars…the ONLY drawback is so many dogs have fits when they wear them. But the control is awesome, particularly for reactive dogs. Glad it is working for you! Oh yes, Talker had a fit when he was younger and I tried the collar. I gave up because I felt so bad for him. I don't know what changed this time–whether I was calmer or he mellowed out or what, but he accepted the halti this time around and I'm loving it. There were so many times that he would be so anxious to be out walking that getting him to stop pulling was tiresome and the walks were not enjoyable. We were constantly stopping and starting and stopping and starting to re-adjust ourselves. Now, we just walk. Loving the halti!:)
  • P

    Escalating Aggressive Behaviour

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    jys1011J
    Sounds like you're doing a really good job all things considered. Your experience with the dogs sounds like you're spot on with little Achilles. Dogs are dogs..and Basenjis are extra special dogs :D as you can see! In my experience these dogs NEED & WANT rules & direction. They're happy when someone else calls the shots. My little girls tends to get a little crazy with my male dog so I know what you're going through & while I can't "fix" her mood swings I do try to manage as best we can. When she gets "that look" I'll get her attention or throw a treat at her & she quickly goes into "ooh gotta find the treat" mood…sometimes I'll just pick her up & put her in my lap with her back towards the dog & lots of good praises for being good. I'm afraid that your daughter & her fiance may not keep up with all the work that you've been doing with Achilles & that could be disasterous for him. He's only 4 months & they really need A LOT of structure at this young age (kinda like kids :) right?) to be well behaved adult dogs. I really hope she follows your lead & what you've been doing. LOTS of pups need to be on a house line for a few months so that they learn the rules & learn how to behave. Good luck & hang in there...I promise you for all the work you put into this little guy you will get back 100 times over in love & respect.
  • P

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    P
    We have already started the positive reinforcement. My 12 year old daughter is very good with him, and she feeds him in the morning. He is always fed in his crate, and we always thought it was cute and funny that as we were putting the food in his dish he was crawling underneath us to get to it. That changed last night. When I was putting water in his dish I made him wait until I had finished. He was trying to drink it through the bars as I poured it. My hubby and daughter have both read the article I printed out. I think Paige will better follow it as my hubby is very softhearted and all our dogs run our life because he simply can't dominate them.