@patty and others that reference a responsible breeder: I got my Jessey (my friend dubbed him the Jester because of his loveable zaniness) - who is my second Basenji - from a responsible breeder and he was well socialized by her and then me. I took him to the dog park which he loved at first, but then after many visits, he became scared. He used to walk the neighborhood, but then became scared. Any boom/bang/bounce - he bolts home. My other Basenji was nothing like this. Jessey has his pack of BFF's but is usually snarky to other dogs (typical B!). My point is, it's not always the breeder. Dogs - like humans - can develop "head issues". It has been very frustrating for me having a neurotic dog, but I've come to accept that's him and would never love him any less! The vet gave me Solliquin to try, but I've been hesitant. Anyone out there tried it?
Tayda bit the dog sitter tonight… now what?
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If this is someone that Tayda has felt comfortable with, there might be something that is making her feel cranky. Maybe a UTI? A tooth problem? You may not have time to repair the relationship before your trip, but I am sure that eventually it can be repaired. Is it possible that you could have someone else (maybe pay a vet tech that the dogs approve of?) to stay with them while you are gone? I am sure your friend has good dog skills, but sometimes it takes a professional to deal with the most challenging customers
Or maybe just a change in the person trying to do the pilling would be enough for Tayda to accept it…she may just be done with this person for a while, if she accidentally hurt her, or whatever. -
When was the last time that Tayda had her Vet Check up? Could she plain not feel well and not into dealing with a "mostly" stranger?… and the pilling part?
Is there anything different about this person from the last time when Tayda was OK with her?... A change in perfume?... Medications?.....
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The only thing I could add is perhaps have your sitter or someone go take her out to play each day so she gets attention and makes the vet's office less stressful. Or, work on making them get along as suggested, keep the kennel apt with the understanding you pay for the spot and the sitter will take her there if she can't get her to take the pills.
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or, if the vet isn't too far…or A vet isn't too far....and Tayda and housesitter can be friends, the housesitter can take to the vet am/pm just for pilling? you could pay everybody a little extra for the piece of mind?
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Good idea Andrea!
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That really is the best idea, after the vet visit, the pet sitter can take her and do something "fun" for her..walk in a new area, buy her a bit of ice cream, something like that…
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thanks for the suggestions everyone. Apparently after an evening of ignoring tayda she came around and slept on the bed with our friend, and then this morning's pilling went smoothly. The kennel is about an hour away from where I live so it's not all that convenient. But I will try to find a vet tech around here that could pill her just in case….
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i think if you decide to have the petsitter come stay in your house, i'd look into the DAP for that time period. can't hurt (doesn't mean pilling will go smoothly, but i think it would improve a bit of grumpiness)
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When was the last time that Tayda had her Vet Check up? Could she plain not feel well and not into dealing with a "mostly" stranger?… and the pilling part?
Is there anything different about this person from the last time when Tayda was OK with her?... A change in perfume?... Medications?.....
Her last set of blood work was about a month ago - her blood gases were right on and her blood chemistries were showing slightly elevated phosphorus so we eliminated the pet cal from her protocol. I want to get her in for another set of blood chemistries because since that appointment, in addition to removing the pet cal, I have started making her a homemade diet - which she LOVES. I got some great guidance from another Fanconi B owner/breeder off the yahoo group to balance her protein/calcium/phosphorus. She is up to 18 lbs now! She was hovering around 14-15 lbs which was just too skinny, even for her petite frame. At 18 lbs she looks very healthy. yay!
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Have you considered having the pet sitter stay with you for a few days or even a week before you leave, doing what he/she normally would do with the dog or dogs while you are there also?
With most dogs, it's just the change in routine that is upsetting. Tucker likes things to have things be the same all the time and even the smallest change can start a spiteful peeing spree, some unusual growling and other things.
We used to get a housesitter/petsitter to com stay at our condo when we still lived there and EVERY time when we got home we would find pee somewhere in the house and Tucker would pee in the house for days after, sometime weeks. Tucker did okay at the kennel, but after 3-4 days, he becomes incorigable even to the trained staff there. My stepfather passed several years ago right at the end of my alumni reunion weekend. Wife and I were in Charleston, had spent the weekend there and got the call as we were leaving town and had to divert to Greenville rather than home. We were away for 10 days and around day 6 or 7, Tucker started biting the staff back home at the kennel…
