Skip to content

Advice for raising two females

Basenji Talk
  • I will be getting my female puppy Thursday and want all the advice I can get on what I need to do to make my situation work. My resident male bmix is about 8/9yrs and has successfully lived with a female basenji twice, pretty much the entire time I have had him. But I have never had two females at the same time. My female BRAT rescue, Bananas, that I had for two years moved a couple hours away with her other owner three months ago. I've always wanted a puppy and have missed having a b in the house so decided to get a puppy. The uniqueness of my situation is the puppy will live full time with my male, but will also spend time (probably once a month, when I go out of town for work or other owner does) with my female Bananas. after much discussion with the breeder, we decided on a female pup. Main reason, harmony with pup and my male is most important, because if necessary, the two females can be separated permanently. We decided I will have bananas come live with me for the first six months, so all three will be together. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

  • Hi Sarah, congratulations on your new puppy! I have two females that are 3 and 5; they've lived together for 1.5 years.
    When they met, the younger one wanted to assert herself as the dominant one, and the older one acquiesced…. they've determined their roles, so there really isn't an issue here.

    The younger one, Lola, is a "licker" and often initiates playtime. If the older one doesn't want to play, she will snark at Lola, who then decides that the new game is to clean Becca's ears. :)

    I think the guideline to introduce them in a neutral place is a good one until you know how they will interact when your puppy goes to visit Bananas.

    Hugs and roos!
    Patty

Suggested Topics

  • Two from the same litter?

    Basenji Talk
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    4k Views
    Beth314B
    @donc I really like and appreciate your post, @DonC . I've been active in the dog world (almost exclusively shelter/rescue work) for 20+ years and opinions and anecdotes pass as facts all the time. I knew I'd get this asking my question in the first place, I suppose, but I also believed to make a decision I needed to hear personal stories; the best on offer. The potential for dogs fighting whether litter mates or not, is more than my husband and I want to take on right now.
  • Advice on Basenjis

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    4k Views
    K
    An apartment would not be a problem if you give your B plenty of exercise and nose time. Also, the office would be great, but do realise that dogs need a lot of sleep, not only puppies. Our 2 sisters (7 and 6) sleep all night and most of the day. So your B would need a quiet space in the office to retreat and sleep. Agree with eeeefarm: puppy time is extra intensive, but so much fun. Try to be with your B as much as possible. Enjoy!
  • Are two better than one?

    Basenji Talk
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    4k Views
    bcraigB
    We have occasionally thought about bringing in a second B, which is shocking because most of our first year with Ella was so hard. But the second year has been so good it has become a fleeting thought. But the description you gave of what happened with Cassie and Alex is exactly our fear. Ella loves to meet all other dogs on walks but is pretty submissive and I have a feeling she very well might get bullied by a new pack-mate. We think about it because Ella also stays home alone for much of the day 4-5 days a week. But I do not sense that she is stressed about it at all. She sleeps in the sun or looks out the windows most of the time. I usually have to wake her up when I come home for lunch and at the end of the day. When I am home during the day she pretty much ignores me and sleeps in the sun and looks out the window anyway. After the novelty of a new dog wore off, I think she/they would still do the same thing each day. The thought I have is, if you get a second dog do it because YOU want a second dog. Don't do it because you think that is what your dog wants.
  • A tale of two sparrows

    Basenji Talk
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    thunderbird8588T
    OOOOhhh i hope Malaika doesn't start catching little creatures, have enough problems with the cats, they only catch mice as they are not quick enough to get birds. Pepper must be fast i've never heard of Dogs getting birds before. I have noticed Malaika doing stalking cat like behaviour when i'm playing with her.
  • Do females howl?

    Basenji Talk
    21
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    9k Views
    snorky998S
    Bdawg, I love those short talkie sounds. Katie does those all the time. I especially love the 2:00 minute mark when Lexi throws herself to the floor, just like a toddler in a temper tantrum!! Ty has always been a yodeler/howler and rapid tail wagger, but he never acquired the shorter "speech patterns". Katie is the mouthier short speech maker, but only yodels as a greeting to immediate family or to remind of a forgotten treat. She also only wags when extremely excited (ie.."look what I just stole" moments)
  • Male or Female

    Basenji Talk
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    massagemom3M
    j.m.o. or shall I say whish….....Female!