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Basenji packs

Behavioral Issues
  • BarklessdogB

    Has anyone studied or can explain basenji packs?

    Questions?

    I know there are exceptions to everything but….

    How many does it take to make a pack?

    How many males and females?

    How did you build a pack?

    Pack hierarchy ?

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  • DebraDownSouthD

    I am pretty confused what you are asking. A pack can be anything from 2 to a billion. Even in wolves, pack sizes vary.

    Basenji pack studies? Again, confused. Basenji packs are artificially made, dynamics and variables make them not something I'd think you can actually study. Some have 2 that can't get along and must be separated, same or opposite sex, others have a dozen that gets along with mixed. It boils down to the owner's ability, the individual dogs, the house dynamics and a billion things that come down to wait-and-see cause nothing is set in stone.

    You can do whatever you want, but if the dogs decide they want to fight, you don't truly get to change that, just manage. Truthfully, it's not different in many other breeds. Opposite sexes have a better chance of getting along, but that doesn't always work! Lines that are less dog aggressive helps, but that doesn't always help. If you want more than one dog, get opposite sex and see how it goes. Want a 3rd… depends on the 2 you have for which gender and again, see how it goes.

    Debra

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  • MrBaRooampBittyM

    The most important thing to establish is that 'YOU' are the Alpha Dog, and your desires are foremost. Our little 'pack' is made up of 3 B's between the ages of 22 months, a male, 4 years, a male, and almost 9 years, a female. Bitty, the female, dreams of being the leader of the pack and is snarky if the boys bother her. Mr Baroo ,the 4 yo male, has always been a really laid back guy, but as he is older he will put Buddy, the 2 yo in his place, which sometimes results in a minor skirmish, lots of snarling and wrestling, but normally a few seconds later they are buddies again. If it lasts longer I usually give each of them their cigars, lol, their nylabones which they both love chewing. They normally end up lying next to one another and will quite often swap 'cigsars'. But most of all you have to establish that you are the Alpha Dog.

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  • DebraDownSouthD

    You can be the alpha dog, and it will NOT stop dog aggression. The old school (and often punishing) idea that you can MAKE your dogs do your will simply by dominating them and being ALPHA is, thank goodness, going by the way of the dodo bird. Except losing the Dodo was a big loss, alpha domination-not so much.

    http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_12/features/Alpha-Dogs_20416-1.html

    http://abrionline.org/article.php?id=254

    Debra

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  • MrBaRooampBittyM

    That odd sound you hear Debra, is me chuckling. I have to admit that at my advanced age i would be considered a DoDo, and thank you for noticing.

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  • eeeefarmE

    For what it's worth, I have noted that in households with a strong human leader/boss/alpha/disciplinarian (pick one!) there are less squabbles among dogs, at least when the human is present. My neighbour has Rotties, had two bitches that hated each other and would fight, but they didn't do it when she was around. She did have to be careful that they could not get together in her absence. ;)

    Interesting anecdote: If my mare is bothering my old gelding and I notice it, I can break it up by yelling at her out the window! Guess I am "alpha" in that herd.

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

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  • V

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  • D

    Bringing a 2nd (Male) Basenji into a Female Basenji's home, Any Advice of Thoughts?

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    Congratulations on the future new addition. Boy/girl is a good combination. As others have advised let them meet on neutral ground and take them for a long walk together. For every good interaction praise both inordinately. As Curlytails says don't rush it. Keep us posted, please and best wishes to you all.
  • J

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    Basenji people are dedicated to our breed, and we all seem to be very responsible. Basenjis don't like all other dogs, so we socialize them the best we can and keep them on the leash so they can't attack other dogs or sprint off after a squirrel and get killed by a car. But there are still dog owners out there who just don't understand the principles of responsible dog ownership. You don't just worry about dogs attacking each other but people as well. I posted the story about how I was attacked by a doberman and nearly killed several years ago. If not for the mailman I wouldn't even be here to talk about it. The owner said he didn't think Raggs would ever attack anybody, so he would just open the door and let him out on his own to go potty. I'm so glad we basenji owners are more responsible than some folks out there who just don't seem to get it.
  • annandaelA

    Same Sex and Basenji to Basenji aggression.

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    I agree with Catherine, socialization is a must, but it depends on the personality of the individual dog. When we had 4, they all slept on the bed together and ran together and rarely did we have any problems. We added a puppy and things were still going ok, just really crowded. However, one day our youngest girl decided she was all grown up and didn't want to be bossed around anymore by our 'wanna-be' alpha. Neither of them was a true alpha. We managed to defuse the situation, but a month later it happened again. The girls could never be together again. In fact, the tri developed a predjudice against all red girls after that! Both girls were terrific with people and with Basenji males and even with males and females of other breeds. I had 2 intact males, brothers, who stayed together with absolutely no problem for almost 4 years until one went to another home. They even got along during season. Terry