So sorry to hear of the issue Ava is having. Sometimes, when it rains..it pours. You haven't had the easiest time with her and this is just not the news you needed. I would agree, that the chance of this fixing itself (however small) is worth letting her go into heat once..even if it does increase the risks by not spaying her before her first heat. I know it'll be a terrible time in between with her getting the UTI's and the stress you are having with it..but perhaps it's worth a shot?? Tough call to make
Thanks, everyone! Yes, I had pretty much decided to let her come into season and see what happens. Not much choice, really, if there's even a chance it will help her. I feel more optimistic now that I've heard how much Bs swell. LOL, Lisa– you just don't learn these things as a boy mom! It will be a challenge, since there are two large male dogs on both sides of us. The pair on one side are untrained, unruly and left outside all the time (not well treated at all, poor things). They dig out under their fence and roam, so I anticipate having to be extra cautious or they could tunnel under mine. Ava doesn't go out alone, but still. They'll drive us crazy!
I wonder if some of Ava's behaviorial issues have been because she doesn't feel well. She appears to feel okay, eats well and has energy to spare, but all these infections have to be causing discomfort. Maybe this is why she is so restless at night. Neither one of us ever gets a good night's sleep, because Ava just won't lie still.
Chealsie, you've had a time of it, too, with Oakley. It's been one downpour after another... Good thing we love them so much!
I was just going to say that I too wonder if some her behavior issues are because she has never really felt well….. time will tell, fingers/toes crossed that this helps...
What a pain it sounds like with your neighbors... I am guessing that they are not fixed either? And if that is the case, for sure you will need to be extra cautious... My friend Jeff, had a neighbor with a German Short Hair Pointer, not fixed... he finally had to hot wire the fence top, middle and bottom, because when his bitch came in season, he would "eat" through the fence...
We say that they look like little white tail deer when the bitches are in season!
I wonder if some of Ava's behaviorial issues have been because she doesn't feel well.
I would be willing to bet that is a part of the puzzle. What does your breeder think about this most recent turn of events? Poor Ava, poor you! What a tough time you both have had. But you know, sometimes the ones that are the most trouble turn out in the long run to be the most worthwhile. (certainly the most memorable!) Fingers crossed your problems are resolved and you have many happy, trouble free years together.
It's one of those unfortunate things that happen, and nobody seems to know why. It has certainly made housetraining difficult, and I'm sure it must make Ava feel insecure and needy. But she's a very active, playful girl and she hasn't had an accident in her crate for more than a month, though she does still wet the bed sometimes. I would get up and take her out, if she'd just give me a nudge!
And you're right, Pat, the dogs next door aren't fixed. They're only two years old and have irresponsible owners. I can see this being a problem, because they already bark like crazy whenever Ava goes down on that side of the yard.
I wonder if it's too late to consider showing her, since I won't be spaying her right away? She has basic obedience training, but nothing else. And I guess she would be considered to have a deformity, so not show quality?
Would her temperament and behavior allow you to show her? I know my breeder said Oakley could have been shown..but he wouldn't have enjoyed it..and I wouldn't have been able to bc of who he is
Not sure, Chealsie; probably not. She would need to work with someone a lot more skilled than me! She is easily distracted and a handful, but she has calmed down some, and admittedly, I'm not a great handler. Both her parents were GCh., so I just wondered how she would do.
Why not try her in Companion Dog Shows? Butu really enjoys them, and they exhaust him…a tired Basenji is a Good Basenji...
Both her parents were Grand Ch., and her breeder was planning on showing her, so I just wondered how she would do.
Would the breeder show her for you? The easiest shows I went to with my one and only winning Basenji were the ones where her breeder handled her. I have little experience handling, and my girl would either chase or go around the ring looking behind her! But puppies get a lot of leeway from some judges. She took Best of Opposite at a sighthound specialty over several finished bitches despite my lack of skill, and I was so proud of her! You should try it. I bet Ava is a winner! 
It has certainly made housetraining difficult, and I'm sure it must make Ava feel insecure and needy. But she's a very active, playful girl and she hasn't had an accident in her crate for more than a month, though she does still wet the bed sometimes. I would get up and take her out, if she'd just give me a nudge!
I wonder if it's too late to consider showing her, since I won't be spaying her right away? She has basic obedience training, but nothing else. And I guess she would be considered to have a deformity, so not show quality?
I will say that when Zest! was in season she tended to pee in her crate. Not in the house, just when she was in her crate. (easy enough to clean!) And she did become a bit more needy when in season.
It is certainly not too late to consider showing her. As long as she doesn't mind being handled by total strangers and doesn't mind being in crowds and other dogs (not that she will have to interact, just be around other dogs), I'd say try it. If you're in a nice area, you'll probably enjoy getting to know other basenji owners. Most of the basenji show people are nice and helpful. If you decide you or Ava don't enjoy it, you certainly don't have to go back.
Why not try her in Companion Dog Shows? Butu really enjoys them, and they exhaust him…a tired Basenji is a Good Basenji...
I'm not sure we have those on this side of the pond.
I wonder if some of Ava's behaviorial issues have been because she doesn't feel well. She appears to feel okay, eats well and has energy to spare, but all these infections have to be causing discomfort. Maybe this is why she is so restless at night. Neither one of us ever gets a good night's sleep, because Ava just won't lie still.
Goodness yes. That's why I think allergies are a HUGE consideration for breeders. Being itchy and uncomfortable all the time has got to be a miserable existence and that in turn has to cause temperament problems. And training/concentration issues. And lack of sleep, I can attest that that makes concentration very difficult the next day.
(I should clarify, that when I said "breeders" I was not talking about Ava's or even any basenji breeders. I know of some non-basenji breeders who treat allergies as a minor consideration in their breeding program. sad. )
I won my first BOW when I was 17 and knew very little. I finished Cody myself and really would love to do the same for Elliot. It's fun to show your own dog but yes it is much easier to get points when a pro or the breeder handles. Tad will handle any of his dogs so I'd ask him.
(if you lived closer I'd LOVE to do it.. I'm no pro but I love it and I REALLY wanted Ava's brother! haha)
We are currently treating a Greyhound (retired racer) with a recessed vulva who is already spayed so waiting for a heat cycle is not an option for her. She's had many UTIs and her owners are planning on having the surgery done. We also have a huge hound mix with the same condition but her's is most likely due to her extreme obesity. I think I'd wait for her first cycle if she were my dog.
If you think you would like to show her, send her home to her breeder when she comes in season and he will train her for you, that would solve your problem of having the boy dogs next door going nuts too. We scheduled our vacation last yr for when our two girls would be in season and dropped them off at Tads for the 3 weeks while we went to Europe. Came back and Tempest was already done her season and Gambit on her last couple days. They had a nice vacation with their Daddy and we did not have to worry about anything happening at home with potential roaming dogs outside our fence. I would recommend walking her in your yard on a leash for extra safety when she is in season.
Sorry to hear about poor Ava, so hard when we as dog owners can't help our pets when they are suffering and can't tell us. So important to have other dog friends and the internet to help us along the way. Must say I am learning sooo much being on this forum and think it's really great everyone helps out, hoping Ava gets through this easily and clears up the other problems she's having. Stay strong.
Jolanda and Kaiser
Thanks for the suggestions and support, everyone! Ava has had her share of issues– infections, food allergies, anal glands, confinement anxiety-- which have made for a stressful puppyhood, She's been through a lot, so maybe I'm kidding myself that she could be shown. She's not a calm dog, but she's a pretty girl and likes all dogs and people (so far!). I can hand her off to anybody, and she rolls with it. She is NOT good on the leash, so she needs someone more skilled than me to help with that and other things.
At this point, I'm just wondering if she's not going to be spayed for a while, would it be something she would like, that could teach her new things and give her confidence? Great suggestion, Lisa. Or we might just go ahead and start agility training in the fall. There's a good agility center here, and we've already visited.
Wow, Becky, that's great that you had success with Cody at such a young age! Elliot's a beautiful boy, and I'm sure you'll finish him quickly. Was Grant the brother you wanted? Or was it one of Ava's other brothers?
Grant was the only one I got to meet. I had planned on waiting for a pup from this year's litters but when he offered me Elliot I couldn't resist! I actually prefer getting an "older" puppy. It's worked out twice and is better for my lifestyle. Cody was 4 months and Elliot 5 months. I love love Tad and told him he has to pick my dogs out for me every time because he knows just what I want. Elliot is maturing slower than Cody did and is thin due to his pickyness so he will not be finishing as fast as Cody. That's fine with me!
Definitely ask him about handling Ava! Worst he could say is no or not now! Elliot pulls on a walk but is very good on a show lead.. they learn the difference.
Like me, he's concerned and has had no experience with this. He hasn't even had a dog with a UTI. It's just one of those unfortunate things that happen, and nobody seems to know why. It has certainly made housetraining difficult, and I'm sure it must make Ava feel insecure and needy. But she's a very active, playful girl and she hasn't had an accident in her crate for more than a month, though she does still wet the bed sometimes. I would get up and take her out, if she'd just give me a nudge!
And you're right, Pat, the dogs next door aren't fixed. They're only two years old and have irresponsible owners. I can see this being a problem, because they already bark like crazy whenever Ava goes down on that side of the yard.
I wonder if it's too late to consider showing her, since I won't be spaying her right away? She has basic obedience training, but nothing else. And I guess she would be considered to have a deformity, so not show quality?
She would NOT be considered to have a deformity… and she certainly could be shown
I'm not sure we have those on this side of the pond.
I did wonder - are there no Dog Shows for non-pedigree dogs then? That seems a shame…perhaps they are called something else?
Elliot is maturing slower than Cody did and is thin due to his pickyness so he will not be finishing as fast as Cody. That's fine with me! Elliot pulls on a walk but is very good on a show lead.. they learn the difference.
Elliot looks great in his pics! He's a beautiful boy, and you can't tell he needs to put on weight. Have you tried sprinkling a little Brewer's Yeast on his food? Sounds like you've tried everything, but if not, it might be worth a try.
She would NOT be considered to have a deformity… and she certainly could be shown
That's great to know, Pat! I'm a total novice at anything to do with showing, but I'm finding it fun to learn. I'm glad that Ava's RV won't stand in her way, if I do decide to show her. Hopefully, it'll be gone anyway, with a heat cycle.
