Skip to content

Aggression towards other dogs

Basenji Talk
  • Tesla just turned 4 this year and since then she has become very aggressive towards other dogs while on walks and at the dog park. We used to regularly visit the dog parks around us without a problem. Now she will barely let a dog approach her without growling and snapping- and the other dog can be completely calm when approaching her. She won't even sniff/let the other dog sniff her before she's set off. I'm not sure what to do to break this new habit of hers. She never responded to clicker training as a puppy so I don't think I can go that route. Does anybody have advice for this?

    Thanks!

  • Full medical check up first thing including a full/complete Thyroid panel, not just the T3/4 that 99% of Vets do. If that checks out then you might just have to live with it…. As my Basenjis aged they became less tolerant of strange dogs....

  • I was unaware of that. I definitely will do that at our checkup. Thanks!

  • Also read Control Unleashed. You will learn about thresholds and desensitization. You may also want to look into BAT (behavior adjustment training) by Grisha Stewart. Click to Calm by Parsons and Bringing Light to Shadow might also be helpful books

  • If your Basenji's check up is soon, great, if not, I would not put it off…... having the thyroid checked. Low thyroid in Basenjis is an issue and in a Basenji, low normal is usually too low

  • Her check up is this month, so timing works out fortunately.

  • Had the same issue, once oakley hit maturity he turned dog aggressive- went to tufts behaviorist to have his thyroid panel drawn bc out vet didn't do the FULL thyroid panel and when it came back normal I had my answer: he's dog aggressive! Not to say he doesn't have a few dogs he has grown comfortable with and is fairly reliable (FAIRLY) in controlled non food situations. Can be a breed issue unfortunately (and some
    May not agree)

  • @Chealsie508:

    Had the same issue, once oakley hit maturity he turned dog aggressive- went to tufts behaviorist to have his thyroid panel drawn bc out vet didn't do the FULL thyroid panel and when it came back normal I had my answer: he's dog aggressive! Not to say he doesn't have a few dogs he has grown comfortable with and is fairly reliable (FAIRLY) in controlled non food situations. Can be a breed issue unfortunately (and some
    May not agree)

    What all do you consider on a full thyroid panel? So I can be sure to mention it when I go into the vet.

  • http://www.offa.org/pdf/thyapp_bw.pdf - application

    You can get other Thyroid information from www.offa.org and then scroll to Thyroid

  • What Pat said, if you just go to your vet and ask for a thyroid (even a full thyroid) you won't get it. I printed the OFFA paperwork and made sure my behaviorist would do it because they have to do the blood draw and spin it at the vets then send specific samples to OFFA to be tested- this ENSURES that your tests will be based on the breed standard (of which Pat mentioned that with Basenjis a low thyroid is often too low to be considered normal). I felt great comfort in the accuracy of the results even though they weren't what I was hoping for. Sounds bad but I was hoping his thyroid was low so I had an explanation of his behavior but once the results came back normal the next step was working with a behaviorist…To this day oakley has decided he "doesn't need buddies" and prefers his one pal (sometimes ��)

  • Sad understanding LOL @ Chealsie508. No joke. Ditto on Sayblee… full thyroid and HOPING that was it. No. Dog aggressive to the extreme, yes. Only dog she did not ever fight was our male Rottie, whom she loved, and our older rottie bitch who she had the good sense not to take on.

  • ok, so the overall assumption is that this is dog aggressive, but there are variable demonstrations of aggression. Aggression where the dog wants to kill the object (dog, other animal,…) or if it is fear aggression, then the thyroid has nothing (probably) to do with the 'aggressing' towards the other dog. If the dog has a fear or inability to socialize with other dogs, then the growling, lunging, last resort bite,(if that variable is actually followed through or if the snapping is done and the fearful dog retreats)...all have different methodologies of rehab with the fearful dog making better decisions in the area of his/her tolerance trigger. CAT or BAT is what you want to talk over with a behaviorist or trainer with the knowledge.

Suggested Topics

  • Dogs diedfrom dog treats

    Basenji Talk
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    D
    If the dogs are having similar symptoms as in the previous years, they need to be treated ASAP! It is my understanding that many are developing the acquired Fanconi Syndrome and need to be put on the protocol. Many vets though do not have the equipment to do the venous blood gas test and get an accurate diagnosis. Emergency vets should have the equipment. Do not buy any dog treats that come from China and if the package does not state where it is from then do not buy it! Jennifer
  • Your duties toward your dog

    Basenji Talk
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    990 Views
    V
    Made my eyes well up. I promise my dogs they will never suffer. When I had to put my 16 year old, Congo, down. I did it with a smile and held him and told him he would have a young body again and that there were lots of bunnies to chase in "puppy heaven". I know people who shouldn't own any animals, ever. Luckily, I am not one of them. I have come to the realization that I will always own dogs. They are just who I am and I am lonely without them. Thanks for the "10 Commandments". They are true.
  • Dog Attack- What to do?

    Basenji Talk
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    DiegosMomD
    Thanks for the advice everyone! Picking them up would have probably worked in this situation because the other dog was small, but i couldn't think that fast as it was happening! but carrying some kind of spray sounds like a good idea, i am going to look for that at the pet store. Thanks again!
  • Devil dog/good dog

    Basenji Talk
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    nobarkusN
    Yes I agree Pat, Fort Funston could get very crowded and dangerous for smaller dogs as packs of bigger dogs playing could cause injury. My 2 Basenjis were very good and stayed pretty close to me and got used to the crowds. The only problem I had there was with this lady who had an older Tri color female Basenji. It would bite my blk/wht, Nika who was 1-1/2 on the butt. A few times of that and I stayed way away from her. The problem is Nika was a very playful girl and never did anything like that. A few times of getting nipped on the butt started her doing it to other dogs and Basenjis. A Basenji would want to play and Nika would chase and give a nip and the the other dog would get mad and a fight would occur. Nobody would ever get hurt thankfully. It was rare that it would happen as I took them there for 9 years, mostly on the weekend without problem. We had a lot of fun and people loved the Basenjis! Ringo, the red/wht was a very entertaining clown when we'd go down to the beach.
  • Bad dog!

    Basenji Talk
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    spitfirekrl1S
    That is a great idea, but it should be an adolescent for sure (seems to be the most trying stage). My mom also really liked our dog (the look, the no bark, typical things most people like) and she quickly changed her ideas. We were telling her about the time we had to babysit another dog and the things she did to let us know that she did not like another dog in our house (she did some very naughty things)! My mom said 'wow she is really a manipulating dog'. I said, yeah they are definately not a breed for everyone.
  • My dog ate my….

    Basenji Talk
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    jys1011J
    Cell Phones, Remotes, Reading Glasses, Remote Car Keys, etc. etc. etc….all tasty treats for a CHEWY B :D :D :D