He should adjust in time to losing his companion. However long that takes is questionable though and he will continue to be angry and feel neglected and reflect that anger with destruction just out of loneliness. It may improve with time and may not. You have to ask yourself is this fair for your dog? I would spend nearly all my time with him when I was home taking walks, etc. and if you can't do more than 2 hrs. it may be best to find a better home for him where he has a better environment. If his new home is a better place where there is a yard to run, and owners that can spend more time with him he will gradually accept the new home and owners. I know that is hard but may be the best. When your living situation improves you may think about owning another dog.
Other than that, working 2 jobs leaves the dog alone too much to be fair so you need to get someone…the same person all the time... over to your apartment to spend time with him if you don't want to give him up. He can bond to that person and that will help the loneliness somewhat. If you decided to give him up, the new owners could come over frequently for walks and visits before you gave the dog to them so that the dog would consider them friends before adoption, that would help the dog transition. I would not give that dog to an inexperienced owner though. That could end in disaster. It will do the same things with the new owner although it should get over the transition quicker because it will be in a better environment. Also, was your husband the dog's leader? You now have to be a positive leader for him because it sounds like he lacks leadership.
Help!! Constant whining & can't figure out what he wants!
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If this is a new behaviour (and it sounds like it is) I would be wondering if he is in some discomfort, and yes, definitely explore whether there is something going on with him physically. Have you gone over him thoroughly to assess whether there are any "ouchy" areas on his body? I concur with Debra about getting a blood panel to look for some hidden complaint.
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@toeloop840 Keep in mind this is Basenji breeding season... doesn't matter if neutered or not... these boys know. My old boy would whine for the entire month of October.....
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@tanza Yes, we are starting to think that's what it is. The rest of his family went through it in October but for some reason he seems to be a bit delayed. Any tips for how to stop or reduce the whining? It is driving us crazy especially when we try to work from home!!
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@toeloop840 Good luck on that, never could figure out anything... maybe cotton in your ears?? LOL
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Bahahahaha, when I had a bitch in heat here, my male Rottweiler cried almost nonstop. He'd doze off and then right back to it. I tried vicks under his nose, everything. If that's it, I can only send you my utmost sympathy and at least the comfort that if that's it.. it's seasonal, not his health.
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@toeloop840 Is Watson neutered?? If not, I'd make some plans on getting that taken care of ~ pretty soon!! I'd bet there's a female in season somewhere with-in a mile or so! I had a friend who hoped to get her female Dobie bred one day. As I walked out the back door one evening, there were about 6 or 7 male dogs of all varieties out there! They weren't afraid of me either ~ I thought they were going to rip my leg off before I got to the car!! I called the Vet the next day & they said to come in & pick up some pills for the female. I'll try to spell this, Chloraphyll ... it makes the smell of a female in season, not "smellable" & about 3 days later....the male dogs were all gone & peace was restored! Watson might still give a whine or 2 when a female comes into season but he sure won't pine his heart out & your ear drums!
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@tanza LOL! I just made a post about getting him fixed to cut down on his whines! I forgot that even though Basenjis are sight hounds, they're also scent hounds!!! Yep ~ maybe if you whine with him a bit, he'll give it up for awhile!! :=D Just kidding unless you can out-whine him or make him think that he sounds almost as bad as you could sound!!
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@Nancy-Berry While I agree that if not being used at Stud, should be neutered, BUT that will not many times fix the problem...some of my males intact or NOT would show this behavior....
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@tanza I am sure sorry Tanza, I did not aim to insult you or hurt your feelings in any way! Honestly, the fact is, it has been many, many years since I've been around any male dogs. I do remember now that, like you said, "...fixed or not, the boys do smell the females ..." I had to think a long ways back & yes! I now remember the boys just would NOT shut up! It was enough to drive a person "bonkers"! And a little whining would go a very long ways. I am sincerely apologizing for my mistake! Please, forgive me! I will not let it happen again! Thank You, Nancy B.
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@Nancy-Berry Was not taken as in insult.. and sure didn't hurt my feelings... just wanted to put it out there, in our breed this like their prey drive is inbred to them.
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@tanza I'm glad I didn't upset you in any way!! I'm glad that it's getting so that their dew claws don't have to be removed!
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@Nancy-Berry said I'm glad that it's getting so that their dew claws don't have to be removed!
Yes. Having, or not having, dew claws is definitely not indicative of a good or bad breeder, or of the quality of the dog.
I have had 2 different rescue Basenjis without dew claws who originated from "show" breeders; and I currently have a Basenji that I am showing who HAS dew claws. I would certainly hope that any judge would not base any decisions on whether or not a dog has dew claws.The only problem with leaving dew claws on a Basenji is that it increases the odds of their ability to use power tools!
-Joanne
