Skip to content

Two Female Basenjis??

Behavioral Issues
  • IME, all of my female dogs got along well with both sexes, until they were 2. Then, I had to keep 2 females separate, forever. It's funny, my males were the same way, all changed when they were 2

    I only kept 2 females if I realized they may have to be separated - was I willing to do the extra work if I did?

    No matter how I tried to get 2 dogs to live peacefully together, if 2 dogs hated each other, they hated each other and I could not trust them to be together.

    It really helped to neuter a dog, but that certainly was not a for sure thing.
    The way I looked at it, I didn't ask the resident dog their opinion on getting the other, so I couldn't see them living together peacefully if they were thrown into the situation.

    I had better luck with my kids. The rule was "You don't have to like each other, BUT you have to act like you do." It doesn't work with dogs.

  • @Rugosa said in Two Female Basenjis??:

    I had better luck with my kids. The rule was "You don't have to like each other, BUT you have to act like you do." It doesn't work with dogs.

    I would say it can work, but takes patience and vigilance and probably you won't want them to be alone unsupervised. Most dogs can control themselves if it's in their best interest to do so, but catching a potential action before it occurs requires constant observation and most of us don't have the time or inclination.

    I agree, it isn't fair to the resident dog to introduce a newcomer they didn't sign on for, but sometimes initial dislike can be changed to tolerance, if not friendship. Once two females have had a real fight, however, it can be a game changer......and two years old is typically when the hormones start kicking in. My one female decided at that point that she didn't like other females, and after a preliminary sniff, she didn't much like neutered males, either! She was, however, very flirtatious with intact boys. ;-)

  • Having lived with Rottie bitches who never had issues (praise G-d for an alpha bitch who kept the pack in line... she literally would knock over and lie on the offender). Then I get Sayblee and I learn what dog aggression really is.

    I tell people if you add another dog, and they hate each other, are you really prepared to handle running 2 packs? If not, maybe not a good idea.

    LOL @ Vickie. Yeah we have a bit more control of the human ones... they understand consequences better.

  • I would have 2 Basenji males together before I would have 2 Basenji females. They don't call them bitches for nothing.
    -Joanne

  • Here goes what many will call a stupid question (the only stupid question is the one that you don't ask) but, isn't a male dog called a Sire? Or is that only if they've been bred? And a female is called a dam? Does she have to be bred before considered a dam? I just dislike the fact that we call the female canines "bitches" but we don't call the male canines "bastards". Of course, in humans, a "bastard" is supposedly a child without a Father but yet, every child has a Father, it's just rather the "Father" is present in the child's life or not. BUT! When you get into the fact that a woman picked a "sperm donor" from a sperm bank, they "have" a Father but they don't have a "known" Father so that the child could try to find their "Father". Yes, maybe the female is married & her husband is not fertile so they decide to use a donor from a sperm bank, but the husband is typically called Father or Dad. I'm not trying to start any arguments but I wish we'd refer to female dogs as "females" or "dams" & males are called just that, males, in conversations. I'm really curious about the dam & sire thing! That's all I want to know about....is a sire a male dog who has been bred? And a dam is a female that's been bred?

  • Sire and dam is like saying "dad and mom". You could also say "by" and "out of". ie "This puppy is by Mike and out of Lucy".

    Bitch simply means female dog and males are refereed to as "dogs". At a dog show the genders are separated into classes. Non-champion animals are referred to as "class animals" so if you entered a girl in a show that wasn't a champion yet she would be a "class bitch" and the males are "class dogs".

    The word bitch has been made into an insult unfortunately. I work at a vet and referred to an intact female as a bitch and got reprimanded. It's a shame because it is the correct term! It's not a "bad word" in the dog fancy.

  • @Nancy-Berry When looking at pedigrees or talking about the pedigree of a puppy, the Father of a puppy is called the Sire and the Mother is called the Dam. For example, my C-Me's Sire is DC Klassic's Tri-Riffic Tuff Stuff and the Dam is CH Stallian-Tanza Tri The Obvious

  • The insulting version of the word dates to the 1400s and derives from the term for a female dog, which is older. I'm guessing dogs in Medieval England were not usually the companions they are today, so the term was probably analogous to calling a woman a sow or a cow today, with the implication being uncleanliness and aggression.

    My guess is that when the dog fancy was gaining steam, the upper-class folks who were showing dogs weren't inclined to even acknowledge the vulgar version of the term, so they went with it!

    See http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=bitch

  • Baba ... I agree except the "unclean and aggressive." I suspect it was more about aggression and willingness to breed and fight during heat. But regardless of why, a female unspayed dog is a bitch... that is the right word.

    @CrazySenji .. unreal. Your vet needs some educations. It's like having a doctor call it your "wee wee"... come on folks, be an example. Hopefully otherwise your job is good. :)

  • Ladies, Thank You for clearing that up for me! I've just heard it used at times & didn't really understand "why" & now I know!! I was just a question that's been in my mind for years! Thanks again!

  • @DebraDownSouth Good Grief Deb ~ I laughed so hard at this I almost choked!! "It's like having a doctor call it your "wee wee" but you are correct!! (still giggling here)! :-)

Suggested Topics

  • Basenji packs

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    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.
  • 0 Votes
    14 Posts
    8k Views
    nobarkusN
    My last 2 also did that. Used to scare the bejesus out of visitors at my house because it sounded so viscous but never an injury. Usually a squirrel on the porch would do it then they'd both rocket out the back dog door to see it went that way.
  • Basenjis that can't stand other basenjis

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    wizardW
    My previous males never had an opportunity to meet other basenjis (outside their breeder kennel) so don't know if the experience with my current female is "typical" or not. The first time she encountered another, it was a tri-color older female that was a real bitch and instantly got aggressive (now whenever they see each other its "hackles up"). The first time I took her to a lure coursing event, mine was friendly enough until a little blind female came up and bit her. The second time I took her to a LGRA event, a lady came up behind us (while mine was trying to potty) with her tricolor female and her dog attacked mine. So now hackles go up any time another female comes within shouting distance.
  • Female aggression to older female

    Behavioral Issues
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    3k Views
    S
    I am sorry these dogs don't get along, but really, it will be best to keep them apart. They can hurt/kill each other, and often its silent and very, very ugly. Hugs for being committed to all your dogs.
  • My Basenji training

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    jys1011J
    WOW!!!..Words to live by!! I commend you for all the effort it sounds like you've put into your dogs. I wish people were more like you…and your mantra should be placed on every B owner's refrigerator door :D :D It's all about knowing your dog & KNOWING their limitations. Respect is key and so is a no tolerance policy. At least that's how it is at our house! :) BTW-I went to a Basenji Fun Match...and A LOT of B's are bitchy snarky little fur balls. Rest assured yours are not the exception. Mine are exactly the same way but we work with them every day on this!
  • Same Sex and Basenji to Basenji aggression.

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    5k Views
    T
    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