Skip to content

Play biting or aggressive behavior?

Basenji Talk
  • @Nancy-Berry There are ones that work on sound, but I haven't looked at them in a while. They used to be fairly ineffective.

    https://www.caninejournal.com/no-bark-dog-collar/

    pros and cons of sonic collars:
    https://www.caninejournal.com/sonic-collar/

  • @DebraDownSouth Thanks for the links! I'll have to read up on the sonic collars. I just liked the idea that there was no shocking or anything going on!

  • Hi,
    I was thinking of getting a basenji, but I’m not quite sure. I have an EXTREMELY low pain tolerance. Blood drives make me cry. I don’t want and bloody bites. Can you tell me if the biting went away?!?

    Please and thx,
    Arpa

  • @arpaluvsbasenjis - ALL puppies bite... that is what they do in the litter..that is how they communicate.... by mouth, that is where with their littermates they learn soft bite. The baby teeth are like needles, period. This IS NOT just a Basenji trait, not at all. If puppies are kept with their littermates and not separated too early and if you watch them... the one doing the biting if it is too hard they are "yelped" at by the others and very loud too! In my opinion, Basenjis are not mature enough to remember early encounters with their littermates if separated earlier than 10weeks. This of course differs depending on if you are or were a Basenji owner. And if you have a Basenji already in the home, then they will be the ones to teach manners to pups. However they noises they make will raise the hair on the back of your neck and you will swear they are being killed

  • Thanks for this info! And also I do not have a basenji. I have NEVER owned a dog. And I was looking for a dog that’s hypoallergenic, because my dad’s allergic, then I found the basenji. I have been doing research and people say they bite EVERYTHING! I don’t want it to bite my stuff and especially not me! But I get that they will bite. I also wanted to know do the bites bleed a lot and are they big? And also do they only bite until they are a few months old or do they bite their entire life. Like if it’s a year old will it bite?

  • EDIT: I need to reproof read myself. Now did my "No" get left out.

    NO dog is hypoallergenic. Period.

    I don't recommend a Basenji as a first dog.

    If you don't train a dog, it can bite forever. Puppies need a lot of training.

    I suggest you consider fostering a dog and see how your father reacts to it and if it is what you really want.

  • Here is a link to the American Kennel Club's web site page that lists and explains the various breeds of dog considered hypoallergenic. Basenjis are not on this list.
    https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/hypoallergenic-dog-breeds/

    All dogs can bite. You may be talking about chewing up belongings. We all have our personal experiences with our belongings being chewed up. In my experience, Basenjis can and will chew up your stuff until they die of old age.

  • @arpaluvsbasenjis said in Play biting or aggressive behavior?:

    Thanks for this info! And also I do not have a basenji. I have NEVER owned a dog. And I was looking for a dog that’s hypoallergenic, because my dad’s allergic, then I found the basenji. I have been doing research and people say they bite EVERYTHING! I don’t want it to bite my stuff and especially not me! But I get that they will bite. I also wanted to know do the bites bleed a lot and are they big? And also do they only bite until they are a few months old or do they bite their entire life. Like if it’s a year old will it bite?

    BASENJIS ARE NOT HYPOALLERGENIC, PERIOD. Basenji shed and have dander. Suggestion that you visit (with your Dad) with Basenji is a good one and do it more than once. Don't know who is telling you that "they bite everything"? Go to www.basenji.org and read about Basenjis and get the real information.

  • @arpaluvsbasenjis said in Play biting or aggressive behavior?:

    people say they bite EVERYTHING! I don’t want it to bite my stuff and especially not me! But I get that they will bite. I also wanted to know do the bites bleed a lot and are they big? And also do they only bite until they are a few months old or do they bite their entire life. Like if it’s a year old will it bite?

    It sounds like you don't have much experience with dogs, and as you say you haven't owned one. All dogs are capable of biting, given the right circumstances. Some Basenjis can be aggressive, most are sweethearts with family and people they know, and some are aggressive with other dogs. As far as being destructive, that isn't an uncommon problem but can be controlled with proper training and restraint when supervision is not possible, e.g. crating or confinement to a "dog proof" room when nobody is home. Most puppies of any breed are prone to chewing things up until they learn the rules of the house. Perhaps if you are thinking of acquiring a dog it might be best to find a suitable rescue, either a Basenji or other breed, so that you can start with a trained adult instead of a pup.

  • @debradownsouth said in Play biting or aggressive behavior?:

    I don't recommend a Basenji as a first dog.

    If you don't train a dog, it can bite forever. Puppies need a lot of training.

    I suggest you consider fostering a dog and see how your father reacts to it and if it is what you really want.

    Great points and recommendations. I do think, that as Tanza says, the best training is from the litter mates and mom, which is why wanting a puppy as soon as possible is understandable but not wise.

  • I know this is an old topic, but when my Stella plays, she can get a little aggressive too. she's drawn blood a few times!

    She's probably a little over a year old now; It didn't take long at all to train her to stop, all I have to do is tell her 'no biting' and she'll stop. She also loves to lick my wounds and bite off the scab that SHE made.

Suggested Topics

  • Destructive behavior

    Basenji Talk
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    @caleb - And remember that you need to exercise their minds along with physical exercise
  • Play date

    Basenji Talk
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    3k Views
    nobarkusN
    @Forever: This discribes zoey exactly. the crouch and pounce and the wearing out of dogs. She ran 3 italian grey hounds one after the other into the ground and was waiting for the next dog to come along so she can still play. Also whenever a new dogs comes to the park she plays greeter at the gate. People are always amazed at how fast she is. Buddy plays greeter at the gate too and goes to the gate when anybody leaves. Buddy will run around hard for 1 hour or more at the park then when we get home he runs in the house and grabs his toy.
  • My basenji bites

    Basenji Talk
    21
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    6k Views
    lvossL
    @Gabriel: Yesterday on another thread I read how someone takes a squirt bottle of water and does a quick spray when she bites and then says no. I tried that on noel and it worked perfect. I just have to grab that bottle and she goes and lays down. She hasn't bitten me once today. I know it will take more than one evening to train her not to bite but I will be patient. The problem with this method is that Noel will not learn to soften her bite so if she ever does bite it will probably be with full force and result in serious injury. Though it takes longer to train, it is much better especially with young children in the house to use the method described in the link given in the other thread.
  • Random Behavior

    Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    @JazzysMom: But honestly, I think most, if not all, Basenji behavior is somewhat "random" LOL You are SO right ;)
  • Playing ball!

    Basenji Talk
    20
    0 Votes
    20 Posts
    8k Views
    Capt_Jack_our_BasenjiC
    I love it when Jack uses his paws as hands and rubs his eyes when he first wakes up or is sleepy it is SOO adorable!! I just cant get over how expressive Basenjis are!!
  • Basenji behavior

    Basenji Talk
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    5k Views
    MacPackM
    We generally prefer the company of our basenjis to humans! We do enjoy our dog park friends that we see every evening, and the "Sunday basenji group" that also meets weekly, love all the dogs and humans in that group. But I have to pry my husband out of the house to visit "regular" friends, he would much rather stay home with the kids…and truth be told, so would I! Anne in Tampa