New update: Tika is no longer in heat! Yay! Remy got neutered and is doing great! We got a dog trainer to come in assess the situation and she thinks it is starting to improve compared to how I described it when I booked her to come. Only Maia seems to need the muzzle, she seems to be very unsure of the puppy. We are working with her to build her confidence. The puppy doesn’t seem to have any stress with Maia around and won’t start anything. The muzzle is on just in case when I am home alone as I don’t want anything bad to happen when if I can’t separate them. The puppy is getting lots of training time to help her learn how to behave properly. With 2 people here we can have the girls on short leashes and they are fine together. They did have a small altercation of snarling but no biting and no one got hurt. The older female backed down and walked away. As much as I want her to be the top dog it seems that the puppy has a much more dominant personality. If they figure out the pack hierchy hopefully everything will settle down. The trainer says there are no pack instincts in domesticated dogs, but after having 6 basenjis I can’t agree with that in regards to basenjis. We can walk the girls together without muzzles now so I think things are more positive and they seem to be improving every day. When Remy is healed from his neuter I will get the puppy spayed and hope that calms things down even further. So far there is a lot more peace in the house. Please anyone let me know if there is anything else I should be doing to keep these girls on track. Thank you for all your advice and guidance! I am so grateful for this forum as what is normal for other dogs is not so much with these guys!
I need to find a home for my female pb basenji
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@debradownsouth As I SAID, you probably did not realize your questions about missymoo's personal life were critical of her decision. You then gave helpful info, but the questions were offputting....and apparently she felt so too since she has already left the group. If you take issue with what I said, I am sorry...I meant them kindly.
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I am new to this forum so I offer this advice with respect and humility. When writing a letter or a text or email etc., be careful in the way you express yourself. Read over what you have written. Is this how you would speak to another person face to face? Sometimes our written messages comes off sounding mean or officious without intending to offend anyone. Like this: “ All staff members on the committee report to my office. “ OR
“Good morning. Would everyone who’s on the committee please pop over to my office this morning”. One sounds unfriendly one sounds friendly. Which one would you rather hear? This is just common curtesy. If you’ve ever been told you sounded rude in your written communication, take the criticism like an adult. Look twice at what you wrote. Have someone else proofread your messages. As in everything, kindness begets kindness. And you will accomplish more and be happier. -
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Bottom line, it's the internet, it's a forum, people aren't always going to express themselves in a "politically correct" manner. Leaving a forum because one or two people were a little too direct or critical is perhaps being a tad sensitive/defensive. I wouldn't be on any forums if I reacted that way!
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@aileen
Tone is almost impossible to read on a forum. Rule of thumb is if someone says something that is only mean/disrespectful/unkind through someone interpreting it that way, consider the issue is the one interpreting.As for me, if I mean something harsh, no interpreting is necessary.
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@debradownsouth Oh for crying out loud! I have been trying to be kind...Talk about diatribes-you keep asking me to explain myself and then when I do ,you accuse me of writing diatribes!!!! Since you INSIST again I answer your question, I will try to use the kind of language you understand....Asking someone who you don't know about their personal life is just RUDE (not politically incorrect ...RUDE). You said and I use YOUR capitalization... "First is the the full time student YOU?" This poor woman who found herself having to give up her Basenji after 9 years does NOT need.an inquisition from YOU! Nor does she need YOU to instruct her on what is best for her Basenji. She knew that and had already made the hard decision, and was looking for help rehoming her dog. Tone MAY be hard to read....but the way in which words are used (and capitalization for emphasis removes any question.) It is amazing that you call my suggesting that a kind approach is better than a rude one as an "attack".
Then you feel perfectly free to post this "Please explain why you attacked me and not anyone who actually made personal comments about the person, bad breeder, no interest etc. Could it be you just were waiting to make an attack on me personally and didn't notice how obvious it would be? When I need you to tell me what to post, I'll be sure to ask. In the meantime, review the forum rules about personal attacks." Why in the world would I be waiting to make an attack on you? I don't even know you-except now I would say you are kind of paranoid and assign attcks to others when you use them yourself. The poor woman LEFT the forum before she could see you last "helpful" remark...You'll find it easier if you don't interject nastiness into things where none was intended. This is my last "diatribe" . Stop writing to me and I will agree to do the same so you will never have to suffer another "attack" from me since you believe I have nothing to do but "wait to make an attack on you personally". Believe me, I could not care less about you.
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You know what? Things are a lot friendlier when nobody takes it upon themselves to criticize the posts of others or tries to police the thread. It's an internet forum. People do express their opinions. Sometimes those opinions or suggestions may be perceived as harsh. So be it. Water under the bridge at this point. Let it go.....
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Debra-Forget it. I wasn't trying to attack you. Let's just leave it there. This is just not worth the energy.
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Taking eeeefarm's advice...
So it is clear... clarifying my post:
- I assigned NO MOTIVE.
- I suggested how to keep the dog happy if the poster AND student with dog. Again, no motive or criticism intended
- I suggested a rescue, and that if she had to use other rescues, try to keep the dog and personally check new homes.
- I also told her to check on facebook as someone asking about the dog.
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Hey, don't take my advice. I just got booted off Trip Advisor for being "disruptive"!
"In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"
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@eeeefarm
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@debradownsouth said in I need to find a home for my female pb basenji:
@eeeefarm
ROFLMAO, what did you do?Honestly, I don't know. Have been reinstated by promising to "be good". I think my cardinal error was flagging a thread on the Support Forum where someone had gone to whine about a thread on the Cuba Forum. Rats don't like to be "ratted out".
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While I know the original poster has (sadly) left the forum I would like to say this:
- it is an impossible situation to decide you have to rehome a beloved pet. Not everyone is responsible but at the same time not everyone looking to give up their pet is irresponsible.
- not everyone is privy to the agreement made between a breeder and an owner or whether it’s in the best interest of a dog to return to its breeder, in many case years later. In some cases it is just not in the best interest of the dog to return to its breeder due to reasons we may not know or for those in the industry know but don’t openly speak about. Sometimes people can find out practices after the fact that you would not want your dog returned into.
Oakley is now 8 years old and as many know I have been a member of this forum since the anticipation of his birth arrival. It has been a hell of a journey...a ton of medical expenses and a lot of difficulty. Oakley has separation anxiety and confinement anxiety (legit no closed doors in my home)...he is not dog friendly despite being raised differently, he is not good with strangers to the point I cant have people in my home, and he is food possessive. I have spent upwards of 15k for his care and have literally become an island at the age of 30...so that I could manage to keep him happy. We’ve had several incidents that I’ve worried would bankrupt me if taken to court and I’ve spent thousands seeing the best behaviorist in the country to little avail...the last year I have realized a career opportunity that would make keeping him near impossible and is a career I need to do sooner rather than later due to age limitations. More than a career it’s a dream for me and a service to our country...rehoming a dog like him is highly unlikely...although he’s a Peach if he gets all his “needs” met. I have always been ‘prepared’ to live this life without the husband, kids, or career I wanted as I knew I’d be late 30’s before Oakley passed...but it’s hit me hard lately that I can’t be 80 years old sitting in a rocking chair on my porch looking back at my life and be happy with myself over having given up everything to keep him until the end. The frank reality is that his life is a small portion of my overall life but the ramifications will far outlive him. It sounds harsh and I don’t mean it to be anything other than the reality of the numbers. I’ve been bogged down in these thoughts and it’s an awful place to be. A place I could never have imagined even a year ago. It’s so easy to judge until your faced with the weight of a decision like giving up your dog (at least for me).
All of this to say that I love Oakley more than anything and strongly believe I’ve done more for him than anyone else would. I’ve given up a lot. I’ve been guilty of judging people over giving up their pets or putting them down in situations...and I very often feel judged when I speak out about my more recent thoughts and upcoming decisions. It’s hard...and no one will be less forgiving of myself than myself.
I hope that everyone takes a little more time to realize the uniquesness or ones situation and to evaluate the person making the decision; if they’re legit then likely they know the best for their dog...even if it’s not the popular outcome."I know I've found the breed for me because he totally turns my life upside down and I love it!"
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You were very brave to write this...and I am sorry for all the problems you and Oakley have faced together. I hope you find someone who can give him a loving home which will cater to his special needs. I am praying you and Oakley will each find happy lives and that you will make peace with this heart wrenching decision. God bless you both.
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Thank you Nancy. No decision had been made but I certainly feel a clock ticking in my head. I believe I have at least a year before I have to make the decision and I would only make it if I was accepted in the 21 week training program for the job. I don’t however feel that rehoming is an option. Not to say i wouldnt try to find that unicorn home that fits his needs but I also don’t believe given his attachment to me he would live a very happy life with anyone else. Quite frankly I have moments I can’t imagine he lives happily with such anxiety.
More than anything I posted my struggle bc I think it’s important when someone has to rehome their pet (or worse) to offer support and understanding. Many
Of the members of this forum who have been longstanding members will know how loyal I have been to giving Oakley the very best. I have a feeling the original poster was struggling and her experience here made her feel even more helpless and defeated about where to turn. Lack of judgement is not warranted in all situations and I still feel internal judgement when I feel as though a person hasn’t met ‘’my burden of proof” for their reasoning, but I’m much more appreciative of the beating a person inflicts on themselves when giving up. I know for myself, I’ll never get another dog as I feel I’ve failed my commitment and responsibility...but it can sometimes be too much. I still treat him and give him the best everyday and love him endlessly but I know my own value as well."I know I've found the breed for me because he totally turns my life upside down and I love it!"
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Chealsie, I know this has been hard for you. Do consider that sometimes a dog is very different.....for better or for worse.....with a change of circumstances. I have seen dogs behave remarkably differently when their whole world shatters. It's not something you can easily predict, and might be worth finding out before you make a final decision.
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Absolutely. I agree. I know Oakley behaves “better” outside of my presence. For instance, although extremely agitated by our separation during my trip last week for work, he did not have any aggressive outbursts with his new (building relationship over 3 months) in-home caretaker. And despite me being honest about my worries about her bringing her 9 year old daughter- all seemed to go okay. It’s not out of the question, I just can’t imagine anyone who would willingly sign up for a job like caring for Oakley. Finding a likely single woman with ample at-home time and isn’t overly social at home...loves dogs enough to want to take on such a challenge but doesn’t have any other pets...the list goes on. I know a few things well enough and that’s that he will never be dog friendly or safe/bomb proof around food, and that he simply doesn’t enjoy social interaction with people that aren’t “his”. Some of me coming here, seeing this thread and deciding to share was that if any place has resources or suggestions of people who might want to meet him, would be this forum.
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People are going to judge. It is human nature. Positive or negative, folks have opinions about what others do. I cannot imagine living your life, the dedication you have put into it. But I hope whatever you decide, you don't let others make you feel bad. You have done all you can and far more than most would ever have done.
Doing rescue, most of us rarely see your kind of dedication. I wish it were harder on some for whom getting rid of a pet is so easy. It's not just the US, take a look at even France, Germany and Italy and the stats on getting pets then putting out on the road at vacation time. Public media has helped, but how could anyone be okay with that? From getting new carpeting and the dog hair stands out to having a dog for 12 years but now having a baby and no time for the dog, to you name it. So no, I don't think giving up a dog is that hard for many people.
When someone wants to place a dog and is trying to do it responsibly, like the OP, then yes, we need to not judge. But I do think if someone posts on a public forum saying they are only trying to place the dog because of concern for the dog's happiness, then they should expect, in fact want, to be asked about options that would allow them to keep an older dog, because it is so hard on the animal and if they can be supported to find a way, then suggestions are not judging but trying to offer options. If the OP really is concerned about the dog's welfare, they can say the breeder is not an option, and suggestions won't work for their situation. Nothing was asked here that a responsible rescue won't also ask.
As for your situation, you make your own decisions about what is best. But it is heartbreaking that you suffer taking care of Oakley at such an expense to your own happiness. You need to take care of yourself too. (( Hugs ))
