Skip to content

Driving/travel Issues

Behavioral Issues
  • Mine have always loved the car and been speed merchants - they particularly loved the motorways where Mom could really put her foot down. On the way to a show or wherever, they would sit up and show an interest in the passing scene but on the way home, they always slept.

    It wasn't the car the one I used Rescue Remedy on objected to. He hated large lorries, passing or being passed by us !

  • My 11 month old does terrible poop in the car even a short trip to the end of the street...they are not normal ones...very runny, green and foul. If I hold him on my lap he does not poop, but tromps me and is very agitated. I am trying a thundershirt.

  • @daureen said in Driving/travel Issues:

    I am using the wire crate to try to contain the poop. I can't take him anywhere. He may associate with vet. When to groomer on my lap yesterday -- he lost the battle with a skunk that got into our home, He was not happy in the car...trip was less than 1 mile.

  • Over the years, all my Rosa descendents were anxious in the car at first, then settled down with age, and only showed excitement when the van stopped.

    And then there was my problem child, IBIS. She was a screamer, at many things. The van specifically _ we put her in a wire cage in the van (then the truck), like we use at home, about 2 1/2 ft wide, 3 ft deep, 3 ft high. She got to the point that she screamed for the first 5 minutes, settled down, but every stop sign/light, screamed, quietly gradually to blood curdling. I was always reminded of the story I heard on the old basenji list about the neighbor in the apartment building calling 911 because there was a woman being murdered in the apartment next door - and it was the basenji!
    She did best with the highway driving.
    Never poop or throwing up, it was anger, not the driving itself. When we stopped I think she felt she could get out NOW.
    She went through life thinking "I'm the Ibis, gotta love me!"
    To the poster that has the screaming dog, I'm very sorry, it is not fun. Luckily Ibis was so good natured, and so lovable she got through it (us too).
    Sorry, got off topic - Ibis would feel that's fitting, Gotta Love me! She is the one that we were more outwardly sad when we helped her cross the Rainbow Bridge when she was allowed to pass. She was 16

  • If you have ever transported a reluctant cat, you have a good idea of what it is like to ride with a screaming Basenji! That said, mine have mostly been reasonable. I find if their first experience in a car is a long trip, they may settle down more easily the second and subsequent times since they don't expect they are getting out every time you stop....

  • @eeeefarm No, the only thing I can think of in this case would be, maybe she picks up on my nerves that I have for Leeloo being nervous or peeing in her bed. We use a pee pad, but maybe if I'm more relaxed she will naturally be more relaxed as well. Maybe a case of feeding off each other's energy. I in particular try and drive very slow with her, so she isn't too overwhelmed with the movement. My previous dog loved car rides so this is definitely a new thing for me to try and get through.

  • @imbj I did notice the higher she was the more "comfortable" she got, so possibly having her up high in a crate may work.

  • @love_leeloo
    They do like to “see” - so the higher up makes sense.

  • Basenjis like to see, and not just in the car. When we moved from the farm to a house in town, I was worried about how my boy Perry would adjust to the change. As it turned out, he liked it from the get go, because of the big windows that he could see out of without having to jump on furniture to have a view. As soon as our furniture arrived he settled right in. In the car, I think they are happiest when they can see out.....but some will get sick if they are riding backwards and looking out the back window, as in some hatchbacks if they are behind the rear seat. Found that out the hard way with my Border Collie. Riding shotgun suited him much better!

  • @elbrant It goes on till we get where we are going then he knows when we are going home because he is much more relaxed. So we do not go on many car rides.

Suggested Topics

  • Issues with overstimulation

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    1k Views
    eeeefarmE
    IMO it is a myth that Basenjis cannot have good manners on a walk. Yes, great if you can do off leash, but when circumstances dictate that a leash is necessary then walking calmly without a lot of drama and pulling should be achievable. Personally I do not like long lines or flex leashes. Or allowing dogs to eat whatever they find on the ground, which can in some cases earn you a trip to the vet or worse. Like most dogs, Basenjis are not overly discriminant about what they will ingest. A short leash and being observant can protect them from unwelcome outcomes. Mental exercise will also go a long way with any dog. But one should have a definite opinion about who is running the show, and it should not be the dog....they are quite willing to take up the position should you abdicate.
  • Puppy issues

    Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    4k Views
    A
    @nick4 I am in the "Basenji Zone" as well. I have done the putting her in the crate and then walking away while I talk to her and then letting her out and then back in again and I do the same thing where i will step out then come back in again. She does best when i leave her a good greenie for her teeth and I step out really quick she got used to it. Also I had the shower problem I even went as far as bringing her into the shower and to my surprise she did not care and i used it as a way to get her comfortable with the water....then i slowly gave her water from the shower talked to her while I was in there and peeked out the curtain every now and then and she got a lot calmer. I dont know if any this would help. Just wanted to share!
  • Wet grass/rain issue

    Behavioral Issues
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    12k Views
    P
    Mine will run down the garden through the pouring rain and into the wood shed rather than pee quickly and come indoors! They end up absolutely soaked but very happy that they've managed to find somewhere under cover. Basenjis!!!!
  • Multiple issues with Basenji

    Behavioral Issues
    37
    0 Votes
    37 Posts
    20k Views
    M
    Yes, she eats in the crate and we put treats in there randomly throughout the day, as well as meat-stuffed bones chained to the inside (so she can't run off with the bone outside the crate.) She has the run of the downstairs while we are home and sleeps in her dog bed in our bedroom at night. On a side note, when we give her a really tasty stuffed bone or bullystick outside the crate she acts crazy! She runs around aimlessly with it in her mouth while howling. What is with that? It is comical, yet slightly annoying! :) I wonder what she'd do with a bullystick IN the crate?!
  • Major issues

    Behavioral Issues
    29
    0 Votes
    29 Posts
    8k Views
    wizardW
    When I first acquired my previous basenji the breeder suggested putting paper towels in the bottom of the crate (she can tear them up to her hearts content and even if she eats some if shouldn't cause problems) and to give frozen marrow bones to keep her occupied. There are also lots of interactive toys available that also keep her occupied.
  • Nipping issue

    Behavioral Issues
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    5k Views
    wizardW
    Yes that is similar. When EL D nipped my brother it was never really hard (okay so he'll have a bruise) and he backed off pretty quick once he let my brother have it. But it is unnerving because it is unpredictable.