@julia87 How much do you know about Basenjis? Have you met any? It's highly recommended to learn as much as possible about them before making a decision to acquire one. This would be a good place to start.
Bruiser is in the house!
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For all who are curious, I do spend my mornings and lunch with him and at least 45 minutes before I head off to class. I do have a pretty flexible job, so I can check up on him. Also, when I get home from class, I spend around 3-4 hours playing with him. I will be buying a crate, some bitter apple, and enrolling him in puppy training class. He currently has chew toys to keep him busy (rope, nylabone, stuffed porcupine that he throws around). Yes, he was purchased from a breeder. He does have an appointment next week to get his vaccination. Thank you all for your input, I know it will definitely help in both of our lives!
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Curious no more! So relieved your little guy has your time. If you do a search for "crate training", there are multiple tips and ideas to try and make it easier. If one thing doesn't do the trick try another idea. Also, there are many more experienced Basenji owners who've succeeded with crate training on the forum if you post your concerns. Bruiser is a sweetheart.:)
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I am surprise that your breeder let him go home at such a young age…. they learn so much from their littermates and adult Basenjis between the ages of 6 to 10wks....
Glad to hear that you have lots of time to spend with him, are getting a crate, and going to puppy class... you are headed in the right direction.... -
Aww, gorgious dog…GOOD luck, seems like everyone covered all ur questions! WELCOME
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It is easy for a new dog owner to think that crating a dog is mean or a punishment, but I would only add that all of the suggestions from experienced basenji owners to use a crate are wise. Since basenji puppies love to chew, they can hurt themselves so easily. Think of the crate as protection and peace for your little guy – he may think of it as his cave and if you use it often enough, he will like it. Give him a pat on the head from me!
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I agree that all the advice is very good. I'd also like to suggest using a menthol salve like vicks rub on power cords. Some dogs dont seem to mind the bitters and haven't known one to even get near the vapor rub.
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Alright, quick update on the Bruiser! Yesterday he only had 1 accident on the carpet. He is learning very quickly and did get more than a couple timeouts for biting while playing.
Human "No Bite" = You better not bite me again or you will get in trouble!
Dog "No Bite" = Bring it on you weak little dog; you cannot hurt me!
He does sometimes go into tazmanian devil mode when he gets upset and anything is fair game for him to tear up while he is on his rampage. He likes to grab his poop newspaper and try to tear it up while dragging it through the house. Bruiser can "Sit", play fetch, and while on a leash he can "Come" and "Leave it"! He met his first friend yesterday while we went walking around the complex. A neighbor's black lab that was unleashed ran over and began growling and sniffing and freaked out the Bruiser. He was not sure how to take it. He was both excited and afraid, but Bruiser didn't have to pull out his Chuck Norris moves on him, so everything was fine. For some reason it seems that he is not eating as much as he should be. He has only been eating about 1 cup of food a day. The package says at his size he should be eating a cup and a half. He weighs around 9-10 lbs and is 9 weeks old this week. Is this normal? Should I cut back on the treats and puppy chews? -
Sounds like you're making some progress with Bruiser! He is still so young. I just brought home a 9 week old girl B-mix puppy last Friday. Gosh, she's tiny. But I'm used to my adult boy, Duke. I feed her 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup in the evening. She will get positive training treats throughout the day. IMO, 9-10 lbs is a healthy weight.
There are a couple threads here on mouthing. It is a known Basenji trait in puppies.
http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=238&highlight=mouthing
http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=436&highlight=mouthing
Hope this helps.
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Well, we went to the vet this weekend and Bruiser was stuck with a big needle and cried like a wimp! He also is on the board for puppy of the month where the cutest puppy is chosen and the winner's picture is framed and placed on the wall for a year. He currently has 38 votes for him over the other 8 who only have 10 votes altogether! He has been actively shredding his bedding, which from reading the forums seems pretty common. I currently have about 20 scratch and bite wounds on my hands and arms from my goofy son. His timeouts due to biting are getting better and he is learning. Potty training seems to be improving. The doc said he shouldn't go walking at the park for another 2 weeks, so we have to wait on that. And last but not least, he starts puppy school next week. Why do I have the feeling the puppy training will backfire and get us into more trouble? haha!
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Fair warning: Jazzy did puppy class. While the training went great, she was the only puppy in the whole class who "did not play well with others". LOL
While all the other puppies were wriggling about, gleefully pouncing on one another during play time, Jazz walked regally about the room, hair-raised on her back, looking at the other puppies like they were so beneath her. It was embarrassing. LOL
AND, she was the only puppy to pee on the floor during class. . .and she did it twice.
Good luck! And enjoy. It really is a fun time with the puppy, even if yours does turn out to be the class snob.
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you guys sound like you are doing great! i am anxious to hear how bruiser does in puppy class.
fender still doesnt like other dogs. we did puppy class and are now doing clicker class. he gets ridgy and snarly. i keep taking him because he really needs socailizing with other dogs. i would hate for him to get in the showring and raise his hackles. it could happen, and i am sure he wouldnt be the first one. -
Amber,
Jazzy HATES dogs. HATES them. People often ask if her back is supposed to look "like that", and I have to say, "No, only when there are other dogs around."
But she recognizes and LOVES other Basenjis. It is still amazing to me that she knows a B from any other dog. She is totally submissive, ears back, tail wagging,the whole nine yards. So it's never a problem in the show ring. She loves being out there with the other B's. It'll be interesting to see if Fender is the same. -
:o one day at class i told the trainer that my dog has A.D.D. the other people (cattle dog and german shepherd mix owners) asked me how i was able to find out. they TOTALLY beleived me. my face flushed, and i had to tell them i was just joking.
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Sorry I have been very busy with school and work. I was mistaken. Puppy class doesn't start this weekend but next. I may break the doctor's orders and walk him at the park this weekend! My dog has A.D.D. and will demolish everything in his path. His favorite toy, a stuffed porcupine, has his insides coming out and the poor creature doesn't squeak anymore. I also had a nice stand up fan that he chewed the wires apart and has to be trashed. At least it wasn't plugged in or I would be burying fried Basenji. I bought a new video camera this week and have been trying to capture his antics. I will eventually put together a DVD to distribute to family and friends of a crazy monster that lives with me!
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I can't wait to see more of this little fella! Does the doctor not want him to go to the dog park because his vaccinations need to take effect?? My b mix was 1 1/2 when I got her, so I know NOTHING of puppies. If this is the case, instead of risking his health, take him to a tennis court that isn't in use and let him run in there instead. It's still fenced in and he won't be around any other dogs. Just a thought.
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Try putting some menthol salve on cords. It would be a very sad day if he did ever chew a cord that was plugged in
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Hi just wanted to ask you how ur training is going, both at home and professionaly…I am looking through the forum to find suggestions on the nipping and crating and came across your thread and it seems you are making great progress. How did you "time out" your baby when he nipps? I'm looking into a trainer but was hoping to get some advise on my own as well.
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There are 'breeders' and then there are "BREEDERS' remember puppy mills and back yard breeders never call themselves that. I find it hard to believe that, unless there were some unusual circumstances anyone would let a puppy go that young.
That said - let me tell you about another strategy that might be useful, teathering. You have a longish leash that is attached to the puppy and you - perhaps to your belt loop. That way - the puppy is somewhere in proximity to you and you can still keep an eye on him.
I agree with the others that you shoulc but the crate in your bedroom. Welcome to the world of basenji slaves.
Diana
MIJOKR Basenjis -
Update on Bruiser.
Crating in the bedroom at night is a must. He doesn't need to be taken out now till about 5-6 in the morning. He is learning to control it. He completely UNSTUFFED his porcupine until it was just a hollow covering with little balls of cotton EVERYWHERE! So I resurrected the porcupine and bought another one….maybe he will last at least a week....we shall see. The nipping still continues, but is getting a little better. He gives his affection by grabbing my arm or hand at times and when he does it too hard I get onto him. If the behavior continues non-stop, I then crate him for around 5 minutes. Another suggestion would be to spray the area he is nipping at with bitter apple, this will put a stop to it temporarily.
I took him to the park last weekend and he made it half a mile before he was completely taxed. He sprawled out on the concrete where every part of his body was touching it. Wish I had my camera for that one...completely hilarious!
Today we had our 1st day of puppy class. Wow.....complete psycho spaz! Everyone else's dogs were relatively well behaved. He was not aggressive to the other dogs or people, very curious and loving. He was chosen to show how to use the clicker for treats....but....he didn't like the treat he was given. So the lady tried 4 more treats and he rejected all of them. So she then switched dogs to give the demonstration. I told everyone that we would probably be the problem couple and my prediction came true. BUT he was the only one who had learned to sit before classes began. He did very well with the clicker and is responding very well. Why do I think I will lose my clicker? He did steal the show from every other animal at Petsmart, everyone thought he was the cutest thing alive.
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Another trick to try in crate training is to give him a KONG toy (black only) with a LITTLE bit of Peanut butter stuck way up inside when you put him in the crate. This will keep his attention for a while. If you give him the toy when you crate him this not only distracts him for awhile, but also he learns to associate the crate with the pleasures of having the best thing in the world to him-peanut butter!!
