Skip to content

Is it just not possible to have Lenny around other dogs?

Behavioral Issues
  • When walking there is no real reason that he "has to stop and sniff"… Basenjis can be particularly agressive on lead... way more then if off lead... so I would prevent the situation of him growling at other dogs by not letting him stop and sniff. At shows very rarely will you see handlers, breeders, etc letting their dogs all go around sniffing other dogs... Most people at shows respect "your" space and the dogs stay confident that they do not have to try and defend the area. My take on the attack is that your dog makes "snap" decisions as in bite now, ask questions later... and I can tell you from experience that neutering will not make that much of a difference. And as far as breeding that is not a great trait to have... but again.. as long as they are respectful and polite in the "area"... I don't worry too much about "they have to all get along"....

  • He does course! In fact, he went to Chicago last weekend and beat his daddy in an event! She didnt mention anything about having aggression issues with him, but I did just send her an email explaining the situation and asking her if she has seen the aggression when he is with her. Maybe she just didn't mention it. Can't imagine she wouldnt have if it was severe.

    A funny little story though, I guess he raced in multiple events and either he did really well, or he came in almost last… depending on if he could get over the muzzle being on his head. She said in 2 of the events, he just spent the whole time rubbing his face on the ground trying to get the muzzle off and came in last. And in a few others, after getting over the muzzle, he did really well, and even won one! ha.

    About 2 months ago, I brought a male golden retriever into the house. Basically he was a lost dog that ran past my house looking lost and anxious, I lured him to me, had him scanned for a microchip and kept him here until the owners came to get him. I introduced them the same way as I introduced Leo to Lenny, outside, neutral territory. He was only but here for a few hours but actually Lenny go along fine with him....

  • that is - Lenny got along fine with him…

  • Well, it sounds like he just decideds what is an acceptable "other" dog…. my take and this is very normal for Basenjis... he has decided who he likes and who he doesn't.. Again, I never found it necessary to have to let everyone sniff everyone else especially on lead... and the fact that he courses with other males, tells me that he is a typical Basenji and leash aggressive... some positive training will help so that he is just as Andrea says "polite"...

  • Another thing that could be happening is because you are telling him "No!" when he growls at another dog he is now skipping that step and escalating. If he growls instead of saying "No", back up to a distance where he stops. Each of my dogs have a different threshold of where they are comfortable with other dogs on leash. Nicky has been attacked several times in his lifetime and does not trust other dogs. He reacts much more strongly than my other dogs and needs more distance than the other dogs. For him going to training class where I can reward him for being near other dogs and being calm has helped. He still wants more distance than my girls but that distance has decreased and he has good manners. He also behaves differently at shows and lure coursing but he seems to know that is work and it is different.

  • I am not sure if this is helpful or not but Dash is very leash aggressive and on top of that he chooses what dogs he likes at the parks and ones he doesn't. I can't figure out what exactly triggers his reaction but we have been becoming more concerned with him at the park. He is neutered though but I feel your pain.

  • Its funny how they choose to like some dogs and not others. Actually when Lenny was a puppy, like, 6 months old, my friend brought Leo over to play and Lenny immediately started growling. It was actually the first time I had heard him growl as a little pup. A few times after that we took all the dogs to the local tennis court to play off leash and they were fine together, but I guess he remembered him over a year later! So strange….

    The sad thing about this is, that I like to take them with me where ever I go, if at all possible, but since Lenny tried to kill Leo, I had to leave them home this weekend with a friend. :( I just like to have them with me. I miss them now!

  • We also have issues with BOTH of ours but one feeds off the other one. I noticed if he's calm then she will calm down. If he gets upset she goes crazy too & will redirect…to the point where she'll nip me on my leg OUCH :mad: but it's her nerves not that she's trying to attack me.

    We're working with the Fiesty Fido book & there's a class lead by an animal behaviorist that's also based on Fiesty Fido book & we'll be starting that next week. I'm not too concerned with actually having them play with other dogs but to be polite on leash & with dogs that walk past our house window is all I want.

    IF they for some reason can have ONE doggy friend it will be nice but I'm not asking for miracles here too :D

    It's nice to know that there are plenty of Bs that share the same issues. I used to think that we just got some screwed up ones of the bunch lol :D

  • <

  • Oh my… be polite when other dogs are walking by windows...... now you are dreaming!!! gggg My house is like a mad house when people walk by with other dogs.... and I hate when they stop and point.. drives the B's totally wild (or should I say wilder)

  • I feel your pain Pat..WILDER is the word!! Or maybe BANANAS…I'm like shoo dog shoo go away will ya!! :D :D

  • @jys1011:

    I feel your pain Pat..WILDER is the word!! Or maybe BANANAS…I'm like shoo dog shoo go away will ya!! :D :D

    Exactly!!!! I want to put up a not "stopping" sign!!!!

14/16

7 May 2007, 19:12

Suggested Topics

  • My dog bit me.

    Behavioral Issues 9 Sept 2018, 18:13
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    7k Views
    :::Note: I’m not a professional trainer, I have a degree in psychology and im a teacher; a dog is like a 2-4 year old. Every dog is different though, maybe I’ve just gotten lucky, but what I’ve been doing has been working for me; maybe it will for you.::: LOL, not luck... good common sense. We do basic training to get solid responses in controlled environments, which gives a good base for expanding it to other situations. Like eeeefarm, I don't thing animal aggressive dogs need to socialize with strange dogs. I keep them separated. For the unexpected, working at home on basic commands (Leave It!, "look at me" to focus on you and understand the other dog is off limits, solid 100 percent down-stay) can help you avoid your dog getting revved enough to bite. That means you have to stay on top of things, change directions if necessary, and be firm and loud in asking others to not approach with their dog. Training is wonderful bonding, and it exercises their brains. http://www.clickerlessons.com/index.htm
  • Dog Training

    Behavioral Issues 13 Aug 2017, 23:18
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    What type of training are you interested in? Is this a housebreaking issue, obedience problem, or some behaviour you want to discourage? Since you have posted in behavioural problems, I assume you are having some difficulties with something. If you are more specific it might be easier to point you in the right direction, i.e. to an obedience trainer or an animal behaviourist.
  • 0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    She was also unable to leave. It is not uncommon for dogs to growl or even snap at other dogs who are in their space when they are on a leash or tie out because they do not have the ability to leave. Also, alot of dogs are really rude and adult basenjis do not tolerate "rude" well. Many dogs rush up into other dogs' space which is very rude. So in the case of the Sheltie in the front yard, the provocation could very well have been the dog invading her personal space without her permission. The second incident could very well have been exactly what Pat said, her protecting her puppy pack member.
  • Dog Park fighting

    Behavioral Issues 12 Dec 2009, 15:01
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    4k Views
    I've taken my previous basenjis to the closest dog park and everything was fine for the most part. There were occasional dominance type snarkiness events but only once did a real fight start (and the owners pulled their dog immediately). Never encountered a jerky owner. But I was very careful not to go when the prime times were - Saturday mornings (and if I had a day off then around noon) were usually the times only a handful of dogs were there and it was easy to keep an eye on them. I haven't taken Gossy since she goes to doggy care once a week and has a lot of fun there. Also I've discovered that though she is exceptionally friendly, if another dog becomes nasty aggressive to her, she will definitely fight back. So the dog park will require more vigilence on my part I think - this park is half wooded and kind of large - I'm a firm believer in owner socialization comimg second to keeping a watchful eye on the dogs.
  • 0 Votes
    19 Posts
    7k Views
    i'm feeling your pain on this one. dan and i broke up a few months ago so i moved home and mia went from sleeping with rocky and maggie on the couch to sleeping in bed with me. if i'd go out at night, my mom, instead of crating her would let her sleep in bed with my parents. (because she cried and mom felt bad) then dad told mom he didnt want her in bed with them so mom would sleep in a spare bedroom just to keep her from crying in her crate! (typical grandmother.. she spoiled her rotten) Now dan and i are trying to work things out so i brought mia with me last night to stay over and he keeps maggie and rocky in the laundry room with their beds and they are content with that, but Mia was NOT having it. she sat at the gate and cried for a good 2 hours. They aren't allowed in the bedroom because he got new furniture, so she has to get used to it i guess.. Only time will tell i suppose.. but uggh that crying.. its enough to make you wanna pull your hair out. im hoping when the 3 warm up to each other again she'll stop..
  • 0 Votes
    3 Posts
    3k Views
    I know our family dog growing up made several attempts to go off as the end grew near. It was very sad. But I think there is something to that survival of the fittest thing- that animals accept their fate easier (and dare I saw with more pride) than we as humans do. I don't think they see death as this "terrible ending"…