Skip to content

We're Basenji-sitting!

Basenji Talk
  • Hello! I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Ursula and I live in Tripoli, Libya (for work, originally I'm from the US and still call Houston, TX home). When we moved here 6 months ago, we brought all of our animals with us - 2 labrador retrievers, and three cats.

    The reason I joined this board is that we're dog-sitting a friend/colleague's Basenji, Louie, for a bit over three weeks (while she's traveling for business and the vacation). I think Louie is about 3 years old, his owner has only had him for a couple of months, and adopted him as an adult. He's an "only child" and I know she "spoils" him and loves him very much.

    He's painfully shy but seems very sweet. He's met our dogs and cats already and is fine with them - not playful, but all the body language is that he's very comfortable (ears up, head high, tail curled up on his back, bouncy trot). But his Mom warned us that he's very, very timid in new situations. His first night with us was last night, and he seemed fine. Better than we expected, actually.

    I am not familiar with the breed at all, so I know I'll have questions. Any pointers or advice you can offer right off the bat?

    Thanks in advance.

  • Get ready for sneaky activities :D

  • I suspect he should be feeling very comfortable in a few days and will start playing (if he's the playing type) with your other dogs. Unless he's not use to being around other dogs. I would just keep your eye on him to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble.

  • But watch for the minute that he becomes "comfortable"… ggg... that is when they push the envelope.....

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    J
    Thanks everyone for your help!
  • I have ''issues'' with my basenji, can you help ?

    Basenji Talk
    33
    0 Votes
    33 Posts
    21k Views
    YodelMaY
    Ladybasenji, where are you in Quebec? Montreal? We have a place in Gatineau (Aylmer sector) and one of my dogs might even be related to yours. You're experiences with your girl remind me so much of my first basenji, about 20 years ago–it gets easier, I swear! Let me know if you'd like help with Lady--they're nothing like labs and will never be "obedient" but there are tricks for training them : D
  • Bikin' Basenji

    Basenji Talk
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    4k Views
    MDSPHOTOM
    Love it! I would not even dream of putting Dolce on the back of my bike. Firstly she hates when any wind blows in her face and freaks out when the windows are down in the car. Second, she is such a squirmer I fear she would wiggle herself right off the bike.
  • Basenji in 'Trekkies' documentary movie

    Basenji Talk
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    4k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    Oh! It's a baby b! Ugh. Wish you'd told me that before I looked. I've got a bad case of puppy fever.
  • Basenji Traits Your Basenji Doesn't Have…

    Basenji Talk
    32
    0 Votes
    32 Posts
    17k Views
    M
    My Rue is pretty perfect. She is mixed with something (I don't know what) so she doesn't look like a real B… and she isn't interested in anything in our house (chewing wise), doesn't bolt out the door, and licks like CRAZY! She also doesn't really like to play with other dogs at the dog park, she just smells them, occasionally chases them, then comes back and lays down by me (EXERCISE DANG IT!). The only normal B behaviors that I see in her are the little noises that she makes (she makes a lot of them for different reasons) and her BAROOOOOOO (which is fitting because we named her Rue before we even knew she was a Basenji) and it seems like she is stubborn about sitting. It's like she is saying, "yeah I know you want me to sit, but first I'm gonna spin around in a circle. Then maybe I'll sit if I feel like it." Haha! She is a character!
  • Basenji's and Puppies

    Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    lvossL
    @spitfirekrl1: He doesn't seem to mind much he pretty much ignores it except when she pins him and he ends up on his back. Then he'll start snapping at her face which doesn't seem to steer her away from her objective (we have no idea what that is at this point). When she pins him she wants submission. She wants him to not struggle and nip and he should calm before she lets him go. Momma dogs do this to their puppies, it is part of puppy education. They do it most to the puppies that are the most pushy usually. In our last litter, Zeke always expected to get his way and he was the one who was pinned by both mom and Rio the most. He learned that by submitting he was allowed to go back to play. When he crossed the line, by playing too rough or invading the adults personal space he was pinned. He learned the limits to play and how to behave appropriately with adults from this. The other pups would get the same treatment but less because they didn't push those boundaries as much.