Wow, I am surprised to see so many posts regarding the aggression thing. I have a 3 yr. old who thinks she is the queen of the universe, and is totally the alpha with her b-mix sister, but she plays well with others at dog parks and elsewhere, with the exception that there are certain B's she will get snarky with. We've never been able to figure out what it is she doesn't like in some of her own kind. It doesn't happen every time but it makes the other owners nervous when it does happen, so I have stopped going to the dog park where the B's she has trouble with go. There are very rare situations with other type dogs. The only time she will start to "hair up" in a park is when she is tired from running and resting behind my legs at a picnic bench. If a dog comes up to get to her by going around my legs then, she will growl and threaten; I believe this is "go away I'm resting and get away from my person" because she doesn't come out fighting but sounds very serious about the whole thing. Also, if another dog tries to "mate," she will quickly sit down, turn around and snarl her displeasure, but won't push it any further. I do think basenjis may not have much patience with dogs they consider their inferiors.
Attacked and now aggressive?
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This sounds like you need an animal shelter bus to come out to your place and offer free shots or some kind of social gathering where the county can express your concerns by telling them the leash laws without including you.
I suggest training with other dogs because it is a controlled atmosphere where you are socializing your basenji with other pets.
Another option would be to pay a trainer to come to your house and work with you on your regular daily walk. Things to look for, best way to address situations etc.
I am sure that you will find the best solution, and restricting your walks isnt right. You should not stop doing something just because other people are inconsiderate.
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It was great when our breeder lived here in Chicago. She would come out and we would do dog training just like what you stated. What was best about her, she understood the breed. She them moved to New Mexico.
Maybe I should call that new Australian dog training service that comes to your home a guarantees results in a two hour period.
http://www.barkbusters.co.nz/inhome.htm
Has anyone heard anything about them? -
Because they are everywhere I go where I live. I swear I have dogs on invisible fences, you cross the street, then you got another person walking their dog on your side so you have to choose. It does not happen all the time, but it happens enough, to me.
1. My house
2. next door neighbor with dog that they let loose in frnt yard to go to the bathroom everyday! She came running up to my dog and twice my dog grabbere her by the throat and flipped her on her back. She does not bother him anymore, but still I can't go that way if the dog is out.6.Cul-de-sac neighbor with wippet that they let loose in front yard off leash.
7. Huge crippled Lab male that the owners loose all the time. He hobbles around and charges strange dogs, but is friendly. Still I don't like dogs running up to us.
What do you suggest I do?
Mantis had some good ideas. Also, start reporting the loose dogs, every time they are out loose. You should be able to walk your dogs without having to worry about being charged and attacked by dogs that are in violation of the leash law, whether you have a dog with you or not. Looking at your diagram, getting rid of the loose dogs in your neighborhood would actually make it a lot easier to avoid the other problem houses. You can cross the street so you are on the opposite side from the houses with invisible fence and continue to avoid the house with the lab that is willing to cross the invisible fence.
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To avoid loose dogs in the neighborhood, I take my dogs to walk in parks that have strictly enforced leash laws, and lots of rangers.
For those that are seriously interested in changing a reactive dogs behavior (meaning lots of work, not just words) I recommend "Click to Calm" by Emma Parsons, and/or a trainer that has read, and follows these type training steps/methods. Fiesty Fido (that jys mentioned is great too).
I do not recommend the mentioned Australian dog training chain for Basenjis. For one thing, they won't tell you what methods they use until you schedule (and pay for) a consultation with them. For another thing, they lots of techniques that are not positive reinforcement.
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Also, start reporting the loose dogs, every time they are out loose.
Believe me I would love to call the cops on my next door neighbor, with their two dogs that also go to the bathroom in our front yard. The hard part comes with fear of their teenage son's reprisals (has little morals and has been in big trouble before) and starting a "war" with my neighbor. which I have had to deal with bad neighbors before and things just escalate. I really don't want to go down that war path.
I have another neighbor down the street who had a great dane who she walked out in her front yard on a leash for the dog to go to the bathroom. The bad part is she never picked it up. It was disgusting. Someone must have called about them because they no longer do that or the dog died?
I would be calling the cops on half the people on my street!
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I do not recommend the mentioned Australian dog training chain for Basenjis. For one thing, they won't tell you what methods they use until you schedule (and pay for) a consultation with them. For another thing, they lots of techniques that are not positive reinforcement.
Yeah I know negative punishment only leads to either escalating aggression or you break the animal's spirit. Basenjis are really delicate animals to deal with and not many trainers understand they do not respond to discipline.
I have gone over the edge (not physical punishment) with my dog where I took away most of his privlidges and it broke his spirit. He became mopey and mean. Positive training & consistancy has made him a great dog, although he still needs work from time to time.
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Believe me I would love to call the cops on my next door neighbor, with their two dogs that also go to the bathroom in our front yard. The hard part comes with fear of their teenage son's reprisals (has little morals and has been in big trouble before) and starting a "war" with my neighbor. which I have had to deal with bad neighbors before and things just escalate. I really don't want to go down that war path.
I would be calling the cops on half the people on my street!
You should see if you can report anonymously. If no one is willing to report those who break these laws then people will continue to break them. You are likely not the only person who is unhappy about what is going on in neighborhood.
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Actually the worst part is their son's car!
He has his rear of his truck filled with subwoofers and sits in the driveway blasting them. One day a nieghbor down the block came all they way over to yell at him to turn it off.
My son used to play with him when they were younger until he did something so bad had to be sent away for a while (because he was a kid he could not face criminal charges). He's the type of kid that you would read about snapping and doing something horrible. I do not want to light that fuse. He's adopted and his parents are older and don't have a clue about raising a kid.
He just graduated high school and hopefully, will be going away to collage and getting out of our lives.
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You can talk to your mail carrier.
I work at the post office. I deliever the mail on a rural route.
We can shut down mail delievery to the whole street if a dog is loose and charging.
Maybe that will get the message across to your neighbors.
We start out with a letter to the whole steet mentioning the dogs and requiring the owners to keep them in.
Just a thought. -
I think that you need to have a neighborhood block party. Don't mention anything about dogs at all in the invite. In the process of organizing etc, people will 'see' themselves a bit clearer and not be so defensive.
You may need to start small like this:
You take a small tray of something wonderful and taped to the bottom is 10 addresses. You give it to one of your neighbors with the instructions to put a treat on it and pass it on. That's pretty non - threatening. Then maybe move on to a neighborhood gathering of sorts.
Maybe a "TELL US ABOUT YOUR DOG' neighborhood chain letter. Anything to connect has got to be worth the effort before you go the 'reporting to the authorities.
We are all too disconnected and these dog things then get way out of hand and while we all try to do the right thing - complaining about other peoples dogs just reinforces the steriotype of dogs are trouble. We used to be able to work things out with each other but no one seems to take the time anymore.
For those of you who are old enough, "if you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem." (If you're not old enough to have heard that before… ask your mom or dad )
Let me know if you try any of these ideas - I've done this in my neighborhood before - the only problem now is that if there is a stray - people bring them to me cause they figure I know who the dog is since I'm the 'dog lady'.
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Oh, what a wonderful idea.
Win/win, gets folks talking and the idea that they aren't enemys.
I would also like to know if this works. -
Help Please, We Are Within A Week Of Getting Our First Basenji 3 Month Female Pup. We Have Two–3year Old Peek-a-poos. The Female Is The Boss. They Are Both Very Active. They Are Used To Other Dogs In Our Home Or When Visiting Family. Don't Seem To Have A Problem With Large Dogs. Small Dogs Will Get A Growl And Then Be Dismissed For The Most Part. This Is All In The Home. On The Outside, They Don't Want Any Other Dogs Around.
What Can We Do To Prevent A Problem From Happening, If Possible?
Thanks A Million, Amey
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Help Please, We Are Within A Week Of Getting Our First Basenji 3 Month Female Pup. We Have Two–13year Old Peek-a-poos. The Female Is The Boss. They Are Both Very Active. They Are Used To Other Dogs In Our Home Or When Visiting Family. Don't Seem To Have A Problem With Large Dogs. Small Dogs Will Get A Growl And Then Be Dismissed For The Most Part. This Is All In The Home. On The Outside, They Don't Want Any Other Dogs Around.
What Can We Do To Prevent A Problem From Happening, If Possible?
Thanks A Million, Amey
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Amy, your bringing a female basenji into your female dog pack?
I often advice against female to female placements as the girls can become dogs who don't want to be together.
Who is your breeder? Does she/he run female/female packs???
I am afraid I only know bad things about this type of placement..so maybe someone who has been successful can help you??
I am hope you hear something more postive then this post… -
I would not advise bringing a female into a female situation - in particular when your current females have a 'leader' - basenjis are typically the leader and it will be unpleasant once the jockeying for positions starts.
Now this is going to sound distasteful but please follow along - basenjis are feral and have their own way of dealing with elderly dogs - or infirm dogs. It is unlikely in their natural habitat (Africa) that older dogs were tolerated. While I have seen some nice kind behavior - I have also seen something rather preditory in eliminating an animal that is unable to fend for themselves. While obviously in human care we must not forget that survival of the fittest is still a rule in the wild natural state of basenji.
Your puppy may at first be willing to accomodate the girls (I don't think so but maybe) but at about 1 or so - you will have a problem.
Diana
MIJOKR Basenjis
Since 1983
MN -
I do so hope you rethink the female addition to your family.
A male would be better. -
A basenji breeder should know this and not place a dog in this situation. I have found my basenji's really don't seem to like fluffy little dogs and view them more as prey.
It's not too late to just get a male.
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Ummm, sorry people, these are small, fluffy dogs. In a basenji word, prey. I wouldn't even want to think of introducing a B to these dogs. Maybe other people trust their B's with small, fluffy objects-but I don't. I have two female B's fighting right now-it's not a pretty sight. If you are dead set on having a B right now, I too would not advise a female, but a male. But, again, talk to the breeder-they will have more of a sense of their dogs and temperment.
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Female Basenjis (in my experience) will NOT tolerate another female. We have 2 female Basenji mixes at the shelter I work at, and they have to be kept very far away from each other. I tried to introduce my female Basenji mix to one of them and I walked away with cuts from getting in the middle of the two. One of the ones at the shelter has killed an older female dog. To us it's horrible, to her it was getting rid of someone who was no longer a use to the pack.
Every Basenji I've been around (5 females, but only 1 male) have seen anything smaller than them and fluffy as prey. They will chase it, bowl it over and chew on it. I've rescued several small dogs from the Basenjis because people let them get into the runs with the Basenjis. And in my own house- One of my neighbors has a chihuahua and another has a pomeranian that they let run the neighborhood. My Basenji wants to eat them. She's run the chihuahua around the yard but couldn't catch him because she's on a tie-out and she's attacked the pomeranian when it got too close.
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our female goes for the kill straight away. She goes right for the neck of prey at it's over instantly.
You don't want to cross that with something you love on the receiving end. It happens so fast you can never get there in time to save the poor victim.
Not done in pain or in anger, just natures way at work. Don't hold the basenji responsible doing what it is hard wired to do.
