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  • First signs of aggression? Should I be concerned?

    Behavioral Issues
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    ZandeZ
    @rugosab said in First signs of aggression? Should I be concerned?: must be considered ALPHA, as are all my family. Exactly !!! The only way to run a pack is to be the Alpha at all times.
  • 0 Votes
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    J
    I'm no Basenji expert since I've only had one. And, I don't want to start a dog park argument. I'll just share my experience. Jengo LOVED running free, but he's a Basenji. Can't do that cause... cars. The dog park near our house is HUGE. A big completely enclosed lawn area the size of a football field with towering oak trees. We were OCD about keeping Jengo's vaccinations up to date. He was chipped and wore a collar with contact and rabies tags 24/7. He loved the dog park, but not all the dogs there. He hated any dog of any size that would try to dominate him in any way. He rarely instigated it, but he never tolerated it meaning regardless of size... he wouldn't back down. He also hated if another dog approached him from behind and would snap immediately. My solution was to stay near him and to keep moving. We would walk laps around the perimeter and by about the second or third lap he'd been or had checked out all the other dogs. Then things were good. If I saw that he was getting anxious I'd usually catch it before he reacted and would tell him "Easy". 9 times out 10 that was enough. I'd also make sure that he was aware of dogs in our vicinity so that he wouldn't be surprised if they came from behind. We went to the park for years. He never caught anything that I was aware of. I did pick him up and leave if there was another dog he and/or I weren't comfortable with. And, I also recall walking away before ever entering the park if there was a dog we didn't like already there. I guess my point is that part of protecting your dog and others is knowing and focusing on them without over-reacting at the same time. I don't want to set him off. But, I want to know what he's going to do before he does. You have to read him. All dogs give signals one way or another. Tune in to your dog, not the other people at the park. I liked the other people at the park, but I wasn't there for them. My focus was always on Jengo.
  • 5 Votes
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    K
    @patty and others that reference a responsible breeder: I got my Jessey (my friend dubbed him the Jester because of his loveable zaniness) - who is my second Basenji - from a responsible breeder and he was well socialized by her and then me. I took him to the dog park which he loved at first, but then after many visits, he became scared. He used to walk the neighborhood, but then became scared. Any boom/bang/bounce - he bolts home. My other Basenji was nothing like this. Jessey has his pack of BFF's but is usually snarky to other dogs (typical B!). My point is, it's not always the breeder. Dogs - like humans - can develop "head issues". It has been very frustrating for me having a neurotic dog, but I've come to accept that's him and would never love him any less! The vet gave me Solliquin to try, but I've been hesitant. Anyone out there tried it?
  • Basenji mix and Boston Terrier Fight on first day

    Behavioral Issues
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  • Duna ran off for the first time!!!

    Behavioral Issues
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    Kalima62K
    I was very interested on finding out that the horse harnesses are good for our basenjis expecially the ones with a bit of metal chain at the end, so as not to let our doggies chew through the lead, I took Duna out for a country walk and a seaside walk too off leash. She defenetly chooses who to hear when calling her to come…ME!!!!! She's a good girl till she meets other dogs, then becomes deaf!!! I tried runnig away and it workrd for the country walk, where as at the sea, what with the wind noise and wave noise, she just didnt turn to control me and took off for a distance with a big abandoned german sheperd mix!!! So i had to chase her because i new she was in trance and hipnotised by this big black dog that we were shooing to go away and that Duna was following!!! Little Stinker!!!!
  • I had a minor heart attack today.

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    tanzaT
    Or the other sure fire method for my kids is to open a car door and yell "go for a ride"…. Of course that would do me no good now, since Kristii in her elder years is a deaf as a door knob.....