Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Resource/territory guarding???

Resource/territory guarding???

Behavioral Issues
  • PujiP

    Hello all! We are looking for some advice on one of Charlie's less desirable behaviours :( (BTW, Charlie is a 6-month-old basenji-pug mix. We've had him just over 3 months. He was neutered a few days ago.)

    Whenever my husband is kneeling down and rummaging around at ground level, Charlie has been perking up, rushing in his direction, snarling, and grabbing at his arms and/or legs - whatever's closer. It doesn't seem to matter what Charlie is doing at the time, or where the action is occurring, or what my husband is rummaging through. The other day, my husband was in the guest room where Charlie hardly ever spends any time. Today, he was in the kitchen, getting something from the bottom cabinets.

    This has been occurring more frequently in the past week or so, although we can see roots of this behaviour in his earlier months with us. For example, if we spilled some kibble, Charlie would rush to pick up as much as he could before we got to it, but he wouldn't growl or bite.

    Our approach so far has been to try to avoid situations that we think will trigger him. Also, we've both been reprimanding him with a stern 'eh' when he snarls - which usually gets him to pause. Today, I got him to sit-stay, and then fed him treats while my husband was rummaging at ground level. Tomorrow, I'm going to look into getting a behaviouralist to advise us. In the meanwhile, do any of you have any insights or suggestions for us? We would really appreciate it - it has been really disheartening to see this kind of reaction from our pup!

    (Here he is in one of his sweeter moments :rolleyes: )

    attachment_t_2624_0_charlie_20071201_162.jpg

    0
  • QuercusQ

    I *think the growling etc during the rummaging behavior *might be play. It is hard to know without seeing it. But I have had pug clients that did that behavior lunging, growling at their people's feet, trying to get them to play… as startling as it sounds! Often a human being on the floor is a clear invitation in the dog's mind to crazy play time.

    And the trying to eat faster after spilled food *could be a precurser to resource guarding...but maybe not. A lot of dogs innocently do this....

    I like what you are doing by having him sit and get treats while DH is rummaging...perfect traiing plan. Work on exchanging objects with him for treats, if you are concerned that there may be some resource guarding.

    A behaviorist would be a great idea...just make sure you get someone who respects independant thinking dogs...and uses mainly positive reinforcement training techniques. Good luck :) He sure is cute!

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    1
  • tanzaT

    And keep using the sit/stay. It would be great if your husband could be the one to enforce the sit/stay with the rewards for the correct behavior. If he can do the "eh" to get his attention or better yet right as he is getting to him… and the he puts him in the sit/stay with the treat, that might help. Also, who feeds him in your house? Try changing to your husband feeding him... bumps him up in the food chain to the dogs point of view....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • JazzysMomJ

    I can't help with the behavior – sound like you already got great advice anyway -- but my! oh my! What a cutie you have !!!

    0
  • S

    Could it be his age? He is trying to move up in the pack family?
    Have you had him into any training/obedience classes?
    I really do believe these classes help give you and your dog a way to interact with their humans.
    I would be interested to hear what the pro has to say re this behavior.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • BarklessdogB

    He's really cute!

    0
  • PujiP

    Thanks, all, for your great advice! We will work on the sit-stay with treats while DH is rummaging. We'll also look into classes and a behaviouralist for Charlie.

    Hmm, I hadn't even considered that Charlie's behaviour might be an invitation to play. Typically, he either brings us a toy and drops it at our feet, or starts play bowing and nipping when he wants to play with us - but that's if we're just sitting around and he wants attention.

    He is a resource guarder when it comes to his rawhides and pizzles, so we are working on object exchanges (using Jean Donaldson's protocol in her book "Culture Clash"). He was doing really well, then had a set back (after a few days without practice exchanges), and we recently started from square one. He is almost back to where he was - dropping his rawhide on command and allowing me to take it. I will definitely keep this up!!

    Thanks again for the input!! I will post again with updates :)

    0
  • QuercusQ

    <>
    Yay! Perfect resource! Keep up the good work!

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0

Suggested Topics

  • L

    Driving/travel Issues

    Behavioral Issues
    22
    1 Votes
    22 Posts
    3k Views
    I
    @elbrant It goes on till we get where we are going then he knows when we are going home because he is much more relaxed. So we do not go on many car rides.
  • B

    Dog Behaviorist/Trainer needed

    Behavioral Issues
    22
    1 Votes
    22 Posts
    6k Views
    D
    @elbrant With my first B (who educated me on the art of the basenji lol), I did not initially give him enough walks. It really didn’t do either of us any good lol. A tired basenji is a good basenji rings true and also a tired basenji is a happy content basenji :) It also does the humans a lot of good to get out in nature and walk, both mentally and physically. Good long walks and mental stimulation are probably the easiest fix for most problems. One thing that is also important is to get past the “master” phase / idea. Many dogs adore their owners as their master and just want to please their owners. I think the crucial stage with a basenji comes somewhere around the two year stage, where I reach a “special understanding” with them. There is this bond and understanding where they start to trust and understand that I am the ultimate master of them, but without trying to quash their unique spirits. So on the big stuff they have to trust me, but they can still get away with the small stuff. It’s really hard to explain that to people who have not experienced that as new owners. If they get past that difficult stage they will be hooked, but it isn’t always easy to believe that you will get past it and some just don’t want to put that much effort into them. I remember my first basenji and wondering why I had such a strange and crazy dog. Which then made me read and research what was “wrong” with him lol.
  • B

    Wet grass/rain issue

    Behavioral Issues
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    12k Views
    P
    Mine will run down the garden through the pouring rain and into the wood shed rather than pee quickly and come indoors! They end up absolutely soaked but very happy that they've managed to find somewhere under cover. Basenjis!!!!
  • NerdyDogOwnerN

    Itch/scratch spot…

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    3k Views
    BasenjimammaB
    I think the oil makes for fishy breath after they have consumed it, but it goes away rather quickly after that, so about an hour max after each meal, more like 30 minutes.. The pros are way better then the cons, I highly recommend it, his itching will be better, his coat will be shiny (although as a puppy I bet he already has great looking coat) and his jonts will thank you in the long run..win, win..
  • jennifereverJ

    Lunging/Growling!!

    Behavioral Issues
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    jennifereverJ
    haha thanks for the info. will definitely check out that book as well.
  • jys1011J

    Resourceful/Territorial??

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    5k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    We have two cats, a 13 yr old and a 2.5 yr old. They have lived in harmony with Gypsy their entire lives. They used to snuggle together to sleep. In fact, the old guy has outlived two other dogs! Then Jazzy moved in. Two years later, it's STILL a battle. We worked hard –HARD -- on "Leave it!!", and Jazzy has EXCELLENT obedience for that , except where the cats are concerned. IF I see the cat first and say, "Leave it", she almost always will. But if the cat catches her eye first, she's gone before I even know what happened, and she won't stop once she's in run-mode. We keep a gate across the hall that leads to the kids' bedrooms and bathroom. The litter boxes, which used to be in the garage, are now in that bathroom {I HATE that!!}, as is the cat food/water. The gate is removed at night after Jazzy is tucked into her kennel and replaced in the morning. The cats have learned to stay in the bedrooms during the day, and roam the house at night. They don't seem to mind; all they really used to do was sleep on the couch all day. Now they sleep on the beds all day. Sometimes the younger cat comes down while Jazzy is sleeping and gets up on the back of the couch because she knows she is safe as long as she stays there {Jazzy is not allowed on the furniture and honestly never breaks that rule, even when the cat is there}. I feel bad about it, but what else could we do? Ah well. maybe it's a more natural lifestyle{?} Some dogs just don't get along with cats. And some cats just can't get along with dogs. Sometimes you just have to take personality into account and make accomodations.