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

  • PeteThePig95P

    Puppy injured after Resource guarding towards another dog

    Behavioral Issues
    19
    2 Votes
    19 Posts
    2k Views
    elbrantE
    @bernadette My doodle seemed to have some slight personality disorders this spring as well. I didn't consider that it was related to getting back to normal after Covid. I do think it may have been related to the typical mating season. Now that the season has passed and all of the canine hormones have settled down, doodle has as well. I'll keep an eye out to see if the behavior pattern repeats this fall.
  • L

    Visiting new Basenji w/ my pack

    Behavioral Issues
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    6k Views
    QuercusQ
    @skookum9: Sorry for the misunderstanding. I guess I never thought about anyone out there thinking that anyone could suggest lifting a dogs weight by its ear, I guess I'll have to rethink the lack of common understanding in the care of dogs. I will no longer be posting any input on this forum so there will no longer be any misunderstanding of what I write. I will sit back and watch for a spell to see if there is anything that I can possibly learn from this forum as I had initially hoped. If not, I will simply remove myself from here entirely. There certainly have been a few of you here that have been helpful and I do appreciate it and I give my most sincere thanks to those of you who did but I am not interested in getting anymore ridicule about training that one person cannot comprehend. I do wish you all the best but I think I would be best to stay away from this forum for the most part, other than to listen to what others think anyway. I will continue to love and care for my beautiful little girl but I am just not cut out for this place. I think it might be an over-reaction to leave the forum because we misunderstood what you wrote. Forums are a good place to get lots of different perspectives, and different views. There are quite a few regular posters here who have lots of experience training Basenjis, and we generally agree on the best methods for training dogs…that doesn't mean we don't welcome people with different experiences and opinons. That being said, I feel it is important to clarify advice given on a public forum, to make sure that novice owners/trainers don't think a piece of potentially dangerous advice is a generally accepted technique. Don't feel like you need to leave, or be silent :)
  • eoyE

    Nipping / Biting

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    8k Views
    eoyE
    Wow thanks sinbaje!
  • AllieA

    Stranger/Roommate Agression

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    wizardW
    I had a mixed breed when I was in college that was the nicest dog - even tempered when strangers were around. Then one day I was talking to a fellow (at a campground) with my dog just laying nearby and the man suddenly raised his arm to make a point in the conversation - my dog took after him just like you described. I think my dog thought he was attacking me and so went after him. The situation with your dad kind of sounds like that.
  • SunnyS

    Is it normal for females to mark territory

    Behavioral Issues
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    Yes, it is normal for bitches to mark… my girls (I have three at home) mark all the time... and usually over top where the last one went... on walks or at shows/lure trials, they will mark over top other Basenjis....
  • jys1011J

    Resourceful/Territorial??

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k 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.