OMG, That is sweet and so Basenji! Amazing how quickly they grow. How old is Zaki? Imo is just under 14 weeks. Take good care and stay safe.
I might have to…
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You may be able to keep the pup if you just start some solid training with him. Try doing basic training two times a day for around 15 minutes each time to tire him out mentally. Also, take him for more walks instead of allowing him to run willy-nilly around the house when you know your parents don't like it. Take him for 2 30 minute walks per day to wear him out so by the time he gets back to the house he isn't in the run-around-like-a-crazy-basenji-puppy mode. The thing is, no matter what breed puppies are high energy, chew everything & test their boundaries. It is your job to set those boundaries immediately & hopefully lessen your parents concerns. It would certainly be a shame for you to have to get rid of your puppy. I couldn't imagine getting rid of my baby even after only having him 2.5 months now.
If you do decide to keep him though, definitely be sure to tell your father [nicely] to stop pushing him because puppy bones are very fragile & a broken bone on a pet costs upwards of $2000 [& no I am not exaggerating!]
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The pup CAN be taught to NOT jump on the couch, however. I'd work on that ASAP since it's such an issue with your Dad.
Ours are not allowed on the furniture and learned from the day they came home that it is simply not allowed. They learned quickly and it's not an issue at all any more.
I would start by not letting him up there at all, not even on your lap {Until he catches on}.
If he gets up, put him on the floor with a firm, "Stay Off" – no hitting or tossing necessary. Put your hand on the couch and say again, "Stay Off".
As with everything -- repeat, repeat, repeat.BTW, how old IS your dad? The Basenji energy can be frightening to people as they age; the erratic running, etc. can feel {or even be} downright dangerous to someone whose eyesight is changing, whose balance is fading, etc. LOTS of older folks wind up with broken arms, wrists, limbs, etc because of dogs. His anger may be somewhat fear based?
Or even based in frustration because his retirement years aren't looking quite the way he'd envisioned all his life.Sit on the floor to cuddle with him.
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…Sit on the floor to cuddle with him.
Yeah, even dads need cuddles!! (LOL, sorry, I couldn't resist! :p )
Seriously though, fountainhead, the suggestions are good ones. Give 'em the good, ol' college try. I hope everything works out for you.
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Just like in dogs, a temperment change in humans, even as we age, is not necessarily "normal". I think I'd sit down with your mom and discuss this. At the very least, your dad should have a physical and talk to a doctor (probably with your mom).
As far as your pup goes, you've gotten some great suggestions here. My younger 2 dogs (5 yr malinois and a 15month basenji) get most of their meals in a puzzle ball. Keeps them entertained and brain engaged. Also my basenji pup LOVES cream cheese and it it so easy to put inside a kong and freeze. Lots of exercise! You may want to find someone with a comparable pup to have play dates with. If you don't have a fenced yard (or even if you do), get a long leash (think 15 or 30 feet!) and take him out for a walk. This way you can safely let him run, but also during that time work on attention and loose lead walks (might want a shorter lead for that). Clicker train tricks and obedience is a great way to engage your pup. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical.
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Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Sounds like a dog bite waiting to happen.
Not to sound judgemental or rude, but This really is why everyone in a home has to be in on research, meet the breed, and be in agreement BEFORE getting a puppy - or any pet for that matter. Honestly, I would not have even considered getting a dog if I lived in someone else's home.
And I am going to add, this is why good responsible breeders screen homes…
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Do you have plans to move anytime soon?
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I live with my mom for the time being. We agreed that the pup could join the family for a couple of months. (otherwise he would have stayed at the breeder untill may)
We will move to our new home in may, so my mother does know we will leave.She isn't really fond (understatement) about the chewing, running, biting etc. and Mirtillo isn't allowed on the furniture and the stairs. When the pup gets bored and tries to chew on something, I take him for a long walk (20-30 minutes, 4 times a day) and when we come back he gets something to chew on. It works pretty well. He gets his meals in his Kong or in his ball, so he is busy with it for 15 minutes. It really tires him down. (thanks for all the advise ;))
When he is doing something that's not allowed, I told my mom to spray him with water. (otherwise she will hit him with the newspaper) It can't harm him and he respects the water! (more than the newspaper ;)) When I am away for some hours, I put Mirtillo in his crate, so he can't get on my mothers nerves.
The only problem I have is my younger sister.. she isn't really about rules, so Mirtillo has some 'free time' when she is around. But she is his victim now when he decides to bite someone.. Mirtillo will learn her that rules work
I know it's really hard to have a puppy around AND parents that are complaining! It doesn't feel right at all, but you are in their house, so you have to have an agreement with them and please them with keeping the puppy busy. It works for me that my mother really sees I'm doing the best I can trying to keep the pup away from her/occupied.
I hope you can keep your puppy.. I have Mirtillo for three weeks now.. but I already can't imagine him not being around.
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thank you for all the suggestions…in fact my aunt just gave me one of those bully bones and it was wonderful...he just chewed on it forever. deoji finally went on a real walk today and enjoyed it too...all the other times he would just lay there. he would walk a little bit, with his head down the whole time...it's funny cause it's like he was embarrassed to be on a leash.
everybody was on board with getting a puppy, and i told them everything i read about the breed...but i don't think they really expected such a handful. my dad isn't real old, he's 54 and it kinda seems to me like he's going through a type of midlife crisis or something....like he's real moody. we've had dogs before and it was fine. he never was rude to them, and i know it'd break his heart if he actually hurt deoji............i don't know, it's wierd cause when we got the pup he was even talking about breeding them in a few years (yeah right)
i'm doing my part to keep deoji. they know i watch him like a hawk and am training him...but i told them they also need to help me avoid the problems in the first place...such as telling me when they're going to eat so i can crate him, and keeping the back room doors shut so he doesn't go back there and chew on their stuff......it's rediculous
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They say that not only do humans train dogs but essentially DOGS train HUMANS.
Hope you are able to keep him afterall & things get better. I think they will if you continue to properly train & take him on walks to wear the little guy out
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Hope things work out for you.
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Sounds like you've got a good head on you and you've gotten really good suggestions here. I'm sure everything will work out in the end.
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well, for anyone out there wondering about the end of the story…we are moving out.
it's not over my b though, like i had said, i think my dad's going through some kind of mid-life crisis and i feel it would be better for us to get out of the house. so now they don't have to deal with us or our pain in the dog :oit's actually very liberating in a way to be forced to move out, cause now we can't use the excuse of "if we wait we'll be able to save more money"...
so amarillo here we come and internet there we go.....thank you for all the great advice
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well, for anyone out there wondering about the end of the story…we are moving out.
Good for you!!
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I'm new to the forum so new to reading this thread, bt I wish you all the best of luck in your adventures and please come back when you got internet again
