Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Strange Behavior need help

Strange Behavior need help

Behavioral Issues
  • Goody625G

    Hello all, I am proudly owned by Jamie. She is a 6 1/2 little lady who I have had very little problems with. Let me start by giving a little history. I got her when I was single. She was my first dog. She lived with me, my roomate, and his white boxer. The two got along great. She slept in the bed with me curled up at my feet for about 2 years. Then along came another woman (wife) into my life. I started letting her sleep in her crate at night with a little protest from her but she got used to it. It has been that way for almost 4 years now. (Been married 2 1/2) When its time for bed I tell her in a goofy voice to "Go get in your bed." She would stand and scratch at the door until I let her in. She would not make a sound until the morning. At times I really had to coerce her out to go potty in the morning. I cover the crate with a blanket to keep the ceiling fan from blowing on her and make it a nice, dark, place for her to sleep. This has been the sleeping arrangement since around March of 2005 with no issue…

    UNTIL NOW!!

    For about the last 2 weeks her attitude has gone down the toilet. She is really restless, more snippy/growly than usual and will whine and cry when she goes into her crate(she does not go as readily). It almost like someone has flipped a switch and changed her attitude. My question to the pros: 1)Could there be something physically wrong with her causing her discomfort?
    2)Is her temprament changing as she is getting older?
    3)Is she just trying to "test the pecking order" in our house?

    I love the little dog but she is really trying my sanity right now. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Joel and Jamie

    "Jamie" 6 Year old red/white Basenji

    "Connor" 3.5 year old Boxer/Shephard mix

    (Both Spoiled!)![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

    0
  • L

    I would have her her checked out by a vet. Having a sudden change in behavior like this can be a sign of something phisically wrong.
    Is their any other behavior that has changed recently? Has their been a change in Water/Food consumption? Are their any other changes to your house (Pets,people,schedules)? any of these should also be taken into account. I had a terrier that was sweet as can be untill about 8 when he got a pinched nerve. He started getting very aggresive and shy. He was fine once the vet diagnosed him and he had some pain management.

    To you

    0
  • lvossL

    Hypothyroidism can manifest as behavorial changes. I would have the vet do a check up and run a full thyroid panel.

    0
  • tanzaT

    In particular you should have her Thyroid checked and that means the full panel that is set out to only a handful of labs, not just the T-4 that is included with normal blood work. Sometimes you really have to "insist" to your Vet that you want it done.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • tanzaT

    Looks like lvoss and I were typing at the same time…gggg

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • Goody625G

    Thank you for the replies! I have not noticed any change in her diet or water consumption. She has had full anal glands on more than 1 occasion and was "scootching" the day I noticed the dislike of her crate. We were using Vectra 3D on both of our dogs until I noticed that she would "scootch" and have frequest bowel movements. They are both back on frontline and she does not scootch anymore but she seems really restless and will not settle oin her crate. My schedule has changed a little, but I didnt think enough for her to manifest this behavior. Thanks for all your help so far, Ill look a little more into Hypothyroidism. Are there any other signs or symptoms that she would be showing??

    Joel

    "Jamie" 6 Year old red/white Basenji

    "Connor" 3.5 year old Boxer/Shephard mix

    (Both Spoiled!)![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

    0
  • S

    I would also pump up her exercise…make your walkies longer and more frequent.
    A tired b' is a happy b.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0

Suggested Topics

  • B

    Desperately need your help!

    Moved Behavioral Issues
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Sudden behavior change at this age is almost always medical. I am glad you are now keeping him separated, but honestly you should have the first incident. After the first bite, most courts or judges would rule you knew he was a danger and he could not only have been seized, but you sued for significant damages. You are lucky no one is filing. Thyroid is the primary cause that I am aware of for sudden change. Yes, brain tumors are possible, but more likely thyroid. Some forms of epilepsy also can cause a dog to attack, but typically this is truly out of nowhere-- not like what you describe when a dog is told no about something. Pain can also do it.. sadly cancer had been found in similar situations of sudden growing aggression. The ENCOURAGING part is you had several months without problems... so again, look at the most simple... thyroid. Make sure you get a full panel, not just an in-house partial. In the meantime, understand you didn't cause this, and it may be fixable. If thyroid, it's inexpensive medication. But you won't know until you get tests runs. Hopefully those wanting him put down will feel better knowing you are acting to find out if there is a medical issue.
  • C

    strange behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    First, yeah they do the flip and butt in face. I see it as invitation to play/chase mostly. Kind of shaking my head here over the rest. You already have a breed known for dominance and protectiveness of property/family with the Boerboel. Basenjis (I assume you mean 6.5 not 65 years old :) ) are not known for tolerating same sex. Sometimes they do, but not a sure bet. Plus, your Boerboel is still a puppy. By age 2 or 3, that compliance with the Basenji being alpha can go down the drain at a drop of a hat. That happens, and he hasn't killed the basenji... you have to keep 2 packs running, ensuring they never have contact. Then you bring in a mixed breed... which is all a Mastador is. No way on earth to know how much it will take after the lab side or the Mastiff. AND it's another male. So now you have potentially 3 dog aggressive male dogs, with 2 of them large enough to inhale the basenji. I am not sure about the breeders who placed the Boerboel, certainly not the owners letting you bring in the Mastador. I want my male dogs to have a chance of a peaceful, unstressful life. I think the chances in your home are already approaching really low numbers, and the Mastador is going to bring that closer to zero. The safety of that poor basenji is beyond precarious. I wouldn't want those 3 males in the most experienced of homes, one already fully ready to and experienced in running separate packs. I sincerely hope you reconsider the Mastador. And no, getting a female won't help. Until the Boerboel is fully mature and you have a handle on what your pack is, adding any dog is going to up the risk of issues.
  • S

    Major behavior change after 10 years!! Help!

    Behavioral Issues
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    12k Views
    J
    @rocky1 I'm so very sorry for your loss. They become such a part of our souls. I've already had a few tears over just the thought of what it will be like without him.
  • P

    Help! Not sure about a trainer to help with a kid-nipping basenji

    Behavioral Issues
    32
    0 Votes
    32 Posts
    16k Views
    Buddys PalB
    Wow! this is one of many, many threads that I have responded to and I am very interested in the outcome of Poopydog and the nipping. As I was going through the Thread, I really had to bypass any of the responses of those who enjoy attacking one another. I sure hope this behavior did not thwart our member who really needed help. The majority are replies to one another trying to impart important knowledge or experience to someone who did not ask for it in the first place. Don't try to sound important. Everyone is, just give happy good-hearted advice and let us just not dig into the other who has a different opinion. Just dig, digs, and more digs. Really getting old….........................I know you won't miss me, but this is just too much.................................................................
  • H

    Help

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    S
    Do let us know what you found out from the vets.
  • R

    New to the basenji world, need HELP!

    Behavioral Issues
    30
    0 Votes
    30 Posts
    20k Views
    C
    @DebraDownSouth: Andrea, great post. I have taught many dogs bite inhibition at a much older age, though… only thing you wrote I don't heartily agree with. Yes, I understand that it is possible but I'd like to know more about it. Generally it's accepted that teaching remedial ABI is difficult to do at best, at least amongst the trainers I know, talk to and read. Dunbar says he's done it but I tried to pin him down at a seminar and he was evasive. I was hoping to get specifics, training program and how to test it or pointed at one. He said to buy his DVDs. I did. Best I could find was teaching a better ritualized bite and jaw prudence and done my best to scour books and websites as well (and speaking with colleagues, natch). What I found didn't really satisfy me. I mean, when I think of teaching ABI, I am thinking of teaching it so that it holds up even under duress since that's when it's most important. For instance a colleague was recently contacted about a Level 5 biter. If it's possible to teach reliable ABI in adult dogs THAT dog should be a candidate for sure. I'd love to assist someone teaching it to a dog like that, or in training a dog that has poor ABI with other dogs. How could you train and test that safely or humanely? What is the liability there? Pretty serious, I would think. I do remember my first basenji experience though. I have trained and worked with dogs my entire adult life. So imagine my surprise when squeaking caused her to bite MORE, lol. Change of tactics. Life offers us so many opportunities to learn new things. :) Ah yes, I've had one of those. I changed to a calm "too bad" and then removing myself. Worked MUCH better. Depends on the dog. EDIT: I just looked at the site you linked and what she is talking about is what I refer to as 'jaw prudence'. When I use ABI, I'm referring to how hard the dog bites when it bites, not if it puts its mouth on you. For instance, your Rottie I would say had great ABI but iffy jaw prudence. OTOH, there are dogs with great jaw prudence but the one time they use their mouths they do it will full jaw force. I'd much prefer the former.