Skip to content

NOT silent dog

Basenji Talk
  • I took Shango to Petsmart today to check out the halloween costumes (we're looking for a doggy batman one!) and this woman was there shopping.

    She came up to me and praised Shango, told me how beautiful he was and then correctly identified him as a basenji. I was amazed that she knew; not many people guess the breed.

    She bends down and is petting him and being really sweet to him and then, without warning pulls on his tail, causing him to yelp and turn away from her.

    She looks up at ME like I did something wrong and goes,

    "Oh. I thought they were silent."

    :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

    I was very upset and turned around and left. Poor Shango!

  • @AndrewnShango:

    I took Shango to Petsmart today to check out the halloween costumes (we're looking for a doggy batman one!) and this woman was there shopping.

    She came up to me and praised Shango, told me how beautiful he was and then correctly identified him as a basenji. I was amazed that she knew; not many people guess the breed.

    She bends down and is petting him and being really sweet to him and then, without warning pulls on his tail, causing him to yelp and turn away from her.

    She looks up at ME like I did something wrong and goes,

    "Oh. I thought they were silent."

    :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

    I was very upset and turned around and left. Poor Shango!

    You have got to be kidding??? What a jerk!!!! I agree, poor Shango

  • I have had a similar reaction at the dog park, when it really was me that touched Medjai's tail, but he was under the table and I scared the heck out of him so he yelped. Everyone at the table also kind of jumped at the fact that he made a noise, and how odd it was.

  • Poor Shango! How rude of that woman. Brady will let out a single bark when startled. BTW, he's a handsome little guy.

  • Poor Shango…I know that you were in a pet store but in my opinion its nice to ask before you get "friendly" like that. Too bad she didn't have a tail you could yank on. Indy solves that problem by running away, someone will bend down to pet him and he will dodge their hand and run behind my legs. I just smile and say "He's shy" while I think something nastier.

  • omg. how terrible! she had better be glad she didn't do that to MY basenji cause I would have pulled on a few of her limbs and see how silent she could be.. grrrr

  • What makes it worse is that there are a lot of basenjis who's tails are curled at the end almost permanently, and it really hurts to try to straighten it.

  • @etzbseder:

    What makes it worse is that there are a lot of basenjis who's tails are curled at the end almost permanently, and it really hurts to try to straighten it.

    Exactly right….. etzbseder..... you are totally right on with that statement

  • Yes! I was SO annoyed. I even said something about it to one of the cashiers on my way out.

    You can see in this picture how curled his tail is. It's almost wrapped three times:

    WHY would she do that?!?!

  • Some of mine have fused bones and if someone tried to make their tail truly straight, it would cause broken bones.

    All of mine though are used to having their tails uncurled, I do it to all my puppies because I know that many people seem to have a compulsion about uncurling the tails. Nicky, will just drop his tail like he is saying "There, I broke your toy, now what?"

  • @lvoss:

    …I know that many people seem to have a compulsion about uncurling the tails. Nicky, will just drop his tail like he is saying "There, I broke your toy, now what?"

    :D :D :D :D :D :D

  • I cannot believe someone actually pulled his tail. That is crazy! What ever happened to manners? Sheesh! She probably wouldn't like it too much if Shango has just walked up & bit her butt! Then you'd probably have a lawsuit actually :p

    I never try to uncurl Dallas' tail as it is so tightly curled. He only uncurls it when he is really bothered by something.

  • Rude behavior…its everywhere.

  • I have a variety a tail curls in the house but even the dogs with the tightest curls learn to allow the tails to be uncurled. Even though it is incredibly rude behavior, many people will just uncurl tails. I started doing it because I was told judges will uncurl tails and you want them to be used to it. I have since learned that all sorts of people will do it and never think that it is rude or might be uncomfortable for the dog. The vet techs at the first vet office I used with Nicky used to do it all the time.

    It really does seem to be a compulsion for some people, like they couldn't help themselves.

    attachment_p_52631_0_riotail.jpg
    attachment_p_52631_1_riotailuncurled.jpg

  • Jack doesn't mind most of his tail being uncurled, until you get to the very end. At the end, he has a little kink in it that won't uncurl.

  • No offense but I would of yanked that womans hair. What the heck was she thinking. :(

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    8 Posts
    5k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    In your position, where you really have to take her out a lot, I understand. And I hope her comfort continues. My point was it is situational need, not dog need to be that social. :) I have a slim chance of that having worked with my current 2, but with my incredibly dog aggressive first one, I'd have been out in a basket muzzle and warning everyone to keep their dogs away.
  • Bullying dogs - dog psychology questions

    Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    2k Views
    KipawaK
    Well, the lab I mentioned (chocolate overweight one) almost took me out by slamming into my knee. I commented loudly " he better not insure my knee!" No comment from the owner. Others were keeping an eye on this over exhuberant dog too. Many peeps were standing behind a bench for protection. What really bugs me is that the park has very visible signs when you enter it that say you must have control of your dog.
  • 0 Votes
    21 Posts
    8k Views
    BarklessdogB
    Owning a basenji requires a good sense of humor and a large dose of patience and a willingness to do some creative thinking to convince the basenjis what you want is really the same thing as what they want. So true, never a dull moment with these dogs
  • Devil dog/good dog

    Basenji Talk
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    nobarkusN
    Yes I agree Pat, Fort Funston could get very crowded and dangerous for smaller dogs as packs of bigger dogs playing could cause injury. My 2 Basenjis were very good and stayed pretty close to me and got used to the crowds. The only problem I had there was with this lady who had an older Tri color female Basenji. It would bite my blk/wht, Nika who was 1-1/2 on the butt. A few times of that and I stayed way away from her. The problem is Nika was a very playful girl and never did anything like that. A few times of getting nipped on the butt started her doing it to other dogs and Basenjis. A Basenji would want to play and Nika would chase and give a nip and the the other dog would get mad and a fight would occur. Nobody would ever get hurt thankfully. It was rare that it would happen as I took them there for 9 years, mostly on the weekend without problem. We had a lot of fun and people loved the Basenjis! Ringo, the red/wht was a very entertaining clown when we'd go down to the beach.
  • Dog discrimination?

    Basenji Talk
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    5k Views
    bellabasenjiB
    @Vegas: We're all committed to the basenji, because the little tools have a way of capturing our hearts… I think basenji owners are a pretty tight-knit group. The ways basenjis affect our lives are so similar, it's hard to not find something in common with other basenji owners. I think this may be the "same page" Andrea was speaking of!
  • New dog???

    Basenji Talk
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    QuercusQ
    The only thing I would be concerned about with a Dachshund would be the possiblity of it having some back damage with the rough play of a basenji…or even trying to do the same acrobatics that Bs do. I have known some folks who had a lot of problems with disk and spine problems with Doxies...but I don't know if that is typical. Something to think about though...