It's been my experience that sometimes my basenji just gets it in her head that she doesn't like another dog, and for seemingly no good reason. I have been able to mitigate her behavior, but this is not a cure….
First, an excited basenji is a biting basenji. Make sure he's calm. Make him sit. Exert your dominance. Stand over your dog, look him in the eye. You need to snap him out of his mindset and remind him that you're in charge and he doesn't need to be aggressive.
It will take time and patience, but he can be made more comfortable...
I've also found that walking together as a "pack" helps. The two humans in the middle, the dogs held on a very short leash to either side, and you ignore your dog's aggression, focusing them on the walk itself. After a short while, they should just about forget one another. But this also acclimates them to each other. Good luck!
New Coats!!!
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Mauigirl came over yesterday for a sewing party. We spent the day looking for deals on fleece (so if we totally screwed this up we wouldn't be out tons of money), looking at patterns online & sketching out ideas. I bought a sewing machine & we picked up coordinating threads, velcro, and anything else we thought we might need. Here's a photo essay of the day:
(I apologize for the sideways pictures… I thought I had that worked out. Grr)
Our mountain of fabric
Booger guards me from attackers as I begin to draw out patterns
Zip adds her input on our designs
They know we're up to something, and they get so excited they don't know exactly what to do with themselves.
We finally complete the Halloween bandanas & Zip, Lola & Booger model their new looks
Lola's first fitting
Zip's first fitting
Exhausted from the fittings, Zip & Lola take a nap. Booger uses it as an excuse to nap, too.
Nicki DESTROYS the sewing machine!!! OOPS!
Lola's brand new coat!
Zip's finished coat!
I made a second coat for Lola with some room to grow in case she escapes the bounds of pigmydom.
And made a coat for Booger so he wouldn't get jealous that Lola has two now.
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And I still have lots of leftover fabric so if somebody wants a coat made from any of these fabrics, I'll make them for $10 + shipping.
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Nice little report on your sewing skills
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I don't think I could make a more unattractive face if I tried. :o
Well, let's be honest, I probably could. Just not around a camera!I'm glad Zippy's tail is up in the finished coat picture….she doesn't look very pleased in the fitting, with her tail down and such...
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Oh wow the coats are fantastic!!! Well done for making them, the dogs look fantastic!!
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And I still have lots of leftover fabric so if somebody wants a coat made from any of these fabrics, I'll make them for $10 + shipping.
ME, ME, ME!! (Picture a hand raised and wildly swinging to get attention!!) What measurements do you need?? As you know, I have one–soon to be 11 years old--male, and one--soon to be 7--chubby female. Shhhhhhh, don't tell Kate, but I'm willing to pay for extra fabric if needed:) .
Please contact me. snorky998@comcast.net Thanks, Dawn
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And I still have lots of leftover fabric so if somebody wants a coat made from any of these fabrics, I'll make them for $10 + shipping.
I'm interested, too! Pls. contact me at: (email sent)
Thanks!
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Those are awesome!! I'd love to know how you did it!!
I'm guessing you are out of fabric by now!!
Awww! -
Those look great! I can't figure out how they fit…is there a velcro closure on the chest? Or do they have to be "put on" like a sweater?
They really look very nice.Anne
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If you are not out of fabric, I would love to get some so each of my pups can go home with a coat.
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Hey- I'd love to know what pattern you used…i've been altering store bought coats....it hasn't been going well.
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We roughly used this page as a guide:
http://www.barlowscientific.com/technotes/home/sweater.htm
So yes, it's the over the head style. What took us the longest yesterday was drawing Lola's pattern on tissue paper. There weren't any boxes on our paper so we were sort of wingin' it. We went back to the dogs lots of times to measure them. I was really really glad I decided to bring Zip because there were measurements I needed that I wouldn't have thought of before we started. It's basically five pieces: back, chest, collar and sleeves (we added those to the pattern). Apart from the girth at the chest right behind the arms (at the biggest part) and the length of the back we also measured line AB (on the linked page). And then we measured line CD, which will be shorter for boys. We also took the measurement from shoulder to shoulder facing the dog to get a feel for where those shoulder seams (line AB) were going to go. And then the circumference at the up-tuck/waist (Zippy's tapers from 21" at her chest to 16" and that part is a bit snug while putting the sweater on or taking it off.
I had to go home and crash before I could finish Zip's all the way so I'm looking forward to that. I think I will hand sew the little sleeves and then I need to take back some length in the tail and uptuck areas. And then on to Riley's… -
they look great! Nice work!!!
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Like Mauigirl said, they are over the head style. However, due to the interest, I would like to try some other styles. As long as y'all are willing to be my guinea pigs & buy them cheaply while I'm learning this, I will keep making them for you. I'm going to try to work velcro into it like FidoFleece, so you have a velcro closure all the way down the back (mine ARE NOT loving the other the head thing, but they're also not used to it… yet). I also want to try some other styles, patterns, prints, color combos, etc.
Lvoss, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to make a set for your puppies!!! Maybe start looking around for fleece you would like for girls & boys (or we could do a different color for each pup!). Once they come, I know you'll be busy. So get some ideas & then when they're born we can discuss the details.
If anybody wants to look, Joann.com & Hancockfabrics.com are two great websites for buying fleece. If you find something you like, I will be happy to make a coat out of it for you.
I'll keep making them for $10 plus shipping while I'm working out the kinks, and once I'm out of fabric I should have a better idea of how much fabric & time I need, and I'll work out a price (I'm thinking of $15 or $20 per coat, and I'll donate 10% to BRAT).
If anybody else wants to request a coat, please feel free to e-mail me at carriesquires@gmail.com
Thank you for all of the compliments!!!
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The coats look great and I love the fabrics you chose! I really like the grey/pink/purple. Those will definately be handy when you guys go coursing Sunday. It is supposed to be rather cold early in the morning.
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Those all look great!!! Funny side note: my boyfriend was looking at them too & said he loves the camo coat [go figure since he hunts] :p I told him when he learns how to work a sewing machine he can make one for Dallas. Hahaha.
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if you have a joann's nearby, be sure to sign up for the coupons. i get a coupon for 40% off one item twice a month or so. Also check for end of season deals.
i saw the jacket and loved you work.
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Those all look great!!! Funny side note: my boyfriend was looking at them too & said he loves the camo coat [go figure since he hunts] :p I told him when he learns how to work a sewing machine he can make one for Dallas. Hahaha.
I have tons of camo left; I'd be happy to make him one to spare him the trouble of learning to sew. haha!
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I have tons of camo left; I'd be happy to make him one to spare him the trouble of learning to sew. haha!
If you have the time that would be so incredibly kind! I have been looking for a winter coat for Dallas anyway. What kind of measurements do you need? I would obviously give you some money for your trouble & for shipping
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Nina, I mentioned the measurements in my longer post above…
