@julia87 How much do you know about Basenjis? Have you met any? It's highly recommended to learn as much as possible about them before making a decision to acquire one. This would be a good place to start.
Marley
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I am sorry if you feel like rescue or breeder owners keep others looking in on the outside.
I don't think that is the intention.
We want folks to be informed re b's health.
Good breeders have that info on hand.
Other of us, well, we have to do the testing that helps us know our dogs will be with us a long time.
That is what I think should be important when someone new comes in.
Giving them the tools to check on their dogs health. -
There are many people who do not know what a BYB is, especially when getting their first dog. The important thing is to learn from the experience.
What people here have been trying to get across is that one of the things a responsible breeder does is provide buyers with information about the health issues in the breed and in their lines specifically. That is what Diane was doing, giving you information about the breed and trying to find out if your dog is from the girl she lost track of so she can give you some specific information about that dog's family history because it may have a big impact on you in the future.
As for not having papers, once Marley is spayed you can apply for an ILP number so she can participate in events like lure coursing, rally obedience, or agility if you choose. Basenjis are often happiest when they have a "job" and these events can be wonderful outlets for their energy.
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well it seems like I have sparked a flame in the forum, not my intention. though I do disagree with the fact that I did not research this forum for knowledge about the breed. apparently I got my baby B from a BYB, that is my bad but she is in a good home and on to a good future. To set the record straight I got Marley , My first dog by the way , because she fit my family
I did spot the very same trend that some members have pointed out, I was very hesitent to even post at all because I knew it would come up, but I wanted to share what a wonderful beauty she was. I'm not overly sensitive but honestly if your B is not a rescue or from a registered breeder, your just looking in on the outside here. I did not realize there was such a thing as a BYB, when I got her.
So maybe I brought some issues to light that have been overlooked.
I thank all of the members that have been supportive, not of me but of the issue.
That is exactly the point, people still don't know how to find a responsible breeder that health tests their dogs, tells people about the health concerns in our breed and what they should watch for. Another thing about PM puppies or BYB puppies is a likely temperament problem due to missing early socialzation training. I don't see that as "on the outside" looking in… but a way to learn and maybe teaching one other person about how to find a responsible breeder when looking for a pup, regardless of the breed. Or when you go looking for a "2nd" Basenji, you would have the information on how to find a responsible breeder.
Our responses and questions are not the discount the person or the Basenjis, but to point out that there are some things that you need to consider doing that were not done by the breeder. We all know that it is not like you are going to give the dog back, nor would anyone expect that.
If you go back through many of the threads, you will see the questions about Basenjis that people have purchased, that had they gone to a responsible breeder would have been told the facts. Here are just two of them that you find day in and day out on the web....
1. While they typically don't bark, they are NOT mute...
I think this is one of the ones that is heard most often and it really surprises people to find out they might not bark but in many cases can be worse then a barker2. They are hypoallergentic... again, an incorrect statement. While they are usually good with some people with allergies, the fact that they do shed and do have dander takes them out of the class of dogs that are hypoallergentic
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well it seems like I have sparked a flame in the forum, not my intention. though I do disagree with the fact that I did not research this forum for knowledge about the breed. apparently I got my baby B from a BYB, that is my bad but she is in a good home and on to a good future. To set the record straight I got Marley , My first dog by the way , because she fit my family
I did spot the very same trend that some members have pointed out, I was very hesitent to even post at all because I knew it would come up, but I wanted to share what a wonderful beauty she was. I'm not overly sensitive but honestly if your B is not a rescue or from a registered breeder, your just looking in on the outside here. I did not realize there was such a thing as a BYB, when I got her.
So maybe I brought some issues to light that have been overlooked.
I thank all of the members that have been supportive, not of me but of the issue.
Will_s, your girl is a beauty! I have wanted a B/W since I saw one on this forum.
My B is not from a rescue or a registered breeder and I had no idea what a back yard breeder was. I learned that from coming here. The questions that you were asked and the information you were given was not to "out" you or offend you, but to prepare you. When you go to the Dr. do you not go back to him again if he asked if you have been exercising regularly and explains the benefits of it to you? It is the same thing here. You came for information and you got it. Don't leave this forum because someone hurt your feelings. Learn from the experience and pass it on to others.
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Well lets look at it constructively, the way the health hazards were presented to me, I found rude, most of them I already knew about anyway, its common wikipedia info, much less here or front page on any other Basenji site.
It was not the information I found unsettling, it was the way it was presented and forced upon, have some tact about it, people that are new members don't want a lecture delivered from high upon the moutain. And the argument that the message overrides how it is delivered is just the easy way out.
We all care about our animals, maybe consider the new owners as much when they join the forum as well, after all the information is free here and everywhere, it takes effort to be a member of a online community, other wise everybody wolud just lurk.
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Well lets look at it constructively, the way the health hazards were presented to me, I found rude, most of them I already knew about anyway, its common wikipedia info, much less here or front page on any other Basenji site.
It was not the information I found unsettling, it was the way it was presented and forced upon, have some tact about it, people that are new members don't want a lecture delivered from high upon the moutain. And the argument that the message overrides how it is delivered is just the easy way out.
We all care about our animals, maybe consider the new owners as much when they join the forum as well, after all the information is free here and everywhere, it takes effort to be a member of a online community, other wise everybody wolud just lurk.
Will_s, you are correct. It is just hard sometimes to get your message across in a written email. I hope you will stay. I look forward to seeing your adorable little girl grow up! Besides, I 'm jealous. I want a B/W but we are maxed out right now. Some day….
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The information on Wikipedia is not quite accurate and if people are using it as a "reliable" source of information for the breed then they probably do need some more information. Basenjis are not "noiseless" or silent as the author of the Temperament section describes. The health section leaves out Hypothyroidism all together which is a problem in the breed and should be tested. There is no information about how eyes need to be examined by a Board Certified Vet Opthamologist for PRA. Wikipedia is open content, and one of us can go in and edit these points, there is not gauruntee that someone won't go and change to something else later.
As for how the information was presented, nothing posted in this thread about health which amounts to a single post by me to check if the parents were tested and if not get your puppy tested was said in a "high on the mountain" tone. It was strictly informational. As for the private email conversation you posted, even that did not have a "high on the mountain" tone, it was concerned and upset because a dog that was supposed to be spayed/neutered was not and this breeder now knows that there are health issues coming down from this line that she did not want propagated.
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So my only comment to anyone that has researched the breed and "knows" about the health concerns in our breed, why would anyone then get their Basenji from a Breeder that doesn't health test?
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Thank you Dash, I will post some new pics of her soon.
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So my only comment to anyone that has researched the breed and "knows" about the health concerns in our breed, why would anyone then get their Basenji from a Breeder that doesn't health test?
Imagine that you are new to the breed and you start asking the breeder about the health testing they have done and they say "I have never had any problems with any of that." What if you don't know enough to ask point blank if they did Fanconi testing on the sire and dam? You want to trust the breeder as they are the expert. (happened to me - I didn't buy the dog)
Here's another scenario - My husband knew I wanted a Basenji. He went and got one from an ad in the newspaper and gave her to me as a gift. He didn't know anything about fanconi or testing. When he called a reputable breeder he was told that they had no dogs. When he mentioned that I had shown a B in the past they suddenly had a dog. Well when they started talking price he freaked out and said no thanks!! The price was actually reasonable but he didn't know any better. He got a basenji from a back yard breeder for four hundred dollars and was so proud that he had found a basenji for me. She was a sweetheart. He knew nothing about her sire and dam or health. He has since learned that cut rate puppies can have serious health problems and he now understands the importance of dealing with reputable breeders. He choked at the price when I bought my last puppy be he totally understands now.
So I guess the answer in some instances is inadvertant ignorance.
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You are totally right, some instances are inadvertant ignorance… and in your case, with your husband, he didn't know any better... and did what many people do... and really price is not always to "key" to a good or bad breeder. There is a breeder in Wi that advertises Basenjis on places like puppyfind and nextday pets for 1500.00 to 3000.00... that is outrageous, period... and if carefully checked, they do not do the health testing that they should.
What I am referring to, is that if you have researched a breed, someplace (especially in this day and age) you would have come across what tests are done and where results are (or should be) published. To me reseaching a breed is not just calling a breeder and asking about what they do or do not do for health testing. I know there are many breeders that happily put a pup on plane bound for wherever... but that is not me...
So at the end of the day, regardless of where your pup came from... if you have learned something about finding a responsible breeder, learned what questions to ask, learned what answers might be a red flag... and share that knowledge with someone else or use it yourself for your next pup.. then it is a good thing...
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Will_s How funny about the table chairs! Your Marley seems to be ahead of the game. It took my boy until about 4 months before he realized that chairs left out are the way to the table and that table means sneaking off with my sandwich when I wasn't looking. Maybe I eat in front of the TV too much:)
As far as a final comment on this thread…
Would it be possible for the forum administrators to have like a couple of documents (or even old threads?) on BYB, puppy mills, health testing, and Fanconi, that could be posted as attachments once a new member signs up and posts about their b? This way once they sign up, the information is then immediately available to them. Kind of like a "Hi, and welcome to our forum and here's some important FYI documents you might find helpful on the following topics about basenjis." Then all the other questions that inevitably follow will have been prefaced by an "administrator" rather than by a personal poster. This could eliminate the "onslaught" feeling that some might have experienced, because the "administrator" posting will feel more impersonal than another private poster might. Just a suggestion.
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Great idea Shannon!
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Yes, Shannon, good idea, it has been suggested before too. Of course people would have to read them for them to be effective.
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Well, yes Pat, but at least we could point out the threads before we jump in. Something like maybe, "Have you read…...?" rather than Dat de dat de da. It may be less overwhelming for the new member. That way, perhaps they would start asking questions and then we could jump in. Just a thought.
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Well, yes Pat, but at least we could point out the threads before we jump in. Something like maybe, "Have you read…...?" rather than Dat de dat de da. It may be less overwhelming for the new member. That way, perhaps they would start asking questions and then we could jump in. Just a thought.
Exactly, and like I said, this has been suggested before, in this thread along with others
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What a lovely little dog, you will get lots of help and advice on the forum. Mine doesn't like a crate at home either, I tried one but she managed to push to top up and get her head stuck between the top and the steel bars. Got so scared when I saw some blood on the bars that I gave up trying , I only put her in a large crate in my car (it takes up one back seat and the boot). She accepts it gladly- anything but being left behind-, looks at the traffic when I am driving and eventually falls asleep. My previous dog (an italian greyhound), despite her small size was really scared and aggressive in the car and preferred staying at home, looking out the window and waiting…I am actually thinking of getting one of those greyhounds as a companion for my Basenji, does any one think they could get on? Would an adult female Basenji "adopt" a tiny greyhound and not crush it? Sounds silly but my B is so strong and jealous, I am wondering if she could be maternal with another dog????
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I posted some newer pics in the correct topic if any one wants to see new pics of her. cheers on a happy belated Halloween.
