Hello all…So I did not know I had a Basenji or what a Basenji even was. I volunteer at the shelter with my sons and on one of our outings this dog decided he belonged to my son. I did not feel connected to him but being a sucker, we took the little guy home. His name is Reuger. I have two other terribly spoiled dogs and all went well....at first. That is why I'm here. I need help!
Reuger is gorgeous and sweet. Unfortunatly, he does not seem to have a whole lot of brains in his head, and I don't mean that in an unkind way. Please know I love this dog now. Head over heels. He suffers from an odd behavior pattern and is so anxious sometimes I wonder if he will live. When new people come to the house he hides behind me and shakes. He sits his bottom on my foot or has to have his bottom touching my leg at all times. When I go to hug or love on my kids, human or otherwise, he goes crazy. He refuses to let me love anyone else. It should be known that when I tell him that's enough, he does listen, but he's wounded to the core and pouts.
If you didn't know better, you would be certain he is beaten on a daily basis. I feel so bad for him. It's no way to live and I wonder if this is a common breed issue or if I just got lucky...
Also, he bites at the air, chatters and bounces about two feet straight up for no apparent reason. I'm telling you, he is an odd one.
Any thoughts?
Also, I don't know if I'm doing this right so forgive me if I'm off a bit. This site has a lot and I'm a little awe struck
How long have you had the dog? Can you post a picture please so we can see it?
Rita Jean
I have had him about three months. I will post one now in the show off your dog section I guess…not sure how this works.
Do not ask me about pictures I am the worst on here ever I can not ever get mine on here. Daughter going to try laptop and see if it's computer.
You really have not had him longer enough for him to settle in. He may had a bad life before and was hit a lot but sounds like he has trust in you and that is a good start. All dogs do crazy things Jaycee chases shadows and light will reflect she chaes that and gos crazy.
Rita Jean
That is true and we know that it takes time. We rescued a dog off of the Indian Reservation and she had never even been in a house! Also she had lost eleven puppies, so we had to be so patient for her personality to warm up. This is just different somehow. He is so strange. I wish I could put a video up. You would crack up. Our Grace, the reservation dog, loves reflections and light as well. How funny. I had never seen that before. Any time we bring out a cd, cell phone or flashlight, she goes bonkers.
oh and I got the pictures up in my album.
I agree, you haven't had him very long and he came from a shelter, right? so there is no telling what he has been through. How old you think he is? a puppy or grown?
To post picture..imo is hard..for me, so I use photobucket, it is free and very easy. Just upload you pictures, copy and paste the img code into your thread and pics should show up..
Ooops, I guess I was to slow on th epictures..Good for you for figuring out the picture posting on here.
He is adorable and yes gorgeous too.
I do not know why he is behaving so weird. Has he been to the vet recently? Did the shelter have any info on hi? Did he wander in from the streets, got picked up or was he an owner surrender?
Yes, we did take him to the vet and he said all appeared in order. The shelter said the family surrendered him but didn't say much else. What's really odd is when we were volunteering to walk dogs at the shelter, he was very social and happy go lucky.
I think sometimes that he's afraid that we will surrender him as well….as if! Do you know if it's normal for him to not have his dew (sp?) claws and tail. It looks like everyone here has a tail. Why would they lop off his, I wonder?
Oh…and they figured via his teeth that he is about five. Again surprising. He acts much younger. Much more puppy like.
Basenjis have their tails and most responsibly bred ones in the US have dew claws removed. Rat Terriers have their tails docked and can have a strong resemblance to basenjis since they were used in their development.
I have a question about your boy's coloring, does he have a chocolate colored nose?
Jaycee's dew's were cut off when she was a baby. I not sure but some of the others on here that have had B's longer could tell you but 5 is young. Loves of love and time and I am sure the afraid will go away. He loves you all ready just making sure your there to stay or that he is there to stay.
Rita Jean
How much white does your dog have on his coat? I would think he is some sort of Terrier. Is he the same size as a Basenji or is he smaller, usually a male Basenji weighs around 24 lbs. I finally was able to see a larger picture of Reuger and there are two things I notice about his head/ears. His head looks longer and narrower than a Basenji and in some pictures his ears look like they have a point to them where a Basenji would not have this.
Perhaps he is highly inbred and not socialized. He sounds like he has not been socialized to new things and may not have even lived in a house. Could it be the doorbell or knocking that he is afraid of? Are you the only one feeding him and/or petting him? It sounds like he has developed an attachment to you and the other people in your household need to pay more attention to him. Is there another dog in your household that he hangs out with?
I have heard of this and biting in the air or fly biting is associated with epilepsy although there are a few other things that can cause it including eye problems. Are you sure he is not trying to catch small bugs? If not, I would research it. I typed in "Canines biting at the air" for a google search.
Here is a good website/page and there is a short video of a dog on it having the symptoms:
http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/flybite/flybite.html
Dr. Johnson is doing a study on epilepsy. In case you did not know, he is the same doctor who is doing the study on Fanconi for Basenjis.
Whatever the breed, this is my advice.
Take this dog out and walk him…long time, wear him out. Every day, or even better 2 times a day..a run in the backyard won't do it. He needs to burn off anxiety.
Next, ignore the dog when he is clingy. Talk to him an a voice that says, your so silly, you need to be more independent.
No "poor" baby talk.
I would get him into a gentle obedience class. It will help him burn off energy and become more confident.
Well, that is my advice.
If he's lacking a tail, he could be a rat terrier more than a basenji.
Otherwise, no matter the breed, there are several things you can do. He hasn't really been in your home very long so it's a great time to start implementing house rules. I'd suggest a thyroid test (just to be sure things are in working order) AND I'd try a DAP. Also see if you can find a behaviorist or a good positive training class. If you were local to me, I'd suggest a friend's Realtionship Building class. Call around many more progressive training facilities are offering this type of class.
Books that I would suggest would include:
Click to Calm
Control Unleashed
Fiesty Fido
I also just finished reading Reaching the Animal Mind - great book, wonderful intro into clicker training if you haven't done it before.
I have no idea exactly where Madras, Or is, but this place looks great!
http://www.dogdaysnw.com/index.html
(one of the instructors was on the Control Unleashed list before it closed. very helpful, insightful person)
Just using google, I found several promising looking training centers near Madras Or. Of course you'll want to call and i'd ask to watch a class or two to see if you feel comfortable with your potential trainer.
Here's what I found that I'd look into if I were in your position.
http://www.betterbehaveddog.com/A_better_Behaved_Dog/Home.html
http://www.dancinwoofs.com/Classes/Description_classes.asp
http://www.kindredheartsdogtraining.com/kindredheartsdogtraining.com/Training_Classes.html
(couldn't get a really good feel for training methods on this one, but maybe worth looking at)
Good luck, he is a really sweet looking dog. Others are far more knowledgeable, but my guess is he had a bad life and now now a good one, may have fears that you will give him up too. His life has been very uncertain (at best) up till now. All the other advice, classes, long walks and tiring him out, then lots of love and cuddles, not no "poor baby" stuff.
Hi and welcome to the forum. Reuger looks lovely. Poor chap being so scared, wonder what has happened to make him like that. From your posts it looks like he has bonded with you and is frightened to lose you. Probably in time he will become more relaxed. In the picture of the journey home he looks like he has shut his eyes in relief.
Basenjis have their tails and most responsibly bred ones in the US have dew claws removed. Rat Terriers have their tails docked and can have a strong resemblance to basenjis since they were used in their development.
I have a question about your boy's coloring, does he have a chocolate colored nose?
He does have a chocolate nose, now that you say it. Very dark. Why the removal of dew laws? I know that the shelter said he may be mixed with a terrier, but they didn't know. The vet thought full basenji, but he couldn't tell.
@Rita:
Jaycee's dew's were cut off when she was a baby. I not sure but some of the others on here that have had B's longer could tell you but 5 is young. Loves of love and time and I am sure the afraid will go away. He loves you all ready just making sure your there to stay or that he is there to stay.
Rita Jean
Yes, love time and deep breaths
How much white does your dog have on his coat? I would think he is some sort of Terrier. Is he the same size as a Basenji or is he smaller, usually a male Basenji weighs around 24 lbs. I finally was able to see a larger picture of Reuger and there are two things I notice about his head/ears. His head looks longer and narrower than a Basenji and in some pictures his ears look like they have a point to them where a Basenji would not have this.
Perhaps he is highly inbred and not socialized. He sounds like he has not been socialized to new things and may not have even lived in a house. Could it be the doorbell or knocking that he is afraid of? Are you the only one feeding him and/or petting him? It sounds like he has developed an attachment to you and the other people in your household need to pay more attention to him. Is there another dog in your household that he hangs out with?
I have heard of this and biting in the air or fly biting is associated with epilepsy although there are a few other things that can cause it including eye problems. Are you sure he is not trying to catch small bugs? If not, I would research it. I typed in "Canines biting at the air" for a google search.
Here is a good website/page and there is a short video of a dog on it having the symptoms:
http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/flybite/flybite.html
Dr. Johnson is doing a study on epilepsy. In case you did not know, he is the same doctor who is doing the study on Fanconi for Basenjis.
Wow! what a lot of info. I will research it. Thank you.
He is 23 lbs, his ears are almost pointed but not quite. He has a quite a bit of white on him, although he is mostly fawn.
Not being socialized makes a lot of sense. I do require the whole family to take part in loving him, which isn't hard because everyone loves him so much. He is very attached to us all. He gets along perfect with my other two dogs.
The being inbred makes sense too. Maybe he jsut has genuine mental problems. One thing is for sure, terrier, inbred, whatever-we love and are committed to him.
Thank you for your advice. I will follow up.
