Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Just wondering - do dogs leave home to die?

Just wondering - do dogs leave home to die?

Behavioral Issues
  • T

    I'm thinking about this because of my friends dog that got hit by the car and returned home after several hours. I've talked to her since then and she said she thought that after he got hit, he probably wandered off to die somewhere, and then fell asleep for a while before waking up and limping home. Apparently he has a lot more bruises/scrapes than they originally thought and he has some tissue necrosis (death) which they are trying to take care of before resorting to surgery. I'm really hoping he pulls through this!

    Anyway, I have heard that cats will leave home and die away from their homes… wondering if dogs are known to do the same thing? What is the purpose of this behavior anyway?

    –--------------------------

    Michelle

    0
  • D

    I've wondered the same thing. Why do they go off away from the home to die? I know that an animal never wants to appear weak even when injured in a hurd - it's like a death sentence by the others - I think because they get rid of the weak to keep the hurds strong for survival.

    Jill

    0
  • B

    I know our family dog growing up made several attempts to go off as the end grew near.
    It was very sad. But I think there is something to that survival of the fittest thing- that animals accept their fate easier (and dare I saw with more pride) than we as humans do. I don't think they see death as this "terrible ending"…

    Miles & Lexi's Mom

    www.stelladot.com/barrick

    0

3/3

16 Dec 2008, 23:22

Suggested Topics

  • ?

    Adventuring away from home

    Behavioral Issues
    3 21 Oct 2012, 00:02
    21 Oct 2012, 00:02
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    ?
    Thank you all for the responses. We haven't had any more incidents of late and have been working hard on the recall command. I have been combining the whistle and verbal command which is working well. Other members of my family are not really involved in the training process so hopefully my smarty-pants will contiue to respond to the whistle even in the absence of my voice. They are continuing to do well when on the trail with me and my horses. We had our first snow which they enjoyed too. I do keep my eyes on them for sure.
  • S

    Lap dogs?

    Behavioral Issues
    3 21 Dec 2011, 17:50
    21 Dec 2011, 17:50
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    5k Views
    W
    On the couch Gossy either justs sits on my lap or curls up next to me; on the recliner she prefers directly in my lap. On the other hand, if I'm on the couch in the evening Teddy will slowly climb up onto my lap as if he thinks I won't notice then he'll curl up leaning against my chest and go to sleep! If Gossy is already in my lap, he'll try to squeeze in between :)
  • V

    Its Me Or The Dog…..

    Behavioral Issues
    3 19 Jan 2009, 23:08
    19 Jan 2009, 23:08
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    7k Views
    H
    i'm feeling your pain on this one. dan and i broke up a few months ago so i moved home and mia went from sleeping with rocky and maggie on the couch to sleeping in bed with me. if i'd go out at night, my mom, instead of crating her would let her sleep in bed with my parents. (because she cried and mom felt bad) then dad told mom he didnt want her in bed with them so mom would sleep in a spare bedroom just to keep her from crying in her crate! (typical grandmother.. she spoiled her rotten) Now dan and i are trying to work things out so i brought mia with me last night to stay over and he keeps maggie and rocky in the laundry room with their beds and they are content with that, but Mia was NOT having it. she sat at the gate and cried for a good 2 hours. They aren't allowed in the bedroom because he got new furniture, so she has to get used to it i guess.. Only time will tell i suppose.. but uggh that crying.. its enough to make you wanna pull your hair out. im hoping when the 3 warm up to each other again she'll stop..
  • R

    Fear of dogs

    Behavioral Issues
    3 17 Jun 2008, 19:50
    17 Jun 2008, 19:50
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    6k Views
    C
    My son has been afraid of animals his entire life. We didn't know it until we were visiting a friend when he was 1 year old and their cat WALKED across the room. He freaked out. From that point on he was afraid of any live animal, but loved stuffed animals. He is 6 now and we just got an 8 week old Basenji. We talked about it alot, (he has slowly gotten used to our friend's cat, but every time the animal made a sudden move he jolted). He was excited to get the puppy, and we sat with him while he got used to exactly what the puppy would do. It has only been 2 months and my son is so good with our dog that he is not afraid of the dogs across the street who are high strung little fluffy things that always sent him runnning and screaming into the house. When I asked him about it he said he wasn't afraid now because he had one now. We waited to get a dog until both of our kids were older and could handle some responsibility. It was the best decision we made. He is still uncomforable around large dogs and other large animals, but has made remarkable progress. I don't know how your nephew will respond, but as he gets older he may realize that he has some control over the animals and that may help. Good luck!!!
  • L

    How do we integrate a new dog

    Behavioral Issues
    3 12 Oct 2007, 21:27
    12 Oct 2007, 21:27
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    L
    Thank you so much for the advice! We have never kenneled our dogs before,,,,,,,,,I think that is why we are so hesitant to do that but like you said,,,,,it could be very very stressful taking our two then adding a third at the inlaws where the only animals they have around are a few feral cats that hang around the shed in the back yard. ARRRGGGGGGG!!!!!! Who knew you could stress and worry so much about furbabies!!!!!!!! I swear they ARE just like children!!!!
  • L

    My dog is mounting my son!

    Behavioral Issues
    3 31 Aug 2007, 05:57
    31 Aug 2007, 05:57
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    7k Views
    M
    I think neutering him will do the trick. Max never mounted anyone or anything after he was neutered :) Tyler, the male that I have now, was used by a backyard breeder for breeding. He was neutered at the SoCal Basenji Rescue–I think he was about 4 or 5 when that was done. I have him and his daughter (who was spayed), and I haven't seen Tyler do any mounting since I've had them (about 6 months now).