Aggressive 13 Year Old Male

[YodelDogs]

I agree with those who said there could be an underlying medical problem that could be causing the older dog to be cranky so I would recommend a thorough check up, blood panel, urinalysis, and complete thyroid panel.

While it is perfectly normal for an adult dog to "correct" a young puppy for bad manners it is not normal if the correction becomes painful or for an extended length of time. Some puppies can be real "drama queens" during or right after a correction so you will have to observe very closely if the pup was just scared or actually hurt. If the older dog punctures or injures the puppy then he is trying to tell you he doesn't want that puppy in his home and for the safety and well being of the puppy, and the happiness of the older dog, it would be a good idea to return the puppy to the breeder.

[sharronhurlbut]

I would try to distraction when you feel the 2 males are getting to rough.
Hopefully, it will work out.
But until your sure they are buddies, I would make sure they both get lots of exercise and distract when they get grumpy.

[wsuraci]

Thanks for your response. I would like to update all. This is going on the second week of Teimo (adult) and Elzaer (puppy) episode. Teimo does make a lot of noise, but he has not hurt Elzaer. The last two days were more my worries then their rousing. They have been laying side by side on the bed and the couch, they walk outside together and Elzaer can do anything he wants to Teimo with no more than a corrective growl. I think Teimo wants to play as is evidenced by him slapping the puppy if the puppy is resting, but he just isn't used to all of the energy. Also Elzaer is a tad bit dramatic.

Thanks

[wsuraci]

Sharron,

That is exactly what we are doing and it seems to be working. We have defused the situation and have been running with Teimo. He thinks it is a special treat when he gets to run with me. It's also good for me.

Thanks

[dmcarty]

There is the part of being an old dog where they don't think they have to deal with puppies any more - and are less tolerant. I personally never place a pup with an elderly dog but I also never place same gender either regardless of the age. I do think though that you would have had the same issue with a pup of either gender - might have had some better luck with say a submissive - 5 or 6 year old. A puppy might start out submissive but that can change rapidly - with adult dogs what you see is what you get.

I am going to share a strange thing though that my elderly parents did to get some cranky old cats to accept a new cat and then a rescue small dog. The magic word is feather duster. If you can imagine 2 'very mature' adults having feather dusters at the ready and at the first sign of getting too close or hissing or growling - the offender got tickled in the face. It too weeks - but all did get to live quite nicely together - my folks always seemed to be taking in strays and they used this time and again - I've never tried it - but heck - might be worth a tickle.

[sharronhurlbut]

I often worry that the young dog, once settled into the home, will try to hurt the senior dog.
I have heard many stories of this, with the families having to keep the 2 pet seperate.
I think getting a pet closer to the age of the one you have is a smarter way to go.

[gneigum]

Hello & welcome from Canada. Sorry about the loss of your girl B. From your posts, it sounds like the 2 dogs needed to establish their own relationship. Good for you to enforce positive correction when things get too wild. Hopefully both boys will have an enjoyable future together.

G

[proteinman]

Hello,

I'm definitely a newbie to the site, but I have a few thoughts. First, my condolences on the loss of Skylar, sharing time with these dogs is such a joy! In the photo, is she the one behind or in front?
Second, there has been some really useful advice here as I see it. A tired B. is a good B. Having special time running with you is probably what Teimo needs.
Teimo has suffered a major loss and Alzear has no idea about the past. With Teimo getting into the golden years it will be important to reinforce his role as wise old sage and leader.
Who do you feed first? It might not be a bad idea to feed Teimo first, and if he is not too old, make him sit before feeding him. Then feed Alzear, after making him sit before he gets his food. B.s do respond to the nothing is free approach, and this will reinforce that Teimo is ahead of Alzear but you are ahead of both of them.

Best

Tom

[wsuraci]

To all who responded. Thanks for helping to soften my anxiety. I would like to update.

As I mentioned Teimo and Skylar were mates for 13+ years and they were both puppies at the same time. Other than that they had very little exposure to other dogs, young or old. They had their moments, but don't we all, and as I mentioned in a previous post Skylar was always able to hold her own. Basenji's deal with their own problems in their own way and sometime the verbal sounds sound like living in a close Italian family (last name is Suraci).

Now as I look back over the last couple of weeks I realize a couple of things, Teimo still misses Skylar and he does not know how rough he is when he plays but is quickly learning. Elzear does not know about Skylar, but did come from a house with 1 brother and 3 adult B's to play with in a very savvy Basenji house. In the last 72 hours they have become almost inseparable and Teimo has rediscovered the B-500, something that Skylar wasn't able to do for several months. They still rough house, and we still run to make sure everyone is ok. We usually get there just in time to see Elzear swatting Teimo in the face or running back in there to attack again (Teimo's neck is always wet and Elzear's teeth are sharp). In the end they exhaust each other and end up sleeping for the next hour or so, robbing us of our play time with them.

As far as the running and exercising with Teimo, it is good for me and he just waits for me to say the word run when we are out on a walk.

Thanks to all who took the time to share. I hope you continue so that I may provide you with updates.:)

[renaultf1]

Great to hear that it is going better in your house!!! Yes, please keep us updated.

[wsuraci]

The latest in the Elzear and Teimo escapades. A week or two makes a big difference in the life of a Basenji. Elzear the young male has put on some weight, added speed, agility and learned the placement of furniture, hallways and staircases to give us a 3-D B-500 show. Teimo and Elzear play so much that they wear us out just watching. Teimo performs jumps and moves that I have not seen in years. Where I was nervous that Teimo would hurt Elzear, I sometimes feel bad that Elzear pesters him so much. They are fast becoming best of buds, and if I take them out for walks separately, they cannot wait to get home so they can play with each other.
I only hope that Teimo at age 13 does not hurt himself with all the new moves he is attempting. For years I thought our house was Basenji proof, but I guess I have not had a 15 week old Basenji puppy around. Will have to rethink glass items on end tables.
It sure is a pleasure to provide a home for these guys because the return is 10 fold.

[mauigirl]

I am so happy to hear they are getting along. What a relief! Thanks for the update.

[MacPack]

Years ago we got a female puppy when our old girl was 15 and our boy was about 12. Neither dog wanted the puppy at all at first, but she bonded with the male and they were inseparable till he died 3 years later. She hung from his neck with those puppy fangs and followed him everywhere he went, she gave him a second youth. She was wonderful to the old girl as she got really old and feeble as well, cleaning her and snuggling with her.

Puppies are not as terrible as they may seem at first!

[wsuraci]

Teimo and Elzear

The now inseparable duo has turned the house into a racetrack. Elzear the puppy has found out that he can now bank off of furniture rather than slow down. Teimo has found his youth and the two of them are nonstop play. Teimo now goes on walks and runs with me only to relax and get a break from the sharp teeth of Elzear. Teimo has yet to realize that though his spirit may be young, his body is still that of a 13 year old dog. This morning their morning b-500 turned into one limping dog. It does not appear to be more than a sprain, but still a bit uncomfortable. We are thankful for his youthfulness, but are afraid he might hurt himself with all of the rapid play. We will just have to slow them down a bit. Yeah right! Easier said than done.

[wsuraci]

It has been since last April that I last updated the Teimo and Elzaer saga, so I am providing an update. The two male basenjis have become inseperable. Teimo is 13 now and Elzaer is 1. Teimo has had a revitalization of life. He does not play like he did in younger years but still wears me out just watching. They play so hard that I have to make them stop so that Teimo can catch his breath. It is nice to have Teimo to cool down some of Elzaer's endless energy. It is funny that in all the attacks and snarling the Teimo did, he never once hurt Elzaer, even though listening to Elzaer you would have thought he was run over by a car. The opposite was not true, Elzaer's razor sharp teeth marked teimo up several times and still he did not bite or harm him. Once we observed carefully, we stopped coming to Elzaer's rescue and just let them be Basenjis.
Teimo is still grumpy at night and Elzaer has learned to avoid startling or even playing with him in the late evening, but they always manage to sleep side by side. It is great to see how Elzaer continued to play with him even though he was rejected for so long.
I will post a video so that you can see the two in action.
All for now…

[Tayda_Lenny]

Very happy to hear they are now getting along and tiring each other out! And yes please post pics and videos!

[sharronhurlbut]

Nice update, thank you!

[thunderbird8588]

Just read your story Wayne and your update. It's great how things have worked out

[Rita Jean]

I also just read your story and it's great that the two of them are best buddies even better you did not give up hope. Thank you so much for update.

Rita Jean

[wsuraci]

Here is the video as promised.

http://cid-f87801e009b81548.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/E%20and%20T%20Now.wmv