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My Basenji is growling at Everyone

Behavioral Issues
  • @Ducati457:

    Jazz recently has started to growl at everyone when they do something she doesn't like… She doesn't growl at but at everyone else... I think she might think she's dominate over them... Having my boyfriend get his dominance back with her he can do but I really don't know how to establish the 7 and 10 month old... Anyone got any Ideas..
    Rachel

    Another question for Ducati457, is your girl spayed? Not sure if you said how old she is…. If under a year and not spayed, she could be coming into season which will many times change their temperaments due to hormone changes... even for spayed bitches, they still know when breeding season is and will sometimes "think" they should be coming in season....

  • @Schouiffy:

    Whatever you do , don't force her physically into submission!! it will only make things worse

    And I totally agree here… Do NOT force her physically.... someone could really get seriously hurt...

  • I was sort of kidding about the grudge thing, Tanza: B's just have so much personality as you know: our breeder, who is awesome, reccommend the "leg lift" time-line: seems like most reccommend 6-8 months: i think thats what we will do

  • @calimcc:

    I was sort of kidding about the grudge thing, Tanza: B's just have so much personality as you know: our breeder, who is awesome, reccommend the "leg lift" time-line: seems like most reccommend 6-8 months: i think thats what we will do

    I have had males that never lift their legs…gggg...

  • Okay so many questions to answer…

    No she's not left alone with the kids ever...
    She's under a year old and isn't spay... I purchased her to show...
    Her last check up was 5 months ago when I shipped her in from her breeder...
    No I haven't thought about contacting her breeder about the problem...

    I was thinking about contacting a trainer about it so I think that's what I'll do... She's a great little girl other then this one problem, but it only happens when she's like comfortable on the couch and they go to move her to touch her... She doesn't snap (thank god) but growls and runs away from them...that's the only time that she growls

  • If the only time that she growls is when she thinks she is going to be to moved, try calling her off the couch and rewarding with a treat when she moves. The kids can do this too and it will help with making her feel that the kids mean good things.

  • @Ducati457:

    Okay so many questions to answer…

    No she's not left alone with the kids ever...
    She's under a year old and isn't spay... I purchased her to show...
    Her last check up was 5 months ago when I shipped her in from her breeder...
    No I haven't thought about contacting her breeder about the problem...

    I was thinking about contacting a trainer about it so I think that's what I'll do... She's a great little girl other then this one problem, but it only happens when she's like comfortable on the couch and they go to move her to touch her... She doesn't snap (thank god) but growls and runs away from them...that's the only time that she growls

    You should always at least contact your breeder to get a reality check… IMO.. and I agree with lvoss... if she is on the couch... make sure she is awake first and call her off the couch before touching her... especially with small children.. their natural reaction is to reach in and touch... you need to teach them to respect "her" space... and they need to call out first before touching... same for your BF.....

    I think that a behaviorist would be a great idea... be sure it is one that understands Basenjis and has worked with them if possible

  • Gosh this story sounds so familiar Ducati. Our Basenji Benji would always growl if we attempted to get him off furniture with our hands. We learned you just don't go there. Like someone else has suggested you need to tell them to get down, usualy over and over untill they do and then reward when they do. I'm sure you will have sucess with her being so young. Just needs loads of patience.
    I also found that if he got into my place i could get him to move by pressing him etc with my body rather like another dog would, but probs this method would be considered unsafe in case it triggered a bite. Good luck.

  • My first basenji would absolutely freak out (never saw an animal move that fast) if he was touched while sleeping on the couch. My second one would sometimes fake nip if he were startled while sleeping on the couch. My two cents worth would be to work on making sure she is awake before grabbing her off the couch as Lvoss and Tanza said.

  • I have a 4yo male that doesn't lift his leg probably 80% of the time.

  • Ditto! My girl never lfts her leg either & she's 5yo now. She squats like any other respectable woman :D

  • ya my male is 1.5 and hardly ever lifts his leg to go, as for the growling my pup about 1 and ahalf yrs old has a similar problem hes super nice with ppl but whenever my other dog goes near a bone hes chewing or his food while hes eating he makes this viscous growling noise. actually any dog he does that to. and he also tries to be dominate over the older basenji and constantly stands over her while shes lying down like hes some big tough guy.

18/18

7 Aug 2009, 19:50

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    This is a very common basenji issue! They get comfortable and don't want to be bothered. My brindle dog only does it when he's still delirious from sleep and "snaps out of it" when he realizes what's going on. Teaching a dog "OFF!" is very important! Do it when they are happy and awake and then move to sleepy and grumpy. On the couch, say OFF! and treat them when they get it right. It becomes a game. Both of my dogs know what "OFF!" means and listen to it. One of them will continue to grumble until he's fully awake and then he's back to his happy self. I agree with Pat and the treats for crate time. When I leave for work I say "Who wants a treat?" and off they run to their kennels! I break out the good stuff for going to work time. At night I say night-night and in they go. This didn't happen overnight! It took my red boy months to like his crate. Lots of sleepless nights with a screaming puppy. I actually had to buy him a new one because I discovered he was scared of the all enclosed plastic crates. Now his perfect in his crate and goes in on his own to relax.
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    I made sure when my girl did it, I con tinued to pick her up and say stop being so snarky and she would stop imedietely and lick me. I have a very unusual Basenji who loves to kiss and maybe that is because we kissed on her all the time from the day we got her, and whenever she got grumpy and than stopped she got loved on and kissed on. She rarely gets annoyed now because we follow through and never let her think she is the boss. So just follow through and tell her no and dont stop what you already started or she will think she is in control. I was literally a nervous owner with mine because I had heard so many stories about Basenjis and how difficult they can be, and I always had Whippets which are so laid back it is not even funny. But now I have totally gotten over it. I would get another Basenji in a minute and not think twice about it. She is the most entertaining awesome dog we have ever had. Just make sure she knows her place in the pack and love on her alot. It has worked with ours.
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    Congratulations on the future new addition. Boy/girl is a good combination. As others have advised let them meet on neutral ground and take them for a long walk together. For every good interaction praise both inordinately. As Curlytails says don't rush it. Keep us posted, please and best wishes to you all.
  • Basenji Bevhaviorist

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    You can check out this site. It might help. http://ccpdt.org/rstr/OH.html
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    I agree with Catherine, socialization is a must, but it depends on the personality of the individual dog. When we had 4, they all slept on the bed together and ran together and rarely did we have any problems. We added a puppy and things were still going ok, just really crowded. However, one day our youngest girl decided she was all grown up and didn't want to be bossed around anymore by our 'wanna-be' alpha. Neither of them was a true alpha. We managed to defuse the situation, but a month later it happened again. The girls could never be together again. In fact, the tri developed a predjudice against all red girls after that! Both girls were terrific with people and with Basenji males and even with males and females of other breeds. I had 2 intact males, brothers, who stayed together with absolutely no problem for almost 4 years until one went to another home. They even got along during season. Terry