i'm adopting rawley/raleigh/rahli (which spelling should i go with? – seriously!) from a sweet woman tomorrow, and i am so excited! he is a 3.5 year old "special needs" dog, and hope to make him happy & live a fulfilled life!
he is supposedly a basenji/whippet mix. i see no whippet in him, but definitely basenji! i wish he was pure bred though. i'd like to know his family line, and know he's got good stock. but i guess that's out of my hands. does anyone else here think he may be mixed with something other than basenji?
anyway, i am a brand-new owner, haven't had a dog since i was 15, and would love some helpful hints on raising a special needs dog. his current owner says he is "reactive", and i'm hoping the environment i'm bringing him into will be good for him, and he will be receptive to it.
i've also posted a thread in the obedience/training section concerning C R A T I N G!, and would LOVE some feedback on it.
as for where he's coming from, here is the post i found him at.. please tell me what you think. what precautions i should have, what to prepare for, and how to make his life easier on himself & me.
"_I am looking for a new home for my basenji/whippet mix dog. He is 3.5 years old and needs to be the only dog in a calm home. He can not live with children. He loves to run and would be a great companion for someone who runs long distances. Or he would be a great companion for someone who is home a lot. He can be an either/or dog. He loves exercise but also just lays around when left at home.
He has a very misunderstood demeanor and is insecure around dogs outside of his home. He can be very skiddish around new people, but warms up with a little time. His name is Rawley and he is extremely smart. Love his chew toys and is housebroken.
At this time he lives with three other dogs and he gets along with them great.
However, when we leave the house it is a different story. Due to his reactive-ness with other dogs and people when he first meets them (outside of our house) I have done a dog socialization class with him (a reactive dog class)which was helpful. He has improved but he really needs to be the only dog or with just one other dog so that he does not react so much (he does not act up as much when I walk him alone or when he is the only dog). I have also talked at great lengths about my situation with my dog trainer and she recommends taking him out of his current situation (the increased stimulation of 3 other dogs) and try to re-home him. I do not have the time to work with him like he needs. He needs to be in a home with someone who can give him more attention than I am able at this time with three other dogs. He is really sweet and smart. My fiance originally rescued him from the OHS (oregon humane society) when he was 6 months old. We have exhausted our resources and at this time really do not want to take him back to the OHS. I think the loud environment there will just shake him up worse and he will not show well. I love this dog and want to find a good home for him. Since we are getting married we have four dogs total. Please do not fault me trying to find him a new home, it's easy to find one a new home as oppose to the other three. I know someone out there will love him as much as me and he will be calmer and happier. He is really a sweet dog_."
Seriously, my dogs are very anxious when one of their "pack" (us) leaves the house. They are also more aggressive when meeting others on the leash. Basenji's in general are more aloof with strangers than most dogs. Therefore, they have a tendancy to shy away when new people come near. I like the spelling Raleigh best. It sounds like he would probably benefit from being an only-dog. Lots of dogs enjoy the full-attention they receive and the fact that they don't have to compete with others is a plus too. However, for our family, having the companionship of another dog was more important. Anyways, good luck and keep us posted!!
