Sorry I just really need to vent :mad: :mad: …

I had my first litter last year, and I had 6 gorgeous red/white babies, 2 boys, 4 girls, who I raised with as much love, time, good food, socialisation, etc, etc, that I could...

I had a few enquiries, including 2 for show potential pups, and I wanted to keep the pick boy. I got the owner of the stud dog to come over to help me assess them, as this is a new breed for me. We graded each pup, and I got my boy, Java. We decided that the pick girl was good enough to go to a NSW show home, and the other boy went to QLD to a show home. The other 3 were found wonderful homes... I kept in contact with all the owners, and to start with, all was rosie. Roll forward to April, the show home in NSW doesnt want his bitch anymore, because 'Shes p***ing on the bed, and I cant toilet train her'... Yep this is the reason she is to be returned, so she comes back to me, (I will be forever grateful that she was returned, not dumped). Found a lovely home for her in WA, and at this stage all is well, (I hope Im not jinxing myself with saying that...). About a month later, I get the QLD home telling me, that their dog must be returned to me, as he has... 'Decided to attack the other dog in the house, and my young daughter is scared of him', so back home he comes, and a nicer boy you couldnt find, happily runs with his brother, mother and aunty, with no signs of 'aggression'... Then last night I get an email saying that one of the girls in a pet home needs to come back to me ASAP, as the owner is seriously ill. No problems at all with her coming back, I completely understand this, Im just gutted for the owner as I know how much Gilah meant to her... Just now I have received an email from her owner, she is so upset, I read her email and its full of grief, and I just feel so sorry for her, she was a very much loved member of her family... Life can be very cruel sometimes...

Im just gutted by all this. Yes its in my contract to have all 'unwanted' Langarni Basenji's returned to me, and this has been done by all 3 owners, and I am very grateful to have them all do this, but still...................

After the first 2 being returned, I decided that I am NEVER going to sell another pup into a show potential home, but now I dont think I will ever have another litter. I just feel for the huge upheavel these poor dogs are going through, especially Gilah... I just dont know where I went so wrong in assessing the first 2 people that returned their 'unwanted' pet... I just dont want to even look at my emails anymore as Im scared that someone else wont be happy, and feel the need to make up some crap, to return one of my babies :mad:...

Sorry Im rambling now, just wanted to have a big vent, now Im off to give all the wanted and 'unwanted' dogs a HUGE cuddle :rolleyes:...

Hugs to you, the downside of breeding I'm afraid. You have been unlucky.

I would be reluctant to sell to show homes, they are pets first and foremost not to be discarded if they don't win. I hope our precious puppies have forever homes.

That's a terrible run of bad luck. Hopefully there will be a bright turnaround for you soon. As you say, it's bad enough for the people, but the confusion the dogs must be feeling breaks my heart. My last two Basenjis came to me at 2 and 3 years, respectively, and I must say, I think for the first 6 months or so they felt they were only "visiting". I think we sometimes underestimate how long it takes for a dog to feel truly at home with a new family.

Saba, sorry for the bad luck, but it happens… and as many of us have said to people that want to breed, you need to be able and aware that you could at some point wind up with all the pups... (if you are responsible)...

Obviously you are responsible.... for which I am sure your pups appreciate as they always have a home if needed.

I am so glad the owners returned your pups to you!!!!

I, myself, couldn't even consider breeding. I would want to keep them all!!!!
It takes a special kind of person to breed and be considerate to the breed.

Maybe you were destined to have a house full of bs!!!!:)

I have to pitch in here - your situation upsets me. Other than the person that got sick, did the owners just expect that the show basenjis they got from you were programmed by you and wouldn't need any further training? A puppy that pees on a bed can be trained not to do that, but it takes time and patience. As for the biting dog, things can be done there as well. It just sounds to me like these people were smitten with the idea of showing a dog, and then realized that there is work to be done, whether you show a basenji or not.

So Sorry to hear of your pups bad luck with thier first homes.

Some people when purchasing this breed really do not read or understand the dog personality they are taking in. It is best that your babies get re-odopted by someone/family that can really appreciate them.

For example- my Star(blk/wht female- who I rescued)had a horrific beggining as a puppy….she was first purchased by a family that had 3 small toddler children and the father came from the oldschool of beating the dog for missbehaving...well you can image what happened to her personality...she became very agressive and was constantly kenneled by this family and they were going to put her down- but my dog trainer/sitter rescued her from this family and her death
(and had even recommended to this family in the first place - that a basenji really is not a dog for their type of family-with such young/small kids)-
and she worked with reconditioning Star and rebuilt up her trust in people(kids & men) again...
and then she found me on Nov2002- when I was boarding my Basenji(Spike-red/wht male) and my Angus(a boarder collie/lab) for Thanksgiving that year-
I fell in love with her - or she actually fell in love with me- she practically jumped into my amrs when meeting her for the first time - which my dog trainer/sitter stated was highly unsual for the breed.

She is my snuggle girl, very loving & sweet(even though at time can be an Alpha-B at times).....
I just wished I had gotten her in the very beginning so that this other family had not given her such an awful start as a young puppy. But she has been a very good girl for me and I give her a good life now...she is now treated as the pampered little princes she think she is ; ) she's my little snuggle girl at night in bed with me...and I would be lost without her.

She still does not like men or small children that much and her hackles still raise in anticipation- but she is very good and does not get aggressive- but I do keep a very short leash on her and ask people not to pet her- because I just don't know how she'd react to strangers and I do not want an incident of her bitting. She has been the best dog I could have in a Basenji breed...along with my Spike(who passed on at age 12 in 2010...still very much missed).

These dogs are very unique and special and need very unique/special owners...they are not the regular run of the mill type dog...and need good homes with proper understanding of the breeds temperment/personality and be able to give the right kind of care & training - positive re-inforcement/bribes; ) work best in getting a loved basenji to do better in training ; ) at least it's worked with my Star & Spike.

I cant imagine owning any other type of breed. Hope your babies have good homes & the love they deserve- BIG HUGS to your puppies & you!

Well, getting back 3 is a lot… not the norm. But with experience you learn to weed out the bad owners.

Show homes are not worse than other homes-- a GOOD show home wants a pet AND show dog, not a show dog. A REAL show home is experienced and the behavior issues would probably not have come up.

I am sorry for what you have gone through-- but let me make a suggestion if you do decide to breed again. Make calls regularly. Constant contact, at least monthly the first year, helps to be on top of things so you can help new owners as things go along instead of get a dog back once the issues are at the "get the dog out of here stage." It gives you early warning of a bad placement so you can suggest rehoming instead of losing a lot of time while they put off doing what your gut tells you is coming.

And give yourself a HUGE pat on back for getting them back. However bad it is to get them back, having one go missing or finding out they dumped the dog and no way to trace is would be much worse.

I can understand being personally wounded to have your beautiful puppies deemed "unwanted" by someone you trusted to love them for their whole life! It does sound like a lot of dogs to take back all at once, and I'm sorry for your string of bad luck. Regardless, I thank the world that there are responsible and sympathetic breeders like you who will not turn your puppies away. I hope other experienced breeders here can share their insights on how to ensure successful homes, because I'm sure there are a lot of subtle things that tried-and-true methods that I never would have thought about.

@curlytails:

I can understand being personally wounded to have your beautiful puppies deemed "unwanted" by someone you trusted to love them for their whole life! It does sound like a lot of dogs to take back all at once, and I'm sorry for your string of bad luck. Regardless, I thank the world that there are responsible and sympathetic breeders like you who will not turn your puppies away. I hope other experienced breeders here can share their insights on how to ensure successful homes, because I'm sure there are a lot of subtle things that tried-and-true methods that I never would have thought about.

Honestly, in the end it is really a crap shoot…. because sometimes people are really good at telling you what you want to hear... sometimes you go with what you think is the right home, but it turns out it is not.... I don't think there are really tried-and-tru methods unless with a prior Basenji owner (my favorite kind of home)... new owners that have not had Basenjis or maybe no dogs at all, you just never know. I don't look for show homes, if I get someone interested in showing that is super.. but it is not a requirement for me. The home is the most important.

As Pat says some people are good at pulling the wool over your eyes if they want to. It's very upsetting to have the dogs back but remember it could have been worse!

I don't think there is ever a fool proof way to ensure good homes but it is important I think to keep in touch with the new owners - sometimes things get too bad before you're aware.

I feel for you in having these experiences and for your beloved Basenjis.

@tanza:

Honestly, in the end it is really a crap shoot…. because sometimes people are really good at telling you what you want to hear.

I have a close friend and neighbour who is in another breed, and she says the same. Sometimes the "ideal" home doesn't work out and the one you felt was a bit "iffy" ends up to be the perfect placement. You just never know….

Exactly, all we can do is do the best we can and hope for the best. I had one puppy returned after 6 years because he didn't get along with the mix they purchased (which was more like they didn't understand the noise and rough play) and now had a toddler along with expecting twins and didn't want to spend the time watching the toddler, teach the toddler how to respect the dog or get a behavorist to help with the adjustment. Easier to call the breeder and give back the dog…. But the kicker is after they did that, they had the nerve to call and ask were the dog was placed and could they go and visit cause they missed him and the their mix bitch did too. You all can guess what my answer was..... a big fat NO!

Can't say much because my experience is nill, but I wanted to offer my support and hugs. I can imagine how incredibly emotional painful it is to have your pups returned to you. We are here for you!

@saba:

Then last night I get an email saying that one of the girls in a pet home needs to come back to me ASAP, as the owner is seriously ill. No problems at all with her coming back, I completely understand this, Im just gutted for the owner as I know how much Gilah meant to her… Just now I have received an email from her owner, she is so upset, I read her email and its full of grief, and I just feel so sorry for her, she was a very much loved member of her family... Life can be very cruel sometimes...

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is there any hope of Gilah's owner recovering? How awful to be going through a severe illness AND have to give up your pup.

As to the other owners, sigh. I wish I knew what to say. Is there a chance the peeing pup is coming into season? And goodness, how hard is it to close the bedroom door?

Speaking from a rescue standpoint, BRAT treasures the responsible breeders who take back dogs of their breeding.

Placing puppies with great homes can be very difficult. I placed almost all of the Wimauma Floria basenjis. There were 34 very young ones in the first group. I received over 200 applications for them. Thank goodness I was lucky enough to select good matches for them. It's been over a year since those placements were made. We try to keep in touch with each our adopters. Only one of these pups came back into rescue, and it was within the last month. I am thankful for the wonderful, loving homes these basenjis are in.

debbi j.

oooh Saba, what frustrating chain of events..I am very happy, like yourself, that they all got returned to you an ddidn't get dumped. Sending my hugs and thoughst, I know you will find them all good homes, and I hope this doesn't discourage you too much.

Again I agree with all the support you have seen here… regardless if you ever breed another litter... know that you are totally respected that you care for the ones you did breed... and honestly... in the 4 litters that I bred, I got 4 pups back in total... but you know what... the ones that I placed are in homes I would die for... so to have those 4 come back are way over shadowed by that wonderful homes the rest have been placed in.... so don't as we say "throw out the baby with the bath water"... next time you know a bit more when talking to possible homes... not to say they will be perfect... but in the end, it evens out. And if you decide not to breed, then that is OK too.

My hat is off to you for taking back 3 pups all at once. I really feel for the owner who is ill, that is heartbreaking for human and dog. Hopefully they will be happy with you for awhile and you will find wonderful homes for them all.

Oh wow…

Im overwhelmed with the amount of support from everyone. I will be back later to answer this thread, Im unable to see the keyboard atm, and I seem to have something in both my eyes...