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Looking to get a Basenji, but not sure with my 2 y/o

Behavioral Issues
  • A basenji is a big dog in a small, fabulous body. They want to be treated respectfully, and they will respect you in turn. But they do need a firm, kind and loving leader.

    When people ask me about kids and basenjis, I usually ask, "If the kid is chasing the dog or hurting an ear, and the dog gives a corrective nip–no blood or puncture, just a 'leave me alone' nip, do you consider that a bite?" If they say, yes of course and I could not tolerate that, I tell them that most basenjis would not be right for you. They are 'fair' and may give a grrr or nip to another basenji or to the kid, if cornered or frustrated. But attack for no reason and chew their face...never heard of such with a basenji. Many years ago a basenji of mine appeared to bite my grandson, my son used great restraint and didn't drop-kick my dog, and when we looked at the child, there was not a mark to be seen. But we saw the strike and the child screamed. The dog just had excellent mouth control and did a "could have had you, now behave" move. And the 2 year old child DID respect all the dogs after that.

    My Nicky was evidently raised with kids, she loves them...for their toys and for low-held food. My friend Ginny was raised with basenjis and raised her 2 boys with basenjis in the house, but she is a "what did you do to the dog?" person. And her sons always put away their shoes and toys if they wanted to use them again!

    Basenjis are perpetual toddlers, so I would not consider getting one, even a nice mellow adult, till your boy is 7 or 8, old enough to participate in care and training, and to really understand mutual respect.

    They are my favorite breed, obviously, but they are not usually a 'lay on me, beat on me, pull my ears' dog !

  • Glad you are waiting. But if you were actively watching and the child actually was not interacting with the dog and it bit him, put the dog down. The dog is not safe anywhere.

  • I find Basenjis are quite individual in their attitude to kids. My first would never have bitten anyone, no matter the provocation. My second would warn an adult who had the temerity to try moving her out of a comfortable spot, but would tolerate young children with great patience. I caught my two nieces…..ages probably 4 and 6 at the time.....fighting over possession of the dog.....literally one at each end, trying to pull her apart! And she didn't say a word! But when they were older, they lost their "special status" and she would warn them if they bugged her. (I think the only person she ever bit was me......in an altercation over a hole she was digging to China. Yeah, I lost my patience and suffered the consequences. I would call it a draw. I got bit and she quit digging.....permanently, at least for that location. :) ) Of my other three Basenjis, one was fine with kids, the other two I wouldn't trust.

    Dogs raised with kids are supposed to be better, and perhaps they are......depending on the kids they were raised with! :D

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    We adopted a Basenji who had only ever lived outside and with one lady owner. He was a very tolerant dog but just didn't appreciate being ordered around by my 4 sons. He would wait until they turned their backs and 'bite' into the air!

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    @luvsmy2bs: Have things gotten any better? Just curios,,,,,,I was reading your post and felt really sorry for you. Currently I have turned my dd's bedroom – thankfully she's away at college -- into a kennel. There is a 6 x 4' ex-pen w/top taking up the entire floor space of her room. Both Jazzy's and Keoki's crates are in there. At night he sleeps okay in that ONLY as long as BOTH crates remain open into the pen. If I close either crate, he flips out. During the day when we have to go out, as yesterday and today, I have to remove all "real" bedding and leave just paper toweling. Yesterday I made the mistake of leaving a small piece of carpet UNDER Jazzy's crate, and when we got home it had been pulled out and torn to shreds. It is obvious that he still wigs out, even in the large pen w/Jazz as today I noticed that the front of his crate {above the door, which was open} has been all chewed up, even though he was not shut in. Still working with the behaviorist; she and the vet are thinking long-term meds may be in order. That is still being discussed. He's going to hurt himself one day if we don't get a handle on this...and eventually dd is going to be home from college; then what? We can't travel with him like this either.
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    jeez I didn't look at the date when I asked for an update…hope all is good with the dog.
  • Training a basenji/aussie mix

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    Hi! lauralopez said: Usually when dogs play too rough, one will let out a yelp and that will make the other one know that they are playing too hard. How true! My two Basenjis will wrestle and pull and push one another until one of them yelps. The offender will then back off or start licking the other one. Thirty minutes later they're at it again! So, in my opinion, this is not a Biggie. They'll soon find out how to play with one another. As for the training, I would suggest a group class. It's a great way to socialize the dogs. And you'll make some great friends! And you'll learn how to teach your dog by DOING. The Aussies I've met are great dogs. They're smart. But they have to to have a job. When you take a walk, have Angel carry a bottle of water for you and her in a small saddlebag. Clicker training is also a good way to teach. It worked miracles with my Chaco. Good Luck and let us know how the training goes. Basenjis CAN be good performance dogs. It just takes patience. Chaco has his CD and RN and is working on agility now. Senjimom aka Mary Wilson CH Moores Chock Full of Spirit CD RN, Cleopatra, Queen of the Universe, and MsPretty'nSable'nMink (My Brindle lady)