I think that a basenji puppy and a two-year-old is a recipe for disaster for many reasons. Both require and crave lots of attention, neither one can be reasoned with, both will want to play with the same toy, both can be stubborn, and the list goes. It is far too much to expect a two-year-old to understand how to get along with any puppy, especially a basenji puppy. If your heart is set on a basenji puppy, then I think you should wait until your child is at least five or six years old.Children that age understand what you are saying about the puppy and you can explain to them why you are saying it. I agree with the person who suggested getting an older basenji or how about a puppy of another breed? t one time in my life I had a basenji and a mixed breed, and they got along beautifully.
You may love all the traits of this breed but I was suggest that you talk to owners and their experiences with the basenjis and young children. One cannot count on even the best breeders to give you the full story. Please don't get me wrong. I've had three basenjis and adored them all. I got the first one when my youngest daughter was seven. You don't have to wait that long but two years old is too young, imho. Good luck.
Working Dog Basenji Pups Waiting list
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OK, Terry Fiedler came by and helped us do some filming while the puppies were tested. Kelli and I could not be present to skew the results. I am working on putting the video together now as it is quite long. Here are some interesting results for the tests and some pics to go with them. All of our tests were scored on a sliding scale of 1-6 and there were ten tests. The trailing/ tracking test could not be done due to temps in the 20's. We will try that on Friday.
Flash: Scored very well for a friendly pet or show as he was social but independent. He had a very high degree of forgiveness and his touch sensitivity was good He was not sensitive to sound issues but his prey and hunt drive were relatively low. He is one of the faster pups an may do well in coursing.
Small Brindle: Had good social acceptance and followed everything but was also independent. Touch sensitivity was the best of all pups and her sound sensitivity was minimal. Her prey drive is VERY high. Retrieval was low. Her hunt drive was high. She is VERY fast, jumps very high, and climbs quite well. She is the most agile puppy we have and is suitable for agility or lure.
Big Brindle: Good social acceptance and following with some independence. She had very good results for touch sensitivity just behind small brindle, excellent hunt and prey drive, very good retrieval, no sound sensitivity. Fast and very powerful. This is a working pup prospect for scent detection but could be good for lure.
C Monster: So named for the C Shaped collar. Had good social acceptance and following but is dominant. His forgiveness was good. Touch sensitivity was a little low with no sound sensitivity. Prey and hunt drive was very high with no retrieval. He is the biggest B/W and fast. C Monster will be a good lure dog and his looks are pretty awesome. I'm not a good show person but his markings are striking to me.
Black Face: Scored close to big Brindle but had great retrieval which is rare in a basenji and what we are actually looking closely at. His father, Kaden, tested similarly and will retrieve all day long if you let him. This component is necessary for detector dog work at a high level. Frankly, besides C Monster, I think his looks are amazing and I am not sure how lots of black goes in the show ring but if it does, he would be a charmer. Black face is probably our working stock pick of the litter and would also do great for any sport work.
I hope to post the video soon.
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So, have you placed all your pups yet?
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Nice puppies - the assessment is interesting - do I gather that only the one has little prey drive? At what age do you intend to place them and/or plan to use them yourselves?
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Can I ask what you mean by 'forgiveness', and how would you test for something like that?
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I will answer all three questions in one if that is OK. Yes, only one had little prey drive. Based on the rest of his assessment, he will be a very good pet, show, or sport work. He does not have enough drive to work for us.
We plan on placing starting at 8-9 weeks based on the test results. This litter is incredibly mature and it is time to bond with new homes.
The forgiveness test is how the puppy responds to the human who just did something it did not like such as being dominated or after touch sensitivity testing. The pups that immediately come back to the human who cause the problem happily, are generally the most human oriented dogs. Pups that leave the human immediately and do not come back, are often too independent and will probably be fearful/ reactive dogs.
We have a couple of homes on tap once the work priority is dealt with. Kelli and I are still a little undeceive as to who will be our detector dog.
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I am still working on the teasing videos but am having compatibility issues. Here is a video link to the pups first excursion into our obstacle course:
http://youtu.be/wQrjIj9IdK8 -
Great video! I like to see that these little guys will be exposed to absolutely EVERYTHING before they go to their new homes. You have a very nice setup for them.
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I agree with you so much! We dedicate hundreds of hours of exposure for all of our dogs in training. Thankfully, I have full time trainers who help me do a lot of it!
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That video is very neat! I hate to ask…but is the little black boy (first one) placed? Don't know why I'm asking...I have 3 and that is my limit! He sounds very sweet and non-dominant.
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MacPack, I so know where you're coming from…sometimes our feelings override the rational sides of us, boy one is a cutie, looks very sweet
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Yeah, I try and not look at puppy photos this time of year, my husband always gets 'puppy lust', I am usually the rational one who won't take a dog under 2 years old! But here and FaceBook…just full of beautiful pups, and lots of black ones this year. Trying to be rational.......
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If I had it my way I would have a house full of B's. Though some days I think two are way too many. Oh, and they would all sleep in the bed. And I would probably be divorced!!! I am a sucker for pups. I think 4 would be a nice round number….I already have a R&W and a Black, so now I need a Brindle and most definately a Tri. I don't know how I would show them all, but I would find a way!
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If I had it my way I would have a house full of B's. Though some days I think two are way too many. Oh, and they would all sleep in the bed. And I would probably be divorced!!! I am a sucker for pups. I think 4 would be a nice round number….I already have a R&W and a Black, so now I need a Brindle and most definately a Tri. I don't know how I would show them all, but I would find a way!
LOL… I made a pack long ago that they sleep in crates at least till semi elders.... but since they are all loose during the day, (we have a doggy room with access to the backyard), I don't have a problem with them being crated at night. We let them "easy" into being bed dogs.... and in the beginning they still spend some nights in the week in their crates. But then again the crates are in the bedroom, so it is not like they are in a "naked" place.
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Well it started out that way….no dogs in the bed, the hubby said. Well he went away to camp for a week or so and well Becca got to sleep in the big bed. Then once he came back she didn't want to sleep in her crate...oops! The we get Tucker. He slept in his crate for a long time, in the bedroom of course. Then hubby started to feel bad because Becca got to sleep in the big bed and Tucker didnt. So, Tucker ended up in the big bed. Then hubby got mad because two dogs in the bed take up waaaaay more room. So finally I said ok we will put Tucker back into the crate. Then hubby got mad at me! Why does Tucker need to go back in his crate.......I say to him.......it's either him or you. And we all sleep happily ever after....together.
sorry to hijak thread.
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The all black face boy has been chosen for explosives detection and is not available.:( Sorry about that. He and the dark brindle scored the highest for working and social traits, actually just about equal.
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I am pretty sure that she was asking about Flash, the first one you talk about on the previous page.
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That video is very neat! I hate to ask…but is the little black boy (first one) placed? Don't know why I'm asking...I have 3 and that is my limit! He sounds very sweet and non-dominant.
If you are asking about the first black boy in the pictures with descriptions…that is Flash and he is available...sorry, I thought you meant black face from the video.
Jeff
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Yes, talking about Flash, the 'pet' potential, I know better than to have one with very high drives, they would drive my oldsters nuts.
Loved the brindle girl so determined to climb the 'a-frame' in your video! She looks completely fearless. And I am really 'daydreaming' as my 3 have a "perfect unity and harmony" relationship, to bring a baby here would upset things. Though…. Chipley and Eddie are excellent brothers to each other...hmmm.....
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Anne,
Flash is a very sweet boy! Both parents are very social with people and other animals. The puppies display these traits as well. The brindle girl would probably be way too much for your older pups. She is our little instigator. However, I do believe Flash would fit in well. Let me know if you would like more information.
Jeff
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Thanks Jeff. Sanity vs. desire; want vs. need; puppy vs sanity; all very circular! I have sworn for years that I don't take any basenji under 2 years old (sanity) but pups are soooo adorable. And we had been planning on a pup so my defenses are down….
