Is there any blood or spit on the dogs after the fights? I have chihuahuas, but believe me they get loud and snarky with each other and it sounds horrible and that they are killing each other, but then they are done, no one is hurt or even slobbered on and they are best friends again. It's like a dog thing and they actually look at me funny if I try to seperate them, so now I just let them go. As long as no one gets hurt.
Yes, they are both often wet from spit. Only time I have seen blood and only on the male was when we found them with a dead headless squirrel. I believe it was blood from the squirrel. He got cleaned up while the squirrel remains were disposed.
I was hoping for suggestions to reduce the frequency of the fighting. If impossible I understand. Is it reasonable to think they will calm with age? Our previous senior B's would fight but not anywhere near as often and it didn't last even 30 secs.
Your reply sounds a lot like what is going on around here. Sometimes we see them pulling the skin around the face and neck–-----I am glad they know not to play with me that way!
Becca makes all the noise. If you don't have to pull them apart and no blood it should be ok. Becca is 5 yo and Tucker is 2 so he is still playful puppy and wanting to play with her, that and he is very dominant. Becca makes these puffing noises and growls and snarls and sounds just horribe. But that is how they play. When she gets enough of him she will just walk away.
Do they play like this in the pictures?
http://www.basenjirescue.org/DOGS/KY/KY-Sharm-Straun.asp
i'm not sure you will be able to reduce the frequency of the fighting apart from the obvious like feeding seperately, including treats. I think this behaviour is typical of Basenjis, they are physical dogs 
We have a male and a female and they fight everyday, mostly in play but it can sound fearsome and also look bad with the flashing of teeth. I have shown pictures to people not familiar with the breed and they have remarked how scary it looks. The female fights silently whilst the male makes all the noise, sometimes literaly screaming into her face.
Like you say they hang of each others faces. Often the male will be dozing on the settee and Malaika will suddenly jab him with her paw, he reacts by snarling and hanging off her cheek. We tell him off because it sounds so vicious but waht then happens is she waits for him to close his eyes and repeats the jab so who can blame him.
We feel that it's too risky to feed treats together so one is crated so both can enjoy it in peace.
DAP may or may not help, but there won't be any side effects. I've noticed Jet the trying is grumpier when his back needs adjusting. Of course he's 14years now.
LOL Thunderbird8588… what a perfect picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And no one has ever been ever to prepare any Basenji owner for the noise that two can make.... no matter how you try....gggg
We have had Basenjis now over 20yrs... and Ted to this day JUMPS at the noises they make....gggg My response... "get over it"...
Good pic Thunderbird!!! When they start to squabble, we just turn the tv up a little louder…...
DAP may or may not help, but there won't be any side effects. I've noticed Jet the trying is grumpier when his back needs adjusting. Of course he's 14years now.
I do not know what DAP means. Could you inform me?
We call the b's squabbles "talking trash".
The noise still makes me jump as well.
It no longer makes us jump but it certainly does our visitors!!
Sorry, I forgot you asked for advice to reduce the incidents. I can only say watch when they're playing and stop the play when it starts getting 'over the top'. When that happens with mine I don't physically intervene but say 'Stop' in a firm voice. I then give them each some calming massage.
