Skip to content

Help!

Behavioral Issues
  • Have you spoken with the breeder? And it sounds to me like he is not getting enough good hard exercise. And do you work with him daily on things like sit, down, stay? Exercise the mind is as important as physical exercise

  • Fox Valley, near Oshkosh.

  • I've heard of clicker training, but have never looked into it.

  • Even when he's been outside playing and running around with the other dog, he's still wound up. Or he'll calm down for a bit and is right back at it. Walking him is somewhat difficult with the roads and weather. We live in a rural area. I walk him around the property.

  • Young Basenjis have so much energy, and you have a teenager! A teenage Basenji needs lots of exercise. I walked Spencer, but that wasn't enough when he was young. I had to take him to the dog park and let him run, run, run offleash. On weekends, I would take him to a nearby school and he would race from one end of the playground to the other again and again and again. (Unfortunately, they now lock the gates, so there goes that great solution.) Exercise is a must. A tired Basenji is a good Basenji.

    Good training will do wonders, too. Spencer did not excel in puppy class. He started puppy kindergarten at four months, and he was by far the unruliest dog in the class. We flunked. He would sit and lie down for treats, but he wouldn't heel or stand quietly by my side. At six months, I got a really good trainer, and it made all the difference. Every dog trains at his or her own pace, so sometimes, you have to respect that.

    Exercise, training, gentle but firm discipline and clear expectations will help a lot, but the biggest help of all is time. Acceptance helps, too. Basenjis have selective hearing and a mind of their own. Sometimes, it's easier to change our behavior than theirs (keep trashcans tightly closed, clothes out of reach, crate him or put him in another room when you're eating). I'm no expert, but my wild puppy grew into an amazing dog, and yours can, too. Good luck to you both!

  • It sounds like he needs more mental stimulation and work on impulse control. I would take Clay up on the offer to send you contact info on good trainers in your area that will help you work on things besides just sit, down, stay and help you get on the right track for having a companion that you enjoy being around.

  • YOur sweet baby has turned into an overactive teen. I agree with all who say exercise, exercise, exercise, both physical and mental. Indoor fetch, hide the treat, a kibble dispensing ball for his meals will keep him busy for a while too. I have a friend with a mix, abut the same age, and the same issues. I keep telling her the same thing, long walks (an hour or more) or dog park if at all possible. A "walky-dog" and a bike if you can do that safely. 'One year old basenji, free to good home' ; we certainly saw that add in the paper many times, and collected several of them ourselves. Others we would call and talk them into keeping the dog another 6 months, telling them they were just experiencing the worst age!

    I'm sorry, I imagine winter up north makes it difficult to get a dog tired out! Mental training, find the toy, find the treat, those things tire them as well so well worth the effort to get him involved. good luck.

  • I can't offer any more advice than that you've been given. A 'basenji-wise' trainer, lots of exercise and 'thinking' games.

    I'd just like to say that he sounds like a normal Basenji who has not been correctly trained (wrong trainer) and a family who were not well advised in the early puppy stages.

    You and he urgently need good training. Be patient and you'll end up with a delightful Basenji!

  • Hey Heinz57,

    I left you some suggestions on your profile page. Let me know if you have any questions.

    Clay

  • Kipawa went through a rambunctious stage at 13 months - he didn't do anything bad, but he seemed to be 'testing' who the boss was. He was reminded, consistently. (Grin) At 15 months he started to show very nice maturation qualities and a complete understanding of his place in our family pack. Be patient, be consistent, give him lots of exercise and really praise him when he is good.

17/17

29 Jan 2012, 04:12

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    32 Posts
    16k Views
    Wow! this is one of many, many threads that I have responded to and I am very interested in the outcome of Poopydog and the nipping. As I was going through the Thread, I really had to bypass any of the responses of those who enjoy attacking one another. I sure hope this behavior did not thwart our member who really needed help. The majority are replies to one another trying to impart important knowledge or experience to someone who did not ask for it in the first place. Don't try to sound important. Everyone is, just give happy good-hearted advice and let us just not dig into the other who has a different opinion. Just dig, digs, and more digs. Really getting old….........................I know you won't miss me, but this is just too much.................................................................
  • Please Help!!!!!!

    Behavioral Issues 5 Feb 2011, 21:07
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    Fran, my older b and I are also those who can't sleep throught the night. So, we all get up and take care of business. At least your pup will out grow this… Any chance we will see you at the EBC specality in Aug in Auburn Wa again? I would love it!
  • 0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    @Lesco: We got her from Debbie Hauri in New Hampshire Welcome and congrats on your new pup…how exciting! Is this one of the pups from the Tango & Dora breeding? One thing that I did when I brought my pup home last winter was set up a crate, a litter box (with wood shaving pellets - equine pine) and put an xpen around it (also had a top on the xpen). That way when Liyah was crated for an extended time when I wasn't home, if she had to potty she could use the litter box. It was a great setup and consequently she never went to the bathroom in her crate...sometimes she partially missed the litterbox, but she was just a baby so I was happy she did as well as she did. I left the crate door open with treats, toys and soft bedding so she would choose on her own to go in the crate to sleep. I clipped the xpen closed. If you have space, I highly recommend this sort of setup so that your pup can keep her crate clean. The only other thing I would add is don't hesitate to contact Debbi with questions. She is a wonderful person, super helpful and a good breeder. Not to mention she is a good trainer so I'm sure she'd have plenty of tips. Please post pics when you get a chance...we love pics!
  • Basenji Help!!

    Behavioral Issues 21 Nov 2008, 01:38
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    Move the crates to different rooms. The female won't be able to see what's going on. Give the male his food first, then feed the female a little later. Don't let them out of the crates at the same time.
  • Guest Dog - HELP!

    Behavioral Issues 14 Dec 2006, 12:58
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    9k Views
    Thanks everyone. I am so very appreciative of your advice. Housesitting is a great idea, but not an option for me as I have 5 teenagers and a husband to "watch". I tried Apolo in his home for the day and when I picked him up at night (I just couldn't leave him there by himself overnight) he went bonkers from being alone all day. I took him to a kennel out in the country as the accomodations at his vet would have meant that he had to be crated all the time which IMO is especially not an option for a big dog!! I worry about Apolo stressing out and have called the kennel to see how he is doing. I will visit as well. I'm really not certain that the kennel would let me know if he was stressing. I don't really know as this is the first time I had to use one. I think I will start another thread on what to look for in a kennel. Once again, learning on the fly!!! I am doing my best and asking as many questions as I can. I also think I may start a thread on how Bs react to Bordatella (I always say, Bortadella, isn't that sausage :D) since I know someday I will have to take Joey to a kennel. I am also going to look at kennels now so that I can choose the best one. So far I have been fortunate and the breeder has been able to board Joey. I think it's like going to Disney World for him!!! He isn't all wigged out to see me when I pick him up!
  • Help with biting

    Behavioral Issues 16 Sept 2006, 16:57
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    Hello I'm New , My Daisy Is A Biter. If You Touch Her Sometimes. She Seems Really Sensitive All The Time. She Can Be Fully Awake And Loving Than It Switches. She Has Gottin Us Good A Couple Times. I Don't Know Why She Can Turn Like That She Is A Spoiled Pooch. Do You Have Any Ideas What I Could Do.