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Considering adding a new Basenji, need advice!

Behavioral Issues
  • B

    My husband and I are the proud parents of a 2 year old Female Basenji Mix (there are some pictures of her already on here). One of our local rescues has a Boy Basenji Mix that looks exactly like our little girl, except for color! We had the two doggies meet at Petsmart and they got along great, he let her dominate, and they gave each other kisses (on the mouth!). He is a little timid around people at first, he had been abandoned at a local vet (tied to their door when they showed up one day) who found a new home for him that then sent him back to the vet (he had fought with the cat and growled at the grandpa). They think he is 1-2 years old.

    He warmed up to me pretty quickly upon meeting, he started giving me kisses and all! at first he growled and nipped at my husband (who had given him space) but then warmed up to him to the point where he was resting his paws on hubbys leg and sitting next to him (he almost gave him kisses but shyed away).

    He growled at an older gentleman who had got into his space (The pup tried to push him away with his paws).

    My husband is concerned about aggression with strangers, not kids because the dog loved every kid that walked by at petsmart. He is also concerned about marking in the house (we have a rental, and all my husbands boy dogs growing up would mark) but the vet said they don't have any problems with him in their kennels marking, or even going inside.

    We love him, but are concerned about the possible aggression and marking. Does anyone have any advice/experience with boy rescues and these things? We definitely want him, but we want to know what we are getting in to! Thank you!

    Ashley

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15 Sept 2012, 16:40

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    I am not gonna sugar coat this.... If you are that worried with him around new people or strangers use a soft muzzles, especially when near small children. A cloth muzzle protects you both. It’s seems to settle them down and they are unable to bite. It’s not meant to be used often, the less the better. They can drink, they can open their mouth some, but they cannot bite. I am sure that over time your B will relax with you in your home and around visitors....always fore warn strangers visiting, it might be startling to them but it is better than them getting a bite. I am at the point I use it almost never.....If we go out with my B we use it, when visiting the vet, we use it, when very young children are around we use it"........if we are walking where there is a possibility he will get a startle...I use it. I am sure there will be somebody on here that will disagree, but I do what I have to do to protect me, my dog and people around me Take this as a positive thing so that both of you can be comfortable in all situations.
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    When our 12year old girl went blind recently and the puppy is coming next weekend. Fingers crossed.
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    I hope so too! Ive also started some training sessions together. Like having them both Sit (they will sit next to each other with no issues). I use a Clicker. Ill have them SIT and they both sit…ill click and they both get treats (a SMALL piece of hot dog). Kind of to teach them that being near each other can be rewarding. So far its worked. They can be inside the house toether with no conflict either. One will be on the couch near me the other in the recliner. The only tension is if one comes over to sniff the other. But neither snap anymore cuz when one growls the other heeds the warning and backs away. I love having another B around...they are like Potato chips...you cant have just one lol
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    Congratulations on the future new addition. Boy/girl is a good combination. As others have advised let them meet on neutral ground and take them for a long walk together. For every good interaction praise both inordinately. As Curlytails says don't rush it. Keep us posted, please and best wishes to you all.
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    @DebraDownSouth: Andrea, great post. I have taught many dogs bite inhibition at a much older age, though… only thing you wrote I don't heartily agree with. Yes, I understand that it is possible but I'd like to know more about it. Generally it's accepted that teaching remedial ABI is difficult to do at best, at least amongst the trainers I know, talk to and read. Dunbar says he's done it but I tried to pin him down at a seminar and he was evasive. I was hoping to get specifics, training program and how to test it or pointed at one. He said to buy his DVDs. I did. Best I could find was teaching a better ritualized bite and jaw prudence and done my best to scour books and websites as well (and speaking with colleagues, natch). What I found didn't really satisfy me. I mean, when I think of teaching ABI, I am thinking of teaching it so that it holds up even under duress since that's when it's most important. For instance a colleague was recently contacted about a Level 5 biter. If it's possible to teach reliable ABI in adult dogs THAT dog should be a candidate for sure. I'd love to assist someone teaching it to a dog like that, or in training a dog that has poor ABI with other dogs. How could you train and test that safely or humanely? What is the liability there? Pretty serious, I would think. I do remember my first basenji experience though. I have trained and worked with dogs my entire adult life. So imagine my surprise when squeaking caused her to bite MORE, lol. Change of tactics. Life offers us so many opportunities to learn new things. :) Ah yes, I've had one of those. I changed to a calm "too bad" and then removing myself. Worked MUCH better. Depends on the dog. EDIT: I just looked at the site you linked and what she is talking about is what I refer to as 'jaw prudence'. When I use ABI, I'm referring to how hard the dog bites when it bites, not if it puts its mouth on you. For instance, your Rottie I would say had great ABI but iffy jaw prudence. OTOH, there are dogs with great jaw prudence but the one time they use their mouths they do it will full jaw force. I'd much prefer the former.
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    Do you have elder care down there? We have a sort of day care up here for seniors, depending on where you live, you have can supported care.