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Getting a basenji to play with a puppy

Behavioral Issues
  • We have a 15 year old Labrador and a 9 year old basenji both females that get on brilliantly. We added a male puppy 6 weeks ago. He is now 13 weeks and our basenji will still have nothing to do with him. She growls when he gets near and seems to be very defensive and afraid of him. What can we do to get her to accept him and enjoy him.

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  • 0 Votes
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    J
    I'm no Basenji expert since I've only had one. And, I don't want to start a dog park argument. I'll just share my experience. Jengo LOVED running free, but he's a Basenji. Can't do that cause... cars. The dog park near our house is HUGE. A big completely enclosed lawn area the size of a football field with towering oak trees. We were OCD about keeping Jengo's vaccinations up to date. He was chipped and wore a collar with contact and rabies tags 24/7. He loved the dog park, but not all the dogs there. He hated any dog of any size that would try to dominate him in any way. He rarely instigated it, but he never tolerated it meaning regardless of size... he wouldn't back down. He also hated if another dog approached him from behind and would snap immediately. My solution was to stay near him and to keep moving. We would walk laps around the perimeter and by about the second or third lap he'd been or had checked out all the other dogs. Then things were good. If I saw that he was getting anxious I'd usually catch it before he reacted and would tell him "Easy". 9 times out 10 that was enough. I'd also make sure that he was aware of dogs in our vicinity so that he wouldn't be surprised if they came from behind. We went to the park for years. He never caught anything that I was aware of. I did pick him up and leave if there was another dog he and/or I weren't comfortable with. And, I also recall walking away before ever entering the park if there was a dog we didn't like already there. I guess my point is that part of protecting your dog and others is knowing and focusing on them without over-reacting at the same time. I don't want to set him off. But, I want to know what he's going to do before he does. You have to read him. All dogs give signals one way or another. Tune in to your dog, not the other people at the park. I liked the other people at the park, but I wasn't there for them. My focus was always on Jengo.
  • Basenji family not getting along.

    Moved Behavioral Issues
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    D
    @crazybasenjimom “in the past 2 years my Belle has gotten into fights with the boys, and caused vet bills” Taking her for a blood panel is more feasible and cheaper than continuing vet bills from the fights. If her thyroid is low, the meds are inexpensive and she needs them. There are also other medical problems that can lead to aggression. Vet bills are always feasible, it is part of the responsibility of owning dogs, so I don’t understand why you would say it is not feasible. If you mean you don’t have the money, try talking to the vet and setting up a payment plan.
  • 0 Votes
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    BasenjimammaB
    Don't you just love it when she wags her tail, it is so sweet to see that little curl wag ever so slightly..Otis does it to several people but not very many dogs..cute.
  • My Basenji is only aggressive towards other basenjis

    Behavioral Issues
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    agilebasenjiA
    You know, my boyz like dogs the same color as they are. Jet LOVES tri colored dogs - Berners, tri Aussies, etc. And last time they were at Anne's dog park, poor Digital was the only brindle basenji. Jet played with the basenjis and Diggie went and hung out with a brindle greyhound. Remember that Anne?
  • Basenji Boy Puppies

    Behavioral Issues
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    dashD
    sort of. The friend of mine who worked with the chimps said they were very poorly funded and were in need of a lot of things OSU wasn't able/willing to support anymore. It must have been horrible for her since that was her lifes work and I am sure they were her "babies"
  • I am ready to get rid of my Basenji

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    luzmery928L
    jeez I didn't look at the date when I asked for an update…hope all is good with the dog.