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  3. Two Questions: Entire males and Dog Parks? / Rough puppy play, how to calm him down?

Two Questions: Entire males and Dog Parks? / Rough puppy play, how to calm him down?

Behavioral Issues
  • P

    Hi,

    The last time I wrote on here I was concerned my boys were not getting along. Well things have progressed nicely in that regard, they now share bones, groom each other and sun bake. Though the older boy (Taco - neutered) is still unwilling to share his night time nest.

    I have socialised both of them from the date of their second shot, and did puppy school before that. Unfortunately Taco still thinks he's a puppy, or perhaps he has a dominance issue (small man syndrome?) - he picks on submissive puppies. He's always loved playing, but these days the only dogs that really get him going are very young puppies that don't want to play, the kind of puppies that are owned by protective owners and get me into trouble :D - Now, if they were my puppies, I'd probably let them go rather than fuss over them and/or pick them up, but I can't change owners. Any ideas how I can get him to play nice? The arbitrary "Gen-tle" command that most dog owners use has no effect, my only solution so far is to put him on the lead until the puppy leaves the park - letting him off at any point prior sees him make a bee line back to the puppy without fail…

    I'm also after some comment about entire males at dog parks. Our other boy, Ghostface has grown quite nicely and I am considering showing/studding him if there is any interest from basenji bitches. This hasn't changed his personality much, he plays really well, he's very affectionate and isn't dominant with people at all - though he is currently pining to get out of the house every waking minute... And when we encounter another entire male, no matter how big and how quickly he could have his head bitten off, he growls at them. He has an impressive growl too - one that has also gotten me in the bad books of fellow dog owners. My question is, do other owners of entire males just avoid dog parks?

    Thanks for reading :)

    0
  • tanzaT

    In the US most all dog parks do not allow intact males or females

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0

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  • D

    Male basenji puppy attacking other male dogs

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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.
  • B

    Dog Behaviorist/Trainer needed

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    D
    @elbrant With my first B (who educated me on the art of the basenji lol), I did not initially give him enough walks. It really didn’t do either of us any good lol. A tired basenji is a good basenji rings true and also a tired basenji is a happy content basenji :) It also does the humans a lot of good to get out in nature and walk, both mentally and physically. Good long walks and mental stimulation are probably the easiest fix for most problems. One thing that is also important is to get past the “master” phase / idea. Many dogs adore their owners as their master and just want to please their owners. I think the crucial stage with a basenji comes somewhere around the two year stage, where I reach a “special understanding” with them. There is this bond and understanding where they start to trust and understand that I am the ultimate master of them, but without trying to quash their unique spirits. So on the big stuff they have to trust me, but they can still get away with the small stuff. It’s really hard to explain that to people who have not experienced that as new owners. If they get past that difficult stage they will be hooked, but it isn’t always easy to believe that you will get past it and some just don’t want to put that much effort into them. I remember my first basenji and wondering why I had such a strange and crazy dog. Which then made me read and research what was “wrong” with him lol.
  • dmeyD

    Dog Park behaviour help.

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    P
    Going back to an earlier suggestion on Bewler's post - I wouldn't throw a bowl of water over two dogs in a fight - it will most probably make them even angrier. What a shame that some owners arer so irresponsible in taking aggressive dogs into the park. It is a privilege to be able to allow interaction in a friendly level in such an environment.
  • NerdyDogOwnerN

    Dog Park fighting

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    wizardW
    I've taken my previous basenjis to the closest dog park and everything was fine for the most part. There were occasional dominance type snarkiness events but only once did a real fight start (and the owners pulled their dog immediately). Never encountered a jerky owner. But I was very careful not to go when the prime times were - Saturday mornings (and if I had a day off then around noon) were usually the times only a handful of dogs were there and it was easy to keep an eye on them. I haven't taken Gossy since she goes to doggy care once a week and has a lot of fun there. Also I've discovered that though she is exceptionally friendly, if another dog becomes nasty aggressive to her, she will definitely fight back. So the dog park will require more vigilence on my part I think - this park is half wooded and kind of large - I'm a firm believer in owner socialization comimg second to keeping a watchful eye on the dogs.
  • hdolbowH

    My puppy is no longer a puppy.

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    renaultf1R
    @tanza: So you think…ggg.... I will be waiting to here what happens when you put panties on your girl.... go out and come home.... Tea Tree Oil or not...:rolleyes: LOL, took the words right out of my mouth…we want pictures of how the panties look after you leave her with them on and you're not around to watch her. :D :D :D With Ruby, anyone I talked to about the panties said, skip it because they'll get shredded and clean up after her...so that was what I did. Wasn't really a big deal. I have wood floors, area rugs that are easily washed, and blankets I put on the furniture. :D And with Ruby, I know exactly how it would have gone w/panties (not good) just based on how she was about me checking that area to see if she was bleeding.
  • lovemybarooL

    Rough play with a toddler

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    lovemybarooL
    These articles were very helpful. I had never looked at it like that, but it makes sense. I will have to try it.