Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Biting

Biting

Behavioral Issues
  • eeeefarmE

    One other thought. Ask your guests not to look directly into her eyes, but avert their gaze. Some dogs interpret eye contact as aggression. You didn't say whether her behaviour extends to those she has met before or is limited to total strangers.

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Benti:

    As far as I know nothing bad has happened. She has always been friendly to everyone but I will make sure in the future to let her investigate first. She doesn't seem to be in pain when she jumps on me at all. She went to the vet today and he checked her thyroid, he thought she may have a problem and noticed the hair on her back was a little thin. So I am awaiting the results. He didn't know why she didn't go into heat so I don't know where to go with that.

    Note that if the thyroid is low/normal, that is typically too low for a Basenjis

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • B

    so typically if the result is low normal they need medication?

    0
  • B

    it seems to be with total strangers but I haven't had any people over recently that she would be familiar with. she did growl at me twice when I went to close her crate for the night. she was already in it and this was definitely not normal behavior for her.

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Benti:

    so typically if the result is low normal they need medication?

    Yes, medication

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • eeeefarmE

    @Benti:

    it seems to be with total strangers but I haven't had any people over recently that she would be familiar with. she did growl at me twice when I went to close her crate for the night. she was already in it and this was definitely not normal behavior for her.

    I would say that is a red flag. I'll be surprised if the thyroid levels are normal. She seems a bit old to be going through a "I'm mature now" change in behaviour. Sounds like she is not prepared to tolerate things that irritate her in any way.

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

    0
  • tanzaT

    And I would still look at having her spayed

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • B

    so her thyroid came back 1.7, and normal is 1-4. the vet is saying this is normal, in your experience is this considered low normal? I am a nurse practitioner but have no idea what to do with the furry patients?

    0
  • B

    her thyroid came back normal the vet said, 1.7, normal is between 1-4 they are telling me.

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Benti:

    her thyroid came back normal the vet said, 1.7, normal is between 1-4 they are telling me.

    1.7 IMO, is low normal and too low for a Basenji. Did they do a full panel? Or just T4? should have been a complete panel that is sent out, not done in the Vet's normal testing

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • B

    I spoke to the vet and I think just a t4. he was convinced it was going to be lower actually because she had thinning hair above her tail, and didn't want to cost us extra money for other testing, which I do appreciate. I told him what all of you said and he is going to do a little research and get back to me, in your experience have you had to tell the vet to give medicine when they didn't consider it necessary? he also gave me the name of some trainers but I don't really want to go that route if her aggression is from a medical problem. she's always been a very easy dog up until now.

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Benti:

    I spoke to the vet and I think just a t4. he was convinced it was going to be lower actually because she had thinning hair above her tail, and didn't want to cost us extra money for other testing, which I do appreciate. I told him what all of you said and he is going to do a little research and get back to me, in your experience have you had to tell the vet to give medicine when they didn't consider it necessary? he also gave me the name of some trainers but I don't really want to go that route if her aggression is from a medical problem. she's always been a very easy dog up until now.

    Many times, Vets are not always, nor can they be, up to date on specific breeds of dogs. So I would ask the Vet to please prescribe a low dose of Soloxine (generic is NOT preferred) and see if it makes a difference. If this is the reason for her behavior and growling, you will see a change very, very quickly. If no change then you can stop the medication

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • B

    thanks I will do that.

    0
  • DebraDownSouthD

    Saving money sometimes isn't the best route… a full thyroid panel gives massively more information. But a low dose won't hurt, and as Pat said, if it doesn't help, you wean off easily and done.

    Debra

    0

Suggested Topics

  • M

    Puppy Aggressively Biting

    Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    1k Views
    ZandeZ
    Neutering is not going to help - training is. But a good trainer will train YOU to deal with the dog. If a trainer can get him to behave but you can't - there is little to be gained from paying out money. This is something you should never have allowed to happen, but since it has, I think you should deal with it and @JENGOSMonkey has given you a good idea to start you off. Withdrawing treats is a good idea, but also, get up and walk away. He could be biting to get attention and therefore you withdraw the attention at the first sign of a bite, with a firm NO.
  • Sandy HovisS

    Biting update

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    6 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    K
    @sandy-hovis, totally agree with you. I didn’t want to do this but did it after redirecting to toys and positive reinforcement did not work. Did work (:
  • D

    Severe Biting Problem

    Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    10k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Sometimes… when you are replying to an OLD POST, it helps to click on the person's name. Many people post once or twice and never return. Yep.. Drew Join Date 01-18-2015 Last Activity 04-16-2015 09:06 AM
  • E

    Biting

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    tanzaT
    Full Vet check up is needed before anything… especially a FULL THYROID PANEL... I agree with contacting her breeder and also finding a positive reinforcement trainer as suggested
  • BeckisB

    Biting all the time

    Behavioral Issues
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    5k Views
    tanzaT
    @Gooby: An old school technique my grenpeppy taught me way back when is to wait for your dog to mouth your hand and then grab his lower jaw. If you use your thumb to apply a light pressure on his tounge he soon learns that biting people's hand is a very unpleasant thing. to speed it up try putting bitter apple spray on your hands That is an old school technique, and I never found it to work much.. and you have to be really quick to catch them each and every time…
  • C

    Help with biting

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    D
    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.