I think that a basenji puppy and a two-year-old is a recipe for disaster for many reasons. Both require and crave lots of attention, neither one can be reasoned with, both will want to play with the same toy, both can be stubborn, and the list goes. It is far too much to expect a two-year-old to understand how to get along with any puppy, especially a basenji puppy. If your heart is set on a basenji puppy, then I think you should wait until your child is at least five or six years old.Children that age understand what you are saying about the puppy and you can explain to them why you are saying it. I agree with the person who suggested getting an older basenji or how about a puppy of another breed? t one time in my life I had a basenji and a mixed breed, and they got along beautifully.
You may love all the traits of this breed but I was suggest that you talk to owners and their experiences with the basenjis and young children. One cannot count on even the best breeders to give you the full story. Please don't get me wrong. I've had three basenjis and adored them all. I got the first one when my youngest daughter was seven. You don't have to wait that long but two years old is too young, imho. Good luck.
Looking for a temporary home for 2yr old basenji
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Hi,
I was wondering if you were successful in finding a home for your dog...
We have been looking into adding a "canine" family member to our family of four... I am allergic to most breeds of dog, but seem to be okay with non-shedders... the Basenji is listed on many sites as hypo-allergenic, so they are at the top of our list as possibilities... please contact me if you haven't found a home, and maybe we could do a trial to see if we fit... how is your pup with kids? We have a 3.5 year old and a six year old, both gentle souls who are respectful of and love animals...
Thanks
Cathy -
Hi Cathy
We haven't had any luck yet. We abouta are you located? We can maybe set up that trial
Natasha
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@cathyroy he's also been very good with kids. Not that he's been around them often, but on some walks when kids stop to pet hi. He's been great.
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Nancy, I totally disagree with your comment. When people place a dog and pay the dog's bills, they aren't going to have problems getting it back. That isn't in anyone's book "abandonment." Sure there are jerks out there, but not usually. Also, having worked in rescue for nearly 40 yrs, much as our egos don't want to believe it, dogs adjust to new homes. And they adjust to coming home. Show dogs may go out on the road for a very long time, and they are fine coming home.
@cathyroy
Just going to be very blunt. Choosing a dog based on being "hypoallergenic" ,often if not usually , results in a failed home. They don't exist, period. I was glad to see you understand the issue is nonshedding. Yes, nonshedding dogs leave less dander. But until you actually have a dog in your house, you aren't going to know. Your best bet is to find a rescue that will allow you to foster with intent to adopt. That way, if it doesn't work out, not a huge crisis.All of that said, if you haven't had experience with a basenji, please talk to local rescue and spend some time reading the boards. These are not the dog for casual owners who haven't researched the breed. I have found them much more challenging than Rottweilers and Chows!
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@DebraDownSouth thanks for your reply. I don't think he would feel abandoned and I know he'll be happy coming back home..almost got worried with that reply from Nancy
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@natasha
I think until you do rescue, or send dogs on the road, you think they must pine and have trouble adjusting. That is fortunately rarely true. Both of our dogs are down in FL with Pam Hamilton. Cara is on prozac.. I worried more about her than the Samoyed. So Pam sends me videos of Cara looking at her with love and following her around. She perfectly fine. Loves it there. My daughter got in at 6 pm to work with Pam with the dogs, and Cara was crying and crying for her. She's ready to come home okay I think. Merlin however is like a toddler on the playground with tons of other children ... he is NOT going to want to leave. But you can bet in a few days he'l readjust and be his old happy self. I am not saying a dog doesn't love or miss their person/people. But if they are cared for, they do adjust. -
Hi Natasha,
How can we get ahold of you? We are in Montreal, NDG area... Just to reply to the other poster's concerns... we have thought about the hypoallergenic thing, which is why this is our best option, I would like to try the dog out before committing... but in terms of our research, my husband has done a lot... and has owned rescue dogs with "personality". I also have had a dog before, it was a bichon, and I was fine with her in terms of allergies... I wouldn't mind having a small dog but my hubby wants "a real dog" ; ) We watched videos of the yodeling and my kids find it perfectly adorable and hilarious. Personality = not a problem... as long as the dog is friendly and patient... My husband works from home, so he wants a companion, and also has time and energy to devote... one question - is the dog "neutered"?
I will send you my number on a chat, you can call us... -
@natasha I'm sooo glad Debra wrote what she did & I've never been sooo happy to be wrong!! But that's why I said "with a written legal contract" so there would be no way that your dog would end up getting taken away from you!! And honestly... I never thought about what Debra said about the dogs going out on the road for shows! Many people DO have their handlers take them with them, even though the owner might go to the shows too!! Debra is a pretty sharp cookie & has a big pool of information on many many subjects! Like I said ~ I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY TO BE WRONG!!!!
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@natasha I also want to apologize to you for making you for making you feel bad, nervous or insecure in any way or manner. I promise, that wasn't my intentions. I should have kept my fingers off the keyboard on that one. I really am sorry to have worried you.
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@DebraDownSouth Thank God you jumped on the band wagon here because I totally screwed up & worried that poor woman over nothing!! Like you said, there are jerks out there & many years ago, I had a friend that had someone taking care of their family dog (it was all kinds of mixed breeds but a cool dog no-less). The family was only going to be gone for 3 to 4 months at the most. Like you said, the dogsitter (JERK) packed up a little less than 2 months later, with the dog & left!! No one knew where they went & the family couldn't find out "where" the guy moved to. I just remember how devastated my friend & her family were when they got back (about 3 months after they'd left). The kids cried, she cried & I think her husband cried too. They tried to report it to the police but were told "since it wasn't a purebred & you had no legal written contract" ... it was just terrible. I would hate for that to happen to anyone again, ever!! Plus, I never thought about when dogs go out on show with handlers & are gone, sometimes, for a long period of time!! Hey, I screwed up 100% & I was wrong. When I'm wrong, I'll tell you I was wrong & I WAS WRONG!! Thanks Deb!
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Hi Natasha, I'm guessing you are no longer interested since no reply here or to our chat? Anyway I probably won't keep checking this thread, if you want to get ahold of us you have my # ....
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@Nancy-Berry That really is horrible. But those people stole the dog, didn't get it legally. Today, hopefully most people know to be very careful about vet references and other things. (Though some real horror stories out of Texas rescue but no basenjis)
As for messing up, we all do. I learn when I post wrong info and someone corrects me. It's good to learn.
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@cathyroy I am not sure what Natasha is doing, if busy or whatever with the holidays. You may be what she wants, but she's got company or otherwise tied up. She did say maybe set up a trial, so give it a few days before getting upset.
However, I will make a few observations about the fit.
- you have small children you say are good with animals, but you don't have one, so how do you know how they will be with one actually living with you?
- your interest in a basenji is based on their lack of significant shedding. This is not the breed for a family with young children who have little or no experience with dogs. Your husband presumably works, so the dog will mostly be with you and your children.
- you are wanting to ADD a dog to your family. She isn't looking to give the dog away.
Just as you would be careful of who you have babysit your children, she hopefully wants a suitable fit for her dog. For me, that would be someone experienced in the breed or at least a lot of experience with a variety of dogs and is interested in fostering, not taking, my dog. It isn't an easy decision either for her or for someone agreeing to keep her dog.
