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Basenji or...not?

Basenji Talk
  • @yodelma As a rescue advocate you should be very glad that there are so many caring and responsible breeders. My first B came from a pet shop, developed diabetes and had a very hard life health wise. He died of cancer at eleven years. My second and third are from a reputable breeder and the eldest is now eleven with very few health issues. If there were more responsible breeders and owners, the shelters would not be full of suffering animals who are caged.

  • @heidiace Sounds like your son is very smart and a basenji is the perfect match. The saying that in order to own a basenji you need to be at least half as smart as the dog is very true. Which is why people either love them or hate them.

  • @HeidiAce

    Please don't think you have anything to do with the drama. Some people just wait for an excuse to pet their peeves.

    We have some wonderful breeders here, many who do help rescue and none that look down on mixes. While those who rescue and/or breed hate the irresponsible folks who create badly bred dogs or mixed, that has nothing to do with the dogs or with the wonderful people who adopt them. It sounds like you found a wonderful addition to your family. If I can help in any way, let me know. I have friends who train therapy dogs and if there are things your dog could do that would help your son, let me know and I'll ask or put you in touch. My daughter got her Samoyed with a goal of teaching him to be a therapy dog to visit with the elderly or programs for special needs kids. Right now he's a wild year old boy but we hope he'll soon mellow. He already is very gentle with children.

  • With that description, and that photo, I'd say definitely a BASENJI mix.
    Addie is very fortunate she gets to live with you!

    Does she smell like a dog when wet? If not, that's some basenji DNA making its appearance.

  • @dagodingo I'm sorry I have not responded sooner. Since getting Addie, I feel like I have a new full time job. 🤣 I wholeheartedly agree with having to be at least half as smart...and one step ahead. I'm exhausted at the end of the day... sometimes, the middle of the day. I do feel more and more that she HAS to have some Basenji in there. She's so incredibly smart at what she wants to be smart at and VERY stubborn on things she has no interest in. To answer your question, she doesn't seem to smell like a dog, but I may be biased. Lol. Thank you so much for your time. It means a lot.

  • @rugosa Thanks so much for your input. I accidentally answered your question in a different response, but I don't think Addie smells like dog at all, but I may be biased. 🤣 Lol.
    We are very blessed to have found her regardless of what she is or isn't. She's been a great fit for our son. They're cuddled up together right now watching the Avengers together. That's all we wanted or could hope for. I appreciate everyone's opinions and encouragement. Thank you.

  • @debradownsouth Hi Debra. Thank you so much for the offer. I may take you up on it if our progress slows down or stops. Addie was jumping and puppy nipping/biting at our son for the first few weeks we had her. We tried ignoring and turning away and praising when she had 4 on the floor, "no jump", keeping her leash on so he could step on it to keep her down, etc. Nothing was working. One day about a week ago, I had enough and taught her "time out" to go to her crate as soon as she started. And she did. It took 5-6 tries and I think she's broken of the persistent, insistent need to clobber him. Now, do you or anyone else have suggestions, about how to get her to walk nicely? This is another challenge area. If we can get that under control, I feel life with 2 ADHD family members will drastically improve.
    Thanks again for the offer to help with therapy training. That's very sweet of you.

  • @yodelma IMHO, I don't really "see" a Basenji either... now, a German Shepard Mix - definately! But, like I said, "in my honest opinion".

  • @heidiace said in Basenji or...not?:

    @debradownsouth
    Now, do you or anyone else have suggestions, about how to get her to walk nicely? This is another challenge area.

    Teaching loose leash isn't hard, it just takes persistence. Having worked with feral dogs who had never been on a leash, I promise you can do it. The other things on her page can help your son. :) Clickers are remarkable for anyone who has issues with timing rewards to mark a behavior. But with you and a clicker, he can teach her most of these. Teaching helps to bond. Mary is wonderful and her instructions very clear. You can do the exercises with or without a clicker, but your son really may love the clicker part.

    http://www.clickerlessons.com/index.htm

    Lessons on left; behavior things on the right

  • @debradownsouth Thanks you so much. We'll give it a try.

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13 Mar 2018, 19:06

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    @planetsaver said in Basenji for me or not ?: Will be a problem to leave him alone, let's say 10 days / month an average of 9 hours a day. Also I do not want to have to much trouble with the neighbours, but I understand he can make some noise sometimes, maybe he can be trained to stay alone and not to bark that much. Why would you even think about training a hunting hound to stay home alone ? I would never let my Basenjis alone for more than 4 hours, and even that is very rare. 3 hours is absolute maximum. Like @tanza, I have sold puppies into apartment environments as long as all other boxes ticked positive. Someone there all the time, proper attention to training, not just leaving the dog alone, especially not as a puppy. btw, he won't bark at all. As you would know if you had really researched the breed. He will cry and scream but not bark ! No. At least you are asking questions but I really think you should find another breed.
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    Last I heard, the Breed Club secretaries had more people waiting or wanting pups than were available . You could get on a list for a Basenji next winter but I very much doubt you will find one still unsold. Go to the website of the BCGB, or the Northern Basenji Society as you are in the North and you will find email addresses of the secretaries. They will put you in touch with breeders who may be planning a litter for puppies to become ready to leave the nest in about a year's time. Its a long wait I know, but you have most probably missed the boat for now. You are welcome to post me privately. Good luck!
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    Basenji Talk 31 May 2018, 17:40
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    Where I am it costs about $2K+ for a dog from a breeder for just about any breed. Goldens may be less because the litters are so large. That may seem like a lot, but, as Debra mentions, dogs cost money to care for. After vet bills and boarding fees and food, it matters little what the dog cost to acquire. Leaving true puppy mills out of the discussion, given the costs of being a responsible breeder -- testing, vet bills, feeding -- and how much work breeding is, I can't imagine anyone doing it for the money. That leads to two problems for people looking for dogs. One is that since breeding isn't really lucrative, there aren't a ton of breeders, which means the supply of pups is low. Second is that most Basenji breeders want to place their pups in the best possible homes -- remember they aren't doing it for the money -- which means they're looking for people who have had Basenjis before. Something of a Catch-22.
  • A basenji

    Basenji Talk 7 Aug 2012, 10:37
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    There's nothing like a basenji in the works, from the way they instinctively lay with their had on the bum looking the other way ( I've never met a B that doesn't) to the way you KNOW they all rub on wet towels or play bow…it's all very endearing and in this breed you often identify traits that they all have, an insight into their genetics and their behaviors. I've never enjoyed a breed so much.
  • The Other Basenji

    Basenji Talk 11 Mar 2012, 06:33
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    I read your blog and find it kind of confusing and ….. your comment about "messing with ..." hmmmmmmm.... Anyhow, yes, it is so cool when you come across another basenji, because they totally understand each other and how they want to play. We were fortunate once to have another basenji play chase with Kipawa at a dog park. I just don't think there are many basenjis in the Lower Mainland. :(
  • Is this a Basenji??

    Basenji Talk 1 Nov 2011, 00:24
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    My Basenji Billy is quite undershot; he's a purebred, his bottom jaw just didn't stop growing when it was supposed to. That's okay, I'm a bit of a sucker for a dog with an underbite anyway.:) He was my first rescue Basenji.