Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Constant need of attention

Constant need of attention

Behavioral Issues
  • etzbsederE

    I have a 9 month old male who used to crave attention, but has recently gotten more obsessed with it, and is in need of it all the time. If I don't give him attention, he will whine and if I put him in his crate, he will claw at the sides of the kennel while whining.

    I was wondering what suggestions you have as to why he does this, and how I can get him to even revert back to how he was 3 months ago when I got him. I though that the longer I had him, if I tried to get him used to his kennel and not being held constantly, he would get better, not worse.

    Michael Feldman
    Gilbert, AZ

    Chaverim Basenjis

    0
  • tanzaT

    @etzbseder:

    I have a 9 month old male who used to crave attention, but has recently gotten more obsessed with it, and is in need of it all the time. If I don't give him attention, he will whine and if I put him in his crate, he will claw at the sides of the kennel while whining.

    I was wondering what suggestions you have as to why he does this, and how I can get him to even revert back to how he was 3 months ago when I got him. I though that the longer I had him, if I tried to get him used to his kennel and not being held constantly, he would get better, not worse.

    Are you using the kennel when you are home? If so, why? That of course will cause him to whine if you are there and he is in the crate. Crates should not be used as a place to put the dog, just because… is there a reason he can't be loose when you are home?

    Have you done any OB training with him? Have you taught him things like sit, stay, off? Is he used to being held all the time and now you don't? What kind of situations gets him crying for attention? Is he getting out enough? Remember a tired Basenji is a good Basenji....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • etzbsederE

    He is in the kennel sometimes when people are at home, but it's because I am not and therefore can't watch him. My roommates are doing their own things, and don't want to have to watch him, so when I am in class (1-2 hours at a time, 1-2 times a day), he is in there. He is also in there a few times of about 30 minutes when I am home, if I can't watch him for some reason, but he still can't seem to get enough attention. I walk him and run with him several times a day, but he never seems to stay tired enough for long enough.

    I did 8 weeks of puppy classes at petsmart, and will be redoing the classes, just as beginner instead in the next 2 months.

    He does know sit, wait, and off, but the only one he really listens to is off.

    He starts crying for attention whenever we don't have him on our lap or petting him. no matter what. and no, he wasn't always held before, he would just sit in the middle of the family room and be calm. I have no idea what changed, or why he needs soo much attention.

    Michael Feldman
    Gilbert, AZ

    Chaverim Basenjis

    0
  • QuercusQ

    <>
    I dunno, Pat...I use my crates sometimes when I am home. Of course, when I just had one dog I didn't ;)
    I think it is good for dogs to be conditioned to being quiet in the crate when people are home. There may be times that the dog needs to be crated when people are around.
    Esteb...if you are letting him out when he whines, he will continue to do it, and he will increase his whining at first when you don't let him out. And then he will try scratching, and carrying on, until he finally realizes that isn't going to work.
    The best thing to do is to put him in there, get out of sight and be quiet. As soon as he gets quiet, run in and let him out. Start to teach him that being quiet is what gets you out of your crate. Give him something super fabulous to do while he is in there, like a raw femur bone or something...

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • jys1011J

    Etzbseder-you could also condition him to stay on the floor without petting him or any of your attention. You could start with 5 min petting & then set him on the floor with a YUMMY filled kong or compressed raw hide bone. Give him great treats on the floor NOT on your lap or while petting. He's got to understand that he doesn't need your attention all the time & he also gets good things when he's on his own.

    If you ARE home & you can't watch him can you put him in an expen near wherever you are so he doesn't feel so confined but still not getting into trouble. I do think you're crating him for the right reasons but he may not be understanding that. He's probably interpreting it as punishment…not staying safe.

    Hope this works for you. Good luck :)

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

    0

Suggested Topics

  • B

    Dog Behaviorist/Trainer needed

    Behavioral Issues
    22
    1 Votes
    22 Posts
    5k Views
    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.
  • D

    Need help ASAP

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    5k Views
    tanzaT
    @dmcarty: Since they are so young I would assume it is each trying to figure out where they fit in the scheme of things and you may be overreacting. I will however tell you that the one breed of dogs that my basenjis have never liked is ****zu. LOL ….. you know it is all about the hair!
  • H

    Stressed out about this behaviour and need help…..

    Behavioral Issues
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    11k Views
    A
    I agree with JayCee. I had to know his limits with my male and not put him in a position where he would fail. As yes, some dog owners dont understand the basenji play, but some do. I have met a great bunch of folks at the park who have taken some time with their dogs to help mine out. Very much appreciated. No matter what kind of dog you have, there will always be that one person at the park the park who has a problem. I avoid those folks. I also want the park to be safe for all. If someone brings their children in, I remove my dogs immediately since i dont know how they are with children. Always be respectful of other owners and dogs at the park. Anyway, i want my basenjis to be able to play with any kind of dog and not just basenjis. Success so far.
  • sabaS

    Confidence Needed…

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    RivermoonR
    I did all the right things with Apache when I got him too…took him to outside malls, parks, the beach..had people of all shapes and sizes meet him and was going to handling class after handling class. Everything was going fine. The fourth show we were ever in we got excused from the ring because he became a bucking bronco on the table every time the judge came toward us. The judge tried 3 different times. I was so frazzled by his actions and couldn't get him under control, so we got excused. Later that day he stood fine on the table for some of the breeders. I have no idea what set him off, if it was the judge or the fact that I had had him to the vets the week before the show and they took a skin scrape while he was on the table. To be on the safe side, I never put him on the table at the vet's again...they had to examine him on the floor. Luckily they were more then willing to do that. I wasn't going to take any chances putting him back in the ring anytime soon, especially since I was so nervous. At handling classes and at home we did what you're doing. He would go up on the table and be fed treats. I would put him on the table at home and just treat him for being up there. We gradually had people in class and at home start going over him all the while treating him. On top of all that, I also had/have a problem with noise sensitivity. Some boys threw a huge firecracker right next to the dogs at handling class one day and since then Apache startles at sudden noises. Almost three months passed before I entered him in another show. This one was inside too, something we had never done. I held him out the first day because the noise really had him jumpy, so we just sat there all day getting him used to it. The second day I decided we were going in. I was the only class dog entered, so there would be no points..but that was fine...I needed to see if he would stand still for the judge. I was more nervous then I'd ever been and it will be a show I always remember for the simple fact that he was REALLY good on the table. Every once in a while he would still get a little fussy, either getting up onto or while on the table.....but would settle down quickly and let the judges go over him. Anyways, it took a while, but I finished him.:D So, hang in there!
  • VanessaV

    This B needs an attitude adjustment!

    Behavioral Issues
    27
    0 Votes
    27 Posts
    8k Views
    BarklessdogB
    The other kind of guarding - for things that he gets by accident - that still continues, but less and less, although I don't trust him fully. He has been trained to go in his crate very willingly because he always gets a treat when he does. If he has something I don't want him to have I tell him to "get in your crate!" which almost always works the first time. He gets his treat, I close the crate, and then I clean up the mess without any worry. For our dog, if it's something like a cookie or pizza, nothing will stop him from devoring it.
  • JazzysMomJ

    The CONSTANT bickering!!!!

    Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    3k Views
    MantisM
    Other times, Jazzy lets him chew so hard on her neck that she gags and does nothing. THAT upsets me, and I always pull him off. He is relentless. Same at my house with a 6yr old and 6month old. It is the challenge for the alpha position. And I believe there is an adjustment for the young ones with a full set of big teeth learning bite sensitivity. I have noticed Cairo now immitating the little grooming bites that Caesar used to do to him. The biting and choking must be okay or the adult would stop it. I thought it was just Caesar being sweet and taking it, but it sounds like you are all experiencing the same thing. A soft muzzle is fantastic for this type of behavior. Normally they both play. But in the evenings, Cairo is just too much with that second energy spurt and all Caesar wants to do is sit with us on the couch. The soft muzzle freezes Cairo like a stone. Once he stops sulking and he finally sits or does a down for me he will come back with kisses for everyone.:p I find that he will have to immediately pee after the muzzle comes off becuase it stresses him out (FYI). Also, Cairo goes to bed at 9pm every night and Caesar gets to hang out with us and gets a break. I call it the acting like a 2 year old syndrome. Cairo is fighting sleep and gets ultra pesky.