In your position, where you really have to take her out a lot, I understand. And I hope her comfort continues. My point was it is situational need, not dog need to be that social. 🙂 I have a slim chance of that having worked with my current 2, but with my incredibly dog aggressive first one, I'd have been out in a basket muzzle and warning everyone to keep their dogs away.
2Bs vs 1B - How Much Different w/Multiples
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Personally, I will always have at least two Basenji's.
We've had two in a crate together, but never when we are not around to supervise.
Ditto, I have crated two together in a car, or at a show, or coursing, but never when someone wasn't there to keep an eye on them.
I know of quite a few people who do very successfully, though.
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We stack ours- she just jumps in the top, although a couple of times she jumped up with the crate door shut.
She even will close the other crate door if it's in the way before she leaps.
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Thanks for that…as you can tell I'm new to training methods :D, but Ruby has responded really well to positive training, and consequently have never wanted to pull out a spray bottle on her (been a little leary of that). I could see myself trying your first method if the problem arose.
I'm in the same situation as you–live alone and single parent of two Bs. I had one B and one german shepherd mix for many years, and I feel that most Bs need companionship--either their person or another dog. When I adopted Tyler and Zoey--whom the rescuers said could not be separated because they were so close and had always been together--they told me they never snarked at each other. Well.....that was in the shelter situation. After they got comfortable at my house, Tyler (the dad) started growling at Zoey (he's 6; she's 4) at times. It really startled me at first, and I didn't know what to do. Advice here on the board about leaving them when that happens worked--but the rescuer advised me to let them work it out--and she thought Tyler was disciplining Zoey when he didn't think her behavior was approriate. So I felt like if I tried to get Tyler to not growl--that he would resent that and maybe things would escalate. What I did find was that if I picked up Zoey or comforted her, then she would turn on Tyler like a Tazmanian Devil. So I immediately ceased doing that. Zoey seems to have learned what irritates Tyler (usually--it seems kind of a pecking order thing) and has modified her behavior a bit. And Tyler isn't as "stern" now when he growls at her--which isn't very frequent now. Sometimes he'll growl at her and then take her head gently in his mouth, and they play a little bit. I would highly recommend two over one.
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we stay out of it. They work it between themselves. our male has grabbed our female by the neck and thrown her into the book case!
They never really hurt each other, It sounds nasty but, it seems it is more vocalization & acting out than real aggression.
our female now realizes that he's not really going to hurt her so she will come up and just irritate him by pawing at him continually as he growls at her. She just keeps poking him!
The male on the other hand, if the female growls at him, he will just sit right on top of her, ignoring it.
wish I had my camera then.
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If you get another basenji I would suggest a seperate crate next to your b…a seperate food dish, I found food a BIG issue so I always put my boys food bowl down on the left, and the girls dish on the right...always,....now, they will "switch" places, when one is on the "wrong" side...and no one feel that they can "take" the other dogs food.
I am hopeful that you find a companion you like and your dog likes. -
we only feed ours in there crates or else someone would eat EVERYONES DINNER! the one who never chews her food, the female vacuum cleaner.
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Thank you all for your advice and help. Really good information here. I emailed Eldorado and told them I wanted Coal…yay, Ruby's getting a friend.
Haven't heard back yet, but "Lord willin' and the creek don't rise..." I'll have 2 bs (one red/white & one black/white) within the next couple of weeks.I'll definitely be keeping them in 2 separate crates and separate food dishes thanks to everything I've read here.
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Thank you. One more question, they sleep together & play together when you are gone, does that mean you put them in the same crate? I was wondering if that would work…
I use gigantic crates and often put two dogs in one. Three works but they get real unhappy and testy. I have also crated the cat with Chip (when the others are gone) because otherwise he gets lonely and even in a crate he can cause a he** of a lot of trouble. Plus I dont want him to be lonely. The cat is pretty mellow - if the dogs dont chase him he is cool. (Pretested with Angel at the shelter)
Also, I was going to keep everything separate but decided not to. All food, water, toys, chewies are abundant and crate doors are left open when I am home. Dogs walk in and out of whatever crate they want. If it is crating time and two are in the same crate, I leave them together. They never know which crate they are going to end up in. The key is to have abundance for everyone so there is no competition over goodies. Even when I brought a new African home, he fell right into that pattern, tho he is still pretty anxious. The other African doesnt have a problem with the new boy wandering in and out of crates or taking a chewie that he just had, cause of the way he was raised. Of course, they are all on the same diet - otherwise I would likely do feedings when everyone is crated and leave the crates shut or the food out of reach otherwise - but I would still alternate crates and crate arrangements and enforce (abundant) communal toys and chewies.
Marie
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I use gigantic crates and often put two dogs in one. Three works but they get real unhappy and testy. I have also crated the cat with Chip (when the others are gone) because otherwise he gets lonely and even in a crate he can cause a he** of a lot of trouble. Plus I dont want him to be lonely. The cat is pretty mellow - if the dogs dont chase him he is cool. (Pretested with Angel at the shelter)
Also, I was going to keep everything separate but decided not to. All food, water, toys, chewies are abundant and crate doors are left open when I am home. Dogs walk in and out of whatever crate they want. If it is crating time and two are in the same crate, I leave them together. They never know which crate they are going to end up in. The key is to have abundance for everyone so there is no competition over goodies. Even when I brought a new African home, he fell right into that pattern, tho he is still pretty anxious. The other African doesnt have a problem with the new boy wandering in and out of crates or taking a chewie that he just had, cause of the way he was raised. Of course, they are all on the same diet - otherwise I would likely do feedings when everyone is crated and leave the crates shut or the food out of reach otherwise - but I would still alternate crates and crate arrangements and enforce (abundant) communal toys and chewies.
Marie
What are your african's registered names?
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Darn, now I want a new B, my Sahara is Queen of the house, I believe she is alpha. Should I look for another female,or male pup? Anyone know of breeders in NC? Basenji B, do you like the same sex together when there is 2, or opposite sex?
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The general rule of thumb is that its a male/female pairing to have the best results.
If not, then male/male.
Female to female is not recommended, tho there are some who do it successfully.
As with people, dogs like some and not the other..so introducations can make all the difference with this going well. -
General rule is male/female… as the best pairings... and that is the normal recommendation give. 90% of the time holds true
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well i have three the reason why we got the 2nd is becuase our mail had very bad separation anxiety and it because 100% better when we got the 2nd they are inseparable
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About six months ago, I added the second basenji to our household. Like you, I got on this site and ask opinions of 1 vs 2. Our gal was about 1 1/2 when we got our male, who was six months old.
It really worked out great in our case. Duchess was demanding an enornmous amount of attention, and now she and Ramses really enjoy having each other. They eat together-no problem, play together and share a huge crate at night time. Occasionly they get into a short ruckus over sleeping space, but a quick reprimand usually ends that.
As for walking. I do use two leads at times, but usually use a split lead that works quite well. Ramses had never been on a lead, or even inside a house, so he adapted wonderfully. I expected lots of problems but had very few. So I am very glad I decided to add the second one. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. -
Sorry, I am behind on this list, someone asked if I crate my 2 b's together.
Nope, they are free to run the house and yard when I am gone.
We shut the bathroom doors and keep the floor clean except for bones and doggie items.
But they usually sleep, unless they are outside in the backyard, enjoying the deck. -
I'm single also and was considering a second beastie - I've had El D (alpha male) for only a few months and he has the run of the house with no problems. Previously I had one (also male) for 6.5 years. Does it work better to have oppposite sex or can it work with 2 males?
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Opposite is usually better-but it can work with 2 males.
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I'm also single and have just 1 alpha male for only a few months (I previously had one male for 6 1/2 years) who has the run of the house while I'm at work with no problem. I'm considering getting a second one also. Is it more advisable to get a female or will 2 males work? Will the second learn pretty quickly from the first?
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Sorry for the second post - for some reason my computer was doing funny things.
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I really think male/female is the best…but Arlene is right 2 boys can make a nice pack, if they get along temperment wise.
I do believe the first dog will teach the second dog the routine.
I have seen that in my house.
IMO, 2 b's are better than just having one.
They are company for each other.
