The NILF program is exactly the sort of thing your basenji needs. She has hit teenage time and like human teenagers is pushing authority. In this case, don't push her off the couch or yank the afghan from under her or any of those sorts of manuvers. Start by getting her attention just before she is going to jump onto the couch by offering a treat diverting her attention away from the couch. If she decides to come for the treat, she gets it, and then gets to be on the couch as a double reward; if she decides to complete her jump to the couch instead, she doesn't get the treat. Once she starts to look at you first ("asking permission") before she takes the couch then the reward becomes the couch. And to get her off the couch, use the reverse. Offer her a treat in such a way that she has to get off the couch to get it and click as soon as she decides to get off Once she understands that, add the "off" word. You might have to use treats just for this exercise that she wouldn't get any other time to make this more enticing to her. You might also want to introduce mat work so that she has to go to her mat or afghan or whatever, on the floor, instead of getting on the couch in the first place.
BIG problems with Jack…
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So far he hasnt really bit anyone but he tried to bite a friend of ours. but its the one person who REALLY spends TONS of pet and treat time with Jack while shes here. and one day she was sitting on my bed and jack was sitting in front of her but facing me and she was petting him for a while then all the sudden i noticed his hackles up and before i could warn Melissa, Jack jumped up to bite her (he missed) but then he just sat back down like nothing happened
I know mine would be a little funny about any non household member in certain places of our house, especially our bedroom and most certainly the bed.
We had a close friend, our breeder friend actually get grumbled at by Max.
Max never growls at anyone usually, but because she walked back to our bedroom following my wife, he did it to her and he knows her well.
My wife told her, "Max never growls at anyone, let alone you?", she said he was defending the bedroom and her. He was just doing his job.;) -
It is interesting that how they decide who they like or dislike. I had to take Cory to the vet last week because she was limping. (Apparently bruised her foot while trying to get out of her crate while I was out running errands.) Both the vet who examined her and the tech are females. The tech is very obviously pregnant and Cory decided instantly that she disliked her. Her hair stood up and she was actually growling at her. Cory was threatening enough for them to ask me to muzzle her. This is the first encounter Cory has had with this tech and so there is no "history" between the two of them. It really took me by surprise because this is a dog who will patiently tolerate a 22 month old trying to straighten her tail.
Pat
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When your boy stares at you, try blinking…don't look away, just blink.
If he reads you right, he should blink back at you.
In our house, we call this the "soft" eye...and its kind of a way for us to talk to our b's... -
When your boy stares at you, try blinking…don't look away, just blink.
If he reads you right, he should blink back at you.
In our house, we call this the "soft" eye...and its kind of a way for us to talk to our b's...I am going to try this
I like to get Squiggy to make his "yawn-y" noise. I am getting pretty good, but it has to be when he is relaxed and we are just hanging out.
I also LOVE when we are watching TV or I am reading and he is cuddled up with me and he kinda flips his head back/upside down kinda as if he is checking on me. Anyones elses do that? Is it just a B thing? -
I am going to try this
I like to get Squiggy to make his "yawn-y" noise. I am getting pretty good, but it has to be when he is relaxed and we are just hanging out.
I also LOVE when we are watching TV or I am reading and he is cuddled up with me and he kinda flips his head back/upside down kinda as if he is checking on me. Anyones elses do that? Is it just a B thing?Cory does that….makes my neck hurt to even imagine trying to imitate it! Kind of like when they seem to rotate their necks 360 degrees! Makes me wonder if their cervical vertebrae are like an owl's!!
Pat
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Sahara does the same, I guess it is a Basenji thing. I wonder how they do that, she likes to keep tabs on me even though she is sitting beside me. Funny dogs, they like to watch their pack members.
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Jack does that alot to check on Aiden, lol. he also tries to lay next to him with his paws on Aiden, of course we have to move Jack off of him and next to him instead. ALSO when Aiden Cries Jack comes and Stares at me like
"WELL SDO SOMETHING!!" hahaa. and sometimes he'll jump up on the bed next to Aiden and lick his head when he cries, like hes a puppy and Jack is tring to sooth him, its adorable!!! -
Awww Jackers is too sweet!!
My Topaz likes to put her paws on me too when she's lying next to me. Sometimes I ask her…do you want me to do your nails girl???!! 
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You know I think Jack is going to be alright with Aiden. It appears that he sees the new baby as a pack member also. The fact that he licks Aiden and touches him with his paw is sooooooo sweet. These dogs are the most loving I have ever witnessed.
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You know I think Jack is going to be alright with Aiden. It appears that he sees the new baby as a pack member also. The fact that he licks Aiden and touches him with his paw is sooooooo sweet. These dogs are the most loving I have ever witnessed.
I hope that is true, however seems Jack still has issues with others coming into the house….. even those that he knows... at least according to one of the last postings?
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Hmmm - makes me think that Jack's behavior with OTHER people may be a his way of protecting the pack - warning others to stay away from the baby and newest member. Maybe he instinctively knows the baby's life depends on pack protection. I don't know - that seems to be the way dogs behave in the wild.
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I agree 100% with you Duke, it appears that Jack is protecting his pack! I would always watch closely when he is near the baby, just knowing he is still adjusting to the new pack member. I hope he continues on his way to loving this member the same. When my son was a toddler my cat would walk around the yard with him (I was with my son also), and when my son would stop my cat would lay down and wait for him to move again. He watched after him even when we were in the house and never a scratch did he get.
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My girl basenji has always been good with kids, from bab's in arms to toddlers.
My boy, however is good with babies, but once they start creeping and crawling, he is NOT.
We know that and make sure we have baby gates up with the grandkids come visit.
It's just smart to protect both the dog and baby from trouble.
Do be careful with this…dogs don't mean to "hurt" but they can. -
I just want to point out, that it doesn't really matter why Jack is biting people…just the fact that he is willing to go to that level IS a threat around children. Some people are willing to acknowledge and manage this threat...but it should never be assumed or taken for granted that the dog won't bite a family member. Dogs like this bite when they get angry, or scared, or threatened, or irritated...and that does happen MORE with little kids in the house, than without.
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I just want to point out, that it doesn't really matter why Jack is biting people…just the fact that he is willing to go to that level IS a threat around children. Some people are willing to acknowledge and manage this threat...but it should never be assumed or taken for granted that the dog won't bite a family member. Dogs like this bite when they get angry, or scared, or threatened, or irritated...and that does happen MORE with little kids in the house, than without.
Well put Andrea….
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went to the vet today. we discussed Jacks issues in detail. and the vet says i CAN call a behaviorist, but its expensive and to him personally its not worth it. He thinks Jack is adjusting to the changes and is just protective of the baby and that we should wait it out but if he bites the baby then we should sell or offer him to BRAT or put him down…SO as a family we have decided to keep working with Jack. Take percautions when guests are here (caged mussle) and do ALL we can to help him feel more confortable around strangers and the changes. Hes been stressed i can tell, and VERY full of energy (thank god for my husband who WEARS Jack OUT everyday!! LOL) so hes buring off the bottled up energy. Jack had to get some medicine for the hot spots he has been making all over himself...so poor lil Jackers is going to be in his caged mussle alot for the next few days. but thank GOD Jack doesnt mind wearing it at all...lol. WELL we will keep ya posted and THANKS for all the support!!
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went to the vet today. we discussed Jacks issues in detail. and the vet says i CAN call a behaviorist, but its expensive and to him personally its not worth it. He thinks Jack is adjusting to the changes and is just protective of the baby and that we should wait it out but if he bites the baby then we should sell or offer him to BRAT or put him down…SO as a family we have decided to keep working with Jack. Take percautions when guests are here (caged mussle) and do ALL we can to help him feel more confortable around strangers and the changes. Hes been stressed i can tell, and VERY full of energy (thank god for my husband who WEARS Jack OUT everyday!! LOL) so hes buring off the bottled up energy. Jack had to get some medicine for the hot spots he has been making all over himself...so poor lil Jackers is going to be in his caged mussle alot for the next few days. but thank GOD Jack doesnt mind wearing it at all...lol. WELL we will keep ya posted and THANKS for all the support!!
Sorry, but I would never go to that Vet again…. And wait to just see if he bites? and then Sell, give to BRAT, or PTS? That is no answer, sorry... you would be much better off placing him now, IMO....
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I'm actually surprised that in the litigious society that we live in today that any vet would make the recommendation to wait and see if the dog bites the child. Wow. :eek:
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And while I understand a financial situation about getting a behaviorist, like a few others have said, they have done it for a very small price… honestly IMO, you are not being fair to Jack or to your family... the present of the hot spots are a big indication that he is totally stressed (as you said) and I would venture to guess that things will not get a whole lot better....and if he bites it will be because he is placed in a stressful situation and knows no way to get himself out of it, be it right or wrong...
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It does seem strange that the vet would suggest waiting for the disaster before rehoming the dog. Particularly in light of the dog clearly being stressed enough to have hot spots.
On the other hand, I have been in the situation of having to make this decision. We decided to keep the dog (Ivy), because for us, we would not rehome her, knowing that she will bite without much warning. But we have put a TON of work into managing her every move, behavioral modification, and making sure Ethan is always safe. Ivy is the reason that I went from knowing how to train dogs, to learning how to modifiy problem behaviors in dogs. I had to learn a lot, very quickly, and luckily I had great access to mentors and teachers. This project (biting dog living with kids) is something I would not recommend to ANY client. It isn't something to be taken lightly, or without a committment to learning as much as humanly possible about dog behavior (and child behavior).
It is important to keep in mind the balance of the human's desire to keep the dog in the family vs. the dog's happiness with the situation. Sometimes what we want for the dog, is not at all what the dog would choose for himself.
