Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Resource/territory guarding???

Resource/territory guarding???

Behavioral Issues
  • PujiP

    Hello all! We are looking for some advice on one of Charlie's less desirable behaviours :( (BTW, Charlie is a 6-month-old basenji-pug mix. We've had him just over 3 months. He was neutered a few days ago.)

    Whenever my husband is kneeling down and rummaging around at ground level, Charlie has been perking up, rushing in his direction, snarling, and grabbing at his arms and/or legs - whatever's closer. It doesn't seem to matter what Charlie is doing at the time, or where the action is occurring, or what my husband is rummaging through. The other day, my husband was in the guest room where Charlie hardly ever spends any time. Today, he was in the kitchen, getting something from the bottom cabinets.

    This has been occurring more frequently in the past week or so, although we can see roots of this behaviour in his earlier months with us. For example, if we spilled some kibble, Charlie would rush to pick up as much as he could before we got to it, but he wouldn't growl or bite.

    Our approach so far has been to try to avoid situations that we think will trigger him. Also, we've both been reprimanding him with a stern 'eh' when he snarls - which usually gets him to pause. Today, I got him to sit-stay, and then fed him treats while my husband was rummaging at ground level. Tomorrow, I'm going to look into getting a behaviouralist to advise us. In the meanwhile, do any of you have any insights or suggestions for us? We would really appreciate it - it has been really disheartening to see this kind of reaction from our pup!

    (Here he is in one of his sweeter moments :rolleyes: )

    attachment_t_2624_0_charlie_20071201_162.jpg

    0
  • QuercusQ

    I *think the growling etc during the rummaging behavior *might be play. It is hard to know without seeing it. But I have had pug clients that did that behavior lunging, growling at their people's feet, trying to get them to play… as startling as it sounds! Often a human being on the floor is a clear invitation in the dog's mind to crazy play time.

    And the trying to eat faster after spilled food *could be a precurser to resource guarding...but maybe not. A lot of dogs innocently do this....

    I like what you are doing by having him sit and get treats while DH is rummaging...perfect traiing plan. Work on exchanging objects with him for treats, if you are concerned that there may be some resource guarding.

    A behaviorist would be a great idea...just make sure you get someone who respects independant thinking dogs...and uses mainly positive reinforcement training techniques. Good luck :) He sure is cute!

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    1
  • tanzaT

    And keep using the sit/stay. It would be great if your husband could be the one to enforce the sit/stay with the rewards for the correct behavior. If he can do the "eh" to get his attention or better yet right as he is getting to him… and the he puts him in the sit/stay with the treat, that might help. Also, who feeds him in your house? Try changing to your husband feeding him... bumps him up in the food chain to the dogs point of view....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • JazzysMomJ

    I can't help with the behavior – sound like you already got great advice anyway -- but my! oh my! What a cutie you have !!!

    0
  • S

    Could it be his age? He is trying to move up in the pack family?
    Have you had him into any training/obedience classes?
    I really do believe these classes help give you and your dog a way to interact with their humans.
    I would be interested to hear what the pro has to say re this behavior.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

    0
  • BarklessdogB

    He's really cute!

    0
  • PujiP

    Thanks, all, for your great advice! We will work on the sit-stay with treats while DH is rummaging. We'll also look into classes and a behaviouralist for Charlie.

    Hmm, I hadn't even considered that Charlie's behaviour might be an invitation to play. Typically, he either brings us a toy and drops it at our feet, or starts play bowing and nipping when he wants to play with us - but that's if we're just sitting around and he wants attention.

    He is a resource guarder when it comes to his rawhides and pizzles, so we are working on object exchanges (using Jean Donaldson's protocol in her book "Culture Clash"). He was doing really well, then had a set back (after a few days without practice exchanges), and we recently started from square one. He is almost back to where he was - dropping his rawhide on command and allowing me to take it. I will definitely keep this up!!

    Thanks again for the input!! I will post again with updates :)

    0
  • QuercusQ

    <>
    Yay! Perfect resource! Keep up the good work!

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0

Suggested Topics

  • B

    Dog Behaviorist/Trainer needed

    Behavioral Issues
    22
    1 Votes
    22 Posts
    6k 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.
  • K

    Crate/seperation axiety- help!

    Behavioral Issues
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    K
    @debradownsouth your post rings true and though I hate that this has to be the solution- unfortunately if I lock her in any sort of room she instantly scratches frantically at the carpet, ripping it from the tacks in 5-10 minutes. I’d love to give her free roam of my place- as I did my last place- but she’s not comfortable enough yet and will destroy the carpet and maybe the couch as well. She is odd in the way she acts. She has plenty ability to get away from the kids and loud noises but does not move away from them. She will just give a short protest growl as they walk by. Giving her treats in the crate doesn’t work. She’s still to frantic to even think about them while in there. She goes nicely into the crate and doesn’t have to be forced, but has now taken a step backwards since she got out the one time. We go to the dog park frenquently and she gets long walks everyday as we live in a town that’s easily walk-able. I even have the 6 year old wall her. The Prozac, thus far, has helped her to not be so frantic during the day when the kids are under toe. Basenjis are hard (as we all know) and this is not my first by far.
  • ShannaniganS

    Marking Territory, and Dependence

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    4k Views
    ShannaniganS
    Thanks for all of that, listeme! We're working on "leave it" and "drop it" (similar to trade, for now, hoping he'll start dropping without trading eventually). Leave it was more out of necessity, lol, while drop it he seems to find fun. I am truly convinced that he is a magic puppy today! Came home after having to leave him home alone in the crate for 5 hours (I felt horrible!) and expected to have a huge mess in the crate to clean up. Instead, there was a puddle of pee on the kitchen floor just OUTSIDE of the crate, and nothing inside! Either he was on his hind legs or learned to lift a leg, but either way - awesome!!!
  • NerdyDogOwnerN

    Itch/scratch spot…

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    3k Views
    BasenjimammaB
    I think the oil makes for fishy breath after they have consumed it, but it goes away rather quickly after that, so about an hour max after each meal, more like 30 minutes.. The pros are way better then the cons, I highly recommend it, his itching will be better, his coat will be shiny (although as a puppy I bet he already has great looking coat) and his jonts will thank you in the long run..win, win..
  • BasenjiDivaB

    Male/Season question

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    YodelDogsY
    @BasenjiDiva: I'll probably give the Ecchinacia and goldenseal a try. Where do you find it? I get mine at Wal-Mart.
  • jennifereverJ

    Lunging/Growling!!

    Behavioral Issues
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    jennifereverJ
    haha thanks for the info. will definitely check out that book as well.