Need help, is a basenji right?

[tanza]

@felakuti:

personally, i dont think a basenji is the breed for you under your circumstances. Unless the whole family, especially your mother, is ready to make the committment of raising a "difficult" breed it isnt a good idea. how about a nice yellow lab, or one of those tiny breeds, i bet your mom would like having one of those around. good luck

I disagree, really a Basenji is like any other puppy…. and it would be the same for any type of puppy, the whole family needs to be ready for the committment. It can be carried a little too far by saying this is a "difficult" breed... yes as far as some things.. because they are a thinking breed (as are all sighthounds and 99% of Terriers for that matter)...
Honestly a toy is one of the hardest to potty train... for sure!!! And unless the pup of any breed is well socialized from a responsible breeder, any would be a challenge to raise. I know many a "nice yellow lab" that are holy terrors...

[tanza]

@sharronhurlbut:

Have you considered a rescue basenji?
One that has good house manners and is housebroken?
That might be something your family would consider.
A puppy is a LOT of work for everyone.

And yes a rescue adult is another way to go… but they also come with baggage.... the bottom line is the entire family must be committed to getting a pup.. period...

[WBL]

Everyone has made valid points, I think maybe because you are still in high school maybe a pup is not the best solution right now. I know we all want pups so we can raise them and see them in that absolutely adorable puppyhood, but sometimes a pup is not good for the situation.

As Sharron and Pat both pointed out a rescue might be a good way to go, you can find younger dogs in rescue at times, also you can contact breeders and see if they might have adults available. Rescues can and sometimes come with their own baggage so to speak, but BRAT should be able to help you find a dog that works with you and your family.

This next part is gonna sound rough, in your situation you really need to listen to your parents, they may say it's okay to get a dog, but in the end they're choice is the law because you are still under their roof. I would say talk to your parents more, even have them get on here to the forum a bit.

Basenji's are wonderful little dogs, and are not really more difficult than any other dog, it's just how you work with them that is a little different, they are thinkers, FAR from dumb and will out smart you at every chance they get.

And lastly, since your mom is worried about the type of dog and she will be home with it while you are at school, I HIGHLY suggest contacting breeders/owners in your area and ask them if you can come and meet their dogs and so your mom can meet the dog. Are lovely dogs, but not the type of dog that you can just jump right into.

[WBL]

@felakuti:

personally, i dont think a basenji is the breed for you under your circumstances. Unless the whole family, especially your mother, is ready to make the committment of raising a "difficult" breed it isnt a good idea. how about a nice yellow lab, or one of those tiny breeds, i bet your mom would like having one of those around. good luck

IMO I don't think that a lab or a tiny breed is a better suggestion, labs are large dogs and they don't fully mature until they are at least 3 yrs, and that includes calming down. Smaller dogs are make MUCH more noise than other dogs (majority of the time), and again all IMO labs and other larger dogs are much more destructive than a basenji. Also it is extremely harder to house break a tiny dog, compared to basenji size and bigger

All puppies have to be watched and guided in the right direction.

[TuckerVA]

I just saw that I regurgitated some previous post information…pardon my plagarism (and my spelling)...

All dogs have to be guided. Adults and puppies. I'm sure we all agree on that. I got a rescue because of some of the points you raise. Tucker was house trained and deemed to be non-destructive. He was housetrained, but he had accidents and did some spiteful peeing early in our 'relationship'. He only has accidents now if he's sick. He's NEVER been destructive, but he can murder a roll of toilet paper. What I didn't know when I got him was that he was going to bit my entire family, all of my friends and some of my neighbors. But I deal with it and it's taken some time and management.

The point I'm trying to make is that ALL dogs will be a responsibility and no matter what the breed is, they will require constant care and attention. No dog thrives if left alone for long periods of time or are neglected. As stated, basenjis are famous for being a 'problem breed'. However, the reward from owning one is priceless, IMHO, and I don't consider my dog to be a problem because, well, he's MINE and I love the little bastard.

Some other things to consider...

You said you were in HS, what happens to the dog when you go to college if you choose to do so? Will you go to a college that allows dogs or will you rely on your parents to take care of him/her then? Do colleges even allow dogs? (I would think not, unless you lived off campus and not too many folks do this the first year). The dog will certainly outlive your HS stint, unless you adopt a much older dog. If no college, what about when you have to start working to earn your keep or make your place in the world? If you don't live at home at this time, and you have a younger dog...a dog left to it's own devices all day can certainly find trouble. Furthermore, what kind of life is living in a crate all day?

I would suggest you read everything you can find about the breed if you haven't already. A good dog is a good dog. Both adoption and getting a puppy from a breeder have pros and cons. Too many to go through here...

[hdolbow]

and I don't consider my dog to be a problem because, well, he's MINE and I love the little bastard.

well said:D

[hdolbow]

@TuckerVA:

and I don't consider my dog to be a problem because, well, he's MINE and I love the little bastard.

well said

[Basenji_Boy]

@TuckerVA:

I don't consider my dog to be a problem because, well, he's MINE and I love the little bastard.

He He He…........I enjoyed that.:D

I can't disagree with anything you've said. Any dog requires a personal commitment just like a child IMO, please think this out carefully.

[TuckerVA]

I don't think any of us are here to talk you out of getting a Basenji (or a dog). I think what we're all trying to do is help you think of what you hadn't thunk of…and to help to give you a picture of what lies ahead. Not just next week (when you are considering putting your new basenji up for adoption because you just can't take it anymore), but several years from now (when you are considering dumping your fiance because your basenji doesn't like him anymore).

..and to teach you a new word: thunk.

[Gooby]

you didn't say if you have had dogs ever, but i wouldn't recomend a basenji as a first dog.
if you are worried about noise i've found that goober is quieter than any dog i've ever had.
if you are afraid of attracting more coyotes then any kind of dog will probably have the opposite effect.

[JazzysMom]

As a parent, I have to say that I can't really advise getting ANY animal that your parents are not completely on board with getting.

What kind of dog, if any really, are THEY interested or agreeable to having?

[bambilovee]

haha wow! alot of this posts have definately got me thinking.

i have researched the breed alot, and probably bored my parents to death with new little facts i find. also my dad and i have gone to a breeder that does only african ones. and she didnt have a litter ready then, but she showed me all of her adults and the different personalities of each of them.

my dad believes that if a new dog will bring me more happiness then it is worth it, no matter what dog, or size. its just my mom who is expressing concern, which is tough because she would be the one home majority of the time, and if she doesnt like the dog, it will go downhill.

i have gone to alot of shelters to just look at other dogs to see if a different breed will jump out at me. and so far none have.

college has also been a concern for my family. but my dad has told me that we will cross that bridge when we get there, and if i need to get an apartment while im in college, i can be prepared.

about the whole lab thing….my family has one. we have a huge white lab (we think he is part moose) and he is about 6 or 7. and we also have a minature dachshund who is about 4 or 5.

any dog is a huge responsibility, and i think i kind of forgot about that. and im sure that when my mom read about basenjis online and saw that the were more destructive than another bread, so maybe that just freaked her out.

i think what im going to do is go to the breeder and take a look at the puppies and bring my mom along too, because i have mainly been looking for dogs with my dad.

thank you all so much for giving me advice and really helping me think beyond what i have been.

[JazzysMom]

Good idea, and good luck. Let your mom meet the breeder and ask any questions she may have. That'd be a great time for her to address the potential for destructive behavior, and training techniques, etc.

My husband was in a near panic before we got our first Basenji nearly three years ago because so many people made comments like, "You're getting a Basenji? It'll tear up your furniture!". He's a bit of a neat-freak, and was NOT dealing well with the idea of a dog that will make the house look trashed.

What we learned in visiting three different breeders is that yes, these dogs are busy {when they're not sleeping like logs}, and yes they are inclined to chew. But if you provide them with exercise and things to chew they will learn to {mostly} leave your things alone.

It's all going to depend on how you handle the training process. . . . And YOU will have to be super focused on that to take some of the pressure off Mom!

[tanza]

Who is the breeder that you are visiting with? If only the Avongara's then it is Bev Bland…. she is a great person.... and also I assume you have been on the Basenji club of America site? There is lots of information about the Af Stock Project and how the Avongara's came to the US and were entered into the stud books.... site is www.basenji.org

[Quercus]

Sounds like you are doing a great job doing your research! Good job! I agree that the best idea would be to get you mom to visit some puppies, and see if she warms up to the idea. Also important for you to take the responsibility to REALLY be the one doing the work with the puppy when you are home, and setting your parents up for success with the puppy when you can't be there. If you mom senses that she might end up doing all the work, then she will be less likely to cooperate (spoken from a mom's point of view )

You sound like a great kid, and I am so impressed that you are putting so much effort into finding the right dog for you, and still keeping your family's feelings in mind. Keep up the good work

[bambilovee]

yeah i have been to the website and i looked at every single dog bev has bred. and she is the breeder i am interested in. it was so nice of her to let me see the adults and get a feel for how they are as adults.

i think my mom might feel like she might end up doing all of the work, but i will try to talk to her and reassure her.

thank you! talking to everyone on here is definately making me feel better and making me keep going and not giving up.

im happy ive been handling this situation to the best i can, and i can still improve with it and have my mom get involved.

[tanza]

I think you are doing a great job… and maybe your Mom might want to read some of our posts here... they might help her feel better about a Basenji...
And if you have a Doxie... well, they are a hound also... and not much different then a Basenji.... give them enough "rope" and they can cause lots of havic too.... ggggg

And I am glad that you are going to Bev.. she is a great person... and has some wonderful Basenjis. Lisa and I co-bred a litter last year sired by one of her boys....

[ChaseandZahrasmom]

My husband was the one who originally wanted a Basenji or a Pharoah Hound. I read all kind of things online about how the Basenji's were destructive and a "challenge" and it scared me beyond words. We had Chase for only a few months at the time and I was still new to the dog thing. I was very hesitant to get a Basenji after reading all of those scary things so I can relate to your Mom's feelings.

I bet if she saw one it would help, when I saw Zahra I thought there was no way she can be as bad or as destructive as all of the things that I read online. We ended up getting her and she is not as bad as what all I read online. Yes, she requires different attention than a normal dog but if I never would have physically seen one I don't think I would have ever changed my mind.

@bambilovee:

and im sure that when my mom read about basenjis online and saw that the were more destructive than another bread, so maybe that just freaked her out.=]

[lvoss]

I am just reading this thread. I am showing this weekend and behind in my email.

I agree that getting a chance to see the dogs in person and interact with them makes a big difference. As Pat mentioned, one of Bev's boys sired my last litter, so I really got to know her and her dogs. Her dogs are really sweet, and of course I am very biased about her boy Cole since he is my puppies' father but he is a real gentleman and pretty quiet in comparison to his sister On Rai who is so such a clown and a singer. They are all individuals with different personalities and endearing traits. I think you will find that Bev is really helpful in providing an opportunity to really get to know the breed.

[wizard]

You sure sound like you are doing your homework on this. The idea to take mom along to the breeder is the best suggestion yet. She'll have a chance to get all her questions answered there. And as long as you recognize that you have to put in a lot of time in training your dog (no matter what breed) I think you'll do fine. Good luck.