Growling at Other Dogs

[wizard]

If EL D sees another dog some distance away he wants to investigate or at least stop and see if other dog is coming our way. He doesn't get growly but his hackles do go up when another dog comes close. I always tell him "its okay be nice" and then just watch the other dog as well to see how it is responding. My neighborhood has a number of BIG dogs and some are fairly aggressive – I really hate the neighbors who say "it's okay mine is a nice dog" and then their dog starts to attack us. So then I'll just grab EL D and carry him (sometimes on my shoulders) away.

[tanza]

Hackles up is also a pretty common thing for Basenjis to do…. When people who "insist" on letting their dogs close or off lead for that matter and say.."mine is a nice dog"... drives me crazy... Cause like you said, then you get attacked.... cause it is NOT a nice dog in that particular situation. Ann, who has Kobey and Crystal, when people say that to her, responds with "Mine are NOT"... works pretty much all the time...gggg
But then, she like myself, am not particularly interested in meeting and greeting every dog on the street/neighborhood

[lvoss]

Hackles up is a sign of arousal. It doesn't necessarily have a positive or a negative connotation in dog language it just means arousal.

Most people's dogs who the owner says "are nice" are actually rude. They tend to approach straight on and invade the other dogs' space. It is not surprising then when a dog who is very appropriate reacts with a verbal "get out of my space". I think most of us would say the same thing if not a bit stronger if some stranger ran up to us and tried to hug us.

[Quercus]

@tanza:

Hackles up is also a pretty common thing for Basenjis to do…. When people who "insist" on letting their dogs close or off lead for that matter and say.."mine is a nice dog"... drives me crazy... Cause like you said, then you get attacked.... cause it is NOT a nice dog in that particular situation. Ann, who has Kobey and Crystal, when people say that to her, responds with "Mine are NOT"... works pretty much all the time...gggg
But then, she like myself, am not particularly interested in meeting and greeting every dog on the street/neighborhood

That's what I do too. Even though, for the most part, mine are friendly…I don't want to get in that situation that lets either of the dogs practice less than good manners. Many dogs respond poorly to Basenjis because of their natural assertiveness, and unwillingness to be immediately submissive. And many Basenjis respond poorly to overfriendly, in your face kinda dogs...so it just isn't a good mix.

[Barklessdog]

And you all know that this lying "in wait" is pretty much a Basenji trait….. to drop and stalk

Mine does this on walks and then pounces if they walk by. Getting them in a sitting position works best, being relaxed and ignoring the person or dog walking by. I find this has worked the best for our dogs.

I don't want to get in that situation that lets either of the dogs practice less than good manners. Many dogs respond poorly to Basenjis because of their natural assertiveness, and unwillingness to be immediately submissive. And many Basenjis respond poorly to over-friendly, in your face kinda dogs…so it just isn't a good mix.

Agreed, to many times mine attacks the other dog and the owner gives you this awful look. Other times he gets along well. I find mine tend to far better with opposite sex short hair hound type dogs, than any long haired beast. They know some dogs in the neighborhood they do great with, others not so much.

[Barklessdog]

One time I was walking my dogs and a lady across the street was walking a little long hair dog thing and started to bark and pull towards our dogs accross the street, somehow the leash slipped out of my hand (winter & slippery gloves).

My dog was just a year or two old, started to circle the prey, ducking & bobbing really fast - then lunging in and attacking the other dog. He probabbly nipped the other dog twice before I could get his leash. The lady screamed at me "Whats wrong with your dog?"

It happened so fast and the basenji's was going super fast around the dog. It's actually pretty cool, the agility these dogs have, but not in this situation.

I appoligized and left. It seemed more like he was testing the other dog rather than really attacking, he had a big smile on his face, like it was a game.

[agilebasenji]

Instead of saying "My dog isn't friendly" or something of that ilk, which can perpetuate that myth that basenjis are vicious, biting dogs (and I have encountered those people in non-dog areas of life), you may want to say something like "My dog is recovering from mange" or another contageous disease. (or just "my dog is ill") That usually gets people's attention real quick.

[Quercus]

@agilebasenji:

Instead of saying "My dog isn't friendly" or something of that ilk, which can perpetuate that myth that basenjis are vicious, biting dogs (and I have encountered those people in non-dog areas of life), you may want to say something like "My dog is recovering from mange" or another contageous disease. (or just "my dog is ill") That usually gets people's attention real quick.

I think it is important that people learn to think twice before they let their dogs get in another dog's face because 'their dog is friendly'. I don't really care what they think of the breed, or my own dogs. If I know the person, or have reason to talk with them beyond trying to keep them from letting their dogs irritate mine, I will explain that my dogs aren't nasty, they just have very clear rules about how dogs should approach each other.

It isn't a myth that basenjis on lead are often likely to growl or snap at dogs that approach in a reckless fashion. And, as Lisa said, usually dogs that approach like that aren't 'really' friendly, they are rude.

Personally, I would rather have someone think my dog is an introvert than sick

[lvoss]

My husband's response to people when they use the "my dog is friendly" line is often "I am not". Which is pretty true when someone is allowing their dogs to invade the space of the dog he is walking. He walks to the other side of the street, tells people to give him space, etc but every so often he runs across someone who is a rude as their dog and just doesn't take the more subtle cues.

[nomrbddgs]

That is what I tell a lot of people Lisa. I have people roaming my property with their dogs loose. I tell them I have dogs and they always say the same thing-My dog is friendly! to which I reply, Well, mine are not!

[tanza]

@Quercus:

I think it is important that people learn to think twice before they let their dogs get in another dog's face because 'their dog is friendly'. I don't really care what they think of the breed, or my own dogs. If I know the person, or have reason to talk with them beyond trying to keep them from letting their dogs irritate mine, I will explain that my dogs aren't nasty, they just have very clear rules about how dogs should approach each other.

It isn't a myth that basenjis on lead are often likely to growl or snap at dogs that approach in a reckless fashion. And, as Lisa said, usually dogs that approach like that aren't 'really' friendly, they are rude.

Personally, I would rather have someone think my dog is an introvert than sick

I have to say, I totally agree with you Andrea… I don't really care what people think... and yes, most dogs that approach are "rude"....

[jys1011]

Ditto!! I had someone respond to me once…"well why is he out in public?!!!" :mad: to which I quickly responded..."same reason why YOU are!" :mad:

Yeah..I'm just the wrong person to be nasty to..especially when it comes to my dogs

[tanza]

@jys1011:

Ditto!! I had someone respond to me once…"well why is he out in public?!!!" :mad: to which I quickly responded..."same reason why YOU are!" :mad:

Yeah..I'm just the wrong person to be nasty to..especially when it comes to my dogs

Great comeback!!!!!

[dash]

We have had the same problem with Dash. I have been seeing a trainer and eventually, if need be we will see a behaviorist. She reccommended first–make him sit for everything so it is common to hear and second nature. Give him a treat. On walks bring the treats with you and when another dog is approaching make him sit and give him the treat. She recommended getting a gentle leader as well, which we are getting next week. I was hard on a regular leash to get his attention once he saw the dog. I will say just standing in front of him and shoving hot dogs in his mouth did seem to help. At least he associated dogs and strange people with food. He only growled once for the entire walk. I was very surprised. I am going to try the gentle leader and I think that will make a world of difference. I have a Halti but I guess it fits different. Anyway, I can keep you posted.

[zephyr]

hello, I've just joined this forum. I have a beautiful 9 yr old basenji boy. I didn't get him neutered as a pup because the registered breeder I got him from advised against it. In hindsight, I should have followed my strong instincts and had him neutered as a pup. As an adult he is very aggressive towards male dogs and if he has the opportunity, will actively try to pick fights. As a pup I took him with mey everywhere, markets, lure coursing, walks EVERY day in the neighbourhood to socialise with other dogs and people. Now as adult dog he is turning me into a nervous wreck, he is a nightmare to walk as he just pulls as hard as he can for the ENTIRE walk. Once, and only once in 9 years the leash came loose and he goaded another dog into a fight, it was a nightmare, thank god the other dog's owner finally came because the other dog was shaking poor Sam (my basenji) like a rabbit. The other day, a gardener let Sam out even though I'd warned him to wait while I got Sam inside, the upshot was was that Sam ran into a yard and tried to attack the two MASSIVE resident dogs (one of whom was a rottweiler) and thank god the owner finally came and herded his dogs away. I don't know what to do about Sam's aggression, I hardly walk him now because it is such a nerve wracking excersize as Sam will try to fight ANY male dog that comes near. I live on a 1 and quarter acre property with alot of trees so he still has alot of room to run around, but it breaks my heart because I know he really wants to go out. He is a big, stocky basenji and when he pulls with all his might on the lead it's just horrible, and coupled with the fear of other dogs coming up to him and what might happen it just makes walking Sam a nerve wracking experience. I walk my other dog (a greyhound )every time I go out and it's an absolute pleasure, if Sam would behave a bit I'd take him with me everywhere, but I'm at the stage where I'm just plain frightened. Can anyone tell me if desexing would calm him down a bit? I really, really need some advice. He has lived with me since he was 8 wks old.

[wizard]

I acquired EL D when he was 4 yrs old (retired champion show dog :)) and had just been neutered. He is still rather aggressive to other dogs but not overly so (never outright attacking).
When we met other dogs while on walks I used to just tell him "it's okay, be nice" in an attempt to calm him. But when I started taking him to obedience class (yeah I know he's a little old for O.C. but he did great) the instructor told me that I was really encouraging him - "okay keep doing that". So now I tell him "No" when he gets hackles up and he listens pretty well - the hackles don't go down but he doesn't pull at the leash either. Once or twice the other dog has been really aggressive (scary) and I've just picked up EL D and carried him away - that worked well too because I could feel him calm down.

[zephyr]

If I tried to pick up Sam and carry him away from a fight he would have a go at me. When he is worked up and I've tried to get him away he has bitten me. In every other respect he is a wonderful dog whom I love v much. I find it interesting that I haven't come across any other basenjis in this forum as aggressive as mine. Sam doesn't just growl or snap at other male dogs he actively pushes them and tries to goad them into fighting. I'm beginning to think that Sam is a particularly 'rambunctious' pup?