Skip to content

Help with biting

Behavioral Issues
  • Hello everyone! My first time here. I have a Basenji that is not very friendly with anyone except my husband and I. Anyone comes we have to shut him up, cause he would bite. Is this natural? He is 7 years old and can anyone tell me how to control him when someone is around? Would love to hear your response.

  • @concessionlady:

    Hello everyone! My first time here. I have a Basenji that is not very friendly with anyone except my husband and I. Anyone comes we have to shut him up, cause he would bite. Is this natural? He is 7 years old and can anyone tell me how to control him when someone is around? Would love to hear your response.

    You might have his thyroid checked. Sometimes, unexplainable aggression can be caused by a failing thyroid gland. You need to have a full panel run, regardless of what your vet might tell you.

    Good luck :)

  • If this dog has always been that way, the likelihood of changing him and him being trustworthy may be more than it's worth. I don't see a problem with putting him up with people are over if it fits your lifestyle. if it doesn't, then there are things to do to help retrain. if it is a NEW problem, then I would worry seriously about health issues, such as andrea suggested (thyroid aggression).

  • Hello I'm New , My Daisy Is A Biter. If You Touch Her Sometimes. She Seems Really Sensitive All The Time. She Can Be Fully Awake And Loving Than It Switches. She Has Gottin Us Good A Couple Times. I Don't Know Why She Can Turn Like That She Is A Spoiled Pooch. Do You Have Any Ideas What I Could Do.

Suggested Topics

  • Potty and Biting

    Behavioral Issues
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    15k Views
    ZandeZ
    There should be space for another half Basenji inside the coat. It should be pliable and you should be able to feel its space between your finger and thumb if you pinch it (lightly, of course !) I measure out the kibble in the morning for the days' ration and the only treats they get are taken from that ration. They think they are getting a treat, but actually it is coming from their daily amount so no extra calories at all !
  • Biting his Tail?

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    12k Views
    ErinElisabethE
    @eeeefarm: Sounds like transferred aggression to me. He knows not to bite the person, but is annoyed enough that he wants to take it out on something, and his tail is handy. :) I wouldn't worry about it if it doesn't get worse. I also wouldn't provoke it. Avoid annoying him if you can and the behaviour may extinguish on its own. Okay! Thanks for all your help!
  • Help….What do I do...

    Behavioral Issues
    20
    0 Votes
    20 Posts
    9k Views
    QuercusQ
    I agree with Debra…dogs who feel it is okay to growl and snap at their owners to get their way should not be sleeping in the bed. Paulajean, you can work this out...just get some good advice from a good trainer...she is not a bad dog, you just need a way to communicate to her that you are the leader :) Check out Patricia McConnell's book "How to Be the Leader of the Pack (and have your dog love you for it)" you can google it and find it at several different vendors.
  • Help with Jack

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    Have you discussed this behavior with his breeder? Have you tried a behaviorist? And are you sure it was the full thyroid panel, not just the one part that is done with Vet's regular blood work?
  • Help for Max

    Behavioral Issues
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    5k Views
    AJs HumanA
    @lvoss: These behaviors are not necessarily "wanting to be the boss". Several of them seem to be resource gaurding behaviors, like what he is doing with your husband. I agree…and from what I'm seeing here, YOU are the resource. I'm not sure whether to train the Terrier part of him or the Basenji part of him. A behaviorist or professional trainer would have a better idea.
  • Biting all the time

    Behavioral Issues
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    7k Views
    tanzaT
    @Gooby: An old school technique my grenpeppy taught me way back when is to wait for your dog to mouth your hand and then grab his lower jaw. If you use your thumb to apply a light pressure on his tounge he soon learns that biting people's hand is a very unpleasant thing. to speed it up try putting bitter apple spray on your hands That is an old school technique, and I never found it to work much.. and you have to be really quick to catch them each and every time…