Lots of questions about puppy aggression

[Chelbell26]

Hi everyone,
thanks for all the replies! I agree that we overdid it with the stimuli (we were just so excited to have a puppy & got a little too excited I guess). We are paring it down as much as possible and I was able to get him interested in a little bit of hot dog…so that might be a very good treat (as long as it keeps his interest). The vet just called and asked how he was doing and asked if he was still throwing up the little food that he does eat...and when I said he was...the vet asked me to bring him in tomorrow to ensure that Jackpot isn't dehydrated, has a virus or anything else. So, that will be the third trip to the vet this week (poor thing). We are going to try to take a very short car ride tonight to the park across the street...just to give him a "fun car trip" and see how that goes.

Thanks again for all the knowledge, suggestions, and "reality checks" guys! I can't thank you enough!

[Chelbell26]

or should we just skip the short car ride to the park (I was just trying to make sure that not all car rides are to the vet)…but I don't want to overstimulate him my getting in the car tonight, going to the park, etc. Ugh, I just want to do what's best for him! :o

[etzbseder]

I am pretty sure you just need to give him time and socialization is a big key. When I got Medjai, Phil was feeding his dogs the WalMart brand dog food. If you put him on better dog food, he will get much better skin and coat.

It may take a week or two for the pup to settle down, but I'm sure it will happen. Medjai is not a huge fan of the car, but he doesn't mind much. He is GREAT with social situations and even really surprised me at the dog park.

Just remember that although Phil is not the best parent of the dogs, he does raise good dogs, and they just need more TLC at the beginning than people who are always with the pups and socialize them often.

[Chelbell26]

Thanks for the input Michael! Pat, I appreciate your knowledge and input…I hear what you are saying and respect your opinion. At this time, we are just trying to go forward (can't change the fact that we already have him and where he came from)...just learn for the future, right?

[tanza]

@Chelbell26:

Thanks for the input Michael! Pat, I appreciate your knowledge and input…I hear what you are saying and respect your opinion. At this time, we are just trying to go forward (can't change the fact that we already have him and where he came from)...just learn for the future, right?

.

Exactly…. I totally agree.. you are a good Basenji "parent/slave"... and you are doing the right thing..

[Quercus]

<<they know="" what="" cleaning="" the="" house="" is="" and="" can="" help..="">>

Uh…my pups don't know what that is...and actually I doubt my son does either ;)</they>

[agilebasenji]

Chelbell-

Sounds like your pup was really overwhelmed with all that was going on. The vomitting may be a slight reaction to shots or car rides. You can test for dehydration by pinching the skin. The skin should snap back, if it stays "pinched", the dog is definately dehydrated, but of course take you new puppers to the vet if you're unsure. In the future, personally, I'd separate the shots. Don't give your pup everything at once. There are many reasons for this and I won't go into all of them right now.

Be careful of puppy classes. Some are better than others. I've seen and heard about lots of puppy classes that tend to over-excite the pups and the pup just seems to be over threashold whenever they are around other dogs. I see you're in Co, if you'd like to meet up sometime and do socialization or talk training, I have some nice dog-safe dogs. You're welcome to pm me.

[tanza]

@Quercus:

<<they know="" what="" cleaning="" the="" house="" is="" and="" can="" help..="">>

Uh…my pups don't know what that is...and actually I doubt my son does either ;)</they>

OK, I should have "put"… when I do clean....;)

[lvoss]

I think our house is cleaner when we have puppies than it is any other time since I want to make sure the pups are socialized to all the sights and sounds of cleaning.:D

[Chelbell26]

Just a quick update on Jackpot…we found out that he does like hot dogs...so that is our treat we are using now. He also likes his bully stick (A LOT)...to the point where I let him chew on it for 10 minutes or so and then I take it away. He hasn't had a problem with me taking it away.

He hasn't thrown up since he's eaten (I threw a couple of very tiny pieces of hot dog in with his dry food) and he ate all the hot dog and a bit of the dry food. He's been drinking a little more water and he seems to have a lot more energy today (playing with toys, etc...where as for the past few days he was pretty listless and sleeping a lot).

I think we are going to try some wet food and see if we can "trick" him into eating some more without having to use hot dogs in everything LOL

We took Jackpot out to go potty and he was very calm around a very psycho pomeranian who was barking up a storm and straining on the edge of its leash...Jackpot just sat by us and focused on his treat...what a difference it makes when we can hold his attention with something! I contacted the animal behaviorist and we are going to get together early next week so that she can meet Jackpot and we can begin the "intervention"

Thanks all for your input and suggestions (the hot dogs were a huge hit) and the advice to scale down all the stimulation was very helpful!

[Ninabeana26]

@Chelbell26:

I think we are going to try some wet food and see if we can "trick" him into eating some more without having to use hot dogs in everything LOL

Just what others have warned me about: don't take those extra steps to feed him unless you are going to continue to do this. You adding wet food may help him eat more but then if you take away the wet, he probably will stop eating again. I was heating Dallas' kibble up because like Jackpot he would only pick but not really eat & I was concerned but I was warned that by making special accomodations like heating it up, it is only making him more of a picky eater. You just need to start a routine & eventually he'll learn it. I can tell you that leaving his bowl in his crate for 15 minutes max then taking it away no matter if he has eaten it or not, has helped A LOT. He still will walk away from his food occasionally but overall he knows that after 15 mins. his food is gone so he better take advantage of it while it's there & eat!

Hope this helps some. Search for my old thread about Dallas' lack of eating…it's called "Should I be concerned?"

[Chelbell26]

Hey Nina,
Thanks for the words of wisdom…I have heard the 15 minute rule from Pat and others as well...we are doing that (bowl in the crate for 15 minutes)...and I know he won't intentially starve himself. I was more thinking about the wet food as a "supplement" and I didn't think about the fact that if we start doing it...when we stop he'll act the same as he is now...great point! I'll have to reconsider.

Thanks!

[Quercus]

@Ninabeana26:

Just what others have warned me about: don't take those extra steps to feed him unless you are going to continue to do this. You adding wet food may help him eat more but then if you take away the wet, he probably will stop eating again. I was heating Dallas' kibble up because like Jackpot he would only pick but not really eat & I was concerned but I was warned that by making special accomodations like heating it up, it is only making him more of a picky eater. You just need to start a routine & eventually he'll learn it. I can tell you that leaving his bowl in his crate for 15 minutes max then taking it away no matter if he has eaten it or not, has helped A LOT. He still will walk away from his food occasionally but overall he knows that after 15 mins. his food is gone so he better take advantage of it while it's there & eat!

Hope this helps some. Search for my old thread about Dallas' lack of eating…it's called "Should I be concerned?"

Right! He WILL eat when he is hungry (as long as he isn't sick). Most likely he was too uptight to eat because of all the changes. Just wait him out, tone down the atmosphere, and he will start eating normal dog food.

[tanza]

@Chelbell26:

Hey Nina,
Thanks for the words of wisdom…I have heard the 15 minute rule from Pat and others as well...we are doing that (bowl in the crate for 15 minutes)...and I know he won't intentially starve himself. I was more thinking about the wet food as a "supplement" and I didn't think about the fact that if we start doing it...when we stop he'll act the same as he is now...great point! I'll have to reconsider.

Thanks!

There really is nothing wrong with mixing some wet food in with dry… I do and I really would not want to go through life just eating old dry food...;) .... the main thing is to be consistent in building good eating habits... same as with kids...

[lvoss]

@tanza:

There really is nothing wrong with mixing some wet food in with dry… I do and I really would not want to go through life just eating old dry food...;) .... the main thing is to be consistent in building good eating habits... same as with kids...

Yes, and a big benefit to adding some wet food to a their meal is that if you have a dog that does not drink enough or you are worried about dehydration this is a really good way to get them some fluids.

My dogs get dry food in the morning and wet mixed with dry in the evening. I usually add a little extra water in with wet in the evening just to make sure everyone is staying hydrated.

Urinary infections and crystals are far more likely if an animal isn't getting enough to drink so I think of the little bit of wet food as preventive medicine.

[JazzysMom]

@lvoss:

Yes, and a big benefit to adding some wet food to a their meal is that if you have a dog that does not drink enough or you are worried about dehydration this is a really good way to get them some fluids.

My dogs get dry food in the morning and wet mixed with dry in the evening. I usually add a little extra water in with wet in the evening just to make sure everyone is staying hydrated.

Urinary infections and crystals are far more likely if an animal isn't getting enough to drink so I think of the little bit of wet food as preventive medicine.

And really, if you don't want to continue feeding the wet, once your little guy is eating well, just slowly add less and less of the wet food. It shouldn't stop him from eating the dry.

[Ninabeana26]

I add water to Dallas' kibble. I have thought about adding wet but haven't made up my mind yet…

I was just saying that if he is a picky eater adding wet may work but then she should stick to wet because if she tries to remove it from the kibble he may stop eating again.

[Duke]

@Ninabeana26:

I add water to Dallas' kibble. I have thought about adding wet but haven't made up my mind yet…

I was just saying that if he is a picky eater adding wet may work but then she should stick to wet because if she tries to remove it from the kibble he may stop eating again.

I was thinking what JazzysMom just posted:
@JazzysMom:

And really, if you don't want to continue feeding the wet, once your little guy is eating well, just slowly add less and less of the wet food. It shouldn't stop him from eating the dry.

Slowly decrease the wet food. I have found that by drizzling water on the dry, my two are just as happy. Merricks dry will make gravy with water.

[Chelbell26]

So, Jackpot and my mother in law are getting along (Yea!) He no longer growls or tries to bite her. We spoke with the behaviorist/trainer over the phone this morning and she told us to flip the puppy on this back and tell him to be nice (trainer mentioned how important it is to make sure that he knows he is not the dominant one)…it only took 1 time of doing this before he let my mother-in-law pet him. Now he's snuggling up next to her (boy these dogs are little heat seekers aren't they!) and MIL is able to take his bully stick away from him with no problems! He is also figuring out that MIL is a source for hot dogs (which is Jackpot's new favorite treat)...so I'm sure that is helping out the budding relationship. LOL

I wonder if Jackpot was just feeling grouchy and on-edge on Tuesday when she came over for the first time because of the vaccinations and too much stimulation those first few days.

We will have our first in-person consult with the trainer/behaviorist tomorrow and we are going to work on socialization, basic obedience, etc...but things are looking up and I just wanted to give you guys a little update. We have a long road ahead of us...but I'm optimistic & willing to work hard!

Thanks all for your advice and words of wisdom!

[jys1011]

He no longer growls or tries to bite her. We spoke with the behaviorist/trainer over the phone this morning and she told us to flip the puppy on this back and tell him to be nice (trainer mentioned how important it is to make sure that he knows he is not the dominant one)…it only took 1 time of doing this before he let my mother-in-law pet him.

Did the trainer indicate what you should do when he gets bigger?? I'm not sure I'm totally on board with this method. If he encounters somene other "new" person and he's a lot older you will not be able to easily flip him on his back & might actually get bitten in your attempt to do so.

I would have much rather seen some advice that was centered on helping the dog get comfortable with the new situation with positive praises & rewards.

Just my 2 cents