Bitten & Constant Growling - Please Help!

Behavioral Issues

  • Pat thank you.
    I hate these type of posts.
    I want every b' well any dog to be mentally happy and able to bond with any family they have*.
    THIS is the ideal, but the reality is that we have some very damaged b's out there.
    We need to give them peace.
    So, please, don't pass these dogs on, you can be libel , but more over, you can send a damaged dogs into a home where further damage can be done.
    Hard decisions.
    BUT its the right one for the dog.
    IMO.


  • I'm certainly not going to rehome him. We're bringing him back home tomorrow and like I said in a previous post, I realize I was being naive in thinking he could possibly be rehomed and in major denial of how serious the problem was. This is my baby, foster or not, and we see him being nothing but sweet and loving 99.9% of the time so it's easy to be a little deluded right after something like this happens.

    We're meeting with a trainer/behaviorist this week to try to get some answers and help dealing with him. We need to give him a chance because right now we just don't know enough to make a major decision like putting him down. We only have Joey's best interest at heart and we above anyone don't want him to suffer so if it comes to that then it does.


  • I have kept biting b's.
    Hubby and I both were nailed.
    After a period of time, we learned to read his "signals" and I could tell when he would react.
    We loved him dearly.
    However, we ended up managing him.
    We had folks over the dog was contained, always.
    He was always on a leash when out and we made sure No one come over to "pet the puppy" kids were the worst for this.
    It was hard, but we made it work.
    Just know it can be done…
    You have to make the commintment sp to the dog at all times.
    Once you decide that, you can make it work.
    But you have to protect the dog from "triggers" and the people from harm.
    Good luck.
    I wish you well.
    Please keep us informed and believe we only want the best for you and this b.


  • There has been many of us on this Forum that that has had to make that really, really hard decision to "let" one go… it is never easy... I have been there... and I know that Robyn (Sherwood Basenjis) with a rescue dog has too ... it is not easy... but in the end.. it was the right thing for everyone, including the dog.... peace comes in many ways...

    We do what we can... and if and when the decision comes that the best we can do is send them over the Rainbow Bridge to be free.... there are many, many here that will support your decision and cry the tears with you.. but know that you made the right choice....

    Don't worry about denial.. those that have been in this position have been there, done that.... you are not alone.... there are many here that will support you.... if it comes to that choice.....


  • Thanks Pat…well said.


  • Sharron, I would love to ask you a question about Joey's behavior since you've had similar experiences with Basenjis but it's too in depth to do here. Would it be at all possible to chat with you for a few minutes in the next couple days? I won't take up much of your time but I have this niggling thing that keeps bugging me and think you could offer a good perspective.

    And sorry to anyone if I sounded short in my last post. Everyone's been so supportive on here and I really appreciate the input, regardless of your opinions. It's just been an awfully long week and I'm stressed because he comes home tomorrow and I'm pretty clueless as to how all this is going to turn out.


  • Thanks Pat. Again, I appreciate the support. It means a lot.


  • Ok, I posted to admin to let them give you my info.
    BUT if you want to go the BRAT site, and look under Wa state.
    That is me!
    http://www.basenjirescue.org


  • Good luck…direy01... certainly you are trying to do the best possible that you can... .... certainly you have support here...


  • I am home today, please phone before 7pm.
    We try to keep the evening for family time.


  • I had a similar situation years ago (but not nearly as bad) with a german shepherd mix. She was about 2 when we adopted her. She was able to bond with me and my boyfriend–but I spent the next 12 years providing special care/management for her. I had a trainer evaluate her early on, and she distinguished between fear based "defensiveness" and "aggression." She said Pepper was being defensive out of fear. I loved that dog with all my heart and provided a good, comfortable, safe home for her until she had to be put to sleep due to kidney failure. I also brought in a basenji puppy (Max) early on, and she was able to live peacefully with him--but it did take special care/management again during the initial stages when we brought him home. She gradually got better as she got older--but also regressed in her very old age to be just very fearful (not defensive).


  • Good news! I talked with Angie Woods - the Atlanta Dog Whisperer who comes highly recommended by other rescue folks in the area - and we're taking Joey to her place Wed at 10:30 am. She wants him to stay with her for awhile, about a week I think, so we're going to board him one more night so we can just take him there right from the vet clinic. Her regular price is $1,200 but she's giving us a discount rate of $500 given the circumstances with him being a foster, etc. That's awesome!

    And I've said it before but I'm just blown away by everyone's support. There are even a couple rescue groups here that are going to try to raise some money to help w/the costs. Absolutely amazing. And Sharron let me call her this morning to pick her brain and was so sweet and helpful. And and and.

    I'm so thrilled that we have an actual plan of action now. Thanks so much for your guys' help and input! I'll let you know how it goes.

    MaxBooBooBear, I'm sure we're going to have to do exactly what you did with Pepper in terms of taking special care/management for as long as we have him but if that's what it takes then that's what we'll do. Thanks for sharing.


  • Honey, I am so greatful your willing to do all you can to see what you can do to give you dog peace.
    I hope you get some answers soon.
    Major hugs.


  • My hat's off to you direy01 - you're truly an amazing person to put yourself into working so hard with Joey. Strong training vibes are headed your way with Joey. Good luck - keep posting.


  • good luck, best wishes I so hope this works for all of you. It so tragic that bad things have to happen to good dogs due to the uncaring of some previous
    owners Rescue groups and good fosters like you sure change the lifes of so many that would have been lost Keep us all posted we are really rooting for you


  • Oh, thank you all so much. I know I sound like a pollyanna but I never dreamed I'd receive so much support from complete strangers.

    Well we are meeting the foster coordinator at the vet clinic in about an hour to sign the adoption papers. We're even going to get to take him out and play with him a little bit! I'm sure curious to see how he'll behave. Then first thing tomorrow I'll pick him up and take him directly to the behaviorist. A rescue group recommended that I put together a fund raising page for him. We're getting a great discount to have him stay there for a week but truth be told we're kind of struggling right now. I hate to even post this here because everyone already does so much to help in their own communities but I thought I would. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I'd be happy to do an animal painting that you could auction off or sell at an event to help recoup some of the money (although they probably won't sell for much!) I can share my art website if anyone's interested.

    Thanks so much everyone.


  • I would like to see your art website.
    I think you should post it here if admin thinks its ok and maybe some of your work will sell to help you.
    Hugs for doing all you are for this boy.


  • Absolutely. You can't hint at talent and then not share.


  • Might be a way to make some $$ to help your boy.
    Just a thought.


  • Good idea. I just sent an email asking if it was ok to post my web address on here. I'll warn you, this ain't your grandma's art. How's that for a tease?

    Well we saw Joey tonight and I have to say I couldn't even pet him. I didn't know they were going to let him out of the crate without a leash on and I nearly had a panic attack. I was a lot more afraid of him than i thought I'd be and I'm just standing there thinking what in the world are we doing? I can't even pet this dog, my heart's racing a mile a minute and he's coming home to live with us? And then the foster coordinator chimes in, "I've had plenty of dogs bit me. I just bite 'em back." Wow, really? Why hasn't anyone told me that's how you deal with an aggressive dog? Guess we don't need the behaviorist after all. Aaagh!

Suggested Topics

  • Peeing in the house. Please help!

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    778 Views
    JKentJ
    What worked for me was taking my Basenji for a short walk along the road that I live on every hour until she went. After just a couple of days it made a big difference and after that I increased it to 2 hourly, 3 hourly and so on. I think it worked because she became used to going outside and it felt less familiar going inside. Going outside and waiting for her to perform with her getting stressed, wanting to go back inside and not understanding what I was asking didn't get us anywhere and this was much quicker and long lasting. Now she goes for 2 decent walks per day (morning and night) and usually asks to go into the garden once in between (she is 18 months old). My Basenji was a puppy so if you decide to try this you may not want to start at hourly. The other benefit of this is that she doesn't tend to want to poo in the garden unless she has an upset stomach.
  • 0 Votes
    14 Posts
    8k Views
    G
    @Nancy-Berry said I'm glad that it's getting so that their dew claws don't have to be removed! Yes. Having, or not having, dew claws is definitely not indicative of a good or bad breeder, or of the quality of the dog. I have had 2 different rescue Basenjis without dew claws who originated from "show" breeders; and I currently have a Basenji that I am showing who HAS dew claws. I would certainly hope that any judge would not base any decisions on whether or not a dog has dew claws. The only problem with leaving dew claws on a Basenji is that it increases the odds of their ability to use power tools! -Joanne
  • Help

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    S
    Do let us know what you found out from the vets.
  • Wit's End… Please help.

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    5k Views
    PhocoenaGirlP
    @khanis: Um yeah.. not. You should NOT give her the freedom to display her dominance. There should be only ONE alpha in your house and that is YOU. All those dogs should get along. I am sorry if I was confusing in my original post as the above post obviously indicates that I was. I agree with the above post in that you should be the only one alpha in your house. You should have control over the dominance displays and any other behaviors of all members of your pack. However, between pack members displays also occur and you have the final say over what is tolerable and what is not. Your b should never be allowed to display dominance over you or other humans in the household however even the behavior where adults growl/bark etc at pups to correct them is a dominance behavior - just not dominant over you. I hope that clears up what I was saying. If not, please ask again.
  • Afraid of the dark? Help Please

    Behavioral Issues
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    5k Views
    L
    So I went out and purchased two other posts for my ground lighting timer last night. So now the lights automatically come on in the morning also. I got the kids up today and put Zaire on a leash and took her out back with with me to her spot. She went right away. I let her off the leash once she was done and she stayed right with me untill I went back into the house. I then gave her breakfast and opened the back door and went outside. When she was done eating she came out to the door and saw that I was out in the yard. She cam out and did her after breakfast buisness. I am thinking that she really just wants to have a little light out in the yard to see what she is doing. I am going to try tomorrow to just take her out without a leash, but with the lights on and see if she seems more comfortable. I just want to thank you all again for your knowledge and willingness to share experiences….it is such a benefit to everyone that we have this community. :)
  • Basenji Growling & Aggression

    Pinned Behavioral Issues
    89
    0 Votes
    89 Posts
    109k Views
    O
    Hello, Im new here and have a question in regards to growling. We just rescued an older male Basenji that was just neutered. We have had him a week. He doesn't play with toys. Seems to like any dog he comes across. Tolerates small children and seems to want attention from any person that comes along. He doesn't seem to be food aggressive and is perfectly happy to sit by me most of the day when I'm home. I even come home for lunch to walk him every day. My question is that when we first got him he had no issues getting into his crate, but now he has started growling and getting his back hair up when I tell him to get into his house. Hes too new for me to want to allow him to wander the house with the cats alone. I tried giving him treats when he went in to make it a positive experience but he doesn't seem very happy and now growls every time I ask him to go in. Any suggestions to help with this issue?