Skip to content

Worries about my boy and questions

Behavioral Issues
  • I do have to do home visits for BRAT rescues.
    I always tell them I don't judge dusting or clutter…but I do want to see the fence and I will point out areas that will be "basenji" arranged, if they don't get it out of reach.
    We all have a different level of "clutter" comfort.
    Mostly, we just want to check out that what the ap says is true and point out areas of concerns...

  • These pages on BCOA are great hooks:
    http://www.basenji.org/learn/

    Unfortunately you have to hunt for them - they're very novice-friendly and would make a good home page intro. Or a direct jump from Is a Basenji right for me? They should lead (instead of directly to the very long Select a Breeder piece) to a short piece specifically on choosing a reputable breeder, with links to longer pages geared to folks who click answers to questions like: Do you want a puppy or an adult dog? Do you want a pet/companion or do you plan to show or breed your dog? Are you interested in Rescue? Different audiences need different info.

    I'm not sure that BCOA is really trying to be friendly to the novice basenji owner/buyer though. They seem to be appealing to their own audience, which is a more sophisticated basenji owner involved in showing and/or breeding. Though those folks probably like cute basenji pix too - that main site is pretty darn dry.

  • Someone who works with Karen did a home visit when we first started considering a rescue. In the end, we didn't go through Medfly, but I found the home visit very helpful, informative and reassuring - though the idea of it felt sort of intrusive when it was first brought up.

    Don't know if Sharron would have approved my "fence" ;) but the urban basenji owner who did our inspection didn't find a problem, which eased my mind, and we haven't had either pup escape (or even try, actually).

  • Catt..your too funny.
    Approve means that when you say the yard is fenced its not fenced on 3 sides and "left open" on the 4th…
    Course, some folks don't rehome dogs without a fence.
    I do. I have to be assured the owners are in it for the nice days as well as the wet ones.
    Its the ones with the BIG holes in them that make me concerned...laugh.
    Hugs

  • @BasenjiByTheBay:

    These pages on BCOA are great hooks:
    http://www.basenji.org/learn/

    Unfortunately you have to hunt for them - they're very novice-friendly and would make a good home page intro. Or a direct jump from Is a Basenji right for me? They should lead (instead of directly to the very long Select a Breeder piece) to a short piece specifically on choosing a reputable breeder, with links to longer pages geared to folks who click answers to questions like: Do you want a puppy or an adult dog? Do you want a pet/companion or do you plan to show or breed your dog? Are you interested in Rescue? Different audiences need different info.

    I'm not sure that BCOA is really trying to be friendly to the novice basenji owner/buyer though. They seem to be appealing to their own audience, which is a more sophisticated basenji owner involved in showing and/or breeding. Though those folks probably like cute basenji pix too - that main site is pretty darn dry.

    Many of us have always said that…. site is way to dry... and not user friendly at all... but the more comments that we get from people, many the better luck we will have in getting it changed....

  • Sharron, I bet you're a great screener, and a big help to the folks you visit, helping them make the right decision to go ahead and adopt a B or not.

  • Thanks Catt…I try to be honest and kind with folks.
    Say they have kids who are small, I try to get them to realize that rescue b's are often like kids, and sometimes dealing with a breeder would be the better way to go...
    Or they have a cat...cats are tough, because basenji folks are often cat folks and a b who doesn't know cats can do major damage...so that is to be avoided.
    But really, I think if you share what these wonderful dogs are about..the good and the bad...really make them see that b's do require work, but with the right work and right attitude, they will have a charming dog who will love them and give them lots of laughs..
    Sorry to go on and on..but I do like doing rescue and I do love this breed.
    How is your boy doing???

  • He's doing well, thanks for asking. He is more of a challenge than Fiji was. She came from one home where she'd been all her life, though I think she'd been passed around to family members a lot while transition was happening. She was perfectly house trained - never had an accident. She did chew some pillows, but overall was very easy from the start.

    Bongo is very sweet and loving - more affectionate than her, actually. He's more of a chewer, but happy to trade contraband for hooves. He startles occasionally - it feels to me like he's been treated roughly in the past.

    He has some house training issues. Inconvenient ones, like going on the deck instead of waiting for walks - but he's gotten much better about that already. I'm guessing he was left outside a lot. More frustrating is his marking - couch, floor, walls, our bed :eek: I don't know if he's testing or nervous or what. At first I was afraid maybe he had a UTI or something, but he can hold it all day. He does this stuff right in front of us, most often in the evening, not long after a nice long walk. Aaargh.

    I got some dog odor neutralizer - works so so - I'm heading out to get some Nature's Miracle tomorrow. I set him outside as soon as I catch him in the act and try to ignore it. I praise like heck when he goes while we're walking. Hopefully it's just a matter of time. Any ideas are welcome.

    He and Fiji tussled a few times the first week, but they now play, chew on, and chase each other very happily. Bongo's been sleeping on the fold out with our visiting grandson who goes home tomorrow - I think Bongo and Fiji may get even closer after Ru goes home. Of course, that's one more change in families, so hopefully Bongo won't relapse into anxiety, but he seems pretty bonded to me and DH. We just love the little guy, warts and all!

  • OK, this response goes way back to a post Tanza made in this thread about shipping an 8 week old pup to someone you've never met…
    Many, many years ago (16 years, OMG!), we were in "negotiations" with Susan Coe and slated to get a lovely little girl, a Nate daughter, from her. We had been vouched for by Barbara Naddy, who owned Gala Celebration. At the last minute, Susan's husband decided he couldn't part with the little girl. Susan recommended us to Iris Craven, who had a girl of the same age, also a Nate daughter, who closely resembled the one we had been discussing. We got in touch with Iris, and wound up deciding to take her girl without even seeing her. We couldn't travel all the way from CA to MD, so Iris shipped her to us just a week before Christmas. "Holly" was an October baby, so she wasn't much over 9 weeks old... She traveled like a trouper in her little 100 Vari-Kennel, and we loved that little girl desperately until she finally crossed the Bridge at age 15 1/2. We were so glad that Iris was willing to do that. So, yes, responsible breeders do sometimes 'break the rules.'

    Terry

  • Your right, Terry, sometimes they do break the rules… or some breeders are willing to ship... I am just not one of them...

Suggested Topics

  • Delicate question

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    6k Views
    eeeefarmE
    @barklesshound: My neutured, male Basenji does this sometimes when he wakes from a nap and the pattern is always the same. There are two very hard acorn size lumps on either side of his penis, closer to the base but not as far back as the scrotum area. Yes, that would be the description of both of my neutered males. Usually after sleeping or relaxing, and it disappears quickly. Maybe erotic dreams at work? Pretty harmless, in any case. :)
  • Worried - new aggressive behaviour

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    Cats are almost always hypERthyroid; dogs are almost always hypOthyroid. And there is a long list of hypothyroidism, (no idea about hyper, i don't have a cat) and dogs will often just have a few symptoms, not all. just google. Personally, I'd look for a behaviorist and get the Control Unleashed book. It talks about how to create a new history for experiences. It also talks about threshholds which you really need to understand in dealing with a dog like this.
  • This is NOT my boy!!!!

    Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    And don't forget, now you have a second B in the house… and he will and can begin to think he needs to "guard" her... Aussie's are very intense... totally... just look at the picture you posted and the look in that dogs eyes... I also agree, you do not want to find out and yes, they can and would hurt other dogs....
  • Spayed Puppy Question

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    DukeD
    @Quercus: When females are spayed, it removes the estrogen production which in turn had masked the natural androgen (female testosterone) in her body. So, yes, I believe that spayed females will sometimes have some more masculine characteristics. But also some unspayed females will exhibit more masculine traits during "the season"….the other day Bella decided she would try to breed Luna @@ and Luna seemed happy to oblige. Hopefully Daisy will go back to her normal, less testosteroni, self in a few weeks..... Thanks for your replies Andrea and Pat. My curiosity in observing them is eye opening to say the least. I thought I'd seen it all with all the bickering and full out brawls when resolving together some time ago - in March. LOL with the Bella and Luna!! :D Silly girls . . . I can guess you've seen and observed more than the average parents of furkids. Thanks again - will wait and see how the "world" changes here. :D
  • This might be the wrong section for this question

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    firefoxkatanF
    @jessi76: one piece of advice on classes, see if you can observe a class before paying or enrolling. this way you will be able to see what methods are used, how classes are run, how large they are, what level the other dogs are at, etc… always look for classes that use positive reinforcement methods, and are run by a certified trainer who will give you one on one attention if needed. good luck! keep us posted on the move (and of course, on Bindi) ! thanks! I wish I could have done some sort of check on my roommates before I moved in anyways, thanks again for the advice! I will pay close attention to the classes, I already seem to have high standards for Bindi as is LOL ~Kat
  • Sleepy boys

    Behavioral Issues
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    7k Views
    alkiteA
    Our B has PLS for sure. Great pictures! Just too cute.