Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Puppy Pen
  3. Bite the Hand that Feeds

Bite the Hand that Feeds

Basenji Puppy Pen
  • NatalplumN

    This morning Mick bit my husband. He just put his food down and my husband thought he was eating to fast so he gentle pulled him back when Mick snarled showing all teeth and then took a chunk out of his arm. I am completely devastated. Has anyone experienced this before and what can I do to NEVER let this happen again.

    Val McNichols & Mick & Shilagh Doe the <u>Irish</u> Basenjis

    0
  • tanzaT

    There are many threads on resource guarding that you should be reading… Of course also, did Mick know that your husband was there with he tried to pull him away? And honestly, I feel that action was setting both of them up for a problem.... especially if he didn't know he was there (and also never having that done before)....

    Here is one link
    http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?t=3006

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • lvossL

    This sounds like resource guarding. The eating fast is a sign of it, then when your husband grabbed Mick it just confirmed to him that someone was out to get his resources (the food).

    The link that Pat provided has a good discussion.

    I would really recommend getting the DVD The Language of Dogs, http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DTB875P, it sounds like Mick gave a lot of signals that he was going to bite before the bite actually happened. Learning to read those signals will really help to prevent situations where Mick feels the need to escalate to biting.

    Some things you can do to prevent this situation in the future. If you are worried he is eating to fast, one recommendation I saw for slowing the pace a dog eats at is to put a tennis ball in their dish so they have to keep moving the ball out of the way to get to the food. You probably should also feed in the crate, so that he is less worried that any people around may take his food.

    You are going to need to work on the resource guarding, a good source of information is the book Mine, http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB740

    0

Suggested Topics

  • B

    How do I limit puppy biting???

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    2k Views
    Beth314B
    Like much internet advice I find short answers incomplete - and mine was. I really want to ad that making a crate/xpen/gated puppy area should never be seen as "punishment". These partitioned puppy areas should be conditioned to be safe places for a puppy/dog. Mine, thankfully, tolerates and even likes her xpens probably because it's where she eats, receives treats, sleeps, chews and even plays. This took about a week or so. Now she voluntarily goes into her xpens (in my case) on her own and when she's put there involuntarily she might whine for a minute before settling down with a chew and/or going to sleep.
  • M

    6 month old puppy biting others.

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    2k Views
    R
    Many, many years ago, I sold puppies to families. I always met them ahead of time, before the pups were born were born, and had a little 'class' in which we went over the beginnings of what to do, and not do, with the puppy.` I remember one family came again, after the pups were born, but not old enough to leave Mom. They had a little boy (just him, no siblings) who did not come the first time (it was for them to approve me, and me to approve them). He was about 6, very smart and well behaved, and went out to the dog room. That was the year I had some oops litters, all born within a week of each other, and he was so excited to just get buried with puppies! I think they were about 6 wks old. I took photos of the whole experience that day, and made a special PRIVATE page of "Ethan's day with the Puppies" We went over my 'getting a basenji puppy' class and he was so attentive. I never got a call from them about any problems - I'm not surprised, he wanted that puppy so much.
  • renaultf1R

    Feeding Advice

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    6k Views
    S
    My b's not only chew your couture, but pee on them as well. Find another venue Please!
  • B

    Feeding Schedule

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    5k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    What food are you feeding? The quality, calories, fat content etc is critical. 4 cups of cheap food may have less calories than 1/2 cup of quality. I feed puppies 3x a day til they are 6 mos old, particularly smaller breeds. Until they hit about 20 pounds, it is harder for them to regulate blood sugar levels with 2x a day feeding. I know many who do feed only twice, but I just like to know they can utilize the food and can maintain stable blood levels. I won't bore you with research, but a good article in general: http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/sa/clin/cp_handouts/Nutrition_Growing_Puppy.pdf All that said, if your pup is neither fat or thin, is healthy, then you are probably fine. If you see problems, evaluate. But you can never go wrong with top quality food. As for puppy or adult food… I switch at 6 mos over to adult. Many stay on puppy food til a year.
  • MayaM

    Raw Feeding?

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    73
    0 Votes
    73 Posts
    47k Views
    D
    Or rats…...even more ewwww.
  • DukeD

    Feeding young pup?

    Basenji Puppy Pen
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    5k Views
    MantisM
    My teething toys of choice? My leather belt (he loves because it is long and moves around) and the bleached cylindrical bones that have peanut butter inside for licking. That settles down his teething urges a bit. A little spray of the water will stop any unruley behavior pronto! He was chewing my floor mat in the kitchen.