My puppy wont let me sleep (and some more serious problems)

[Janneke]

It's pretty hard to tell at the vets office at eight weeks… I could also only see them when he was sleeping.. One vet (I believe still a student..) told me with six months that she could only feel one... well.. there were definitely two
About the cryptorchid being a risk, I've read that it is a minor risk that doesn't way up to the surgery (removel of testicle from abdomen). Your pup will be fine both ways, with one or two.

[tanza]

He is way to young for a Vet to be saying that… I know many Basenjis that clearly they had two at 4wks, only to have one disappear and not reappear until as late as 4 to 6 months... and remember Basenjis carry their testicles one in front of the other and it is very easy to "miss" one.... This is totally normal (one in front of the other) for a Basenji, not so other breeds that are usually side by side.

Have you talked to the breeder? Have there been problems in the bloodlines with and undesended testicles? Some pedigrees do have those problems.

And not to start a big debate (US vs the World on neuter), but I disagree that is is not a health concern with not removing a testical from the abdomen.. it is a big health risk for cancer and Testicular Torsion among other things.

And as Lisa said, by the time he is 1yr he should be neutered anyway unless you had plans on showing and breeding? But if it doesn't desend, then for certain he should not be bred and this is a DQ in the breed standard.

[tanza]

And by the way, all dogs should be crate trained.. it becomes (if done right and excluding those few that have crate phobias (sp) ) … a safe haven for them.. and a happy place. Mine sleep just as well in a crate as in the bed. They were crate trained first....

[Danny]

Thanks for the feedback people, well let's see…

I live in San Juan, in the Condado area... if you came to PR that's probably where you're hotel was, and that beach in Culebra is amazing.

The research that I've done, and the comments from people here all seem to indicate that 2 months its to early, I would not want to nutter my dog if both his testicles end up descending, I would like to breed in 2-3 years from now and even if I didn't, it would have to be an extreme case for me to go for that. However, I must do more research on health benefits or risks of neutered.

I have not talked to the breeder yet, but I sure intend to. Today my emotions were running a little high... or low, and I just knew it wasn't the time for that conversation.

Oh, I've decided to prepare the living room for the dog to sleep in. He just hates being left alone in the crate, if we are taking him somewhere in the car he's just fine. Right now he's over there sleeping, I just hope that at 4am he isn't scratching the door and crying for attention. And btw, when I first got my dog I let him sleep in my bed, but the bladder thing wasn't a problem, he wakes up does his thing and then calls back to get back on the bed, ONCE ON THE BED he starts biting me and trying to play, if it wasn't for that I'd be more than happy to have him sleep at my side.

Oh yea, and here's a pic of lil Rocky, he's the cutest thing.

[sharronhurlbut]

Oh, I hope you do your homework before you decide to breed your b.
To be done right, its a pretty big deal.
You are right, he is very cute…but not all b's should be bred.
I know you will have lots of help here deciding if you should with this boy

[rnasto]

At 8 weeks he should be able to "hold it" for about 3 hours. My suggestion is to set a puppy pad in the bathroom. Set your alarm, get the pup up, carry him to the pad, let him go, and put him back into the kennel to go back to sleep. Wash rinse repeat every 3 hours.

I would start with the crating because it provides your b with a place that is his. And a safe place for when you are at class.

As a general rule, to determine how often your pup needs to go out take his age in months add one to it and that is the ammount of hours he can hold it.

For instance. Your pup is 2 months old so he should be able to hold himself for 3 hours.

[tanza]

Has your pup or his Sire and Dam been DNA tested for Fanconi?

[Nemo]

Welcome Danny! Hope your little boy will be okay. I got a beagle puppy when I was in grad school and I was really tired for a few months. I didn't crate train at the time and I really regret it.

@Tayda_Lenny:

Hi Danny! Welcome to you and Rocky!

I love PR as well. I spent about 2 weeks there a few years ago and LOVED Flamenco beach on Culebra Island! We had an awesome camping spot right on the beach… fantastic!

It's such a small world. I just got back tonight from spending a week on Culebra! This is my fourth year going there and I run into very few people who even know it exists outside of PR. I'm going to have to post pictures in the off-topic section this weekend.

[Maya]

Awww, he is beautiful!!!

I had a pug that only had one "little buddy" (love that!!) until about 4 months, then the other one just appeared one day.

[Danny]

Wow, I guess it is a small world huh? Next time one of you guys/girls come to PR give me a shout. And yes by B has been fanconi tested. I feel alot better about by dog's thing now, even if it doesn't grow that guy is going to be with me for a long time (God willing). I use to have a beagle that lived for 10 years, I just turned 22 so it was really hard lossing a friend that I have had for almost half my life. As sad as it is, it has to happen and it was almost a year ago so I'm over it, even though I dream about him every now and then.

I got some really good news though! Tonight was my first night of full sleep since I got Rocky. I left him in the living room (which has been inspected to be puppy safe) he slept there untill 3am or something, then somehow he opened the door that divides the living room/rest of the house from the rooms and came scratching at my door, I opened it and left it opened. He begged a bit to go up in the bed but I just said no and then ignored him and he went to sleep under my bed. Of course I have to mention that I had to take to Panadol PM's to be at bed by 9pm, my dog goes to sleep like at 8 and I have to break my routine of going to bed at midnight.

And I mentioned I plan to breed, but this is really long term planning right here. First I'd have to get my degree (studying to be a teacher) get a nice house with alot of space for my dogs to run, and of course you can bet I'll do my homework if I start breeding.

[Maya]

Danny, your puppy sounds like an angel!! I can only hope my girl will be so well behaved when she comes home tomorrow

I think you will do fine with him to be honest!

Good luck with your degree, how long do you have left til you are finished?

[Danny]

Hey Maya, that's awesome about your pup coming home tomorrow. I ordered mine through the internet and I had to wait 2 or 3 weeks because they need to be at least 8 wks old to air travel, I thought the day would never come, and here I am with my little furry boy running around and bitting everything he sees. I don't know if I mentioned it before but after only 1 wk of having my pup he already sits on command, we're working on "lay down" still, but we'll get it

I still got about 2 1/2 years to finish my degree, I'm studying middle school english education with a minor in psychology. BTW, you're from the UK… that's awesome, I miss cold places... Puerto Rico is like hot all year long.

[Maya]

@Danny:

BTW, you're from the UK… that's awesome, I miss cold places... Puerto Rico is like hot all year long.

Wanna swap? You can have my house and i'll have yours!!

I did a Psychology degree with English literature as a minor, not far off yours Though the thought of being a teacher would terrify me :o

Well done with the commands!! I've not had a basenji before, Maya will be my first, but i have certainly be told that they can be very tough to train as they are stubborn, you are obviously doing really well with Rocky. Im sure he will be a very happy, healthy companion for you for many years

I didnt realise you could buy puppies through the internet though! Never heard of that before!! Or, do you mean that you bought him through a breeder and just didnt see him before he came to you??

[Danny]

We can swap right away Maya! I bet it's cold out there now, here even though we are in winter it can go as high as 95F which would be about 35 celsious. The whole training and command thing has not been to hard, THEY CAN BE STUBBORN but if you got the right treat they will do anything.

And I don't want to advertaise, but yes you can buy dogs off the internet. Puppyfind.com is one of the sites in which breeders list their young pups for sale and what not, most of them don't sell to pet shops and ask lots of questions before deciding to sell you the dog, which I think it's great.

Oh, and I'm still waiting for the breeders response on this issue. He works the night shift and that's why he has not answered yet, he's always been easy to find and more than happy to answer questions either by phone or email.

And hey Maya, are you from England or Norther Ireand ?

[Maya]

Its going to get all the way up to 7 celcius here today apparently, and thats relatively mild, we've been in the minus figures recently!!

Hopefully your breeder will get back to you soon, the most important thing with a new puppy, IMO, is a good breeder for help and advice!

Im from England. Gloucestershire to be exact! Beautiful countryside here, a lovely place to live but so, so cold!!!

Oooh, and im Jess! lol My basenji is called Maya I probably should have just had "Jess" as a username as i cant get used to people refering to me as Maya lol!!

[Tayda_Lenny]

Thats so funny Nemo! Yes, post some pics and I'll add some of mine as well…we spent 2 weeks in PR, rented a car and drove all around, but Flamenco Beach was my fave....

[Danny]

Maya… is that for the Mayan civilization?

and I'd love to see some pictures of PR from a tourist lens, so go for it.

Did you guys take a picture by the tank?? I know I did.

[Maya]

@Danny:

Maya… is that for the Mayan civilization?

Nothing so interesting sadly.

Her pedigree name is "American Dreamz" and Maya means Dream in Chinese or something I just liked the name

[Tayda_Lenny]

YES! Our campsite was right behind the tank!

[Danny]

@Maya:

Nothing so interesting sadly.

Her pedigree name is "American Dreamz" and Maya means Dream in Chinese or something I just liked the name

That IS interesting.

And Tayda, remember how clear that water was and how you'd be on the water and you'd have beautiful mountains all around?? Man, makes me want to drive to Fajardo and take that boat that takes you to the island