Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Odd behavior change with guests

Odd behavior change with guests

Behavioral Issues
  • JazzysMomJ

    We have had Jazzy since she was a puppy. We have a semi-large family, and have had a houseful of people on a regular basis since she moved in.
    She has never had problem with visitors, and has always been ready to greet everyone as they enter, and usually is able to sucker guests into letting her curl up in their laps for a cozy nap.

    Lately, however, she seems to be uncomfortable with visitors. She seems to prefer having just her family home {with the exception of a few neighborhood kids, whom she also views as belonging to her "pack"}. When visitors come over, she wanders about with her tail uncurled, looking uncomfortable. She does not try to get into laps, etc. and Saturday gave a little "I'm not comfortable with this" growl when a friend rubbed her tummy – usually a favorite.

    Any ideas on why this is going on? I am aware of nothing happening to affect a change like this.

    0
  • nala121498N

    Hi JazzysMom,
    Nala has gotten a little odd around people coming to our house recently too. We have a large family too and lots of visitors. I'm not sure how old Jazzy is, but Nala will be 8 and I noticed her behavior changed in the last year. Her hackles (sp.?) are up and she's very stiff around people and doesn't like it if they reach down until SHE's ready to let them. She makes "ugly" noises at my best friend and her husband (never kids, thank goodness) but she knows them and loves them. I'm not sure if it's just a "crotchity" phase or what. All I can say is you are not alone! I know my friend's husband just says, "You have to know how to handle her, just don't let her be the boss." He picks her up and just lets her make those noises and pats her on the bottom. She hasn't snapped or bitten him (yet) so maybe that's the way to handle it.
    Let me know what works for you!
    Sharon

    0
  • QuercusQ

    <>
    Is she coming into heat soon? Our girls get grumpy about things that normally wouldn't set them off when they are about two weeks from coming into heat. She also approaching two years old, right? Sometimes they start to act more like adults...as in letting you know what they don't really like around that age.
    I would definitely talk to Brian about it, and see what he thinks.

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • QuercusQ

    <_>

    Uh, well, that's not how I would handle it. A dog growls as a warning…if the warning is ignored, a lot of dogs will bite. I don't know if Nala is one of those dogs...but why force her to interact with people that she feels uncomfortable around?

    Chances are her behavior is escalating around those people, because she suspects this man will force her to interact in a way that makes her uncomfortable. What is wrong with letting her decide when she is comfortable with an approach?

    I would suggest to these people that they simply ignore her when they come into the house...eventually she may seek out their attention, or she may not....her choice._

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • nala121498N

    I guess I should have wrote LOL after that, Andrea. I also should have added that I DO warn people when they come to my house to ignore her and let her approach them. They only problem that I find with that is that it creates fear in some people and then she can sense it. I do believe that you know your dog individually and you might handle each differently. That is why I said, "Let me know what works for you".

    0
  • QuercusQ

    @nala121498:

    I guess I should have wrote LOL after that, Andrea. I also should have added that I DO warn people when they come to my house to ignore her and let her approach them. They only problem that I find with that is that it creates fear in some people and then she can sense it. I do believe that you know your dog individually and you might handle each differently. That is why I said, "Let me know what works for you".

    Sorry, I didn't know you were being sarcastic :) Absolutely, each dog is an individual, and you might handle situations differently. I didn't realize that you weren't looking for advice. I am just really tired of the whole "you have to let them know who's in charge" advice…sorry if I overreacted :x

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • nala121498N

    No, you didn't Andrea, I think I did! Sorry. I didn't mean to seem ungrateful. I know you are one of the people who has a wealth of great information on this forum and I didn't mean to offend you. I really respect your advice.
    Nala has been much better since we had a few large parties and I gave those instructions to people upon approaching her. I think she was getting more territorial for whatever reason.
    The other thing I do is tell her (however weird this sounds)…"Jean is coming!" a few times before guest arrrive and she starts to look out the window and get excited. Maybe it prepares her for company arriving...

    0
  • QuercusQ

    <>
    Cute! Good idea too!
    I am truly not offended :) I think I just misread the post. Nothing worse than giving advice when it wasn't wanted...and I felt bad that I might have stepped on your toes :)

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0

Suggested Topics

  • sanjibasenjiS

    Adolescent howl and behavior changes

    Behavioral Issues
    41
    0 Votes
    41 Posts
    3k Views
    elbrantE
    @eeeefarm said in Adolescent howl and behavior changes: I no longer have a dog :(
  • KembeK

    New Behavior

    Moved Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    3k Views
    KembeK
    @tanza I laughed @ “the close enough”! I know my dog is getting old - her face is white and her eyes are getting cloudy - but she will always be my baby. I have a hard time accepting the fact that she is getting older. I am going to have to remind and help her to go outside more often. I thank everyone on this forum for their kind words and comments.🙏🐕❤️🐾 BASENJI STRONG 💪
  • C

    strange behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    First, yeah they do the flip and butt in face. I see it as invitation to play/chase mostly. Kind of shaking my head here over the rest. You already have a breed known for dominance and protectiveness of property/family with the Boerboel. Basenjis (I assume you mean 6.5 not 65 years old :) ) are not known for tolerating same sex. Sometimes they do, but not a sure bet. Plus, your Boerboel is still a puppy. By age 2 or 3, that compliance with the Basenji being alpha can go down the drain at a drop of a hat. That happens, and he hasn't killed the basenji... you have to keep 2 packs running, ensuring they never have contact. Then you bring in a mixed breed... which is all a Mastador is. No way on earth to know how much it will take after the lab side or the Mastiff. AND it's another male. So now you have potentially 3 dog aggressive male dogs, with 2 of them large enough to inhale the basenji. I am not sure about the breeders who placed the Boerboel, certainly not the owners letting you bring in the Mastador. I want my male dogs to have a chance of a peaceful, unstressful life. I think the chances in your home are already approaching really low numbers, and the Mastador is going to bring that closer to zero. The safety of that poor basenji is beyond precarious. I wouldn't want those 3 males in the most experienced of homes, one already fully ready to and experienced in running separate packs. I sincerely hope you reconsider the Mastador. And no, getting a female won't help. Until the Boerboel is fully mature and you have a handle on what your pack is, adding any dog is going to up the risk of issues.
  • Heinz57H

    Aggressive Behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    NemoN
    A way to do what Debra is suggesting in a game format is Crate Games, which you can get on DVD. You said this happens when you are getting ready to leave. Pay attention to exactly what you are doing before you leave and then see how your dog is reacting. You should be able to pick up on the cues that your dog is picking up on. You can try changing the pattern of how you get ready and potentially remove the cue to lessen the behavior until you can build the good associations others described. visit BCOA on Facebook. http://facebook.com/basenji.org
  • sabaS

    Weird Behavior ???

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    5k Views
    KipawaK
    @DebraDownSouth: Fran, there are times when I might mean to be condescending, but I assure you that it won't be "a little" or usually any question. That you could take my comment above as condescending… I can only suggest you may simply want to block my posts because it is entirely unlikely I will write 100 words to say what I said in under 20 because SOMEONE might see my observation as insulting. Now if I had said it condescending, such as: How could you THINK it could be that? Don't you think any dog living with females would already have reacted? How silly! The person threw out the idea of periods, which sometimes could be it .. and btw, pregnancy hormones set some dogs off… but it hit me he had lived with them too long for that to be probably. It wasn't an insult to the OP, just a response. People contradict my ideas daily on here, doesn't make them condescending or insulting. THEN, I could see it. I simply tossed out a quick response addressing that logically it probably wasn't that. If you read that as condescending instead of my own view, I am sorry. One helpful rule for forums is that you look at any post and see if there is another TONE than the one you ascribed. If there is, take the other. Like your post. I COULD think you are a jerk, not at all "friendly," addressing this here and hijacking the thread instead of sending me a private message. Instead, because I see you post a lot and like you :), I took it exactly at face value... you simply are expressing your view and trying to be helpful. So please remove any tones you might ascribe to the answer. The tone in my head is simply factual, that I am not responsible for your taking that as condescending and probably won't be able to stop you seeing other posts that way. Now if I actually say something you cannot take any way than as an insult, feel free to let me know. But the above... sorry, Fran, it was simply a logical observation. LOL, and in fact, let me now be "condescending" to my post. (I am joking while making a point.) SOMEONE (but it will be me, since it just hit me where I could easily be wrong...) could have responded to my post and said: Yeah, but dds, you are wrong because maybe she has an infection or urinary tract infection also with a period, that might do it. See? Debra, not a problem. Thank you.
  • basenjiprinceB

    Very bad behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    45
    0 Votes
    45 Posts
    17k Views
    Buddys PalB
    Hey Melissa, How did it go over the weekend? Did you get it to where the enclosed area can be his place while you are at work? I have had a B for 71/2 months now. They are unique on the one hand with some breed specifics, but a dog none the less. Any dog needs exercise and mental stimulation(esp B's! A tired Basenji is a Happy One!) and since they are social animals, they need companionship. It sounds like you are strapped financially like us all, but I can only offer you three alternatives: 1)doggy day care or a sitter, 2)another dog, 3)get him to a home where his needs will be met. It's not to be mean or belittle you, it is just that being fustrated is not healthy for you mentally or physically, nor your little boy.