Fostering a Basenji x Cattledog mix….have I lost my marbles?

[anotheroneofmany]

oxenburger, that's a beautiful dog you have there!!! i can"t wait to hear all about him!!! welcome to the forum!

[KitKat]

what a cuttie, you can see the wheels turning. We have had both breeds ans have loved them.

[Newbie]

I'm getting off work early today to go and pick up my first adopted pet–a Basenji/Cattle Dog mix. I was told that, though she will require lots of activity, apartment dwelling would suit her just fine. From what I've read, this pooch may need more room to spread her wings (so to speak).

We're fairly active, so she wouldn't be cooped up all day. However, M-F, we do have work and school. We both go to work/school (respectively) very close to home, so we already have a schedule worked out to take her out at least 3 times per day (for no less than 20 mins each time). Do you think that's enough? Weekends would be far better of course. I want to make sure she's completely happy with us.

My daughter fell in love with her the moment she saw her, so we're in this for the long run, whatever happens. I'm sure she'll have lots to teach us. :p

[bellabasenji]

Sounds like you are committed… Do you have a yard at your house? Do you mean you will have her outside only three times a day or is that how often during work/school??? I wish you good vibes with your new pup. Please keep us posted... I would love to see some pictures when you get a chance!!!:D

[nomrbddgs]

You may find you need to exercise her a bit more when you get home from work. But every dog is different.

[Newbie]

We don't have our own yard, but there are grassy areas around the apartment complex. We ended up taking her outside for most of the day yesterday. She definitely loves being outdoors! My daughter and I have been alternating the privilege. My daughter took her out first this morning, and I took her out a second time after taking my daughter to school. It was rather exhilarating. Until she gets used to her new surroundings, I don't want to take her out of the complex yet. The street we live on is a main street, and she seems a bit nervous around moving vehicles (which is probably a good thing). Once she's settled in, we'll start taking her out around the whole neigborhood. Is this a good strategy?

She absolutely loves people, great with all the kids in the complex, and adores the attention. However, she does NOT like other animals. I think that's the 'Cattle Dog' side in her. :p We took her to Petco yesteray after we picked her up, and we had to hold her back from the other dogs. She also nearly got away from me this morning when she saw a cat. Sheesh! I couldn't help giggling. I had a good grip on her leash, since she's pretty strong for her size (39 lbs.). She is perfect with people though. All the kids in the neighborhood have already fallen in love with her.

OH, and just like Chloe, she's very intelligent. You can't get anything past this one. LOL. I'm already amazed by this. I look forward to getting home to see her on my lunch break. I'll send pictures as soon as I can.

By the way, my daughter named her Chowder–after some cartoon character she loves. Apparently, this Chowder character has a lot of energy just like our Chowder. I think it's fitting.

[Woofless]

An update for us- Chloe's arrival has been delayed due to one of the volunteer pilots needing to cancel his "leg" of the flight to bring Chloe to SD.

So, for the time being she is at my friend's house in CT and we're in the process of trying to re-arrange a flight. Or some other means of transport.

Anyway, Chloe's presence is not exactly "easy" at said friend's house. She didn't anticipate taking this dog on; she works full-time and doesn't have time to work with her as much as she needs. Right now it's a temporary solution to what's hopefully a temporary problem.

Chloe doesn't like her crate, apparently- which makes sense considering she was likely never exposed to one (properly, or at all) until now. Her long stay in the shelter no doubt led to some anxiety about being confined. She defecates, howls and screeches when crated. I currently don't know if she is destructive when left uncrated. Either way, with me being home, her "crate time" should be minimal- or if she behaves herself- none at all. I will work on de-sensitizing her to the crate with positive associations.

Housebreaking needs work & she is already in the habit of pottying only on concrete. Here, she won't have much of a choice- grass is it. I plan to umbilical-cord in the house & work on focus and manners.

Evidently she's just a ball of energy- nippy, scratchy, overzealous. I plan to spend a lot of time just working on handler focus and targeting exercises. When I'm not with her outside training or exercising her, we'll be inside working on "mental exercise" games. She kind of needs "doggy boot camp" and thankfully I am in the right place at the right time to provide that for her.

It sounds like she's got the worst of both breeds in the "energy" department and it's amplified- she sounds more like a young Malinois than an ACD OR a Basenji in terms of neurotic energy. Thankfully, she seems to have the ACD's biddability and the intelligence of both breeds…..I won't know until I have her but I am fairly sure I can work with that

[Chimpie]

Wow! My Basenji grew up together with a cattledog…even in separate dogs it is quite a handfull; can Imagine how it will be in one dog!

[nomrbddgs]

I think you may have to strategize this training. You may have to exersize her first to tire her a bit and then train after she tires a bit and can focus a bit more. As she ages, she should be able to focus better, but she will still need something to do. Sounds like you may have to take up running or a very active sport to give her the exersize she sounds like she needs. IMO the nipping, scratching and being overzealous sounds like boredom for a cattledog to me! Even at age 12, Calli still runs and plays as much as I will let her. She has torn all four ligaments at times in her legs, but she still needs a job to do or she starts to tear things and steal things. Chowder should move fast on the obedience exercises and should move quickly through the agility equipment (if that's what you are going to do with her.) Calli did the whole agility course in about two hours and she hadn't ever been introduced to it at all! Good luck, and keep us posted.

[agilebasenji]

I'd suggest getting a food delivery puzzle. 3 of my 4 dogs get their breakfast that way (including the young malinois). You may even want to get more than one and rotate it. And a chuckit.