Skip to content

My Basenji is growling at Everyone

Behavioral Issues
  • @Schouiffy:

    Whatever you do , don't force her physically into submission!! it will only make things worse

    And I totally agree here… Do NOT force her physically.... someone could really get seriously hurt...

  • I was sort of kidding about the grudge thing, Tanza: B's just have so much personality as you know: our breeder, who is awesome, reccommend the "leg lift" time-line: seems like most reccommend 6-8 months: i think thats what we will do

  • @calimcc:

    I was sort of kidding about the grudge thing, Tanza: B's just have so much personality as you know: our breeder, who is awesome, reccommend the "leg lift" time-line: seems like most reccommend 6-8 months: i think thats what we will do

    I have had males that never lift their legs…gggg...

  • Okay so many questions to answer…

    No she's not left alone with the kids ever...
    She's under a year old and isn't spay... I purchased her to show...
    Her last check up was 5 months ago when I shipped her in from her breeder...
    No I haven't thought about contacting her breeder about the problem...

    I was thinking about contacting a trainer about it so I think that's what I'll do... She's a great little girl other then this one problem, but it only happens when she's like comfortable on the couch and they go to move her to touch her... She doesn't snap (thank god) but growls and runs away from them...that's the only time that she growls

  • If the only time that she growls is when she thinks she is going to be to moved, try calling her off the couch and rewarding with a treat when she moves. The kids can do this too and it will help with making her feel that the kids mean good things.

  • @Ducati457:

    Okay so many questions to answer…

    No she's not left alone with the kids ever...
    She's under a year old and isn't spay... I purchased her to show...
    Her last check up was 5 months ago when I shipped her in from her breeder...
    No I haven't thought about contacting her breeder about the problem...

    I was thinking about contacting a trainer about it so I think that's what I'll do... She's a great little girl other then this one problem, but it only happens when she's like comfortable on the couch and they go to move her to touch her... She doesn't snap (thank god) but growls and runs away from them...that's the only time that she growls

    You should always at least contact your breeder to get a reality check… IMO.. and I agree with lvoss... if she is on the couch... make sure she is awake first and call her off the couch before touching her... especially with small children.. their natural reaction is to reach in and touch... you need to teach them to respect "her" space... and they need to call out first before touching... same for your BF.....

    I think that a behaviorist would be a great idea... be sure it is one that understands Basenjis and has worked with them if possible

  • Gosh this story sounds so familiar Ducati. Our Basenji Benji would always growl if we attempted to get him off furniture with our hands. We learned you just don't go there. Like someone else has suggested you need to tell them to get down, usualy over and over untill they do and then reward when they do. I'm sure you will have sucess with her being so young. Just needs loads of patience.
    I also found that if he got into my place i could get him to move by pressing him etc with my body rather like another dog would, but probs this method would be considered unsafe in case it triggered a bite. Good luck.

  • My first basenji would absolutely freak out (never saw an animal move that fast) if he was touched while sleeping on the couch. My second one would sometimes fake nip if he were startled while sleeping on the couch. My two cents worth would be to work on making sure she is awake before grabbing her off the couch as Lvoss and Tanza said.

  • I have a 4yo male that doesn't lift his leg probably 80% of the time.

  • Ditto! My girl never lfts her leg either & she's 5yo now. She squats like any other respectable woman :D

  • ya my male is 1.5 and hardly ever lifts his leg to go, as for the growling my pup about 1 and ahalf yrs old has a similar problem hes super nice with ppl but whenever my other dog goes near a bone hes chewing or his food while hes eating he makes this viscous growling noise. actually any dog he does that to. and he also tries to be dominate over the older basenji and constantly stands over her while shes lying down like hes some big tough guy.

Suggested Topics

  • Growling basenji - aggression towards male roommate

    Behavioral Issues
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    2k Views
    No one has replied
  • Basenji kisses?

    Behavioral Issues
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    7k Views
    CrazySenjiC
    Just 20 minutes ago Elliot was extra excited and running around and when he saw me he was SO excited he gave me a little kiss! I put a command to it ("kiss" lol) and praised him. I asked for another and he did it again! He got bored after the 5th or so time but I hope he remembers it! My Cody used to LOVE wet hair. If you sat down on the couch after a shower he would crawl behind you and rub himself on your head. It was both funny and annoying (much like a lot of basenji quirks).
  • 0 Votes
    10 Posts
    6k Views
    P
    Congratulations on the future new addition. Boy/girl is a good combination. As others have advised let them meet on neutral ground and take them for a long walk together. For every good interaction praise both inordinately. As Curlytails says don't rush it. Keep us posted, please and best wishes to you all.
  • Basenjis that can't stand other basenjis

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    wizardW
    My previous males never had an opportunity to meet other basenjis (outside their breeder kennel) so don't know if the experience with my current female is "typical" or not. The first time she encountered another, it was a tri-color older female that was a real bitch and instantly got aggressive (now whenever they see each other its "hackles up"). The first time I took her to a lure coursing event, mine was friendly enough until a little blind female came up and bit her. The second time I took her to a LGRA event, a lady came up behind us (while mine was trying to potty) with her tricolor female and her dog attacked mine. So now hackles go up any time another female comes within shouting distance.
  • Basenji Watchdog

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    MantisM
    it is just socialization….my australian shepard was that way with men with facial hair because my dad and brother were always clean shaven....
  • Is my basenji dangerous?

    Behavioral Issues
    23
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    16k Views
    L
    Basenji people are dedicated to our breed, and we all seem to be very responsible. Basenjis don't like all other dogs, so we socialize them the best we can and keep them on the leash so they can't attack other dogs or sprint off after a squirrel and get killed by a car. But there are still dog owners out there who just don't understand the principles of responsible dog ownership. You don't just worry about dogs attacking each other but people as well. I posted the story about how I was attacked by a doberman and nearly killed several years ago. If not for the mailman I wouldn't even be here to talk about it. The owner said he didn't think Raggs would ever attack anybody, so he would just open the door and let him out on his own to go potty. I'm so glad we basenji owners are more responsible than some folks out there who just don't seem to get it.