New Mom need help!!

[candiejohn]

@sharronhurlbut:

Whatever the breed, this is my advice.
Take this dog out and walk him…long time, wear him out. Every day, or even better 2 times a day..a run in the backyard won't do it. He needs to burn off anxiety.
Next, ignore the dog when he is clingy. Talk to him an a voice that says, your so silly, you need to be more independent.
No "poor" baby talk.
I would get him into a gentle obedience class. It will help him burn off energy and become more confident.
Well, that is my advice.

Hmmmmm. Good point. I am queen of the walk. My dogs don't want for energy burning, but I do poor baby talk him a lot.

[candiejohn]

@agilebasenji:

If he's lacking a tail, he could be a rat terrier more than a basenji.

Otherwise, no matter the breed, there are several things you can do. He hasn't really been in your home very long so it's a great time to start implementing house rules. I'd suggest a thyroid test (just to be sure things are in working order) AND I'd try a DAP. Also see if you can find a behaviorist or a good positive training class. If you were local to me, I'd suggest a friend's Realtionship Building class. Call around many more progressive training facilities are offering this type of class.

Books that I would suggest would include:
Click to Calm
Control Unleashed
Fiesty Fido
I also just finished reading Reaching the Animal Mind - great book, wonderful intro into clicker training if you haven't done it before.

I have no idea exactly where Madras, Or is, but this place looks great!
http://www.dogdaysnw.com/index.html
(one of the instructors was on the Control Unleashed list before it closed. very helpful, insightful person)

Just using google, I found several promising looking training centers near Madras Or. Of course you'll want to call and i'd ask to watch a class or two to see if you feel comfortable with your potential trainer.

Here's what I found that I'd look into if I were in your position.
http://www.betterbehaveddog.com/A_better_Behaved_Dog/Home.html

http://www.dancinwoofs.com/Classes/Description_classes.asp

http://www.kindredheartsdogtraining.com/kindredheartsdogtraining.com/Training_Classes.html
(couldn't get a really good feel for training methods on this one, but maybe worth looking at)

Holy cow! Thank you so very much. I will look these up and the classes. I agree, I think my Reugers problems are beyond my capabilities and I need expert advice. I am very interested in this clicker training. I can't continue on this path, though. He is miserable and it breaks my heart.

[candiejohn]

thank you. This almost made me cry. He does look relieved. I just tear up thinking what he went through before and I don't get it because although he is high maint. to say the least, he is a love. Just a kind hearted love. How can people be so cruel?

[lvoss]

@candiejohn:

He does have a chocolate nose, now that you say it. Very dark. Why the removal of dew laws? I know that the shelter said he may be mixed with a terrier, but they didn't know. The vet thought full basenji, but he couldn't tell.

He is probably rat terrier or rat terrier mix if he has a chocolate nose, basenjis have black. Even if he is rat terrier, he will probably have many basenji traits since he seems to have inherited a lot of the basenji phenotype that is still in some lines of rat terriers.

Dew claws are removed because they can cause problems as adults from getting caught or from lack of nail care. The injuries can be quite severe if it is a situation where it is caught an pulled because often the tendon ends up ripped. When removed as very puppies it is very easy, heals quickly, and is considered a minor procedure. When removal is needed as adults it is major surgery.

[agilebasenji]

http://www.dogscouts.org/Protocol_for_relaxation.html

good for any dog, and is talked about in Control Unleashed.

Also, i'd try sitting down with him and massage him for a few minutes a day and tell him is is NOT going to another house, that you love him, that he's a wonderful dog, but need to learn to behave, etc.