Skip to content

Aggression and leash problems?

Behavioral Issues
  • My red basenji has lately been showing signs of possible dog aggression. A few months ago he never got into any fights or anything, but now he's launching himself onto other dogs and trying to fight them. He's never drawn blood or actually hurt another dog, but it's frightening how he's so unpredictable with other dogs. He might go in for a quick booty sniff and in a split second start snarling in the dog's face. It's quite scary, but like I said he's never actually hurt another dog, but what does it mean?
    Its hard to tell when he's going to attack because his hackles raise everytime a dog comes into sight, so I can't tell wether he will or wont attack. Most of the time he is friendly and doesn't particularly care.

    Even if the other dog isin't showing signs of aggression, he'll go for them. I've also noticed he hates large black dogs, chow chows, and labradors especially, as well as that he is more likely to attack when he's on the leash (he's usually walked off-leash in a safe area).

    There was once an encounter where he attacked his own basenji kin! I thought basenjis got along together.

    Is it just me? He's otherwise a very friendly basenji and loves to play.

    Help, please? I don't want my basenji to get hurt.

  • there's a book called Click To Calm

    try dogwise.com or amamzon

  • How old is he?
    Does he have any health problems?

    I'm sorry to hear yours is being snarky!

    I've noticed mine are very teritorial on the leash lately. We moved to a new neighborhood and there are a TON of dogs here. We all use the same paths for walking so I think there's competition to claim the terf for their own.

  • I would want to know how old your B is as well. Is he neutered?

  • @agilebasenji:

    there's a book called Click To Calm

    try dogwise.com or amamzon

    +1
    and there is another book that also I really like called Feisty Fido by Patricia McConnell.

  • Of course it is getting into the fall seson. Intact boys (and other basenjis, but especially intact boydogs) get snarky this time of year.

    And YESSS! anything Dr McConnell writes is worth reading - at least twice.

    And my old stand by of Control Unleashed will probably help, but start with those other two.

  • Yes, he is neutered and he's 2 years old.

    and thank you for the posts, I will definetly look into those books!

  • At 2 years old he's also entering full maturity. My Jibini never started fights (he wouldn't even react with aggression if he was threatened by an aggressive dog) until he was 2-3 years old. Before that, I took him to the dog park all the time & used to marvel at how he would react almost playfully to aggressive behavior from other dogs. If another dog threatened him, he'd run off almost as if he was getting a kick out of it.

    Sure enough- it was fall, the year he turned 2 years old, the first time he ever postured & got snarky with another dog. By the time he was 3; he wouldn't always start fights but he'd also never back down from one. At that point our dog park visits were scaled back- we went only during off-peak hours OR when I knew it was a "good" dog park & there would be a group of other Basenji owners present. Basenjis do tend to play better with their own kind HOWEVER snarks & fights do happen. Most of the time it's all bravado and no bloodshed- it sounds worse than it is. Occasionally you'll find a couple of Basenjis who simply will not get along.

    Jibini has also historically had an issue with "big black dogs" too…I have heard the same from other B owners and I don't know what it is about big black dogs they don't like?

    Most notable was his reaction to a big black Standard Poodle belonging to a very nice lady I was hoping would be able to take care of Jibini for a few days. It was the most extreme, vicious, nasty reaction I've EVER seen out of Jibini towards another dog. It started the moment Jibini laid eyes on the dog from 20 feet away- he hit the end of the leash, teeth bared, mouth open, horrid guttural snarls- VERY unusual for him. Usually he just postures, snarks, has a bit of rough-and-tumble and it's over. Rarely does aggression continue once he's established himself. But for some reason, Jibini just HATED this dog....went for him every chance he got, with everything he had...and this poor sweet Poodle just cowered and showed submission and did everything he could to appease Jibini. It didn't work- Jibini just kept going after him with more fury than I've ever seen. Even after walking them around the neighborhood together & trying everything we could to foster harmony, I had to find someone else to take care of Jibini for me at the last minute....and Jibini got along with the other person's dogs (all Basenjis) just fine.

    Leashed dogs are more likely to be on the "defensive". Not only are they in your presence & may exhibit "resource guarding" behavior, but the restraint from the leash makes the dog feel less able to flee to defend himself....therefore, he's more likely to be defensive if he feels threatened. The methods outlined in Click to Calm, Control Unleashed & other books are often quite helpful in reducing/eliminating on-leash aggression.

    If I were you I'd work with him on-leash using positive reinforcement for focus & attention- and otherwise restrict his access to other dogs, especially off-leash when you can't control him (or the other person's dog). Good luck :)

  • Gossy is very friendly to other dogs (though her hackles may go up). However, several times we have encountered leash-aggressive dogs. Generally Gossy has behaved well with them, trying to be friendly but … she's been attacked by 3 black dogs (two were basenji tris) and one retriever (who bit her on the face - ugh) ... and now whenever she sees a black dog it's obvious that she becomes very cautious around them until they display their intentions. She never starts a fight but if a blackie does, she'll return the favor. There must be something about black dogs.

  • How interesting. Makes me want to keep my eyes open when we go to the dogpark..

10/10

15 Sept 2009, 13:32

Suggested Topics

  • Aggressive issues

    Moved Behavioral Issues 21 Jan 2018, 13:54
    1 Votes
    18 Posts
    10k Views
    I don't want to sound personnel but if you are in control why does he keep showing aggression to other intact dogs. By taking him away from the other dog is not teaching him not to be aggressive . He may see you as boss but he wants to be second in charge and see,s all other intact dogs as a threat to his position. Don't be to proud to use a muzzle , and as I said take out to mix with intact dogs . As he can't hurt them and will soon relize,s this you need to stand up and let him know your displeasure using voice and physical presence and a small water pistol as he will hate being squirted. You should find the water pistol works a treat. I would do this every few days until his stops the aggressive behaviour , then I would try without the muzzle but always keep the water pistol with you and let him see it as he will remember what happens when he acts up. This is a method I have used to help mates control their pig dogs . I am by far an expert and are always prepared to Liston to others thoughts as this is how I learn.
  • Crate Problem

    Behavioral Issues 4 Dec 2014, 23:17
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    7k Views
    Yesterday it was three poops on the morning walk :-)
  • 0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    Couple of things: First have his Thyroid Checked. I am not one that thinks thats the answer to every things - but it is easy to test and is a quick fix if that is the cause. I don't think I can post a link here but if you go to my icon and click on my info there is my website - on the basenji info page - there is a link to Basenji Thyroid info. On the off chance that I can post a link here it is: http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/Thyroid.htm Second - I am also in MN and would be happy to help you specifically if you want someone that is 'basenji savy' to give him a look see.
  • Food aggression

    Behavioral Issues 15 Apr 2008, 02:52
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    5k Views
    @JazzysMom: Let me ask you this, Pat {and all}….. I've always fed my dogs separately, esp. since Keoki came into the picture because he will scarf his food and run to see if he can get what the others have. I don't crate them, but they are fed in separate rooms which puts them about ten feet away from one another. Keoki has learned NOT to hover over the other dogs, but he does kind of watch and wait for either of them to finish and then he runs over to lick their bowls. I don't have a problem with that, as they all run from bowl to bowl at the end of the meals, licking whatever {icky} they can find there. It's funny because they all get the same food. Lately, in the mornings only, Jazz won't eat UNTIL Keoki finishes and and then she will growl and ruuuuun for her bowl. So, the last few days I have put her bowl near his {as an experiment}-- w/in maybe 2 feet -- and she will immediately eat while he does. He eats faster, and it's almost as if she slows down when she knows he's finished. She picks up one piece of food at a time to carefully chew it, with the occasional quiet growl to remind him that it is hers. What is up with that? Honestly…sounds like a fight in the making to me. Eating faster is the first level of resource (in this case food) guarding. She may be eating slower for any number of reasons...the first one I thought of was a calming signal to him? I doubt she is trying to tease him...but she may be trying to make a point...mine, calm down, mine, calm down... These kind of things tend to escalate, so IMO, I wouldn't even experiment with it. Why not feed them separately, like with doors in between? It has got to be less stressful for the dogs if they don't have to worry if the other dog is going to bully them for their food...or on the other hand, if they can bully the other dog.
  • Aggression

    Behavioral Issues 9 Feb 2008, 15:51
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    And sometimes you have to "push" and/or demand for the complete test that is not usually done by the labs that your Vet might use…
  • Leash aggression??

    Behavioral Issues 14 Jun 2007, 02:35
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    6k Views
    @Quercus: That sounds ideal! I do love the head collars…the ONLY drawback is so many dogs have fits when they wear them. But the control is awesome, particularly for reactive dogs. Glad it is working for you! Oh yes, Talker had a fit when he was younger and I tried the collar. I gave up because I felt so bad for him. I don't know what changed this time–whether I was calmer or he mellowed out or what, but he accepted the halti this time around and I'm loving it. There were so many times that he would be so anxious to be out walking that getting him to stop pulling was tiresome and the walks were not enjoyable. We were constantly stopping and starting and stopping and starting to re-adjust ourselves. Now, we just walk. Loving the halti!:)