Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Otis just nipped my son…

Otis just nipped my son…

Behavioral Issues
  • QuercusQ

    That sounds like an ideal solution. I am so glad that all of you have some peace of mind now. It *is really hard to adjust to missing them…but as agile said...you love him enough to do the best thing for everybody. Hugs to all of you...

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • ?

    @Basenjimamma:

    Thanks guys..
    I feel like the biggest failure..I swore I would never give up on my animals..yet here I am. I know he will have a good life with her, I just hope he knows that too.

    Petra you didn't give up on Otis….you did the most loving unselfish thing any mom could do for one of her four legged kids..you gave him a chance at a great life.....that's the most loving thing you could do....

    0
  • thunderbird8588T

    @sonnyboy:

    Petra you didn't give up on Otis….you did the most loving unselfish thing any mom could do for one of her four legged kids..you gave him a chance at a great life.....that's the most loving thing you could do....

    I would like to second this Petra

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

    0
  • nobarkusN

    @sonnyboy:

    Petra you didn't give up on Otis….you did the most loving unselfish thing any mom could do for one of her four legged kids..you gave him a chance at a great life.....that's the most loving thing you could do....

    I agree here!

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

    0
  • KanangaK

    @sonnyboy:

    Petra you didn't give up on Otis….you did the most loving unselfish thing any mom could do for one of her four legged kids..you gave him a chance at a great life.....that's the most loving thing you could do....

    Also agree.

    There's a difference between "giving up" and choosing an alternative.

    You chose an alternative, not an easy choice, but it allows Otis to still live in a good environment. It was a win for him and it will feel like a loss for you, but remember that Otis still came out ahead and that should reflect as a win for you. :)

    0
  • tanzaT

    @sonnyboy:

    Petra you didn't give up on Otis….you did the most loving unselfish thing any mom could do for one of her four legged kids..you gave him a chance at a great life.....that's the most loving thing you could do....

    Very well said….. and totally the truth!

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • BasenjimammaB

    Thanks guys..I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel about our decision, knowing taht we have support among fellow dog lovers…most of our friends, and I guess I mean that loosely..wanted us to euthanize him, an option not even worthy of being called an option..He is so much better off not being here, not because of us necessarily but because of what people thought of him...we love him dearly and we know we did the right thing for him.

    Our other dogs are lost too right now..so we are spending lots of time playing, walking and giving extra treats to make up for their lost play companion and pack member. Moses and Gus seems to be taking this the hardest, Moses, the podengo grande, loved to play with Otis and Gus, the doxie, loved to sleep with Otis at night..he has been walking around in the dark trying to find a place fit to sleep at..last night I placed his bed next to Moses..no good, Gus got up, glared at Moses and walked away..not happy about his bed buddy being a huge giraffe on a donut..that is what Moses looks like laying on his 20" diameter round bed..giraffe on a donut..;):)..
    again, Thank you for your support and understanding..

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

    0
  • AJs HumanA

    I'm coming into this a bit late, but I must say I have the same sentiment as everyone else. You most certainly did not give up on him. You gave him a wonderful start in life and a chance for a long life with someone who will make his life as wonderful as you did.

    Your other dogs will adjust, but, like your kids and you, it will take time. Would Gus consider sleeping with one of the kids? Just an idea.

    {{{Petra}}}

    AJ's Ride:

    0
  • BasenjimammaB

    Hi AjsHuman, thank you..again.

    Gus would sleep with Lukas, it his dog after all…but Gus has a crush on me so he wants to sleep close to where I am, Otis' crate was next to our bed, and of course Gus was in it too, they slept together in Otis' crate at night, Otis would never let him in during the day..funny. Last night he finally found a spot on a chair next to my husband..so hopefully this will be his "new" spot.

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

    0
  • MacPackM

    You chose an alternative that was very hard for you, but gave Otis a wonderful chance at a new life is a situation better suited to his temperament. I do not call that failure, quite the opposite, you made for success for Otis. Sometimes love just isn't enough to overcome situational issues, but you found a perfect solution.
    Thank you for the update, I had been thinking about you but didn't want to ask.

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

    0

Suggested Topics

  • wizardW

    Nipping ankles

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    C
    Hello, My lovely leather handbag and shoe chewing B nipped my leg when I came to get her from a friend who had looked after her for the day. She must have thought I wasn't paying enough attention to her after my absence. In fact, she also makes those odd noises (sort of groans, beginning of a yoddle I suppose) when I come back to my car after I have left her in it with all sorts of goddies to chew. Nipping is exceptional but I am careful as I wouldn't want her to do this to strangers or visitors. She does try to push them off her place on my sofa, funny to watch but a dog is a dog and I don't think it is a good idea to let them nip us, whatever the reason!
  • K

    Just one of the kids

    Behavioral Issues
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    youngandtiredY
    My B, Sahara, loves to play fetch and does so almost everyday. I taught her how to bring it back to me and how to release it once she had it. Silly dog wants to play tug of war with everything. She will even go to her toy box and pick out the toy I tell her to get and bring it to me to play. She is the smartest dog I have ever owned and I have quite a few.
  • MiaM

    Nipping

    Behavioral Issues
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    2k Views
    MiaM
    lol Luv, yes Mia does the same, now when we pull out the water bottle, she scrams as fast as she can, and just stares at it on the counter lol…such funny little personalities they have. Always entertaining
  • TuckerVAT

    No nipping here, mine draws BLOOD!

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    MantisM
    To me it sounds like the previous owners praised his bad behaviors when he would take something which would be confusing for anyone. I would begin to give treats when he does good things to retrain the idea. Use a spray bottle for growls or bad behavior. Use it to startle but dont acknowledge the bad behavior. Act like you didnt see the water and dont let him see the water bottle. The other main issue it sounds like is the socialization. I would suggest doing the basic obedience training in a Petsmart. You will have a trainer with you each time you go. You will be introducing your basenji to other dogs in your class in a controlled atmosphere. You will be in a busy store with people that will help him socialize and get used to the people. Once you have learned the tricks or commands from class and your basenji performs them with you flawlessly. Have your roommate use the same commands and gestures until your b can do them with your roommate. Then add a friend that isnt around all the time and slowly teach the dog how to communicate and receive praise and treats for his actions. I suspect that with this training, your basenji will soften that aggressive behavior and want the treats. The behavior may never go away completely, but you will always be around to keep an eye on him. If you have a dog walker, I would think that it is very important that your walker follows your guidlines for training to keep your dog safe when he is away from you. Strangers who have been bitten by a dog have had the ability to put the dog to sleep and it is important that you do not permit him to find an opportunity to slip. My rescue was food aggressive and fearful of everything. She had seperation anxiety, growled, and took 2 years to potty train. It is important to be consistant with your training. It is important to praise. My rescue settled down completely after 3years and I learned the triggers to avoid. I would also suggest not having any pull or shake playing with your basenji which would mimick tugging or tearing prey. When your basenji is relaxed, massage him. Touch his mouth, his ears, hold his feet. Teach him to understand that there is no off limit area. Have your roomate and dog walker do this as well once you feel he has begun learning from the training. Have your roommate help you bathe him, and so on and so forth. As long as one of the 3 of you can handle him in basic training, around people and handeling him you should be more confident that you are protecting him as well as the many victims he could encounter in the future. You know he is great and you want to take care of him. The best way to do that is by helping him learn to communicate with people, not out of fear. Oh, and a soft muzzle is a great way to take him for walks with a dog walker and keep him from hurting anyone else. He can move his mouth, but wont be able to open it. I bought mine at Petsmart when Caesar was a puppy and eat his seat belt off when in the car going anywhere. Do not use it with punishment, but as a tool to let him know it is time to go for a walk!!
  • jys1011J

    Basenji Nipping Kids?

    Behavioral Issues
    39
    0 Votes
    39 Posts
    24k Views
    V
    I stopped a little hassle between my Basenjis the other night and was bitten. Yikes, those are sharp little teeth. I would hate to see a child bitten by any dog. Young children and dogs, not just Basenjis, need to be supervised; children should be taught respect for animals. I've seen many lovely pets 'go away' or be put down because one bit a child who was teasing or being cruel. Actually, in my opinion teasing is being cruel. I think children need a "time out" when they play too rough with animals, too.
  • birdbarsB

    Our son

    Behavioral Issues
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    4k Views
    S
    Great story, thanks for posting!:)