8 month old is biting…can't get him under control

[Patty]

'What I don't like is dog owners going on a forum… seeking advice...
yet not having talked to their breeder first.
How can the breeder help if they aren't being informed of the issues???'

Khanis - I totally agree. I do hope that people are doing this before asking on the forum. I know if I was the breeder I would be upset to think that I wasn't trusted enough for the new owners to come back to me with any problems and the sooner the better!

[agilebasenji]

Perhaps another thread on why people feel like they can't contact the breeder. What a breeder can/should do to foster lines of communication. I'd love to know why some people don't hesistate to call their breeder and others do something else. I want my breeders to be happy that they placed a pup with me (I'm pretty sure Linda's okay with me; I have 3 dogs from her), but for other people does that translate to feeling like they can't tell the breeder of problems? Does it make the owner feel like a failure? Hmmmm . . . I surely don't have answers

[MacPack]

Hmmm, I have not been in that position, but I can see how a buyer who convinced the breeder that they were 'basenji people' and got a pup, then perhaps didn't follow all the advice, got busy with their life, maybe some unplanned changes, and a year later that sweet pup is a mess, biting or destructive. It might feel very humiliating to go back, head bowed, and 'admit' that maybe you weren't the 'perfect owner' for their darling pup.
So you join a forum and start asking for advice, maybe someone will have a magic solution for you. You just don't want to face your breeder as "a failure" with a wild pup.

Make sense? What could breeders do? Toss that scenario out there at the time of purchase, and say it's OK, not ideal, but OK, it happens. Pave the way for teaching and forgiveness, and really let the buyer know that you are there for them, willing to take the dog back anytime if necessary, no questions asked.

[khanis]

A breeder can't do anything that would make the puppy buyer contact them.
The buyer is only as good as their promise…
many times that isn't enough.

I didn't realize this particular dog was out of our girl... until I looked back and saw posts in May... then I was a little annoyed that there are still problems... and the owner asking here.
Kyle is more than reasonable and would be more than happy to help.
The majority of good breeders jump through hoops to take back a dog.

[sharronhurlbut]

So has this fellow contacted Kyle yet??

[tangokor]

Just an update on Tango. I'd like to thank all of you that gave me advice. I've used many of the suggestions I've been given here and I have talked to the breeder many times. I didn't realize that by also getting advice here that some people would get so offended. A breeder can be of great assistance and support but so can people that are having similar problems. I believe that is why these boards are here ??

Tango spent almost a week with Kyle about a month ago and I haven't had many issues since then. He's grown out of alot of his nippy behavior and we've learned how to better correct his bad behavior.

An older dog would probably been a better fit for my household but we're managing and he's a sweet boy.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5578227&l=897faf9350&id=661066455

[tangokor]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5578227&l=897faf9350&id=661066455

[Patty]

Glad to hear of your success with Tango. I think sometimes people may sound offended but not meaning to. I know when something kindly spoken is written down it can sound entirely different.

Well done to you, Tango and Kyle.

[thunderbird8588]

Glad to hear Tango is doing better, thanks for the update.

[Patty M]

I'm a cheerleader for you and Tango! Please let us know what is going on, and remember, that we all have wonderful basenjis on our laps… I'm getting ready to go to bed, but here is my girl, all cuddled up in a cat-like curl, waiting for me to carry her to bed... and we live in FLORIDA? Too cute.

Thank you for believing in Tango. He is new to this thing called life, and at the end of the day, all he wants to do is please you. I sincerely believe that basenjis are sensitive to our moods, and when they get scared/tense/mad and react, and then WE react... they react back. I'm so grateful that you didn't toss Tango into the basenji orphanage... I believe that he will be come the most loyal B there ever is!