My husband does walk him and he is so so with him. BUT yesterday my husband came home, walked in ignored rusty sat down in the recliner. Our female, Chloe, walked up to him to get petted and then so did Rusty!! It only lasted for about 2 min but then he went back to being scared. So I think we are making progress! I was shocked when i saw that.

He will take treats from my husbands hand and then back about a foot away and eat it. The biggest concern is when he gets up from sitting and moves around. The rescue give a 7wk trial period and if he is still not a good fit then they will take him back. I dont want to give him back. He is GREAT with my 3 yr old and me. So we will just take it one step at a time.

Another question…. On thanksgiving we will have more men over here what should I do with him then? I dont want him to bark and be scared the whole time. Should I put him upstairs or in the crate in the living room or try and let him roam freely as he does now?

Thanks! I hope she can teach him. Im hoping she can teach him my husband is a good guy.

@Patty:

I'm not a fan of the squirt bottle, either…. imagine every time you did what was natural to you, like laugh, you got squirt in the face!

Maybe a reassuring "It's okay, Rusty", would be better? My other dog, Joker, is a rat terrier, and he has two distinctive barks: one where he is protective of us, and another when he's playing. Once Rusty gets used to his new home, he will probably calm down.

Patience and time, and relax! Do you know how many other homes your dog lived in before yours? Once he realizes that this is his "forever" home, I'm sure he will settle in to being wonderful.

Congratulations on your new addition, and thank you for rescuing him!

He has been with 3 homes. The women who found him, then a family, then back to the women who found him, then to another women who adopted him 6wks ago and had to give him back since her boyfriend came home from overseas and didnt like him. She told them that he hid behind her when he came home and barked at him. Then he went back to the women who rescued him and now to us.

Thanks. Chloe will only do it if the smoke alarm goes off. I found that out in our old house since there was one right in the kitchen and my cookie sheet decided to smoke.

Yes we have only had him since Saturday. When we went to meet him on Friday he was so so but then warmed right up to him, so I am guessing its just that fact that he is at a diffrent house. Right now we are on the couch and he is about 4ft from my husband chewing on his bone. My husband has been ignoring him for about an hour now and drops a treat when he gets up to leave the room. The only down side of droping the treat is our female gets the treat before Rusty does lol.

These are my two basenji mixes. Chloe is the first one, she is almost 3 yrs old and we think she may have some pit or boxer in her. She loves to do the yoddle if she hears a smoke alarm lol. Rusty is the 2nd one, we adopted him Saturday, he is actually 1 today!

Thanks everyone! I will have him try to do the feedings at night, the ones in the mornings he wont be able to do since he leaves at 6am for work. I just hope he stops the barking when he moves around the house cuz he did it at 530 this morning and almost woke up my 3 yr old. I was hoping that since my female, Chloe, goes up to my husband that he would be okay. I know the rescue told us that they use to have to squirt him with a squirt bottle if he barked exssesivly or dug holes and what not. Should I not use the spray bottle at all?? I have never had an issue with dogs in the past so I am new to the squirt bottle thing.

I actually live on the base, Cherry Point.

I will post some pictures in the picture section.

I have a basenji mix he will be 1 tommorow. I adopted him yesterday from a women who works with a local rescue. My son, husband, other dog who is a basenji mix and myself went to meet him(Rusty) Friday and he did great. He was a little shy towards my husband took about 15 min and he warmed right up to my husband and was even giving him kisses. Well since I brought him home yesterday he is in fear of my husband. My husband will sit on the ground with treats and talk real soft to him. He will come close enough to get a treat and then back off. He will keep about 2ft between him and my husband. He is okay if my husband is sitting down in the same room. As soon as my husband stands up he starts to bark and puff his hair. We tell Rusty its okay. We even tried my husband walking him and he did okay but dosent want my husband to touch him. Tonight I held him on the couch and he was okay with my husband petting him. He even started to lick his hand but as soon as he got off the couch he started to bark. I need help! I dont know what else to do to get him to know its okay. He is also afraid of the male the lives next door and we live in condo type houses so i cant have him afraid of every man around here. I know it takes time for him to get adjusted but I was wondering what else we could try. Thank you!