If someone can look at those pictures and not break out in a smile, something is very wrong with them. Oh my goodness is he Mr Personality or what! Thank you for updating with such great photos.

Amputation is a major surgery, far more healing than plating or pinning. But certainly a cast is better than amputation. While dogs do fine with amputations, the healing would be a lot longer than the 12 weeks casting. If the vet is not an ortho specialist, I really suggest you see one for a 2nd opinion.

I took the liberty of reuploading. To get it to show on the forum, you need to use the up arrow next to the smiley face. Just let me know if you want me to remove it. What a cutie... definitely see basenji.

Sometimes their grief is being fed by yours. Work on giving him a lot more attention, exercise, learning new tricks. Basically, really truly tire him out the night before and the morning prior to leaving. If possible, try to arrange so that your and/or your partner can run home for a quick lunch/play time. Get the 2 way communications devices so you can see each other and talk to him.

I understand the costs. I had to wait after my beloved Sayblee died to get another basenji. So much expense trying to save her that it simply wasn't responsible to take on a new dog yet. A blanket or something with the smells... or wrap a new blanket around some of Jimmy's toys so that it gets the smell. Leaving that in the crate may help.

I am sorry for your loss, made doubly hard by poor Max's grief. He most certainly can feel you are grieving, but playing UP, higher happy tone, and more attention should help.

I've felt that way about all the breeds I have owned. But the basenji's gazing into your eyes... My most beloved dog, Sayblee, learned if she walked on me I'd generally shove her off the bed. So she learned to crawl up me and I'd wake up to find her on top of me with her nose on my nose, intensely looking in my eyes.

Aileen: It gives all the warnings one should take very seriously before choosing a basenji because so many of them are relinquished or abused and neglected.

I've worked in rescue a long time. Dogs generally are grateful and adjust fine, unless they had an unstable temperament to start with. Getting one from an experienced rescue that can really evaluate a dog is important. I'm always disappointed with rescues that just take the owner's word for things and places the dog directly into a home. And now I have sweet Cara who puts her head on my leg and looks up to me to figure out what she wants; follows us from room to room so she's not by herself (the other dog doesn't count).

Bahahahahaha, she is DARLING! I love the "baby dinosaur noises." My basenjis make demonic noises we say are calling their minions.

For FHO, it has great results with smaller dogs but I've known of many larger breeds (Rottweiler, GSD, Golden Retriever) who did superb and never had any issues.

Get your dog used to a muzzle at home . Basket muzzles are the least confining . There are some things that dogs do not get to be the boss , and vet visits and vaccines are some of them . Make the muzzle training and tiny steps .

Show the dog the muzzle and let it get close to it give it a treat and praise, show the muzzle, when the dog comes to you, treat and praise . Once the dog is used to seeing the muzzle then you touch the dog with the muzzle or possible just lightly put over the nose and then take back . You have to keep building on this until you're able to put the muzzle on the dog and build up time until the dog is not reactive to muzzle .

Sedation is a risk of death however small each time you do it. Like the others I cannot imagine allowing a vet to do it to my dog to pull blood.

My oldest basenji was 13. Hopefully your dog will make it far beyond that..

First, get a full vet check. Dogs that are sick are often bullied or attacked by the other house dogs.

If that is all clear, then try to separate them. Life being under the fear of attack is horribly stressful to the dog. In nature, if such occurred she could simply leave. Unfortunately, correcting him might escalate things, so make sure when you aren't around that he does not have access to her. Working on teaching him at all times to not approach her, not just when he's bullying, may lessen the problem.

I think you are doing things right, but I do suggest you slow down and not leave them alone for a while longer. With their prey drive, things could go wrong fast. So keep supervising and give them time to really bond and accept it as part of the family.

The problem is, what you describe COULD be heat (though none of my bitches ever had diarrhea)... it could also be something serious, such as parvo. Let the vet check her.

Sorry, but I believe that dogs' health should come first. I understand the dilemma that it puts shelters and rescue agencies in, but in general I believe if you can't handle having intact dogs don't get them. Full stop.

The more research that is done the more clear it is that we hurt dogs by neutering them. Yes it is annoying to keep a bitch safe once or twice a year when it is in heat, but if you aren't willing to do that why would you get it? Nor should his health suffer because you chose to get a bitch and seem unsure of your ability to keep them separated. I really wish people asked this question before adding an intact dog to their family.

The next question is whether you are willing to keep them apart and want help with ideas on how to make it as peceful as possible. Having lived with a male dog that howled the entire time we had a bitch in heat, I can only say that it isn't Fun but it is doable. You can do this!

I'm slowly moving my stuff to google from other photo hosting formats.

the problem boils down to this... what will you do if one leg refuses to let your pet continue? What will happen if you depend on them not checking something and then they check and your dog is grounded?

I would like to say that we check several airlines before moving to Israel and many of them would allow a small enough dog I E. our basenji, in the cabin but they limited the number of pets most of them at around 3 per cabin and they would say that if someone flying who was allergic then your dog or pet had to go in the hold so you didn't really know till you got there. We were lucky to have 2 pets that could be next to each other and they both just sort of chilled and even though it was a hellish flight neither of them seemed at all stressed or bothered and we were able to keep them with us until they actually took them to put on the plane and pick them up almost immediately on landing. I just think unless you're moving the best thing for your pet is to find a way to leave it at home. If you must take the pet then you may be better off paying the extra to have a professional pet travel agency take over all the responsibility and fly your pet for you which unfortunately doesn't usually include in the cabin.

I never had an issue flying puppies to their new homes in the cabin with their new owners.

Darn, can't see as I won't accept cookies from instagram.

@zande said in Princess Sparkle...:

Poor Greg, you are getting so much input you probably don't need - just look on it as coming from a jealous and frustrated breeder who would love another litter but is herself too old !

Jealous? No way! Just puppy hungry! I do understand the feeling though of being too old. I'd love a baby Rottweiler...but my health and age would make it irresponsible. Sadly, even though my daughter and her husband wouldn't object (we live together), I know they couldn't handle one when I'm gone. It doesn't stop the yearning. Maybe you can find someone needing a mentor. They would be extraordinarily lucky to have you share in their lives. If we were near, my daughter would gladly be your backup for a basenji should it need to be rehomed. Maybe you could find someone who would be your backup?

@jengosmonkey said in Princess Sparkle...:

Just dawned on me that a well fed fat lil’ Basenji puppy looks an awful lot like a Tardigrade.

omg I LOVE tardigrades!

@zande
I'll never let them eat more than a couple of the placentas because it can cause diarrhea and really isn't necessary.

@elbrant
I wish I could magically pop over too!
I was sad when I decided my heart was in rescue and gave my (considerably larger but nowhere as nice) whelping box away. My co-breeder, who I had mentored since she was 18 and who could certainly mentor ME now, took the reins and it's been nice watching her at invitationals, including Westminster. So I know his breeder is very happy to enjoy the mentoring side.
But I do miss whelping and baby puppies.

@jengosmonkey
You can't share too much ...it helps us all be part of the experience and are glad you are sharing.

My 1st litter, Rottweilers, my bitch had 13 puppies --1 stillborn and 1 that died at 5 days (called a fading puppy) in spite of all we could do. My poor niece was only 11 and stayed with me whole spring break helping...we fed the boys while mom fed the girls... next feeding we swapped. Talk about jumping in head first. LOL my neighbor was a jockey, who like me had a lot of experience with "birthing babies" of the farm animal variety. Man was I glad for his help! We both agreed our previous experiences didn't count for much when we got down to it!

In fact, I'd be nervous whelping Basenjis! Quiet a difference handling nearly 1 pounders over little basenjis!

I haven't cheated scrolling down to see...but I'm sure you did fine. You certainly have listened to your mentor and done everything right.

@jengosmonkey
She looks so much like my champion Sayblee. What a lovely feminine head and fantastic body. She makes me smile. Thank you for sharing her pictures.