@emma1234:

Has anyone experienced anything like this? I'm so worried. My basenji, emma, who is about to turn four, had a nice shiny coat of redish brown basenji fur on her body. However, over the last month or so it's completely thinned, lightened to an almost white color and gotten really soft (except for the usual colored strip along her back and her face). I also had a baby during this time so haven't been paying as much attention to her. Now I'm worried it's serious.

Benny's coat does this every July.

He has a long line, but this happened off of the leash. I unhooked him to get his leash untangled and he pulled away unexpectedly when he saw the dog in his yard. Went up to the dog and the dog attacked. His scream sounded like a 5 year old girl's… I felt so bad for him. I will make sure to take extra caution when he is outside for sure. I actually have since the Summer, when a neighborhood lady's dog was killed by a coyote. I blame myself for not putting him inside before I started untangling his leash. I will make sure I report the incident tomorrow. I spoke with a neighbor just now and they think they know whose dog it is, so I'll get their address tomorrow and notify the police and/or dog warden.

Unfortunately it's not fenced in and we don't have the money to get it fenced in at the moment. We do live in a nice neighborhood and dogs don't usually rome around off of their leashes… but this is the one dog I've seen a number of times in the last year off his leash.

Benny was chained up in the back yard, and got stuck around a bush. I went outside to get him untangled and he got loose from me, I turned around and there was a brindle pit bull in my yard. Benny ran up to him and the dog got a hold of his back leg. Benny screamed, I got a bat and ran up to the dog and he ran off. Benny was walking on three legs and had about 20 bite marks on him and was bleeding mildly.

Took Benny to the vet, he doesn't think anything is broken or dislocated… gave him preventative antibiotics and something for pain. He's walking better, but still a little gingerly.

I've seen the dog around the neighborhood before, off the leash. He's even ran in my back yard and tried to attack Benny before. I did not call the police, because I don't know who is owner is.

Benny's doing MUCH better today. He hasn't yelped once. He's been a little cautious, but less and less throughout the day. I hope it is something acute and not just the pain killer and muscle relaxer masking it. Thanks for the advice everyone, I will keep everyone updated.

Debra: Is that something I can get at GNC?

We talked the vet into letting us come in tonight… she put him on NSAIDs and muscle relaxers. She thinks it's his neck... and he wasn't yelping while he was at the vet. He's yelping now that he's home again though. He's trying to sleep but keeps waking up in pain. I feel so bad for him.

The vet said to bring him back in if he's still in pain in 5 days. I was hoping they would do X-rays while we were there, but she didn't think it was necessary yet.

when we pick him up… He even yelped when I gently pet his side. I am thinking he may have injured his neck or back. It started about 5-6 days ago. He yelped about once a day out of nowhere, we're not sure what happend to make him yalp. But today he's been yelping when he jumps off the bed and seems extra sensitive. Also, we noticed him yelp when he yawned. He's only 2.8 years old.

He was home alone with my sister's dog while we were at a wedding the night we noticed it and they like to play rough... and my sister's dog has about 60 lbs on him. We called the vet, and we're going in tomorrow morning.. but we're worried about the little guy. Has anyone else experienced this?

Um. This guy knows his dog can be violent, and still brings him to the dog park???????? You should get in touch with the people in charge and get this guy banned from the park.

Benny caught a Bunny today… the Bunny was in the garden, it tried to jump out and Benny ran and caught it mid-air. I grabbed Benny's leash, but it was too late for the Bunny :( .

I do remember when my friend came over and was petting him and squeezed the skin on his neck… I yelled at my friend when I heard Benny yalp. But Benny didn't try to bite him, it started within a month of that happening.

The vet recomended this trainer and he was suppossed to be a "non-aggressive trainer", which turned out to be untrue. I do tell people to ignore him, my sister still trys to pet him after he's snapped at her a number of times… I'll try the treat idea.

What is really strange to me is how he asks for attention, and then snaps at a hand coming to pet him...

@Janneke:

Maybe you can try to find a new trainer with better methods..?

We already shelled out $75 for one session, we can't afford to experiment with trainers.

I posted a few months ago about Benny biting the neighbor… He now growls and snaps at strangers who come in the house (but only when they try to pet him), and even my mom, who he used to love. But here is the strange thing, he runs up to them with his ears back and his tail wagging, but when they go to pet him, he snaps at them... I don't know what to do (other than tell people not to pet him).

Today, he ran up to my sister when she walked in the door (he's been growling at her and my nephew for about 4 months now) and jumped on her with his ears back and tail wagging, and tried to bite her when she went to pet him.

We've had his thyroid tested, and it came back fine. Hired a trainer, who he bit pretty good (when he tried to force him on the ground)... I didn't like the trainer's methods, so we never allowed him to come back. He used to be sweet and gentle with everyone, now he snaps at people.

A dog park opened up recently, and he runs up to people there and lets them pet him, it's only when people come in the house and when we take him for walks around the neighborhood.

I am going to give the potato and duck a try… i found a good deal on it... http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/product_detail.asp?pf%5Fid=201119712&dept_id=1

24% cashback if you go to the site via bing.com/cashback if anyone else is interested.

Benny has always been a picky eater. We started off with purina dry dog food (puppy and then adult) and we noticed he didn't eat much when we switched to adult… so we switched to kibbles and bits wholesome melody, he liked it more, but i still thought he should be eating more... We recently switched to Beneful, and he loves it... he finishes his bowl every time I set it out.

I just came on to post this… I take this guy's research with a grain of salt. Benny is the smartest dog i've ever come across. I was expecting to see Basenjis near the top of the chart.

Pet Land (pet store)

@nobarkus:

I think we're getting Benny on the right track here. It's nice having this forum as you can get good help from experienced people like Andrea.

I really do appreciate everyone's help. We have an appointment with the vet this Thursday at 11:15 am to get some bloodwork done.

@Quercus:

Okay, try this school. Hopefully they are close enough to you. I have talked to Ed, and he seems to be a really great trainer…I haven't actually met him, nor observed him train...but according to their website, and the feedback I have gotten from him, I agree with their methods:

www dot northcoastdogs dot com

That is within an hour from home, I'll give them a call.

Yeah, I'll make sure I get the thyroid checked asap. We're scheduling an appointment today. Benny had no problem letting me pick him up last night, but he didn't like it when my girlfriend and my mom tried to. He might just love them more than he does me, so that really shocked me, especially with my girlfriend (who is his mommy).