BENNI BABU IS OUR 7 YEAR OLD MALE, HAD HIM SINCE HE WAS PUP RIGHT FROM THE BREEDER. HE HAS BEEN "FIXED". bENNI LIVES IN DOGGY HEAVEN, ON THE BEACH, AT A RESORT IN THE BAHAMAS. HE ALWAYS GOT ALONG WITH PEOPLE, AND LOVES OTHER DOGS. i ALWAYS CARRIED A POUCH OF SMALL TREATS WHEN HE WAS A PUP. i WOULD ASK EVERYONE ON THE STAFF AND GUESTS TO TAKE A TREAT AND GIVE IT TO BENNI, FIRST HE HAD TO DO THE HIGH FIVE TRICK, NO BRAINER FOR BASENJI'S. THIS SEEMED TO GET HIM SOCIALIZED TO ALL COMERS BLACK, WHITE, BROWN, WHOEVER. ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS SNIFF PEOPLE.
WE DID NOTICE THAT HE DID NOT LIKE HIS TAIL MESSED WITH. LITTLE KIDS ARE ATTRACTED TO THIS CURLY TAIL AND OFTEN THINK HE HAS TWO TAILS. WELL WHEN THEY TRY AND STRAIGHTEN OUT HIS "TAILS" HE WOULD SNARL, AND SOMETIMES MOCK-BITE. WE TOLD PEOPLE DO NOT MESS WITH HIS TAIL, AND THINGS WERE OK. MY WIFE WOULD TELL PEOPLE, LET HIM COME TO YOU OTHERWISE IGNORE HIM.

NOW AT AGE SEVEN HE HAS BECOME KINDA MEAN AND HAS EVEN NIPPED SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING 2 KIDS. THIS IS BAD FOR BUISNESS, SO NOW WE HAVE TO KEEP HIM IN ALOT, A DOG WHO IS USED TO RUNNING, FREE AND PLAYING ALL DAY LONG. hE STAYS WET IN SUMMER CHASING FISH AND CRABS THROUGH THE SHALLOW MANGROVE FLATS. A DOGS LIFE. NOW HE IS LIKE A PRISONER. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. HE EVEN BIT ME WHEN I TRIED TO PUT COLLAR ON HIM. HE HAS NOT WORN ONE FOR YEARS. ANY HELP OR SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU.

Thanks so much for the response which pretty much allies with our thinking. Trips to the vet for us involve small airplanes, custums officials, and city life all very anti- Basenji at least this one. He was checked about nine months ago, do you know of any other symptamatic behavior or signs to watch for? Meanwhile I will call the vet and begin preparing for the trip . Thanks again for responding on a Holiday.

Greetings, New to this forum, my wife , myself , and our four year old Basenji live on Cat Island in the Bahamas. We have had our dog Benni Babu since he was a puppy. He is a brindle and white boy who was fixed as a puppy. Benni has been the dog of a lifetime for us. Having owned many dogs we are now dedicated Basenji people. We hope someone can help us Benni was socialized at our resort from puppyhood, he learned to love and sniff any and all humans. He never met another cannine he did not like. We always let him have the run of the beach and grounds never a thought that he would bother any one. The last couple of weeks he is showing some disturbing behavior. He will growl at some people who go to pet him, he will get his hair up at people, today he even snapped at a guest. This has never happened. So we are concerned any suggestions would be nice. Thank You all and hope to hear from you soon.