I saw Laurie a couple of weeks ago and she told me she would have kept them all if she could have! They are very nice and will do well once they are trained

Laurie had 2 litters born then so I wasn’t sure! Laurie kept the rest of the litter. They are really nice . Hopefully she will be a show dog.

Welcome!!
Who are his parents? I may have his sister

Spring Willow's Champagne Kisses "Violet"

I put the dogs name and my phone number. I once lost a tag (not the dog haha) and a kind man called me and brought the tag back. I don't think more than a number is necessary personally. My dogs are chipped before they leave the breeder.

Hi there! I live in CLE but I do go to dog shows in Columbus at the fair grounds. I think they are November and April? You are more than welcome to meet my dogs there! If you'd like to meet my boys let me know! Also, there are a ton of wonderful breeders in OH. Sue Kite (Klassic) is in Marion and Laurie Owen (Spring Willow) is in Akron. My parents got their little girl from Laurie and she was ALWAYS happy to have us come visit! There is also Tim Huff (Victory), Becky Blansett (Epic) and Tracy Leonard (Select) who are all great OH breeders.

Zande’s recommendation is spot on for a healthy dog who is simply picky. I cried myself to sleep many times over one of my dogs. I was convinced he was going to die! He’d like a food a few days and then stop. I mixed everything into it, tried raw (he hates it), tried every protein, every type of food, etc etc. Same results!!

The only thing that worked was finding a food he liked and I felt comfortable feeding and stuck with it. Yes he’d skip some meals but at 5 years old he now eats his food with very little issue. You REALLY have to practice tough love and sick to it. If your dog is healthy it WILL work!

For the record, I feed Fromm and rotate flavors. He does not do grain free as the good carbs help keep weight on him.

When I was looking for my first basenji over 15 years ago I spent a lot of time on your website and really learned a lot from you even though we’ve never met! I’m in NE Ohio and am on my 4th basenji and I hear your name and see it on a dog here and there.

It’s a small world when you have a “rare breed” sometimes ️.

Ohhh boy.. one of mine killed my moms and my sisters fiance’s glasses.
My dogs are 5yrs, 3yrs and 3 months and I don’t trust any of them with full run of my house and I have baby gates. My older boys don’t destroy anything anymore but they might if I set them up to. Basenjis get bored and shred.

Good luck to you and your family with training!

It does sound like displaced aggression. Can’t get to what she wants so she lashes out. One of my dogs got his foot stuck in a gate and paniced. While I was trying to help him he snapped at me. He wasn’t mad at me but scared/frustrated at the situation. I’m not new to basenjis either, it’s something I’ve had to work with him on. He’s 3 now and much better. How is she in the house? Is it just an issue with other dogs? If she were my dog I’d work on some foundation training and hold off on walks with the kids. It is my experience that many basenjis don’t really care to be friends with every dog they meet. She does need to learn to walk passed them with out reacting, but don’t expect her to like them and want to play.

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Your breeder was right to be apprehensive as basenjis are not an easy breed. They take an owner who will keep them in check and one that has a sense of humor. I do think the whole “not a first time dog” is stupid. How many labs must one own before they can have the breed they want??

I agree that you should work with a trainer, especially since you are new to dogs. Perhaps one that could come to your house and see her in her element. I also hope your breeder is helping you. It is their duty to help their puppy buyers though this.

Please don’t hesitate to keep posting here and asking for guidance!!

Two things work with my dogs. If my puppy is playing keep away I turn around and run the other way. He goes “hey where’d ya go!!” And starts chasing me instead. I get back what I want and he thinks it’s fun to come to me.

Another thing that works is trading. Get a fun toy or treat and offer it instead of the thing you don’t want her to have. He’s just tall enough to reach the garbage and likes to shred paper towels. So we trade for those a lot.

My adult boys just give it up to me when I ask. They were trained the same way and it’s not an issue with them.

Also, pretend you have a 2 year old child and pick up your stuff. My dogs are not allowed in my back rooms where my reptiles and important things are. Everything at their level is dog safe. Don’t set her up to fail!

Don’t chase her whatever you do. Unless she’s eating something toxic and you need it away from her NOW it’s best to use it as a training moment. Trust me, I know it’s frustrating. If your husband is so quick to get rid of her for it you may have to do most of the training. I can’t imagine being told I had to get rid of my dog just because they are you know, being a dog. Good luck to you and keep us updated!