Posts made by Dennis

Just a follow-up. My older Basenji is now letting my puppies climb on him! He grumbles, but now only bites if they bite him first. The puppies are learning fast to not bite him, but it still happens at times. It's been a month and I'm feeling much better. My older boy is finally starting to warm up. They have even played together, tugging on a toy a few times. Thanks again for your input. I think it will all be fine. Thx!

Snake training is a must out here. The dogs have to be trained professionally to stay completely away from the snakes. Lots of rattlesnakes out here and thier enemy, the king snake. They don't hurt dogs. I recently heard if rat pnemonia that can spread to animals too. The desert is harsh, but Basenjis love the heat and hate the rain, so they are happy if they can avoid the bad critters. Have you heard of trantula wasps. They have the most painful sting of anything in the world. Journals say if you get stung, "just lay down and cry" so you don't hurt yourself more by running into something. Hahaha. They scare me, and seem to mate in my backyard every year. We all stay far away. Not poisonous tho.

I'm in the desert, but the big issue out here is valley fever from a spore in the dirt. Had a dog die from that before. My neighbors dog just got it too. No way to avoid it. When they do construction out here, the dust gets stirred up and they AND humans breath it in and the fungus takes over. It is very hard to get rid of and the meds Fluconazol is really hard on the liver. Hope they don't get that. Workers are supposed to saturate the ground to prevent the dust, but it really doesn't stop it from spreading.

Only 2 puppies. They are adorable and 100% healthy. I love them so much! The pups climbed the baby gate today and when I got home they were happy and uninjured. My boy was outside. The puppies can't get through the doggy door yet. I do see them getting along better. I think it will all be OK. Just being cautious. Better safe than sorry. Thanks for all your input. It is very much appreciated!

I hear ya Antigone. Unfortunately, the last time I got a rescue Basenji, he was blind and the one before him also was rescued, but his bone deteriorated at 4 years old and he couldn't walk. Never found out what it was. Tested for everything, but all negative. I loved them, but want healthy Basenjis this time. My preference. I really love the breed. Thx.

Yes. Tested. Purchased means I bought the puppies. I meant aggressive by the big growl and then bite that makes the pups Yelp for a few minutes. Seems like too much to me. Maybe I'm being too cautious, but I don't want my puppies injured. He growls when they get close to him, unless the pups are tired and inactive. I hope I'm just being too protective. The adults bite seems pretty hard to me, but maybe the heavy growl that goes with it is just making me think it's too much. They all chased a mouse outside today and my older boy didn't pay any attention to the puppies jumping on his face as he was preoccupied looking for the mouse. So, normal or too aggressive? Hard to tell.

I got them all to go to sleep laying all together on the couch while watching TV last night, and he seems to be "tolerating" the puppies a bit more, but he reacts aggressively if they nip at him. I see some improvement, but going slowly. Your input is appreciated. I think he is reluctant to accept the puppies into our pack, but sniffing them more and more. Glad to see a little improvement. These pups were perchanced by a breeder for pets. I love Basenjis!

New Basenji puppies. Not related to the older Basenji. They just get near my older boy and he really gets aggressive. Pups are 3 months old. They do nip each other, but I squirt them and say "no bite". They are getting better and better, but my older boy doesn't want anything to do with the pups. It's really sad. He bit my pup and seemed to hurt her ribs and front leg. She would not let me touch her for a few hours, but playing all out today. Thank God. I'm now putting my big boy on a leash when we all go outside. He doesn't seem to be warming up to the pups yet. So frustrating. I'm being very consistent about the no bite for the pups. Older boy is being mean.

What can I do to about
this. He is super aggressive, but never before. It's been 3 wks and not improving.