I think every Basenji we've had has gotten out. One forced his way out a second story window, climbed onto the roof, and jumped off. Another zipped past me when I opened the garage door literally a crack and she went after a cat. And one literally took off as the garage door was closing, slid on his side to get under it, and then took off. Then there was the one who darted through the slats on a deck and jumped 15 feet in pursuit of a cat. He also got out when the maintenance man opened the door to our temporary apartment without knocking. And oh, the one who jumped the fence in the park with a partner in crime and ended up at a Mercedes dealership.

All of these ended up without incidence. A neighbor collected the one who jumped off the roof -- at 16 BTW -- and came over, range our bell, and told us she had our dog. And we were ???????. LOL The one out the garage chased the cat into our neighbor's house where I collected her. And the one who skidded out the garage door ran around the road which circled our neighborhood -- with me shortly behind in a car being directed by everyone on the street -- until he came back home where he waited for me in the driveway.

The point being it's virtually impossible to ensure these guys don't get out 100% of the time. This is why it's best to practice recall before you need it. And if in doubt remember that running in the opposite direction and starting a game of chase is a good way to have them come back pronto.

I'm sorry this happened. I'll pile on and say that dog parks are not a place for toys or treats, with the possible exception of balls that are being thrown and retrieved. I don't think I've ever known anyone who went to a dog park regularly who didn't have or witness a problem encounter.

That said, I've seen people walk into dog parks with hamburgers.

The way to avoid this is to avoid dog parks where this happens. If possible try and find one where the people aren't clueless -- which may be difficult or impossible. If you have to go, try and go at off hours when traffic is light. Problems usually show up where there are more than just a few dogs.

As far as playmates are concerned, yes Basenjis will be better off with larger dogs. They are rough and tough and usually too fast and strong for dogs of their size or smaller, unless those dogs are also bred for hunting.

A Basenji puppy? You might need drugs before you need a vet! LOL

Sorry I can't help you. I know a few Basenji owners near Phoenix but they're more in the Glendale and Sedona areas, which is a long way from where you are.

My own view is that a Basenji is a dog before they're a Basenji, so a good vet is better than a vet who has seen more Basenjis. Plus most vets likely don't see that many Basenjis because they're not that many around.

For the routine issues -- eating rugs and having diarrhea -- this board is likely a good resource. Some posters here have a ton of experience with Basenjis and know what they're talking about.

Good luck with your new bundle!

So sorry to hear about your pup. It's never easy and it's never easy to make the call. Horrible having to play God IMO. So no, there is no "right time" to say goodbye. The basic rule is that with the situation you've described it's time when you decide it is. That's not cavalier, it just reflects the fact that some people will decide sooner and some later. No real right or wrong. It's a super difficult call whether you've never had to do it or had done it ten times. FWIW we've always made the call later than we should have, including with our first dog who was in a situation similar to what you're describing.

That said, sometimes it's useful to ask: "If I were a dog what would my choice be for me?"

Again, my deepest sympathies. One thing which can make saying goodbye easier is if you can have a mobile vet do it at home. Just a more comfortable situation for the dog and you.

Training "Stay" should not be a big deal though you'll need to constantly reinforce it. Doing it 15 times won't work, and doing it 50 times until the command works and then forgetting about it won't work either.

No need for a lead. And it will likely work better with a clicker. Nothing magical about a clicker but you can more quickly and precisely reinforce the behavior, which gets more important as you move further away. Spend a day associating the click with the treat. This is pretty simple. Then have him sit and give the stay command. Move a bit away. Doesn't have to be far. Even a lean will work. When the stay is there click and then move back to give the treat. Best to keep focus, so if the look is away wait for it to come back.

Gradually move further and further away. At some point you may be 15-20 feet away when you click and then go back and give the treat. This is usually not a tough sell because, from a Basenji perspective, nothing beats getting treats for just sitting there. Should be a fairly quick train. It's one of the easier ones to teach.

Moving a Basenji to a trail is problematic. Their DNA says independent hunter. Huge difference with commands in an enclosed space and when they see a rabbit in an open area. Once they start after prey they lose their hearing. LOL

He is so cute!

First off, if a vet thinks neutering will change aggressive behavior you should look for a new vet. That is such a discredited myth. If she doesn't know that what else doesn't she know?

Sounds like he is a bit of a butt head. When we took our five puppies in for their first shots, the four girls were like champs. Then we had "Jungle King". OMG. Took three vet techs and the vet to give him a shot. When we left people in the waiting room wanted to know what had happened he was so loud. Totally ridiculous. Not as ridiculous as your vet's suggesting your pup be neutered, but close!

It was the same for toe nail trimming. What a wuss.

On to the fear reaction: We kept one of the girls. Very gentle and mellow. We decided as part of socialization to leave her at doggie day care for one day a week. The first day we dropped her off we took her to the enclosure and left her. When we came to pick her up they told us to wait in the parking area below because people coming back agitated the dogs. We heard shrieking from hell, looked at each other, and said: "That sounds like it might be Diki." After more shrieking the main woman came out carrying Diki and told us she had biten one of the handlers when she went to pick her up. Apparently she thought she was going to be carried to her death.

Long story short this was the only time she has been aggressive. A good lesson that even a sweet natured Basenji will bite if they feel threatened enough. Not to say that all dogs would have interpreted the situation as she did. Just to say that strange environments can be very scary to a puppy. IOW I wouldn't be too concerned about this at this age.

Nails can be an issue. Try a grinder (like a Dremel). Not sure it matters for the dog but at least you don't take too much off and have them bleed. FWIW we've always given baths when they start to smell funky. They hate it but it's the price they have to pay to sleep in the bedroom with someone who has an exceptionally good sense of smell (not me).

I like this one. it doesn't have crossbars so it's hard to climb. Plus you can use it if you want to keep your pup in a room. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SOX02U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 You can also make it smaller if you want with just one panel on a side.

Crates are the only foolproof enclosure. We had a pup who I caught climbing a gate to get out of the kitchen. Since we wanted to discourage climbing, I gave her a squirt from a water bottle (fate worse than death), told her "no", and then picked her up and put her back in the kitchen. She looked at me, went over to a cardboard box she was using as a toy (boxes make great toys), pushed it over to the gate, jumped on top of it, jumped over the gate, and then gave me a rather questioning look, as if to say "How about this?". I was laughing so hard it was all I could do to pick her up and put her back in the kitchen. The point being that Basenjis are awfully good at figuring out things on their own, and they have a lot of time on their hands to do that. You on the other hand have other things to do. Not a fair contest. So I'd agree that your lucite pen isn't going to pose a huge problem for a determined Basenji, unless it has a top.

But note this is for a "determined" Basenji. If they aren't motivated to get out of the pen, then they'll be fine.

It's hard to say without actually seeing the dog. Many (most?) Basenjis are CONSTANTLY on the lookout for food. Sometimes it seems as if "found food", no matter if it's a three week old piece of hotdog, is better than the piece of filet mignon they can get from you. LOL In fact someone has remarked that our youngest is the first dog they've ever seen go through the weave poles while sniffing. And rabbit pellets? OMG the most delicious things ever! (Other critters must like these as well since they are there in the morning but gone in the afternoon). You may have a Basenji who is on a tail but not by more than a standard deviation or two.

Also the puppy from the last litter who we worried about not eating enough -- we'd sneak her extra -- is now far and away the fattest. Actually she's the only one who is fat. As a consequence I hesitate to project puppy behavior into adult behavior as far as eating is concerned.

Having said that, my guess is she'll always be that way but will learn to dole out the effort.

I think this dog needs a home without children. While Basenjis aren't necessarily great with all children, they are usually great with children from "their" family. For whatever reason this isn't the case. Consequently this is definitely not a good situation for either the dog or your son. To protect both of them it would be best to find another home.

Fun video. I believe they do flush, that's what the bells are for, so it may just be in the DNA. But given how easily he goes in the water I'm not convinced he's a Basenji!

Not sure how Xylitol is being marketed. It is an alcohol found in a lot of plants, including birch wood, which is the source of Xylitol used in medicines. And it is toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. Most of the time you find it in sugarless gum and candy.

Here is an FDA warning "Paws Off Xylitol": https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/paws-xylitol-its-dangerous-dogs

Looks like both of you are having fun, but only one of you is going to have to buff out the floor! LOL

This surgery isn't very common in the Basenji world. You will probably get much more and better recommendations if you ask in a Retriever forum (large dog) or a a Pomeranian or French Bulldog forum (small dog).

@zande said in Adopted a 2nd Basenji, a little worried:

Running up and down stairs helps too.

Good point. Getting them to back up the stairs is even better. I've had Basenjis who did this naturally. As they started up the stairs, with a treat at the top of the stairs, I'd grab them and put them at the bottom. After a few times of this they would decide that backing up was the Rx. Wasn't even thinking of training the back up, just playing with them. So funny.

Using pressure and treats in the hand to get them to back up between a wall and furniture also works.

WOW! That was quick. Weight looks much improved. How is his hind end working? A simple exercise that helps with hind end issues is simply to have him back up. Backing up a ramp would be best but a floor would work. This exercise gets them to pay attention to where their hind legs are and builds strength in the legs by getting them moving under load. Given his interest in food this should not be too hard to do. LOL (There are many videos on YouTube about how to train this. I've used frontal pressure but other methods would no doubt be equally effective).

FYI I have heard about one Basenji who had this issue after being crated excessively but I've never seen it. (I saw the dog later but by then he was moving normally). Not saying this was the case but that would be my guess.

Congrats that he's made such progress in such a short time.

Fun video. I believe they do flush, that's what the bells are for, so it may just be in the DNA. But given how easily he goes in the water I'm not convinced he's a Basenji!

Thanks for posting.

No issue IMO. Personally I think 16 weeks would be good on the early end. Six months won't be an issue at all. You'll have plenty of time to "enjoy" Basenji puppyhood and there shouldn't be any issues with training. Separation anxiety will be an issue, but that would be the case at any age when a dog changes home -- six months is easier than six years.

I suspect you will be their bestie from day one.

@sanjibasenji said in Sanji 4 months Recall:

Qualifications: I never even try to recall when he darts off the path to chase something. I don't need to. He always comes back looking for me within a minute or so. I mean always. I'm very very comfortable going off leash in parks (would never do so in town). He gets along with all people and dogs. (The trainer we worked a few months ago for swimming lessons said he's the nicest Basenji she ever met.)

This qualification is the problem IMO. Yes a Basenji will stay with you and/or consistency recall ... until they don't. The prey drive can be too strong. We've had a Basenji with what seemed to be great recall chase a deer and only "come back" when the deer circled back.

I'm with @Zande on the pantyhose. But there isn't an easy fix. When a Basenji meets a collar they don't like the collar is going to come off. Even attaching the collar to a harness, the half life of the collar on my dogs is about 15 seconds. Unless I'm there to supervise and they get sleepy and give up.

Hope your pup gets better soon!