Mae, If you've already decided to give him/her up then Jennifer's idea is excellent. But if you'd prefer to keep him and you need help with that, I can help you. I'm a pro trainer in this area and can give you lots of tools and strategies for keeping your basenji.

Please reply here and I'll be happy to exchange information.

Hi Mae,

Thank you, we adopted from BRAT last year and are really happy. Where are you in MD? If you're near me, in the Washington DC area we should talk…

Thanks, Sharron, I know you do. It's all good.

Thanks, Debbi. We talked about it and decided that Maine is a bit far for us to travel. :(

roger that, heather…

Hi Heather, yes let's talk some more. How shall we do that privately? Thru Brat?

And Hazel-up, no matter where you get your next dog, clearly it is in for a happy home. :)

Many thanks, Debra.

@Kipawa:

hi Hazel-up. I'm sorry to hear that you lost your dog to cancer. I hope you can find one that fits in well with you and your family. Dogs add so much to our lives!

@Kipawa:

I just hope that we can concentrate on providing Hazel-up with all necessary avenues of information so she and her family can welcome a new dog to their home. It does sound like they are ready to be loving dog owners again.

Thank you Fran.

Whoa now, please don't argue on my account. I'm a pro trainer, so I've seen a pretty wide survey of dogs from all backgrounds. I know the score all around.

I need a dog so I'm shaking the tree to see who has what in the pipeline. All replies are welcome, but I am hoping to rescue.

Travel isn't out of the question, but it would have to happen to be in a place where we have contacts and a reason to go there already. I once adopted a dog from very far away and don't want to do that again for many reasons.

So, Maryland, Virginia, mid Atlantic, that kind of travel would be okay for the right dog.

Thanks all.

@lvoss:

Are you looking for a rescue or is an adult from a breeder an option for you?

Also, there is alot in between country and city. Many dogs are from the suburbs. Having worked with shelter dogs, rescues, and well bred dogs, I really think it is the early socialization, training, and genetics that are the main factors not city vs country. I have seen poorly socialized, poorly trained, poorly bred city dogs that were just as bad as their country cousins and vice versa.

If you are really looking for certain things in your dog, your best bet is working with a responsible breeder.

Thanks, Ivoss and Andrea, and of course there's no hard and fast rule about city and country.

All the options are on the table for us (except a pup), and I agree, retired show dogs are often bomb-proof, and beautiful into the bargain.

Hoping to rescue locally, that's the first choice, and then we go from there, so putting the word out and seeing where the chips fall. A retired show dog would be wonderful, too.

@tanza:

Sometimes you have to travel a bit to find that perfect dog. There is the family from Fla that traveled to Robyn's home… and found that perfect fit... and I have no doubt that if you are willing you would to... Not just rescue needs those perfect homes. There are many breeders that have older puppies or adults looking for their forever homes.

Thank you Pat. A dog from the right environment is important. We have many shelters and rescues who bring dogs here to the DC area from rural high-kill shelters down south and in other places. The dogs sometimes have a hard time adapting to the very dynamic and pressured urban/suburban social environment have here. I train these dogs all the time, and it's very challenging for the families who adopt them. So a city dog would be great for us, but a country dog might not do as well if s/he isn't already socialized pretty well. That's a more important thing for us than the actual location if you know what I mean.

@dcmclcm4:

What age range are you looking for?

Jennifer

Thanks, everyone, and Sharron, bravo to BRAT for being one of the best organized and most effective rescues I've ever encountered.

I'm looking for someone beyond adolescence, basically, and I don't have a problem with older dogs, tho my husband is a harder sell on the seniors. He gets very attached, and we just lost a dog, so he's not in a hurry to lose another, but 5+ is no problem at all.

We need a secure dog who knows what a home is since we don't have a flock of dogs to help a scared newbie adjust.

Thanks, Anne, I did see her. I have no other dogs at the moment–sounds like ms Z would really benefit from the company of other dogs to ease her transition from neglect. Do you agree?

There are a couple of other dogs nearer to me in that same situation, and so it's a no-go for them, too, unfortunately. Kinda frustrating, but the dogs will benefit most in a gang of other more experienced dogs.

thanks, team. should have been more clear–hoping to rescue, but/and will talk to anyone in the more immediate DC area

Hi all, new member here, looking for a basenji adult in Maryland, or the DC area.

We're BRAT approved, I'm a pro R+ trainer, raw diet, long walks, leash always, home alot, no kids or cats or other dogs at the moment, beaucoup love, just lost our dog to cancer and we're so ready for a little basenji sunshine.

If anyone on the basenji grapevine has a little buzz to share with us, we'd love to hear from you.