K
They have ones that look like little horse blankets (less cutesy(?) - schneiders has them for a reasonable price. I use them on 40 degree days or when we go to tahoe, and the dogs seem to really like them. I can vouch for the fact that the fleece version is really thick and warm. Use the waterproof blanket (also beautifully made) on top if windy.
http://www.sstack.com/giftspet_dog-products_dog-blankets-coats/
Ah yes, the ricochet method - my B mix is all over that as well! Luckily, my dog's favored "bumper"tends to be the backs of couches rather than the wall directly. It is amazing to see her rebound off the back of the couch, and then sail over the coffee table and the other dog.
Below is a quote from an article that references this behavior in Africa. - http://www.basenji.org/african/bolt6403.htm
One tale that enchanted me was of a trip into
the bush, when he was walking down a narrow
game trail quite restricted on either side by dense
vegetation. Suddenly, coming at full speed to-
ward him was a bush-buck pursued by four red-
and white Basenjis. The bush-buck was as start-
led as he was and, fortunately, instead of impaling
him on his horns, he banked off a tree, striking it
with his hoofs, and dashed off at right angles into
the undergrowth. The Basenjis did the same man-
euver one after the other, glancing off the tree
trunk and following their quarry. The whole action
was so instantaneous that he said it was only in
retrospect that he could follow the sequence of
motion. The dogs were followed shortly by their
master in hot pursuit.
Something else to consider (not that you aren't welcome here!) I'm not positive of the basenji % of my own pup!
The 50lb size and some of the other characteristics look something like these dogs - Carolina Dog. http://www.dogster.com/dog-breeds/Carolina_Dog
Here is the breed description which sounds like a great dog and also has some characteristics similar to Bs.
Just recently discovered in the wild, Carolina Dogs are still not a fully domesticated breed. However, these “wild dog” qualities blend together into a loving, cooperative and protective companion. Carolina Dogs are self-sufficient, intelligent and “pack” oriented, making them crave togetherness and family time above all else. They can be slightly reserved with strangers, but grow more outgoing over time. Carolina Dogs are great workers, herders and outstanding playmates for children.
I have a basenji mix also from a shelter near Merced (adopted her as a 7-9 month old puppy last August. She has a lot of the same traits you mention. I think there is apparently at least one unsprayed basenji(s) in that area! This adoption was my first time dealing with basenjis in any form and I have to say basenjis are really different.
Not sure what will work for you as far as training goes - but I found a lot of information on these forums was really useful as well as some of the links here - http://www.basenjiforums.com/showthread.php?1672-Favorite-Basenji-Sites
I really feel training was difficult until Kanga decided that she wanted to live here and I had proven that I really was the best pack leader. That was when all the training difficulties fell away and she became totally cooperative with pretty much all of my requests. She is now an awesome dog, but the first 2 - 3 months were rough. She had failed out of her first home (maybe the case with your dog as well?) and learned some horrible habits in the process so I had some work to do.
Some other things that helped:
"An idea some people find effective is to make a mountain from a molehill, and create a great fuss over a minor misdemeanour. "WHO threw the cushions on the floor ?? BAD dogs" - so whenever these particular Basenjis wish to be VERY wicked - they throw cushions on the floor. We get into a great state over torn up newspapers. So our home-pack, when punishing us for some imagined misdemeanor, shred the Daily Telegraph."
Good luck!
I sort of talked about some of these in the introduction thread - but thought it might be fun to hear about everyone else's dog.
My dog is a basenji mix and I was wondering how common some of these behaviors were. Talk to me about your dog!
Favorite toy is another dog:
Definitely yes. She will play with toys and will play with other dogs with toys - but loves to play with other dogs. She loves people (ok - only certain people are allowed close enough to touch her) but she loves other dogs. She plays pretty rough with my other dog (a Jack Russell) but the JRT seems to do just fine and is pretty rough in return. They both back off if it gets too rough and it is definitely play.
While playing chase, biting the back legs of another dog:
My dog does this every time and pretty much relentlessly with dogs larger or the same size as she is. Interestingly, she does NOT do leg or neck bite when playing with much smaller/impaired dogs such as my brother's Maltese or a friend's elderly Scotties. She mostly plays with these dogs by letting them chase her.
While playing chase, biting the neck of another dog:
Same as above. This one is weird to me as I don't know if I have had a dog before that played by biting the neck.
Tunneling under covers/covering up without assistance and playing under the covers:
Yes, and my other dog does not know how to do this. Sometimes the Basenji mix does this and then play attacks the other dog from under the covers - either shooting out from underneath in a surprise attack or going under the covers and then attacks through the comforter. She has also covered up the other dog and then attacked her covered friend. My bed does not stay made for long.
Long distance pounce on another dog:
Yes, and I'm not sure if the JRT (my other dog) dislikes this or the back leg leg biting more. I know the JRT really is not fond of the Basenji play attack pounce where B launches from 3 ft away, landing on a napping JRT - and I can't say that I blame her.
B mix used to do the sleeping attack as a puppy but I think the JRT straightened her out on actions that were going to cause immediate dismemberment
Threading the needle when B500'ing:
By this I mean, squeaking through at high speed very tight spaces without knocking over anything. My dog likes to dive through the arm of the couch, under the sidetable without smashing into the table legs or the shelf under the tabletop. It's like she is playing a live action video game where extra points are awarded for difficulty.
Boxing with front legs:
Yes - tends to do it as an invitation to play. This is just about the cutest thing ever to me.
Playing fighting on her back:
Yes - She often plays on her back, either wrestling with the other dog, playing with a toy or with me. She uses all 4 paws to manipulate the toy or dog closer or push them off.
When playing with a toy, she does not do the neck shake/snap:
I am used to seeing neck shaking with the terriers that I have had and the GS, but I have yet to see the B mix do this. The JRT is a big toy neck snapper and demonstrates this behavior all the time - but the B mix is not into imitating her. The B mix killed a ground squirrel, but I came across the aftermath and did not see the act.
If I had to guess how Basenji's hunt by the way my dog plays, I would wonder if the Basenji's did not mostly kill by tripping up prey, pouncing and neck biting without a neck shake.
Some pictures of playing:
Thanks! The B x had failed out of her original home as I believe she was way too much dog. I think she likes it here and is devoted to my JRT who is truly a sweetheart. And they play and play and then curl up together. I was slightly worried at first as they are both female and both breeds are not known for their pacifist natures. But the JRT has a very deep wellspring of patience and the B is not nasty just naughty. Fingers crossed that my good luck continues.
She does look very basenji - and behaves more like a basenji, than anything else. She is spot on 20 lbs - which seems maybe a bit small if she was mixed with whippet (?) She was described as basenji/whippet x by the pound but I once had a german shepherd puppy that the pound called a terrier x, so I think sometimes it is best guess based on what the dog looked like to someone at the moment.
She is longer than a basenji with a long straight tail and the ears are wide set and huge which may not be showing in the original pictures. Here are some other pictures that show her ears and more of her body.
I am not positive about the lure coursing as it is hard to know what will take her interest. Or if interested once, she may not do it again! Plus - she is not purebred - not sure if that matters.
I introduced myself and the dogs in the new members section but here are some pictures.
Basenji x Kanga (not sure what the x is - maybe whippet? ) is now 18 months or so and was rescued from a high kill shelter. The other dog pictures is my 7 yo JRT female who is a very low key JRT. I think the JRT raised a lot of puppies as she is super patient and loving to the basenji x even when the B first showed up and was a real fireball.
Last year, I adopted a 9 month old basenji/whippet (?) from a rescue. I had no idea what I was in for. I know dogs - have had jack russells, rat terriers, German Shepherd, fostered a Jindo and dog sat pit bulls long term. But this little dog was something else - and she is not purebred basenji!
She was more dominant than anything I had ever run into, dog-wise. In the first couple of weeks:
She humped and peed on - by lifting her leg - a female pit bull that luckily had a sense of humor. She terrorized a older border collie by leading a bunch of dogs that she had just met into attacking said border collie - in the BC's own yard. Food and resource guarding deluxe. Fought with my older dog who is the most dog savvy, easy going dog on the planet.
She is much better now about this kind of thing as (I think) she has conceded that she is not top of the household and we (my other dog and I) have been working on her. Basically we have no real issues now but the first months were a little rough.
Here are some of what I think of her more Basenji-like habits
Some random things that seem Basenji like - Boxes with her paws, has a lovely B500, not very interested in strangers, very sloppy, leaning sit, likes to sleep on me or my other dog. The sleeping on is reason 4773 that I think that my older dog is going to be up for sainthood. Older dog is 14lb, Basenji-x is 20+ lbs. When the basenji sits on or lies on the older dog, you can't really even see the older dog.
Random things that I am not sure are basenji-like:
My knowledge of basenjis before last year = pretty much the Westminster dog show commentary - doesn't bark, curly tail and something about africa. So in other words - nothing that would be helpful in dealing with the wild child.
This forum has been really helpful in understanding basenjis - so thank you all. There is nothing like hearing from people with real life experience!
