Want to give an update, my boy Thor would become overly aggressive and bitting became a “Big” problem. My husband and I are on the same page “now”. I saw a tech for this very problem and I am sure many of you are going to disagree, but it is working. Every time Thor starts to bite and no” is not working and he becomes overly stimulated and excited and I can’t stop him from nipping and bitting....I stick my finger deep in his throat (no he doesn’t clamp down)....sorta like gaging Him or pressing on roof of his mouth.., if he does not stop and bite is harder than I expect from mouthing, I will repeat the technique ....he stops, and appropriately mouths and licks my hand. Good boy.

If he begins too inappropriately bite I say no bite, show him my finger, now he hesitates. It is no longer a big problem. I do not allow any escalation of excitement when playing with him, I walk away, if he grabs my pants or try’s to bite me....I show him the dreaded finger. He is smart and he knows this is not a ball game and no 3 strikes....
being a young dog he gets easily excited and Still doesn’t know when to stop sometimes. If by chance he does grab at me, I use the technique and biting and nipping is over. He loves to petted and stroked and praised....he gets a lot of that too.
This little trick has done more for Thor and us than all the “No”s.....put together.
So if you have a biter.....IJS...

@eeeefarm Thor- for day, he has an open rest /sleeps area during the day. Inside our common area a resting area, a canvas platform outside and a locked crate at night in our bedroom. He is not crated until we go to bed, which is around 11p. He sleeps on an open sofa during our evening hours. If he is asleep we make sure we wake him by calling his name, letting him know it’s crate time...After a potty break he willing goes to his crate because he knows he gets a tiny treat, easily settles down and we cover it to keep him comfortable.
When he was a puppy we tried sleeping with him since he was so small, we learned very quickly about his his sleep startle issue.....
We are going to work more diligently with behavior modification, he is so smart and as my husbands tells it, “ The boy has personality”. As well have him checked out medically to rule out any health issues.
We are retired and get to spend a lot of time with him, so their is lots we can achieve if we give it the old college try. I will contact the breeder as well.
Thank you so much for your quick responses and check the link you sent.

@elbranwe
I am not offended. There is no community of Basenjis in my area and my vet is new to this breed. This forum after reading it seemed like an honest and responsive way to seek and receive a helping hand. With our beautiful boy Thor. This is why I wrote, if I wanted softy and fuzzy I could have done nothing or given the dog to a shelter or rescue, dropped off in the woods or simple have him put down. I am obviously concerned and want a healthy happy dog and family. I will have a Thyroid panel done.

Now to your response, There are suggestions you have given that we as owners needed reinforced, and some you addressed that we already do. A little history. He is from a reputable breeder in Homestead Florida. We have his linage and will do some research on both the breeder and line to see if he was predisposed to aggression.

We got him at 10 weeks old, not knowing this pup or much about the breed...with the little we could find out...he seemed like a good fit. Within days he showed an unnatural aggressive response when startled and this did alarm me, therefore startle was already present. I blamed it on the newness of being away from his siblings and mother.

We had a trainer come to our house. Some things worked and others did not. He was of the old military style school, his attitude was with a heavy hand this defiant little fellow will obey. Thor did not receive this well, was belligerent through out the 8 week training sessions of 1 hr a week. Trainer indicated he was highly intelligent but with a big “A” and we needed to keep him in check. We did not heed this warning. I have had many dogs in 72 years, this little one has tested us.

When we first got him if you touched his ears, hind quarter, or his tail (tail was especially off limits) while awake he would snap and growl. During his training period he would show his dislike for a command with an aggressive posture show his teeth, growl and have fire in his little eyes. Like the flip of a switch.
Potty trained in 2 weeks on a bell to go outside it was unbelievably easy. He has never had an accident in our house. He is so smart and staying just a half step ahead of him has been our greatest challenge.

I worked with him On desensitizing those sensitive body parts by slowly and gently touching and rubbing these areas... he no longer has this issue when awake, he rather enjoys a soft touch running down his back and good message to his hind quarter and legs. I can unfurl his tail to some degree and he is totally accepting.
Let me preface, when awake.

I will from this point be more judicious in keeping things out of his reach, but I swear he can stretch to 7 feet tall and grab something that seems well out of his reach. He is always on the propel looking for something to snatch. He has hopped on a table and over a baby gate once, I said no sternly and he was responsive to the command or maybe startled in a good way immediately back on solid ground. He doesn’t realize his own jumping capabilities. This is a good thing.

His social skills or the lack their of is a major concern for me. He does not interact often with people or other animals he must always approach them, never the other way around. We tell people immediately, do not reach out to him, let him come to you if you are receptive, if not we keep him at bay. He is highly aware of dog people and non dog people....it is uncanny how he knows. He is not a people pleaser and we have to use a soft muzzle when we go for an outside activity. He gets car sick every time we travel so outside activities are very limited. There are few dogs in the area to socialize with and the dog park is to far to travel with him. He idolizes my husband and is his shadow. He shows me attention and on his terms, for a touch, a rub, a treat, or play time. He is no lap dog.I hope that this history sheds some light on the trek we have taken with Thor. We love him, and will try very hard to make the corrections you suggested. Thank you for the 101.....will keep you posted. I am open to anything that could help us undo some of the things we have not accomplished so far. old dogs do learn new tricks.

Thor very seldom vocalizes, my neighbor (lady)....probably gets the best vocal response of anybody around.
It’s gonna be sweet when they do, but it may be seldom.....so enjoy it when you hear it.

@eeeefarm
This guy can cut through a leash in a snap, we keep a basket of new ones on hand. Working with shorter leash.
I must admit I am laughing when he does the ball juggle, he amazes me how much dexterity he has...
I will, Ladies try to curb my enthusiasm....he can do it faster than I can roll the balls back, so I giggle. My bad.

There is so much to learn about this dogs.....my head is turning. where were you guys two years ago.LOL

@aury it sure is a great site, I too am new to this breed....they have help me in so many ways understand my boy Thor. It’s a good thing, welcome to the site and congrats on your new pup.

I take Thor out of the area I am going to hide treats. Hide them at first in site and pretty obvious. I have a a few in my hand, I do not give him the treat out of my hand, I tell him to “go find it”.....I only let him smell it. I guess the first few times I would stand in the general area (saying find it). Coached him a bit, he was young when we started. I use fuitables this is not a promotion, just saying what I use. I break them in half....so he doesn’t get overly full on treats. They come in a variety of flavors.... I have increased the amount of hiding place, and even had three different smells and more difficult hiding spots.... if you are an apartment dweller it’s a great indoor activity .....you build up slowly how many hiding spots for treats you want him to find. ....their sense of smell is uncanny... keeps um busy for a bit. The mental stimulation is tiring as well. I don’t do it every day, and you can also use, toys when the pup learns the names of their the toys.

I am not gonna sugar coat this....
If you are that worried with him around new people or strangers use a soft muzzles, especially when near small children.
A cloth muzzle protects you both. It’s seems to settle them down and they are unable to bite. It’s not meant to be used often, the less the better. They can drink, they can open their mouth some, but they cannot bite. I am sure that over time your B will relax with you in your home and around visitors....always fore warn strangers visiting, it might be startling to them but it is better than them getting a bite. I am at the point I use it almost never.....If we go out with my B we use it, when visiting the vet, we use it, when very young children are around we use it"........if we are walking where there is a possibility he will get a startle...I use it.
I am sure there will be somebody on here that will disagree, but I do what I have to do to protect me, my dog and people around me

Take this as a positive thing so that both of you can be comfortable in all situations.

Thank you for wanting to try, but this little one is not a give away kinda of dog? If it Is indeed a Basenji, you could post in your area for a lost pup. They may be too young to be chipped. Call the shelters, call local vets to see if some One lost this pup.
She will not do well outside, they are smart, agility is off the charts and stealthy even as a puppy.
Please, be a gentleman and try to locate the owner. This breed is not your normal run of the mill dog. They may not be vocal, but they make up their kind of communication in every other way. What they do best is out smart the best of us.
Please post a picture and maybe this forum can help you find her real home, their are many people on this site that have connections with around the world breeders and rescues, and they are an amazing resource.

While she is with you please take care of this special little pup; they are rare in the US, check with breeders in Tx. I almost bought a pup myself from a breeder there; also, check with rescuers for Basenjis, . Good luck, I do hope you find the owner for both your sakes.

Sandy Hovis, from SW Fl, USA.
My B-Boy Thor is a black and white male, born right here in Florida.
He was born 12-5-2017.

We call him Prince Thor of Flordon

@june no, Thor is gone in a hot minute. I know some dogs can be trained to come when called...
We have a lever on the front door, Thor learned as quickly as he was tall enough to pull the lever down weight bare on the door and Basenji gone. We never let him off a lease. Good luck with your new pup and training.

@sharronhurlbut
We live in SW Fl, it rains everyday in the summer, our boy Thor has to just suck it up. We try to hold off when we can, but when nature calls, a quick trip outside....do our business and shake off under the portico

@lvoss
I sit, nuzzle and cuddle with my B, Thor on the couch all the time. He has a mat on the floor when he wants to rest and stretch out. It’s not prohibitive, but if we don’t want him up there we direct him off....and he is told to go to place.

@lindaw54 I have B&W too, toooo cute.

@hamtaro you better “nip that in the bud”, the biting gets worse if you do not stand firm. Biting is not acceptable...trust me....it might be up setting now, but an older dog is worse. Get you training in now to prevent problems later.

Thank you for wanting to try, but this little one is not a give away kinda of dog? If it Is indeed a Basenji, you could post in your area for a lost pup. They may be too young to be chipped. Call the shelters, call local vets to see if some One lost this pup.
She will not do well outside, they are smart, agility is off the charts and stealthy even as a puppy.
Please, be a gentleman and try to locate the owner. This breed is not your normal run of the mill dog. They may not be vocal, but they make up their kind of communication in every other way. What they do best is out smart the best of us.
Please post a picture and maybe this forum can help you find her real home, their are many people on this site that have connections with around the world breeders and rescues, and they are an amazing resource.

While she is with you please take care of this special little pup; they are rare in the US, check with breeders in Tx. I almost bought a pup myself from a breeder there; also, check with rescuers for Basenjis, . Good luck, I do hope you find the owner for both your sakes.

Where is Brampton? I live in SW Florida?

@tanza
you would not believe how little information from some breeders we new owner's get.
There are very few vets that know or understand Basenjis, very few trainers that even heard of the breed much less can help a new owner.....but with that said, I am thankful for this site and the information that all of you share with us....I personally want to thank all of you for keeping up such a great site for us newbies.
Basenji’s are one tough little cookie with all their idiosyncrasies....it almost seems you don’t teach them, they teach you the how to’s of what not to do with a Basenji..... These little guys and gals, are amazing to me still. I marvel at how smart, agile, fast, stealthy and beautifully regal they are..2 years in and still learning.
.....and I wouldn’t change a thing.

I am not gonna sugar coat this....
If you are that worried with him around new people or strangers use a soft muzzles, especially when near small children.
A cloth muzzle protects you both. It’s seems to settle them down and they are unable to bite. It’s not meant to be used often, the less the better. They can drink, they can open their mouth some, but they cannot bite. I am sure that over time your B will relax with you in your home and around visitors....always fore warn strangers visiting, it might be startling to them but it is better than them getting a bite. I am at the point I use it almost never.....If we go out with my B we use it, when visiting the vet, we use it, when very young children are around we use it"........if we are walking where there is a possibility he will get a startle...I use it.
I am sure there will be somebody on here that will disagree, but I do what I have to do to protect me, my dog and people around me

Take this as a positive thing so that both of you can be comfortable in all situations.

@mnbadger sounds like he seems to be nervous and close to a motion sickness episode.
Thor our B Boy gets car sick every time and he displays the behavior you are talking about just before he hurls. He does not travel well at all. He gets very ill so we are not able to travel much further than the vet with him...