Behavioral Issues

The fast solution is simple and not pleasing… but papermatching WORKS. http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/tplo-normal.html Take a paper match and wet the head of the match in your mouth for a few seconds. Then take the match and insert the head end first into the dog's rectum. Make sure part of the match is hanging out. Within a few seconds the dog should start to get into the position to poop and be successful at doing so. (I had to do this for Darby for about 2-3 weeks)<< So you papermatch and praise like crazy. As for tying him out, most can chew through MOST lines so I would be careful. Better to papermatch til he will go on command in your own yard. Also, how secure is your yard? Can you put him out while you are getting son ready for school alone? However, getting up a bit early to MAKE him potty, THEN secure him (get clips on cage so he cannot escape!) in crate while you take child to school, is better. Btw, 2 wks is a short time, it will all come together! :) Debra

@annandael: I know Lance was a kennel pup, and was exposed to the house…but my GOD at 11months he is chewing like a teething 4 month old! It's driving me up the wall. I have to go and get some bitter apple. He's doing it right in front of me and he knows I'm the alpha. Sometimes I just don't get him. But I will prevail! I'm more stubborn than the Basenjis. ;) Well, people think "alpha" means different things. Chewing is not an "alpha" type issue for dogs, its a natural desire that a real (ie dog) alpha wouldn't care to control. But even in "alpha" issues, such as food, you'll find that you might have an "alpha" most the time but the dog's desire for it will over run the alpha issue. That said, alpha isn't the issue. It rarely is. The issue is training. With most breeds you can discuss that rationally, logically, and work on it. I train dogs, aggressive big dogs. Training works. Sigh.. or sometimes it does. I used to hang my head in shame but now I just accept as a fact that Sayblee did more damage monetarily in her first 2 yrs than my Rotties and chows and rescues had done in the previous 17 yrs. She could cut a bra or slip strap so that it looked like SCISSOR CUTS in the time, no joke, that i took my eyes off her to answer the phone. Train, schmain. She wanted to chew far more than she cared about my training, alpha status, or anything else. I am simply grateful she outgrew it. Arwen was never as destructive but she will gut any and all woobies (stuffed toys). Its sad cause sayblee will squeek a toy forever, often up to 10 mins at a time. Connor, my 120 pound rottie, would carry his woobies outside in him mouth, back in, sleep on them. Since Arwen came, we can't have them anymore cause did I mention she guts them all? I could have simply posted the following and made this short. I feel your pain! :) And btw, good luck on bitter apple. I haven't had a dog yet who didn't think I was rewarding them with a yummy basting sauce!

Getting Smitty neutered should help some. Remember now is the crankiest time of year for basenjis…everyone is in reproduce mode! I agree with separating them at feeding time. At least until you everyone gets used to each other and sorts out their place in the pack. To some extent, I think it is important to let Smitty and Ramsey work it out...but not to the point of drawing blood. Ramsey probably feels threatened by a new guy in the picture. I wouldn't be quick to reprimand one or the other for growling either. It is hard to know exactly what is going on during an interaction, and you wouldn't want to reprimand at the wrong time...kwim? If you step in and reprimand right as Smitty was about to submit, you could keep delaying (or escalating) the situation. If you think things are about to get out of control, separate and crate them both for a few minutes. Often that is enough for them to forget what they were angry about. I also do 'cooperative feeds' with mine when I am having an issue. Both dogs have to sit politely and I take turns feeding out treats to the offenders. But, beware...they need to be trained to do this first before you would want to try it with two animals that might fight over treats. It helps if you have another person to train and treat each dog when you first start. Another technique that sometimes works is to simply get up, and step in between the dogs before things get out of hand. Usually, a stern 'knock it off' will help, if you can deliver it BEFORE they actually start fighting. Good luck, I hope everything settles down soon.

I absolutely agree, no rolled up newspaper. Basenjis have essentially 2 responses to that type of training - the newspaper becomes a new toy and you have to play tug of war or they get upset and can be aggressive. The way to use the rolled up newspaper is to clean up whatever she got into, then whack yourself on the head for leaving it in her reach or not watching her!! LOL… Living with a Basenji is like living with a permanent, very bright and inventive 3 year old... Terry

Here they are… [image: PA010159.jpg]

Some basenjis seem to have particular kinds of dogs they don't like. My Abbey is best friends with a rottweiller, a black lab, and a dalmation, but she hates golden retrievers! What do they go by, coat color?? She goes after anything that moves at the vet's though. My first basenji many years ago, Pumpkin, climbed trees to get after squirrels, and fences were no problem either.

Yes I know Jill Simba the Staffy is a lot bigger with rock solid bulging muscles and because she is still a pup herself, easily knocks you over with her excitment. If Simba was human I'm sure she would be a weightlifter and a gym junkie!! LOL…......

How is the crate training with Ripley going? It's been awhile since we've heard any progress.

@sienna: I adopted a Basenji/Shepherd Mix about six months ago. She had been starved and beaten in her previus home. In the beginning the training went smoothly, she seemes to be happy to be in a home, and she seems to get along fairly well with other dogs. Recently however, she has been getting into aggressive standoffs and fights with other dogs. She and I were attacked by a dog a few weeks ago who was off of her leash (mine was leashed). After chasing another dog today, she was bitten by a pitbull. She is also very defensive around men. Not all, but some. She does not appear necessarily aggressive, but protective. For instance she will come between me and the male and her hair will stand on end and she'll bark. Im concerned that if I cannot get a handle on this she will hurt someone who doesn't know not to touch her or another dog. Or eually as bad she will be seriously injusred by another dog. I have lots of expereince dog training and I have never had this much trouble containing and controlling a dog's behavior. Any suggestions are helpful as I have run to the end of my training experience. It is normal for dogs to "honeymoon" (ie act very nice :) ) for anywhere from a few days to several months after you get them. How old is she, btw? As they adjust to their new home, you start seeing "the real dog." My first concern is that you have had her attacked by a loose dog, then chased another dog? How did she chase it? Truly, you need to limit this dog's access to strange dogs and their's to her. The more of these incidents you encounter, the harder to correct over time. For now, i would concentrate on the home issues. Men. Go to a place like a ball field or game where dogs are allowed on leash only. Take tons of treats. Take a friend and enlist them to having men come up to you. First, let them just TOSS a treat to her, no eye contact, no talk, and go on. Once she is looking at men approach relaxed or expecting treats, have them actually come up and give her the treat… in flat palm much like feeding a horse. :) Next step, have them talk to her while giving treat. Finally have them talk to YOU but give her a treat. What this does is simply rewire her brain response to MEN = need to protect to Men = treats. It may take you a couple of weeks, but its effective and can be done. Once you have that conquered, then think about the other issues. Dog aggression is not abnormal in this breed. Goes with the territory sometimes. Dogs are not children in fur clothing and they really do NOT have to socialize with other dogs outside the family. If she gets along with your own dogs, I'd simply keep other dogs away from her and her from them. And I would work on my own obedience training especially a 100 percent solid "leave it" or "look at me" as a way to diffuse her obsessing about another dog if she sees one.

I agree with Catherine, socialization is a must, but it depends on the personality of the individual dog. When we had 4, they all slept on the bed together and ran together and rarely did we have any problems. We added a puppy and things were still going ok, just really crowded. However, one day our youngest girl decided she was all grown up and didn't want to be bossed around anymore by our 'wanna-be' alpha. Neither of them was a true alpha. We managed to defuse the situation, but a month later it happened again. The girls could never be together again. In fact, the tri developed a predjudice against all red girls after that! Both girls were terrific with people and with Basenji males and even with males and females of other breeds. I had 2 intact males, brothers, who stayed together with absolutely no problem for almost 4 years until one went to another home. They even got along during season. Terry

I would love to see a picture of your basenji mix. My is a mix also. Basenji and Whippet. I put her picture on the show off your basenji page.

my dog plop herself down when she sees another dog or person. I believe she does this in play.

Hi! lauralopez said: Usually when dogs play too rough, one will let out a yelp and that will make the other one know that they are playing too hard. How true! My two Basenjis will wrestle and pull and push one another until one of them yelps. The offender will then back off or start licking the other one. Thirty minutes later they're at it again! So, in my opinion, this is not a Biggie. They'll soon find out how to play with one another. As for the training, I would suggest a group class. It's a great way to socialize the dogs. And you'll make some great friends! And you'll learn how to teach your dog by DOING. The Aussies I've met are great dogs. They're smart. But they have to to have a job. When you take a walk, have Angel carry a bottle of water for you and her in a small saddlebag. Clicker training is also a good way to teach. It worked miracles with my Chaco. Good Luck and let us know how the training goes. Basenjis CAN be good performance dogs. It just takes patience. Chaco has his CD and RN and is working on agility now. Senjimom aka Mary Wilson CH Moores Chock Full of Spirit CD RN, Cleopatra, Queen of the Universe, and MsPretty'nSable'nMink (My Brindle lady)

[QUOTE=Suggest you keep any solo inexperienced basenji in at night when these critters are most active to avoid the vet bill. As for the invisible electric fence, I would only use one during periods which I was actually in the yard supervising the dog. I know with our dogs, the shock from the collar would not be enough to deter them from chasing a squirrel. Such a fence does not keep the coyotes or dogs at large out. Suggest you purchase a large kennel with chew proof roof and anti dig barrier about the base for period which you desire to leave him outside alone. Thanks for sharing your experience and advice. Oh my - oh my!! These dogs are fearless - ferocious! So I guess there is no way to control the behavior. I will get a kennel as you outlined for late night/early morning business. The kennel will most likely be handy for other doggy reasons too. Duke just won't be invited out to the fire on those crisp fall evenings - that's it! Also - we got the invisible fence when Duke was 4 months old - he's now almost 7 months. He's only on 2 out of 10 shock frequencies. He's been remarkably obedient with his boundry. We have alot of squirrels to chase and balls to catch. Whenever they've gone over the line, Duke stops short. (I didn't know Duke was a Basenji when we put in the fence . . . I may not have tried it if I new as much as I do today about him.)

My dear friend Jean Skaggs, who deals with this often says… When the dog is guarding you...get up and leave the area. Don't squirt the dog, don't say anything, get up and leave. Turn your back and ignore. These dogs do get it. You might makes many trips off the couch, when that is where you are... But they will get it. I would be happy to send you to her if you have more issues. But really, its just that simple...

Blossom is a rescue at 3.we have had her and a male rescue for 3yrs Blossom let our 7yr old grandson do whatever he wishes and puts a stop when she wants and he has been taught to honor this.

Great story, thanks for posting!:)