Behavioral Issues

I have had 15 - 20 adult female basenjis over the years, and 2 was the age when it seemed like they became their 'true adult selves.' (spayed/neutered or not) I do not feel confident giving suggestions, just wanted you to know her age is typical for this to happen.

@elbrant With my first B (who educated me on the art of the basenji lol), I did not initially give him enough walks. It really didn’t do either of us any good lol. A tired basenji is a good basenji rings true and also a tired basenji is a happy content basenji :) It also does the humans a lot of good to get out in nature and walk, both mentally and physically. Good long walks and mental stimulation are probably the easiest fix for most problems. One thing that is also important is to get past the “master” phase / idea. Many dogs adore their owners as their master and just want to please their owners. I think the crucial stage with a basenji comes somewhere around the two year stage, where I reach a “special understanding” with them. There is this bond and understanding where they start to trust and understand that I am the ultimate master of them, but without trying to quash their unique spirits. So on the big stuff they have to trust me, but they can still get away with the small stuff. It’s really hard to explain that to people who have not experienced that as new owners. If they get past that difficult stage they will be hooked, but it isn’t always easy to believe that you will get past it and some just don’t want to put that much effort into them. I remember my first basenji and wondering why I had such a strange and crazy dog. Which then made me read and research what was “wrong” with him lol.

@izzy-bella oh.. not a dog bed. That was my son's pillow "innerds" spread across a Queen size. Really, really glad that the damage was restricted to the pillow. Not sure if I could afford to replace one mattress after another. ;)

Basenjis' function in the wild is to go after small game. I expect mine to hunt (and kill if they catch them) squirrels and rabbits. Other dogs are a no-no ! Mine know I do not tolerate aggression to other dogs, regardless of their size. We are just back from a long walk in the forest where my two ran free and hunted (abortively, nothing caught) with a Cocker Spaniel. We met and chatted with lots of other dogs of all shapes and sizes and their owners . Humans stopped to chat, dogs did the normal meet, greet and sniff and there was not a single cross word. The only trainer mine have ever had is their own pack alpha - ME ! Do not let aggressive behaviour take hold. Nip it in the bud NOW.

@DebraDownSouth Swedish Animal Welfare Regulations Section 13 of Sweden’s regulations on keeping dogs and cats states that, “dogs and cats may not be kept in cages” unless they’re used for transport, hunting, or a competition or show. Even then, pet owners are required to let their dogs out of their crates at least every two to three hours.

Redial I've had 3 bitches and have fostered both males and females. Absolutely zero wanted bushes or high grass. I wonder if it's your environment? Our Samoyed male, however, WANTS to use bushes. As we have a serious snake issue, we just don't let him. He eventually gives in.

@debradownsouth said in 6am Basenji Alarm...: Do basenji bitches that cycle twice tend to do at set time? More or less, yes. I have found that bitches born in the summer have a summer season - or a Spring one. But they also have a 'token dribble' when the rest of the pack comes in in Autumn (Fall !). We tried several times to get one lady in whelp in Autumn but the Spring season succeeded and she whelped two summer litters. She obviously only had a sympathy season with the rest of them (we had five nubile bitches for a while - along with three entire males) as did the other three or four girls in Spring. They came in season, sort of, in sympathy with her ! So over the years I have concluded that bitches probably only ovulate once but if encouraged by other canines having a proper season, they will evince the outward signs. Having said that, Basenji bitches are so clean. . . I have never advocated spaying them unless / until it would improve quality of life in old age. Or, as in the case of Hoover, because one member of the family was in hospital and I couldn't cope.

@zande Every Basenji know that saloon doors are far superior to regular doors lol.

@beth Try behavior training before you add another dog. This is going to take a bit of repitition over the better half of a morning, and a few days of follow up training -- but it works. Do whatever preperation you normally do to leave. Tell your dog that you will be "right back" (insert whatever command word/phrase you want to use). Then exit and lock your door. Walk around the corner of the building, then return. Praise your dog as you greet them. Wash, rinse, repeat, gradually increasing the amount of time you are gone. Start at a few moments, then trips to the store, etc. This reassures them that you will come back,. but you are actually teaching your pup the routine ques. It alerts the dog that you are preparing to leave (without them). Slightly different for when they get to go with you. Your dog will learn the difference ("Hey, if she picks up the leash, I get to go, too!"). I (personally) use bribes as a tell-tale. I give my pup a kong filled treat, or a frozen neck bone (her favorite) to chew on if she's staying at home. If I call her and pick up the leash, she's coming with. But she's ok, even on the rare occasion that I'm gone for 6 hours!

@crazybasenjimom “in the past 2 years my Belle has gotten into fights with the boys, and caused vet bills” Taking her for a blood panel is more feasible and cheaper than continuing vet bills from the fights. If her thyroid is low, the meds are inexpensive and she needs them. There are also other medical problems that can lead to aggression. Vet bills are always feasible, it is part of the responsibility of owning dogs, so I don’t understand why you would say it is not feasible. If you mean you don’t have the money, try talking to the vet and setting up a payment plan.

@wyldepaws - What a sweetie....

@khaipan “We are considering bringing in a female companion around the same age.... he does well at daycare (has lotsa girlfriends) after getting over the fact that his pack member has just deserted him for a few hours. He goes 4-6 hours at a time usually.” Both my first two had problems alone. In fact my first male hated the crate no matter what I did, so I got my second to keep him company. It worked and as long as she was in the crate next to him (two crates side by side), he didn’t scream and would walk In the crate himself. Basenjis just don’t like to be alone for the most part. My first boy chewed his way out of a metal 2”x1” crate, which is when I decided get him a companion. They used to make a kennel air crate which was 1” mesh but I don’t think they make them now. I was lucky he did not hurt himself. When my second passed recently, we hooked up a phone with Skype and put my third B in his cage, then went and drove down the road. We parked up and watched him for 20 mins and he was fine, just sat and looked at the door, no doubt he was still stressed. I am all for medication but only as a last resort, there is always a side effect.

Thank you very much to everyone for your input! I've tried being more strict with the feeding times and taking it away if he's picking. I think I'm going to consider the switch to wet food and actual meat products because any time I add in some "bonus" meat to his kibble, he goes nuts. Teething certainly doesn't help, but variety is definitely key as well it seems. Also feed him out of the big Kong rolly thing sometimes where he has to tap it the right way to get food out. Seems to engage the hunter in him. Anyway, on with the battle! This little guy is growing into quite the little gentleman :)

Take him out last thing at night so he can make himself comfy ? I have to take mine out - wimps - they won't go if I don't accompany them. Yes, its freezing and yes its dark. But Keeper's close-up vision is going going gone and he hates excursions into the night without Mom and although I'd much rather stay indoors, if I want to avoid being awoken, middle of the night there is no option. Frankly its a small price to pay for the comfort of two old Basenjis.

Thanks everybody for the insight. Still can’t believe our sweet little dog that curls up with us, has it in him to bite somebody. The more I read, the more I believe that this is fear related founded or not. Our vet recommended a behaviorist, so we might go that route. We did already do some formal training, but that was just a Petsmart class. It was more for the benefit of our kids but he was in a unusual social environment and did so well....better than all the dogs In the class. We will keep working on this. Thanks! J

@kembe When she finally was put to sleep in my Arms I felt like I had lost my kid. I am sure many feel the same way. I will get another from a relation but I have to wait for my 14-year-old Killer Cat to pass. I refuse to euthanize a healthy animal and I know if I brought a Puppy or a Kitten here she would kill again. The thing is Cats kill other Cats more often than most people think. She killed my fave Cat and I have had at least 30 since I was 15 years old, and that silly little Cat with the Mustache was so delightful it will take me a very long time to get another Cat. The loss of my B and my fave Horse who was 25 nearly killed me. My Horse could have lived much longer but he had EPM which Dogs can get too. It is a parasite that the animal gets from eating grass that Raccoons and Opossums have left their Scat on and there is not a cure. It is basically Animal Multiple Sclerosis which cannot be cured but it can be managed. German Shepherd Dogs and the Belgian Malinois have something that causes them to lose strength their Hind Legs but that is not EPM. My Mom had a gorgeous Belgian Malinois and she treated him with Vitamin B12 Shots at the Vet and kept him as active as possible. He was pts when he was 14 years old and he was one of my favorite Dogs. He was brought to the US by his Handler who was a member of the Spanish Guard. He understood Spanish but took him a while to learn English. He also had a career as a Coke Sniffer at JFK. His name was 'Cokie'! I clearly love all animals and do not have a preference for Breed except for the Basenjis. The things that people have a hard time with are exactly why I love them! Horses are easy because they tell you all you need to know by reading their Body Language. Dogs are a bit harder because you may not have a clear idea of what horrible things have happened. Felines are a Mystery to me! Lupines are great but they are super quiet but are responsive to being part of the Pack. It is my experience that animals are rarely aggressive, they are DEFENSIVE. Sure there are dangerous Breeds like the Presa de Canario that have killed people. That is the exception and I think they are no longer allowed in the US. I am not sure of that though. :)

Hey everyone... just wanted to add that our next trip to the dog park: no problem! She played, was well behaved, and didn't give me any problems when it was time to go. whew!

@senjisilly said in Got agressive towards my daughter: Very few, if any, veterinary labs run a complete analysis especially for thyroid issues. Lots of very fine reputable places do full panel thyroid.. Michigan State, Cornell ( https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/test/detail.aspx?testcode=THYPK9 )) etc. Here are OFA sites: https://www.ofa.org/diseases/other-diseases/hypothyroidism/thyroid-labs Approved OFA Thyroid Labs Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) Endocrinology Laboratory, Cornell University, 240 Farrier Rd., Ithaca, NY 14853, 607-253-3673 Animal Health Laboratory Laboratory Services Division, University of Guelph, Specimen Reception, 419 Gordon St., NW Corner Gordon/McGilvray St, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, CANADA, Phone 519-824-4120 X54530, Fax 519-827-0961 Antech Diagnostics* 1111 Marcus Ave., Suite M28, Lake Success , NY 11042, 800-872-1001 *only the Lake Success, NY location of Antech has been certified to process OFA thyroid panels IDEXX 1345 Denison St., Markham, Ont, L3R 5V2, CANADA, 1-800-667-3411 Michigan State University MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (MSU VDL), 4125 Beaumont Road Room 122, Lansing, MI 48910-8104, 517-353-1683 Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory 483 Agronomy Rd., College Station, TX 77840, 979-845-3414 University of California Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Central Laboratory Receiving, VMTH Room 1033, 1 Garrod Drive, Davis, CA 95616 Phone: 530-752-VMTH (530-752-8684), Fax: 530-752-5055, email: ucdvetclinicallabs@ucdavis.edu

If you live in the USA, vets are taught that castration cures about everything, and is routine for the dogs from six weeks of age. I do not agree. First off take him to an obedience school, and both you and him will learn more about each other. If you complete the novice training, you both will have something to start with as far as understanding. Keep trying.