Behavioral Issues

:::Note: I’m not a professional trainer, I have a degree in psychology and im a teacher; a dog is like a 2-4 year old. Every dog is different though, maybe I’ve just gotten lucky, but what I’ve been doing has been working for me; maybe it will for you.::: LOL, not luck... good common sense. We do basic training to get solid responses in controlled environments, which gives a good base for expanding it to other situations. Like eeeefarm, I don't thing animal aggressive dogs need to socialize with strange dogs. I keep them separated. For the unexpected, working at home on basic commands (Leave It!, "look at me" to focus on you and understand the other dog is off limits, solid 100 percent down-stay) can help you avoid your dog getting revved enough to bite. That means you have to stay on top of things, change directions if necessary, and be firm and loud in asking others to not approach with their dog. Training is wonderful bonding, and it exercises their brains. http://www.clickerlessons.com/index.htm

Whenever we were away for a show, the dogs became bed-dogs. Deedles used to come right under the duvet and snuggle up between my legs. Which was fine until he did want to surface, either for air or because he was too hot. He would sit up, stretch, and wiggle his shoulders until the duvet came right off and fell on the floor at the foot of the bed. Which left ME cold and needing to get out and recover the duvet. . . Deedles would lie on top for a while, then burrow under again and repeat the performance. Don't worry about it !

@patty and others that reference a responsible breeder: I got my Jessey (my friend dubbed him the Jester because of his loveable zaniness) - who is my second Basenji - from a responsible breeder and he was well socialized by her and then me. I took him to the dog park which he loved at first, but then after many visits, he became scared. He used to walk the neighborhood, but then became scared. Any boom/bang/bounce - he bolts home. My other Basenji was nothing like this. Jessey has his pack of BFF's but is usually snarky to other dogs (typical B!). My point is, it's not always the breeder. Dogs - like humans - can develop "head issues". It has been very frustrating for me having a neurotic dog, but I've come to accept that's him and would never love him any less! The vet gave me Solliquin to try, but I've been hesitant. Anyone out there tried it?

@debradownsouth your post rings true and though I hate that this has to be the solution- unfortunately if I lock her in any sort of room she instantly scratches frantically at the carpet, ripping it from the tacks in 5-10 minutes. I’d love to give her free roam of my place- as I did my last place- but she’s not comfortable enough yet and will destroy the carpet and maybe the couch as well. She is odd in the way she acts. She has plenty ability to get away from the kids and loud noises but does not move away from them. She will just give a short protest growl as they walk by. Giving her treats in the crate doesn’t work. She’s still to frantic to even think about them while in there. She goes nicely into the crate and doesn’t have to be forced, but has now taken a step backwards since she got out the one time. We go to the dog park frenquently and she gets long walks everyday as we live in a town that’s easily walk-able. I even have the 6 year old wall her. The Prozac, thus far, has helped her to not be so frantic during the day when the kids are under toe. Basenjis are hard (as we all know) and this is not my first by far.

@antigone - Again, please stop hi-jacking others people posts. Start your own as what is being posted has nothing to do with what the original post was about

@nellyja said in Growling at dogs during walk: Read best tips for dog training is to think growing dogs best tips? Not even close. Tie a collar and leash to pup while it eats? Beyond that, nonsense. I wonder how many sites you go to in order to spam with that site?

@krazytoo100 hearing and sight tests sound like the way to go. I have a skittish boy who is very confident in his environment but freaks out easily about little things. He hates loud noises and used to be bad on July 4th, whining and shaking. We play some soothing music (supposedly dog calming cd’s) often and that helps him desensitize. Since we started doing that he is much better. But he has had problems over time, nothing sudden or drastic. I wouldn’t shy away from bloodwork again either, something may be going on. One thing you could try is carrying him outside, feel his heartbeat. If he is really stressed by it you will feel his heart racing.

@joan-duszka said in Sisterly “love”: Sometime it makes sense, wolves dont allow any one but alpha female to breed, and if someone disobeys the rules she will pay mightily for it. Wild dogs also. Perhaps spaying might help and it sure would not hurt. Good,luck to you..always be vigilent.<< Long dispelled observation, only fit confined packs. https://io9.gizmodo.com/why-everything-you-know-about-wolf-packs-is-wrong-1664301968. https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/14_12/features/Alpha-Dogs_20416-1.html Nor am I glib on spay/neuter. Will it help? Probably not. But go inti it eyes open: https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/long-term-health-risks-benefits-spay-neuter-dogs/

You need to teach 2 things.. a 100 percent solid down/stay and "leave it". If you have to use a collar and leash to keep him beside you and down, do it. Do not continue trying to get interaction. The more they totally ignore him, the less stressed he'll be. Once you can get him to stay at least 15 mins, get a male friend to come over. Put him in down stay and give the leave it command if he barks. Once he is QUIET, the person leaves. Keep repeating as often as you can get men to come over. Once he is quiet from the start, lengthen the time by a few minutes. ALWAYS tell him good boy and give a treat for being quiet. It would help a lot if you can try this out in a park too. If he's less reactive to men there, they can walk past and toss a treat (not look at or talk to). Once he seems to like seeing them coming because he associates with treats, they can say "GOOD BOY" as they pass. Then they can stop and toss the treat. Eventually they can stop, say good boy, toss the treat, speak to you and move on. Eventually he will link men to good. Throw in some women too, but concentrate on men. http://www.clickerlessons.com/index.htm

While if the dog isn't doing damage to the other, letting them work it out is a good idea... but if the dog is bully so much it is stressing the other dog, that's a whole other ballgame. The "support the alpha" works great with establishing relationships. But when things change in older dogs, it can be the signal of some serious issues ahead. Having heard of dogs killing the other dog if people keep interfering, I'd rather separate them if the dog is being severe. I can have 2 dogs in the same room and train them not to go near each other... they aren't being put into isolation from me. Often, btw, the seeming "alpha" isn't always the most food aggressive. Nor is the "pecking order" as solid as first thought. Sadly, old studies on CAPTURED wolves still dominate what people believe, even though research for 10 years have proven that nearly everything we thought about pack order, dominance, food/resource rights, etc is totally wrong. For anyone interested, a few links: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-behavior-and-training-dominance-alpha-and-pack-leadership-what-does-it-really-mean https://io9.gizmodo.com/why-everything-you-know-about-wolf-packs-is-wrong-502754629

@ember-the-basenji I relate to your comment about your basenji being aggressive towards white fluffy dogs. I wonder why these dogs attract their attention.

@rugosa said in 9 months and suddenly scared of everything: They feel more confident when you exhibit confidence Very well put ! Quiet, firm, confidence - a Basenji reacts to voice, and if he/she senses uncertainty, that is what it will react to !

@elbrant The only thing I wonder about spraying water to correct them is could it backfire come bath time? Zuzu had a dislike for water when we got her and it took a while to train her to like it. Some people on other pet forums use small air horns to stop their dogs from doing undesirable things like barking and jumping, but that doesn't sit well with me because it could possibly damage their hearing. I have a stainless steel dog whistle that I use to break Zuzu's concentration and it always stops her dead in her tracks. Works anytime I want to distract her from doing something she shouldn't or get her attention. Not sure if it would work for the destructive action you described because the whistle stops them before they commit their crime - she doesn't mind the whistle noise, it just makes her cock her head with her ears perked up. I baby proofed my house when we got a puppy so she doesn’t get into much trouble or destroy stuff, so far that’s worked out well. Now that she’s a bit older I can leave some things within her reach and she doesn’t seem interested. Keeping fingers crossed.

Oh NO! I am sorry about your wedding ring, but it sounds like things are improving. That's pretty high for a crate, but we paid about $150 for the airline crates to move here (I use wire crates at home).. so they'll just be stored or sold.

@nick4 I am in the "Basenji Zone" as well. I have done the putting her in the crate and then walking away while I talk to her and then letting her out and then back in again and I do the same thing where i will step out then come back in again. She does best when i leave her a good greenie for her teeth and I step out really quick she got used to it. Also I had the shower problem I even went as far as bringing her into the shower and to my surprise she did not care and i used it as a way to get her comfortable with the water....then i slowly gave her water from the shower talked to her while I was in there and peeked out the curtain every now and then and she got a lot calmer. I dont know if any this would help. Just wanted to share!

It is their boredom that you have to curtail (pardon the pun), not there energy or their spirit. I have four Bs, and they all have different personalities. The bones keep them occupied for a while, and they keep their teeth clean. Their teeth are important.

@bluebert When I first heard of them, I thought nonsense but went looking. It's the same principle as tight chutes for cattle. The woman who did the resea and developed the hug machine for autistic clients has helped spread t he tecnology. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hug_machine

Sleep in your bed or not, sleep under the sheets or own cover or between sheet and cover...two issues only. Your personal choice and if it causes behavioral problems. As for " alphas"..nothing has done more to cause more harm to training than that outdated wrong concept. This is a nice article explaining how we got into the alpha stuff, and the way to think that will really help with how you see and train your dogs. https://www.thelabradorsite.com/dog-dominance/

There are studies from 15 years ago about spaying at the wrong time during a cycle and ending up with a permanently aggressive female. But even with regular spay/neuters a great deal of hormonal change can cause many dogs to react. It is biological but still important to stay on top of behaviors so they don't become common. As for the fight...spayed, not spayed, neutered or not, it is not uncommon for dogs who have always been fine to have one fight and never get along again. There are some worrisome new research about reactive and fearful behaviors with neutered dogs. If anyone is interested, glad to share the links (too tired to fetch them tonight. Back to my normal backing up posts with links so that anyone wanting to read more can.)

@rocky1 I'm so very sorry for your loss. They become such a part of our souls. I've already had a few tears over just the thought of what it will be like without him.