Hi, Socialization was one of my worries and I wanted to get it right, get your friends over and have them wear hats and bags and anything and everything at different times, what we did at home was just getting the household socialization such as umbrellas, pots, rubbish bins etc started and if you have friends with vaccinated and friendly dogs get them around. There is a lot of socialization you can do before your pup is fully vaccinated at home, rubbish day is a good day for standing at the gate watching the big noisy trucks go by, picking up the bins and banging them down, watching the mower, hearing the motorbike being started. Just remember let your pup take it's time don't force it when it is uncomfortable. Our 6 month old boy is doing great and is quite a confident fella. At 14 weeks we did puppy class for 7 weeks and only started going to a dog park at 4 months and he automatically knew how to be a dog when he was with the other dogs. Good luck.
Update on Kell on e of the Graham 8
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Do you wear Kell out? Buddy was really crazy and obnoxious when I first got him and just plain wearing him out and just working with him calmed him down.
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Yes, we wear him out until we are worn out, he is the Energizer Bunny of the basenji world. We have been owned by this breed for over 30 years and he is the one with the most enery we have ever had the joy of living with. He goes until all his energy is gone and then he just drops and goes to sleep and he sleeps HARD. He is so very sweet when he is asleep! He is dangerous though because he thinks things out and I swear lays out plans for his next attack on our possessions or the other Bs, so I guess I should say, he is still when he is plotting! Keeps us on our toes trying to stay in front of him or just stay even! Wouldn't trade him for anything!
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Yes, we wear him out until we are worn out, he is the Energizer Bunny of the basenji world. We have been owned by this breed for over 30 years and he is the one with the most enery we have ever had the joy of living with. He goes until all his energy is gone and then he just drops and goes to sleep and he sleeps HARD. He is so very sweet when he is asleep! He is dangerous though because he thinks things out and I swear lays out plans for his next attack on our possessions or the other Bs, so I guess I should say, he is still when he is plotting! Keeps us on our toes trying to stay in front of him or just stay even! Wouldn't trade him for anything!
Sounds like my situation. I have had 4 Basenjis over a period of 35 years and Buddy, 1 yr, 8months is the most energetic and obnoxious of the 4. He's the most friendly too! He's been pretty good about leaving what's not his alone though. He's very entertaining at the dog park or where ever I take him as he let's out these loud Baroos at people or dogs.:D
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At the risk of sounding like a broken record, dogs are built for physical activity, we will drop of exhaustion long before they do if we depend on physical activity to tire our dogs out. Dogs are not built for lots of problem solving and mental activities which we excel at. Giving dogs problem solving games to play each day will help in getting rid of some of that excess energy just like a long math test leaves most people ready for break.
There are some games here, http://dogtrainer.quickanddirtytips.com/play-games-bad-weather.aspx There are also some great ideas in Jean Donaldson's The Culture Clash. Interactive toys like Kongs, Busy Buddies and Treatstik also can be good.
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I found that taking the Basenji on different excursions to new and different places helps. Not just doing the same walks down the same streets. Go downtown with them, find new places to hike on trails, etc. New sights and smells helps calm them down. Take a trip to a lake or the beach if you can.
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I try to go to different streets while walking. He loves to play with toys, and is not toy destructive, he doesn't ty to kill the squeakers and destuff them like my other boy did for years. We have an antique baby crib in the living room that overflows with toys when they are put up once a day, by the end of the day though 70% of them are back scattered all over the house along with all the kongs. I only wished we had a dog park closer than an hour and half away. He is so sociable I know he would do well in one. He is a joy though, has helped heal my heart over the early loss of my Gambit boy.
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I try to go to different streets while walking. He loves to play with toys, and is not toy destructive, he doesn't ty to kill the squeakers and destuff them like my other boy did for years. We have an antique baby crib in the living room that overflows with toys when they are put up once a day, by the end of the day though 70% of them are back scattered all over the house along with all the kongs. I only wished we had a dog park closer than an hour and half away. He is so sociable I know he would do well in one. He is a joy though, has helped heal my heart over the early loss of my Gambit boy.
Be patient, he'll calm down and mature. Then one day you'll say "remember when he was so crazy with energy",:D
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He is dangerous though because he thinks things out and I swear lays out plans for his next attack on our possessions or the other Bs
Why is it that I find this adorable?
Please remind me that I said this when I eventually get my B boy. -
I found that taking the Basenji on different excursions to new and different places helps. Not just doing the same walks down the same streets. Go downtown with them, find new places to hike on trails, etc. New sights and smells helps calm them down. Take a trip to a lake or the beach if you can.
Really good idea, Dan - keeping the mind challenged on fresh, new things. Thanks for that.
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I have come to the conclusion that all Basenji people are just a bit crazy, we brag on thier "badness", we are "proud" of the destuctive things they do, "mine ate a chair" I can beat that mine at the couch - TWICE, mine ate thru a wall, or mine destroyed the inside of my Lexus! But we are addicted to them, can't live without one or more in the house and underfoot. do you think they have a pill that can cure our nutiness over our Bs? Wouldn't take it if they did.
