Let's also consider that when you chase your dog, the dog thinks it's a game and will run away from you. Like... "you can't catch me!" Man, Basenji's can bolt! On the other hand, when you are the one running away, the dog instinctively joins you because you are part of the dog's family/pack. This is not to be confused with a learned command to chase an assailant, in Police work, for example. That would be a totally different game of chase.
Growly when picked up?
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That is certainly a Basenji thing! Had German Shepherds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and none would ever growl at any of us, however, Milo, the Basenji, did growl and does growl or grumble as i call it when moved from a sleepy, comfy place. As long as they know you are in control, it's ok. Any other time it would not be ok. We address it in a light hearted manner but would not if it were to be aggressive in any way.
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You could try rewards with your happy voice. Every time she gets picked up she gets a tiny piece of chicken. You can split the picking up into stages. But making her pick up time fun and happy will help her associate good things with being held. And good job on not putting her down, she will need to learn that her growly noise doenst work.
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I would NOT say this is a basenji thing.
This is a dog thing…. thinking it can be in control of it's master.
I haven't had dogs do this... but then they are all in the know who is the alpha of the house.
I like Debra's post... keeping silent.. then praise... and I am all for the high pitch squeaky voice on the praise... dog's love that for some reason.... get's their ears working!Good luck with her!
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Cricket did that after the first week with us. I would just hold her up, away from my body and let her have her fit. Then bring her in for a full body hug. I didn't say anything either way and she grew out of it in 3 or 4 days. But you have to be consistent and don't pull away when she/he snarks.
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I always tell my dog I am going to pick him up & he's fine with it. I find basenjis do not like surprises.
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Although it is tru that probably many dogs do that. I know BAsenjis definetly do it more often because i had never had a dog do that before. Ayo used to do that a lot and still does it if he is really "into" something and i pick him up. he doesnt mind being woken up though….I did with that the same as with the events of resource guarding at the begining, pay no attention and keep picking him up a lot all the time so he gets used to it. Usually the growl stays ata growl and doesnt escalate. I could tell becuause even when a few times he actually grabbed my arm with his mouth, he never actualy bit, he would leave it soft , like when they are playing. Sooooo, i just would not allow it to intimidate me and "forced " him to experience that a lot till he got used to it... These are the things that, as a new basenji owner ( and I know,.. that other dogs do that too, but like I said, to me my Basenji did it first), tend to freak you out. When he first growled, litteraly a few days after I got him, I was shocked, I thought, what did I get myself into?.. but then, once you deal with it, you realize that , those are the things, that make them so special, they have a very strong personality!!!
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My puppy guru says it's not surprising that pups do this. In the "wild", dogs don't get picked up unless they are going to be someone's lunch.
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That makes sense!!!
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I would growl also if I was about to be someones lunch!!
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Although it is tru that probably many dogs do that. I know BAsenjis definetly do it more often because i had never had a dog do that before.
I can only suggest perhaps your experience with other dogs isn't all that varied then. A quick search on the internet will garner you billions of people with every possible breed of dog that does it. '
Btw, none of my 3 basenjis have ever minded being picked up.
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Cairo doesn't mind being picked up at all, he will growl at me (and get very loud) if he is asleep and I try to move him from his spot. I don't blame him, nice warm comfy spot he's laying in and I'm trying to move him from it. I move him anyway, soon as he realizes that I'm in control, he's quiet.
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Oh, Simon has growled a couple of times when being awoken and moved. He's a somewhat insecure guy, so I decided to just treat him like an old lady. I make sure I wake him verbally before trying to move him. This works very well for him.
He LOVES being treated like an old lady.
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My puppy is going to be 12 weeks old this week and has just recently started doing the exact same thing. Was it resolved for you? Or did it escalate?
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Basenjis hate surprises. Our never liked being picked up or startled. Let a Sleeping Dog Lay is a valid rule with basenji's. I always tell them I'm going to pick them up first. They still grumple depending on the situation.
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Mine does it in two situations, neither of which are surprises. If he's tired and laying down in a comfy spot and I move like I'm about to pick him up, he'll growl at me. When this happens I usually just pick him up anyway and he gets over it. If he's actually sleeping and I wake him by picking him up, he doesn't care and just snuggles right up against me. The other times he's done it, it's been because he's nagging the other dog in our house (a 12-year old dachshund) to play with him and the dachshund is getting upset so I pick him up to intervene.
I really don't want this to progress to aggressive behavior. Anything else I can do?
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Under what conditions does he growl? Most Basenjis will resent being moved when they are comfortable, and may vocalize about it. Routine picking up should not evoke growling.
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thats exactly what I do.. just pick him anyway and he looks at me funny and gets over it.. I think if you pay to much attention to it yo makey it worse. He has to know you don't really care if he growls..
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The one thing you want to avoid is letting him think growling will get him what he wants (to be left alone). Ignoring it will usually work. However, it is unwise to provoke a reaction you might not be able to control. With my guy, I will be diplomatic if he is comfortable. I might sit beside him and complement him, stroke him, then pick him up. Usually that defuses his annoyance. If I do start to pick him up and he growls, I just go ahead with what I am doing. The snarking is usually only momentary. But be smart and keep your face away from his, just in case!
