Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Males behaving badly

Males behaving badly

Behavioral Issues
  • C

    We are having trouble with our 2 males fighting – one is new, one is old.

    Almost 14 years ago, we started with our first Basenji, Brie. When she as 3 we got Ramsey, a male. Ramsey was always a happy-go-lucky guy without an ounce of aggression, even though Brie grumped at him often. She was actually the dominant one of the 2. Well, Brie took the sad trip to the vet earlier this year, leaving Ramsey. Soon after we got a female 4 month old puppy, Bonnie, to fill the emptiness. Ramsey has been ok with her, but mostly grumpy since he was use to Brie just sleeping ALL the time. He'll play A LITTLE, running laps around the house once a day, but mostly tells her to keep out of his space (still, if she invades his space, he'll just huff and walk away). Ramsey is now nearly 12yrs and Bonnie 11 months. Not wanting this cycle to keep going on, we added a playmate for Bonnie. Just over a week ago we added Smitty, a 9 1/2 month old male. He has a great temperament, respects NO, doesn't pull on his leash, loves to sleep on your lap, etc.

    Bonnie and Smitty are pretty inseparable. At first Ramsey was OK with they younger guy, but they've had a couple fights. The first fight seemed like Ramsey was putting him in his place -- happened outside at the fence with another dog. But then once it happened over food. I had to pull them apart and both had been injured (Ramsey got a cut on his ear and Smitty on the snout). Since that fight, Ramsey has huffed and grumbled nearly every time Smitty is in his space. Again it happened when Bonnie and Smitty were playing inside and barreled into the old guy. Ramsey let him have it, Smitty held his own, and I pulled the 2 apart. So much for that first few days of them being OK together.

    I tell Ramsey NO! when he growls at either one and will hold his nose if he doesn't stop. Never hit. I praise him when the other 2 are near by and he's chilled out. You can tell he looks nervous when they play. I also, now make sure I have my eye on them if they are all outside together and feed them with Smitty and Bonnie in their crates. I wouldn't say he is much more grumpy with Smitty. Before Bonnie wanted to play and would nip at his feet and drive us all nuts. At least now the "kids" can go play and leave Ramsey to sleep more. It has only been a week after all. Any other suggestions on how to keep some peace in this house?

    Also, Smitty is still in tact, but that will change this week.

    0
  • QuercusQ

    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.

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0

Suggested Topics

  • D

    Male basenji puppy attacking other male dogs

    Moved Behavioral Issues
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    5k Views
    J
    I'm no Basenji expert since I've only had one. And, I don't want to start a dog park argument. I'll just share my experience. Jengo LOVED running free, but he's a Basenji. Can't do that cause... cars. The dog park near our house is HUGE. A big completely enclosed lawn area the size of a football field with towering oak trees. We were OCD about keeping Jengo's vaccinations up to date. He was chipped and wore a collar with contact and rabies tags 24/7. He loved the dog park, but not all the dogs there. He hated any dog of any size that would try to dominate him in any way. He rarely instigated it, but he never tolerated it meaning regardless of size... he wouldn't back down. He also hated if another dog approached him from behind and would snap immediately. My solution was to stay near him and to keep moving. We would walk laps around the perimeter and by about the second or third lap he'd been or had checked out all the other dogs. Then things were good. If I saw that he was getting anxious I'd usually catch it before he reacted and would tell him "Easy". 9 times out 10 that was enough. I'd also make sure that he was aware of dogs in our vicinity so that he wouldn't be surprised if they came from behind. We went to the park for years. He never caught anything that I was aware of. I did pick him up and leave if there was another dog he and/or I weren't comfortable with. And, I also recall walking away before ever entering the park if there was a dog we didn't like already there. I guess my point is that part of protecting your dog and others is knowing and focusing on them without over-reacting at the same time. I don't want to set him off. But, I want to know what he's going to do before he does. You have to read him. All dogs give signals one way or another. Tune in to your dog, not the other people at the park. I liked the other people at the park, but I wasn't there for them. My focus was always on Jengo.
  • P

    Neutered male

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    YodelDogsY
    She is probably not picking up on his signals to go out. He knows better than to pee on the floor so he gets up on something elevated and then pees. Or it is possible he has a UTI or some other issue. It may hurt when he pees so he is trying new places to find somewhere it doesn't hurt. (A very common reason for cats who suddenly refuse to use the litter box but it can happen with dogs too.)
  • Chealsie508C

    Puppy in Bed- Good or Bad??

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    MayaM
    Awww, it'll fly by im sure! :D Maya was a snuggly baby right from day 1! She gets under the duvet and snuggles up right next to me with her head on the pillow. Even 2 years on she is exaqtly the same every night without fail. And she is so WARM! Saves on the heating in this cold weather :D
  • WooflessW

    Intact male behaves as if spayed female is in heat?

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    53k Views
    thunderbird8588T
    @renaultf1: I scooped her up, gave her a bath, and then presto, no more mounting "activity" (still some sniffing) from Brando. It was kind of funny because he was going around the room after acting like, "what just happened - where'd my date go?" :D:D:D Thats too funny :D:D:D
  • S

    Female or male?

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    5k Views
    thunderbird8588T
    I think our male must have been the exeption, he certainly did have a clue and manipulated us ruthlessly all his life, but we loved him so much. We are having a female Pup this time so time will tell
  • RedVelvetLynxR

    Bad B

    Behavioral Issues
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    5k Views
    tanzaT
    That is usually one of the biggest problems… someone in the house is NOT good about remember to pick up after themselves... or putting things out of reach of the "Basenji"...