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Senior Basenji help

Basenji Talk
  • G

    We had to send our female to the Rainbow Bridge in October and now I am concerned my male is headed there soon. He whines and whimpers and has lost his interest in everything-hates walks now. Obssesive about food and treats. He is 14 but still looks pretty good except he is covered in lumps and bumps-all okay.

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  • eeeefarmE

    I just lost my boy yesterday, so I feel your pain. My problem was the reverse. My boy who was never a picky eater went off his food, a big red flag. Usually illness causes a decrease in interest in food. I am not sure what the reverse might indicate. I wish you the best of luck in sorting this out. It is so hard to lose them!

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

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  • G

    I think he has some Dogheimers. He is just unhappy and I feel guilty about thinking about it. Just wanted to vent. I am sorry you lost you furbaby-it is heart breaking I know

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  • tanzaT

    Have you had him checked by a Vet? There is medication for older dogs that may have what you refer to as "Dogheimers"

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • eeeefarmE

    Reluctance to go for walks coupled with the whines and whimpers suggest he might be sore somewhere. In the course of trying to find the source of my guy's problems we took x-rays, which didn't enlighten us much but did reveal some arthritis in the spine and neck which had not been slowing him down, but I expect could have caused some discomfort.

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

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  • G

    He is going to be 15 and Does not do well on meds. Thanks!

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  • DebraDownSouthD

    Sometimes extreme hunger can be from hormones (thyroid even) or cancer.. At 15, not sure if knowing makes much difference. However, there are some meds to make him feel better and up to walking, which certainly would improve his quality of life.

    Debra

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    eeeefarmE
    @lisafebre said in Help with Rescue Basenji Mixes: @eeeefarm i have tried the clicker but it scares him! So I make "kissy" noises as he comes in for a treat. That should work fine. Just be consistent with whatever you use, but you may need to adjust the timing. You should use your "marker" the same way you would a clicker, i.e. to mark the behaviour you are rewarding. So perhaps another sound or word (I tend to use "yes!") to use at the moment he does the behaviour (or an incremental move toward the behaviour) that you are trying to encourage. Remember that the click or marker word ends the behaviour and signals the reward. It does sound like you are making good progress. At some point as petting him becomes normalized you will want to phase out the treats and reserve them for whatever your next behaviour goal is, perhaps climbing into your lap so you can cuddle or pick him up. Again, go slow, don't restrain when he has come to you. When you reach the point where you can make the approach instead of him making it, and he doesn't shrink away, it will be time to go on to handling, picking him up, etc. at which point if you have initiated contact you change to releasing him when he is quiet, not if he attempts to leave. Key is don't ask for too much too fast, and if there is a difficult point go back to where he is comfortable and proceed again. You'll get there!
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  • R

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    DebraDownSouthD
    Renee, I am very sorry that my answer is not going to be a happy one, but it is honest and it is said with great concern. You have a 4 mo old pit bull mix. Do not add another dog. PB are bred to be dog aggressive. They almost ALWAYS do great with other dogs until they mature. I cannot begin to count even in just one year the number of people who post on the aol boards about their maturing PB or PBmix killing their other pets. They are always SOOOOO shocked as they just LOVED EACH OTHER… til that day. Many PB and PB mixes do great with other dogs and pets. But you don't know til they mature if they will. It is the one reason I support shelters euthanizing them all (and Rotties and chows) except when a breed rescue takes them. There are dogs (and btw I have chows and rotties) who simply need homes that are experienced with that breed to own, and PB are one of them. People with PB experience get them KNOWING that when the dog matures, they may have to safely keep them away from every other pet... and they are physically, emotionally, and financially able to provide that type of separation. IF you are, then you might consider another pet now. But get the pet for YOU, not for the sad PBmix. And frankly, because Basenji can also be snots about other dogs, I would consider a much much more "pack" oriented dog breed that is KNOWN to not be dog aggressive if you want a new pet. And please, let Basenji rescue know about this fellow so they can help with him.