Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Why? Nip & Brawl

Why? Nip & Brawl

Behavioral Issues
  • QuercusQ

    @Basenji_Boy:

    When the hackles are up on mine, something has them aggitated. Doesn't mean….fight.......aggitated.;)

    yeah…between girls at our house, it does mean something if it continues for any length of time. Sometimes it just means, you are sniffing me, should I be concerned?...but if the girls are circling, sniffing, and ridgie, there could be trouble.

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • B

    @Quercus:

    yeah…between girls at our house, it does mean something if it continues for any length of time. Sometimes it just means, you are sniffing me, should I be concerned?...but if the girls are circling, sniffing, and ridgie, there could be trouble.

    Amen to that!:D :D ridgie I love that! :D :D

    0
  • barkless513B

    Tobias is always ridgie. When at play that is. I have seen him aggressive only toward humans, strangers, and only when he is safe inside the house, and the humans are outside. LOL I know he would run if he were outside with the stranger. Or at least I think he would, as he does not like confrontation, or srangers. Question, it seems that hackles up is happy time for Tobias, tail wagging, mouth open, barooing all the way. How do we really know if these guys are angry?

    0
  • QuercusQ

    I think the best word for ridginess is "arousal" some dogs get very aroused during play…some don't. Most dogs get aroused during an aggressive display. But before a real fight a dog is always aroused, guaranteed.

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • DukeD

    As is with children - vying for mommy-daddy attention is pretty normal. Duke and Daisy do that. Duke used to have all the attention from everyone. Good morning kisses & rubs - everything for him. Now we have Daisy - and she needs her fair share of attention. When I choose Daisy first, I see poor Duke looking slighted watching and waiting for his turn - I kind of feel bad for him. They try to be the first by shoving themselves in front. I switch off who's first. I don't think this is a big problem - but does it matter who is chosen first to give attention?

    Jill

    0
  • QuercusQ

    Some trainers/behaviorists will say yes….I am not so sure. I try to do tandem petting and greeting when dogs are sorting out their issues. If you have to choose one, I would definitely give Duke the attention first.

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • tanzaT

    The dog that was there first, IMO should be greeted first… and to keep it as a routine.... as with most animals, most things become habit....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • QuercusQ

    @tanza:

    The dog that was there first, IMO should be greeted first… and to keep it as a routine.... as with most animals, most things become habit....

    you mean the dog that lived there first, right? Or do you mean the dog that gets to you first?

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • DukeD

    They both get there first, then the shoving begins. They can't be kissed and hugged at the same time, so I'll give Duke his first b/c he's the older and wiser. Makes sense - Thanks for your replies.

    Jill

    0
  • QuercusQ

    @Duke:

    They both get there first, then the shoving begins. They can't be kissed and hugged at the same time, so I'll give Duke his first b/c he's the older and wiser. Makes sense - Thanks for your replies.

    This is what we do with Querk. And we often have as many as four hopping around at the same time :rolleyes:

    But he is VERY vocal when the other dogs get in the way of his greeting. I am kind of envisioning that is what is going on with Duke.

    Another example of status being fluid…all the dogs defer to his complaining during greeting...but all the girls can take things away from him, and guard him away from their sleepy space. And they all greet him in a subordinate way...so it is really, really hard to guess who is in charge of what....kinda like the federal government ;)

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

    0
  • nomrbddgsN

    Funnily enough, my 3 B's will crowd me with the Boxenji constantly getting in the way. I will always cuddle Shadow first, then Sugar, then Zina, and then Dimisi-in the order I got them. The old girl Calli waits on the chair for me to come and see her and get her cuddles and kisses-I guess she doesn't want to get into the fray at the door and she knows if she waits she gets more attention!

    Arlene, the Basenji Brats with the Boxenji![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

    0
  • tanzaT

    @Quercus:

    you mean the dog that lived there first, right? Or do you mean the dog that gets to you first?

    Yes, the dog that lived there first

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0

Suggested Topics

  • J

    Anxiety & Behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    4k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Acepromazine is a drug I will never ever give to a dog again. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=570 I agree with Shirley, it seems very fearful. Sadly, that's often a trait you can work to help control, but it is something your dog simply may be born with. You can work on desensitizing to vet... by doing by, let them toss a treat, go home. Do it for quite a while. Ditto on muzzle.. do it at home for a few mins, take off and treat. Work on making both as unstressful as possible. But better to muzzle than have a bite incident.
  • KristinK

    B nipping at children

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    33k Views
    lvossL
    Children are often scary for dogs, they don't move the same as adults, they don't act the same as adults, so dogs don't know how to behave around them. You may want to check out this webinar that is coming up next week through the Family Paws Parent Education, http://jennifershryock.enterthemeeting.com/m/PS15862X
  • RokixSluggR

    Nipping

    Behavioral Issues
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    lvossL
    Since she is wandering off and not continuing to push for your attention it sounds like she is reading your turn away corrrectly. When you turn away from a dog it is a distance increasing signal. When you turn back and invite her back to you, what does she do? Remember she is still young and learning self-control. This sort of behavior is related to your other post about her having difficulty holding body position for extended periods of time. She is still learning self control. I like Levels because it breaks the training up into smaller parts, http://dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Levels/ByLevel/1Level.html
  • wizardW

    Nipping ankles

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    C
    Hello, My lovely leather handbag and shoe chewing B nipped my leg when I came to get her from a friend who had looked after her for the day. She must have thought I wasn't paying enough attention to her after my absence. In fact, she also makes those odd noises (sort of groans, beginning of a yoddle I suppose) when I come back to my car after I have left her in it with all sorts of goddies to chew. Nipping is exceptional but I am careful as I wouldn't want her to do this to strangers or visitors. She does try to push them off her place on my sofa, funny to watch but a dog is a dog and I don't think it is a good idea to let them nip us, whatever the reason!
  • AlexA

    Basenji Growling & Aggression

    Pinned Behavioral Issues
    89
    0 Votes
    89 Posts
    110k Views
    O
    Hello, Im new here and have a question in regards to growling. We just rescued an older male Basenji that was just neutered. We have had him a week. He doesn't play with toys. Seems to like any dog he comes across. Tolerates small children and seems to want attention from any person that comes along. He doesn't seem to be food aggressive and is perfectly happy to sit by me most of the day when I'm home. I even come home for lunch to walk him every day. My question is that when we first got him he had no issues getting into his crate, but now he has started growling and getting his back hair up when I tell him to get into his house. Hes too new for me to want to allow him to wander the house with the cats alone. I tried giving him treats when he went in to make it a positive experience but he doesn't seem very happy and now growls every time I ask him to go in. Any suggestions to help with this issue?
  • TuckerVAT

    No nipping here, mine draws BLOOD!

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    MantisM
    To me it sounds like the previous owners praised his bad behaviors when he would take something which would be confusing for anyone. I would begin to give treats when he does good things to retrain the idea. Use a spray bottle for growls or bad behavior. Use it to startle but dont acknowledge the bad behavior. Act like you didnt see the water and dont let him see the water bottle. The other main issue it sounds like is the socialization. I would suggest doing the basic obedience training in a Petsmart. You will have a trainer with you each time you go. You will be introducing your basenji to other dogs in your class in a controlled atmosphere. You will be in a busy store with people that will help him socialize and get used to the people. Once you have learned the tricks or commands from class and your basenji performs them with you flawlessly. Have your roommate use the same commands and gestures until your b can do them with your roommate. Then add a friend that isnt around all the time and slowly teach the dog how to communicate and receive praise and treats for his actions. I suspect that with this training, your basenji will soften that aggressive behavior and want the treats. The behavior may never go away completely, but you will always be around to keep an eye on him. If you have a dog walker, I would think that it is very important that your walker follows your guidlines for training to keep your dog safe when he is away from you. Strangers who have been bitten by a dog have had the ability to put the dog to sleep and it is important that you do not permit him to find an opportunity to slip. My rescue was food aggressive and fearful of everything. She had seperation anxiety, growled, and took 2 years to potty train. It is important to be consistant with your training. It is important to praise. My rescue settled down completely after 3years and I learned the triggers to avoid. I would also suggest not having any pull or shake playing with your basenji which would mimick tugging or tearing prey. When your basenji is relaxed, massage him. Touch his mouth, his ears, hold his feet. Teach him to understand that there is no off limit area. Have your roomate and dog walker do this as well once you feel he has begun learning from the training. Have your roommate help you bathe him, and so on and so forth. As long as one of the 3 of you can handle him in basic training, around people and handeling him you should be more confident that you are protecting him as well as the many victims he could encounter in the future. You know he is great and you want to take care of him. The best way to do that is by helping him learn to communicate with people, not out of fear. Oh, and a soft muzzle is a great way to take him for walks with a dog walker and keep him from hurting anyone else. He can move his mouth, but wont be able to open it. I bought mine at Petsmart when Caesar was a puppy and eat his seat belt off when in the car going anywhere. Do not use it with punishment, but as a tool to let him know it is time to go for a walk!!