"Conquering"
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My dogs put their hackles up in most of the situations that other breeds of dogs bark in. I have seen them up during play, when they are startled, when they are uncertain. Many people view hackles up as agressive because in other breeds they may not put their hackles up in those situations they may express their arousal level with a bark or other signal whereas in basenjis, they will hold off on barking but will put up their hackles.
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Mine only do it when they're on edge, for instance I went up to my mother inlaws the other day and meeting up with 4 other basenji's and a bunch of German Shepherds after not having seen them in months all the B's fur bristles in wariness. As soon as they relax it goes away.
The breeder I got my dogs from called it something like their 'ruf' or maybe 'rough'. I really can't find anything online though about anything like that. Anybody else hear this term before?
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Mine only raise their hair when trying to push the other around -not in usually in play, but sometimes -, when they see another dog, or when they are alert/uneasy about something {strange noise in the woods, etc}.
I always refer to it as their "ridge" .
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I was walking Tyler and Zoey one day shortly after I had brought them home, so my neighborhood was still new to them. One of the neighbor kids rode by on a bike and said–your dog has a funny haircut. I thought--what's he talking about--they are a shorthaired dog--they don't have haircuts. Then I looked down and Zoey's hair was standing straight up down the back. I laughed and told the kid she was just nervous. I've never had a dog whose hair stood up that high and straight. On her, she actually has varying degrees of hackles raised--and you can tell how "aroused" she is by how the hair on her back looks.
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Yes, but what about the circling? I understand the hair standing on end now, she's just aroused, but why does she circle my head? It's also not just me, she circles anyone who is lying on the floor.
Could be trying to figure it out…could be trying to invite you to play....my dogs seem to think that humans on the floor MUST mean they are interested in playing.
I sincerely doubt, though, that she is sizing you up to eat you ;)
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I agree that the ridge, or Mohawk, or ruff, goes up when mine are 'on alert', not necessarily related to aggression at all. But other people sometimes see it as aggression, and I try and gently explain that it just means they are very alert and excited, nothing more (most of the time, anyway!)
MacPack
Topper, Nicky and Eddie :) -
I was suprised at just how each Basenji's hair differed in the pattern that bristles. Each of the guys and girls I'm around when their hair stands on end is completely different. I thought it was normal to just be a straight line down their backs, but some have all the hair on their shoulders stand up and none toward their tails bristles. I'm sure this is fairly common knowledge, yet it still intrigued me.
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ruff - bristling - think of other animals in the wild - they frequently have similar behavior and are trying to make themselves 'bigger' to be dominate or to look too big to eat. (think puffer fish).
circling on you is pretty clear ownership - just as constant licking of a person. I would suggest that however cute it may seem. it should not be allowed. If she has learned a sit/stay - (ok ok I know that mine don't know this either but somebody might) put her in that position and lay down briefly, get up and then release her from the command.
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we call that our dogs bumble bee dance.
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I think you're Mom's on the right track. By adopting a 'submissive' pose, you're making the dog anxious. She thinks she's expected to do something, but she's not sure what. She would prefer it if you would act like a grownup, so she won't have to! What is inoccuous or meaningless to us can be very significant in 'dog culture.' Basenjis are all about the pack and have a lot of ancient customs we don't always understand. It's part of their intrigue and charm.
