• @jys1011:

    Arlene you're right however 9 out of 10 peopl will "pet" a dog by tapping them on the head or rubbing their heads. It's hard to break people out of this habit. I always have to warn people…contrary to popular misconception..dogs don't like being pet on their heads :eek:

    That is so true…. it is so hard to get people to understand that they need to be at the dogs level.. and NOT "hanging" over top of them... They need to let the dog know they are there and extend the hand for them to sniff first before petting...


  • I live in a very depressed neighborhood. We are the only white family on the block and all my neighbors are either black or latino. What I have noticed is that my black neighbors tend to be more afraid of dogs. Since dogs can sense fear, they tend to attack it.
    I think this may have to do with many of my latino neighbors being fresh off the boat from farms in their home country. Being farm people, they are naturally more comfortable with animals of all kinds. My black neighbors have been living as renters for generations and most of their exsposure to dogs has been through the untrained, under-socialized pit bull "guard dogs" of friends and neighbors.


  • <<my black="" neighbors="" have="" been="" living="" as="" renters="" for="" generations="">>

    It is unfortunate in the society we live how comfortable people get with living with what they know rather than forging ahead.</my>


  • My male basenji only likes other basenjis. I think he must pick up on his past days in the litter and with other basenjis at the breeder. He recognizes even if a dog is part basenji–he likes their energy.


  • I seem to be having the same problem….but backwards!!! I am white and my husband is black. My husband recently brought Princess home to live with us from a woman who was losing her apt and could not keep her. Princess seems to be a mix but is at least 85-95% basenji from what I can tell!!!

    The first few days she made no noise at all....my father in law (black) came over and she was fine....some of my husbands friends came over (black) and she was fine. Then my mother (white) came over and all of a sudden she came to the door and started growling deeply and showing her teeth..her tail went between her legs and she started to scare me. A few days later my best friend (white) came over who is white and I had the same problem. A delivery man who was black came by and there was no problem....the next day my Dad (white) came over and I had the problem again!!!

    I thought that I was being paranoid thinking that my dog was racist but now I am not so sure. The strange part is that she seems to have no problem with me....this is strange!


  • Basenjis are picky with people…I dunno why :eek: There are some people they like & some they just don't! Go figure...kinda like humans no?! LOL 😃


  • @Jennifer:

    I seem to be having the same problem….but backwards!!! I am white and my husband is black. My husband recently brought Princess home to live with us from a woman who was losing her apt and could not keep her. Princess seems to be a mix but is at least 85-95% basenji from what I can tell!!!

    The first few days she made no noise at all....my father in law (black) came over and she was fine....some of my husbands friends came over (black) and she was fine. Then my mother (white) came over and all of a sudden she came to the door and started growling deeply and showing her teeth..her tail went between her legs and she started to scare me. A few days later my best friend (white) came over who is white and I had the same problem. A delivery man who was black came by and there was no problem....the next day my Dad (white) came over and I had the problem again!!!

    I thought that I was being paranoid thinking that my dog was racist but now I am not so sure. The strange part is that she seems to have no problem with me....this is strange!

    Here's a thought I just had- Your husband more of less rescued Princess from her former owners. She bonded to him. When his father came over, and his friends came over, he was there, right? Was he happy and affectionate to them? If so, Princess probably thought "Oh, they know my Dad and he likes them, they're fine." When your mother and your friends came over, was your husband there? If he was, how did he act towards them? If your husband wasn't home, or if he was less affectionate/kind/interacting with them, then maybe Princess was like "Who are these people?! Why are they in Dad's house?! Grrrr!" It's a thought.
    I know with my Basenji mix- she is totally bonded to my roommate. If my roommate brings people over, or greets them at the door and is totally laid back with them, my Basenji will be too. But if I'm home alone and people come over, or if I bring people in that my roommate doesn't necessarily like, the Basenji takes that as a hint, and becomes a growling, barking, protective mess. I know she's just protecting her Mom's territory, but it's really awkward and embarrassing sometimes.


  • as far as I know, my B isn't racist, but he deffinately doesn't like any american bulldogs that he has ever met. and he wants to eat any and all pomeranians and chiwawas.


  • Interesting. My Kiora doesn't like certian men. As far as I can tell mostly white men with dark hair. If I see someone she doesn't like on a walk I will have them feed her treats ….If they will cooperate that is.Her two previous owners were both men....hmm. As far as other dogs go...she doesn't like big bouncey dogs. But she seems to mostly like dogs similar to herself. We have not encountered another Basenji since I've owned her. but she mostly likes small or medium sized calm shorthaired dogs the best. When we did the PetSmart obedience class it was very small, Kiora, a boxer, and two Xoloitzcuintle. She Hated the boxer, but just loved the Xolo's. I figure they are the closest to another B that she has met since she was a puppy.


  • @etzbseder:

    as far as I know, my B isn't racist, but he deffinately doesn't like any american bulldogs that he has ever met. and he wants to eat any and all pomeranians and chiwawas.

    Remember small "fluffy" dogs look like prey!!!!

Suggested Topics

  • 5
  • 4
  • 4
  • 9
  • 6
  • 105