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Strange Behavior need help

Behavioral Issues
  • Goody625G

    Hello all, I am proudly owned by Jamie. She is a 6 1/2 little lady who I have had very little problems with. Let me start by giving a little history. I got her when I was single. She was my first dog. She lived with me, my roomate, and his white boxer. The two got along great. She slept in the bed with me curled up at my feet for about 2 years. Then along came another woman (wife) into my life. I started letting her sleep in her crate at night with a little protest from her but she got used to it. It has been that way for almost 4 years now. (Been married 2 1/2) When its time for bed I tell her in a goofy voice to "Go get in your bed." She would stand and scratch at the door until I let her in. She would not make a sound until the morning. At times I really had to coerce her out to go potty in the morning. I cover the crate with a blanket to keep the ceiling fan from blowing on her and make it a nice, dark, place for her to sleep. This has been the sleeping arrangement since around March of 2005 with no issue…

    UNTIL NOW!!

    For about the last 2 weeks her attitude has gone down the toilet. She is really restless, more snippy/growly than usual and will whine and cry when she goes into her crate(she does not go as readily). It almost like someone has flipped a switch and changed her attitude. My question to the pros: 1)Could there be something physically wrong with her causing her discomfort?
    2)Is her temprament changing as she is getting older?
    3)Is she just trying to "test the pecking order" in our house?

    I love the little dog but she is really trying my sanity right now. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Joel and Jamie

    "Jamie" 6 Year old red/white Basenji

    "Connor" 3.5 year old Boxer/Shephard mix

    (Both Spoiled!)![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

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  • L

    I would have her her checked out by a vet. Having a sudden change in behavior like this can be a sign of something phisically wrong.
    Is their any other behavior that has changed recently? Has their been a change in Water/Food consumption? Are their any other changes to your house (Pets,people,schedules)? any of these should also be taken into account. I had a terrier that was sweet as can be untill about 8 when he got a pinched nerve. He started getting very aggresive and shy. He was fine once the vet diagnosed him and he had some pain management.

    To you

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  • lvossL

    Hypothyroidism can manifest as behavorial changes. I would have the vet do a check up and run a full thyroid panel.

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  • tanzaT

    In particular you should have her Thyroid checked and that means the full panel that is set out to only a handful of labs, not just the T-4 that is included with normal blood work. Sometimes you really have to "insist" to your Vet that you want it done.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • tanzaT

    Looks like lvoss and I were typing at the same time…gggg

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • Goody625G

    Thank you for the replies! I have not noticed any change in her diet or water consumption. She has had full anal glands on more than 1 occasion and was "scootching" the day I noticed the dislike of her crate. We were using Vectra 3D on both of our dogs until I noticed that she would "scootch" and have frequest bowel movements. They are both back on frontline and she does not scootch anymore but she seems really restless and will not settle oin her crate. My schedule has changed a little, but I didnt think enough for her to manifest this behavior. Thanks for all your help so far, Ill look a little more into Hypothyroidism. Are there any other signs or symptoms that she would be showing??

    Joel

    "Jamie" 6 Year old red/white Basenji

    "Connor" 3.5 year old Boxer/Shephard mix

    (Both Spoiled!)![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

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  • S

    I would also pump up her exercise…make your walkies longer and more frequent.
    A tired b' is a happy b.

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

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  • B

    Desperately need your help!

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    DebraDownSouthD
    Sudden behavior change at this age is almost always medical. I am glad you are now keeping him separated, but honestly you should have the first incident. After the first bite, most courts or judges would rule you knew he was a danger and he could not only have been seized, but you sued for significant damages. You are lucky no one is filing. Thyroid is the primary cause that I am aware of for sudden change. Yes, brain tumors are possible, but more likely thyroid. Some forms of epilepsy also can cause a dog to attack, but typically this is truly out of nowhere-- not like what you describe when a dog is told no about something. Pain can also do it.. sadly cancer had been found in similar situations of sudden growing aggression. The ENCOURAGING part is you had several months without problems... so again, look at the most simple... thyroid. Make sure you get a full panel, not just an in-house partial. In the meantime, understand you didn't cause this, and it may be fixable. If thyroid, it's inexpensive medication. But you won't know until you get tests runs. Hopefully those wanting him put down will feel better knowing you are acting to find out if there is a medical issue.
  • C

    strange behavior

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    DebraDownSouthD
    First, yeah they do the flip and butt in face. I see it as invitation to play/chase mostly. Kind of shaking my head here over the rest. You already have a breed known for dominance and protectiveness of property/family with the Boerboel. Basenjis (I assume you mean 6.5 not 65 years old :) ) are not known for tolerating same sex. Sometimes they do, but not a sure bet. Plus, your Boerboel is still a puppy. By age 2 or 3, that compliance with the Basenji being alpha can go down the drain at a drop of a hat. That happens, and he hasn't killed the basenji... you have to keep 2 packs running, ensuring they never have contact. Then you bring in a mixed breed... which is all a Mastador is. No way on earth to know how much it will take after the lab side or the Mastiff. AND it's another male. So now you have potentially 3 dog aggressive male dogs, with 2 of them large enough to inhale the basenji. I am not sure about the breeders who placed the Boerboel, certainly not the owners letting you bring in the Mastador. I want my male dogs to have a chance of a peaceful, unstressful life. I think the chances in your home are already approaching really low numbers, and the Mastador is going to bring that closer to zero. The safety of that poor basenji is beyond precarious. I wouldn't want those 3 males in the most experienced of homes, one already fully ready to and experienced in running separate packs. I sincerely hope you reconsider the Mastador. And no, getting a female won't help. Until the Boerboel is fully mature and you have a handle on what your pack is, adding any dog is going to up the risk of issues.
  • H

    Stressed out about this behaviour and need help…..

    Behavioral Issues
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    A
    I agree with JayCee. I had to know his limits with my male and not put him in a position where he would fail. As yes, some dog owners dont understand the basenji play, but some do. I have met a great bunch of folks at the park who have taken some time with their dogs to help mine out. Very much appreciated. No matter what kind of dog you have, there will always be that one person at the park the park who has a problem. I avoid those folks. I also want the park to be safe for all. If someone brings their children in, I remove my dogs immediately since i dont know how they are with children. Always be respectful of other owners and dogs at the park. Anyway, i want my basenjis to be able to play with any kind of dog and not just basenjis. Success so far.
  • sabaS

    Weird Behavior ???

    Behavioral Issues
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    KipawaK
    @DebraDownSouth: Fran, there are times when I might mean to be condescending, but I assure you that it won't be "a little" or usually any question. That you could take my comment above as condescending… I can only suggest you may simply want to block my posts because it is entirely unlikely I will write 100 words to say what I said in under 20 because SOMEONE might see my observation as insulting. Now if I had said it condescending, such as: How could you THINK it could be that? Don't you think any dog living with females would already have reacted? How silly! The person threw out the idea of periods, which sometimes could be it .. and btw, pregnancy hormones set some dogs off… but it hit me he had lived with them too long for that to be probably. It wasn't an insult to the OP, just a response. People contradict my ideas daily on here, doesn't make them condescending or insulting. THEN, I could see it. I simply tossed out a quick response addressing that logically it probably wasn't that. If you read that as condescending instead of my own view, I am sorry. One helpful rule for forums is that you look at any post and see if there is another TONE than the one you ascribed. If there is, take the other. Like your post. I COULD think you are a jerk, not at all "friendly," addressing this here and hijacking the thread instead of sending me a private message. Instead, because I see you post a lot and like you :), I took it exactly at face value... you simply are expressing your view and trying to be helpful. So please remove any tones you might ascribe to the answer. The tone in my head is simply factual, that I am not responsible for your taking that as condescending and probably won't be able to stop you seeing other posts that way. Now if I actually say something you cannot take any way than as an insult, feel free to let me know. But the above... sorry, Fran, it was simply a logical observation. LOL, and in fact, let me now be "condescending" to my post. (I am joking while making a point.) SOMEONE (but it will be me, since it just hit me where I could easily be wrong...) could have responded to my post and said: Yeah, but dds, you are wrong because maybe she has an infection or urinary tract infection also with a period, that might do it. See? Debra, not a problem. Thank you.
  • P

    Help….What do I do...

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    QuercusQ
    I agree with Debra…dogs who feel it is okay to growl and snap at their owners to get their way should not be sleeping in the bed. Paulajean, you can work this out...just get some good advice from a good trainer...she is not a bad dog, you just need a way to communicate to her that you are the leader :) Check out Patricia McConnell's book "How to Be the Leader of the Pack (and have your dog love you for it)" you can google it and find it at several different vendors.
  • R

    Need help with crate training please

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    DukeD
    How is the crate training with Ripley going? It's been awhile since we've heard any progress.