My name is Donna, I have 2 wonderful Basenjis, Ziggee and Scarlett…. We have had many issues thru the years, and everyone who is not a basenji owner suggests I get rid of one or both.... but we got ourselves a doggie shrink and all is happy in our world. 
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/DieFledermaus/2323232327Ffp83B53Evq3D32353E4643E9.jpg
Welcome and good job hanging there as dedicated Basenji people. Beautiful Basenjis too!
Welcome and hope you enjoy the forum. Ziggee and Scarlett look beautiful, of course…after all they are basenjis
It's wonderful that you all did what you had to so you could keep both of your baby's. People that tell other people to just give one away have no common smarts whats so ever. Be like having twins and one gets into everything while other just sits let's just get rid of the one gets into all the stuff.
Very happy for you all as a happy family good job.
Rita Jean
thanks everyone for the warm welcome…. and being basenji slaves.... er I mean owners, we all know how the breed is. I think there was a bit of abuse in them before me, but not enough to do damage.... they are loving and fun. When I take them to the vet, I usually bring muzzles, just because of the history I was told, and I don't want any accidents. But I hold them close to me while getting examed and the vet always comments how calm they are. They just needed the right family...
Hi Donna, welcome to the forum.
Scott
Welcome to the forum! Your pups look great! 
Hello and welcome to to the forum and good for you not giving up:D
Welcome Donna Your pack looks great! Thank you for hanging in their, too many B's get shoved aside because people don't take the time to understand them. I'm sure you'll have some great ideas to pass on to people here.
Tom
I had a basenji many years ago, so when I contacted B.R.A.T. the application alone is like a adopting a child…lol. But there were a few dogs there up for adoption, and another couple was there also looking to adopt. They were not very familiar with the breed and had children. Most people hear about the baseni as being barkless, and the catlike clean qualities, but along with that comes with "i'm smarter than you attitude" and they are a handful when first bringing one home. hahaha. But with guidelines from the first time they step thru your door, they are wonderful pets. I don't think I would ever own another breed. For me they are the perfect size, and you sure can't beat that crazy basenji personality.
2 really are better than one.
Glad you worked through your issues.
Care to share them with us?
just like spoiled children they would get into tear apart fights over me, usually. If one is on my lap and the other wanted to join us, the growling and nipping would start. Ziggee is laid back, great personality, he let this go for sometime, until one day he just growled back and snapped, before I knew it, they were ripping each other up. I just got a water delivery and got one of those 5 gallon jugs and dumped it on them… this did not break them up.... I went in there and got nailed a few times but got them apart. My house was like pyscho, blood splatters everywhere. I took the worse one first to the vet... and the crates were a staple again... although ziggee would always bust out. I have had both together now about 5 years, and thru those 5 years about 4 serious fights until I found a doggie shrink that knew the breed. The last time, was about 1500bucks for x-rays and stitches.... they were both a mess. I had to find a way to stop this, because for the most part we all got along great. We went on rides together, camping, walks...everything. These fights were not often but brutal enough everyone told me to get rid of one... I got nailed plenty too. My doctor bills are cheaper, I would gladly take the hit for either one, just to seperate them and calm them down. But all has been well the past year... once the eyeing each other and growling across the room starts, we have time out. I have chains in oposite sides of the room, they each get hooked up to thier corners, and I leave. Whether to take a shower, or run to the store... but when I get back before I unhook them they get a treat. Then together they both get praised. When I feel they need to be in time out, in a firm voice I say, "necklaces now!!" and they both go to thier designated corner and wait to get hooked up. They dont cry while they are there, they learned the rules. This works for us.
Welcome.
It's wonderful to hear that you have taken the trouble to sort out their 'issues' which as you've obviously found out can be very serious. Years ago I was told that it's only really serious when they go for the throats!! I always think that good basenji owners are as determined as their dogs and find ways to sort out their problems.
I find it very heartening to hear of people like you. Thank you.
holy cow!!!! The last time they had the death grip on each other.Each had a good chunk of neck, I have had ziggee since he was young and we have a bond. Scarlett was 3 when I got her, sooo I just went in there grabbed them and told ziggee to drop, oh he wasn't happy, both were livid and hell yeah my arms and hands got totally nailed. But I seperated them, Got scarlett in her crate, Ziggee was a bloody mess, she tore his ear. He got a few hits in and her front leg by the elbow, was a huge tore open wound. After the incident, they were both shaking and wounded, I am not sure if the 'retraining' with what I learned from the doggie shrink has helped or that incident really hit them both beyond where they wanted to go. But that was a huge expense, and nothing since then. I am going to look into pet insurance. lol And thanks for that, it really means alot when I find someone who understands about the breed. Scarlett was put into the rescue because she bit a new handler when she was sent out on a show. She was either to be adopted out or put to sleep….. sheeeesh she was only 3. I never had any issues with her and other dogs or people. She is very friendly. Those incidents with Ziggee, well the territorial thing and I didn't have control, they didn't think of me as the pack leader.... Now they do, well they are basenjis, so they let me think I do...lol
oh, my heavens!
Its a wonder that these 2 b's are still living in the same house.
re pet insurance, Consumer Reports says with all the deductions, your better off making
a saving account for pet issues and putting $$ into it each month.
as I said, everyone I know said I should get rid of one, and obviously that would have been Scarlett, she already had a history of almost being put to sleep. It was the point of both of them biting me, which people were concerned…you know... "don't bite the hand that feeds you" But I got bit by blocking shots at the other dog, not that they were attacking me. Yes, for the most part, we all get along, and those incidents were waaaaay outta control. Its funny, when my dad "babysits" just one of them while the healing processes is going on, each one is looking for the other. whimper and running about.... they do need each other too.
Yes, I think that 'dog biting person' does get that reaction but people often say it because they don't understand that it can be purely accidental and incidental when stopping a fight.
The same thing can happen and has happened to me when a dog is in pain because they have got limbs etc trapped and attack the person who is trying to release them. When it happened to me and I had to go to hospital to get stitched I wouldn't admit that it was a dog bite as in the present climate in the UKthe incident may get reported and have serious consequences for the dog.
It sounds as though your success is a combination of the doggie shrink's advice and your ability to learn from what you were advised.
Welcome to the forum Donna, Ziggee and Scarlett look lovely Dogs
Yes, I think that 'dog biting person' does get that reaction but people often say it because they don't understand that it can be purely accidental and incidental when stopping a fight.
The same thing can happen and has happened to me when a dog is in pain because they have got limbs etc trapped and attack the person who is trying to release them. When it happened to me and I had to go to hospital to get stitched I wouldn't admit that it was a dog bite as in the present climate in the UKthe incident may get reported and have serious consequences for the dog.
It sounds as though your success is a combination of the doggie shrink's advice and your ability to learn from what you were advised.
Yes unfortunately here in NY also, a dog bite must be reported even under the circumstances and it was my own. One of the times, they hit a tendon and I needed to seek help for myself… but just the fact that watching these 2 animals I love dearly, rip at each other, I had to seriously learn the advice of our behaviorist. Some of the training was hard and tedious... but I was committed to 15minutes 3times a day. I had to become the pack leader, We don't follow all the rules, the one about not on the furniture, and no sleeping in bed.... they mostly lay on thier doggie beds anyways, but if I am on the sofa watching tv, I more than love the cuddling of my two basenjis.
When breaking up a fight and using your "hands" "arms" it is pretty difficult NOT to get bitten… and they are not going after you per say, they are still going after the other dog.. you are just in the way.....
I too have been bit trying to break up fights.... one time I got my finger broken besides the deep cuts.... and a nick tendon... however.. while we too are suppose to report dog bites (or an ER Dr is).... I never have admitted to being bitten by a dog (as long as they are mine).... easy enough to make up a cover story... This was/is my personal decision.. as this was not a result of a dog just coming after me.... I just got in the way...
