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Attacking People!

Behavioral Issues
  • S

    My b Simba is about 5 years old, about a year and a half ago we got him neutered. Before he was neutered he was fine with everyone. But after we got him neutered he began to attack people. He dosen't do it when people come in the house, he only does it when they go to leave, or if they are in the house and make a sudden movement (ex. walking across the room, standing up)

    He has bit my husbands brothers, and his mom, and some of my husbands friends that have come to the house. He has broken the skin on my husbands brother and torn holes in his pants. I have resorted to putting him in the bedroom when people come over. I am afraid he is really going to hurt someone, and we're going to have to get rid of him. This has only been going on for like a year and half and i have no idea why he does it. And its been getting worse, he will run around the house and start panting really hard if there is someone outside that he cant get to. But like i said when people come in the house he's fine, he'll let people pet him and he'll sit next to them but as soon as they move he attacks. Please if anyone has suggestions they are greatly appreciated, I have no idea what to do! :(

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  • wizardW

    You might want ot contact a behavior specialist.
    But in the meantime I would suggest working extra hard on obedience, or reinforcing the obedience he once learned – get him to sit-stay before people leave or maybe use a head halter and leash while people are at the door. Maybe as people get up to leave they give him a treat. Have you talked with your vet about his behavior too?

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  • renaultf1R

    When was the last time he was checked by the vet. If the biting came on suddenly, it could be he has a medical problem of some sort.

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  • tanzaT

    Has he had a full medical check up? Especially a full Thyroid panel done? I really would doubt that his being neutered has anything to do with it… certainly I have never heard of that before.... but I would first get a full medical done (including an eye exam with a Ophth), with full blood work and full thyroid panel (which typically must be sent out separate from normal blood work that your Vet might do) and then contact a behaviorist to work with him (and the family).

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • S

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  • D

    Male basenji puppy attacking other male dogs

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    I'm no Basenji expert since I've only had one. And, I don't want to start a dog park argument. I'll just share my experience. Jengo LOVED running free, but he's a Basenji. Can't do that cause... cars. The dog park near our house is HUGE. A big completely enclosed lawn area the size of a football field with towering oak trees. We were OCD about keeping Jengo's vaccinations up to date. He was chipped and wore a collar with contact and rabies tags 24/7. He loved the dog park, but not all the dogs there. He hated any dog of any size that would try to dominate him in any way. He rarely instigated it, but he never tolerated it meaning regardless of size... he wouldn't back down. He also hated if another dog approached him from behind and would snap immediately. My solution was to stay near him and to keep moving. We would walk laps around the perimeter and by about the second or third lap he'd been or had checked out all the other dogs. Then things were good. If I saw that he was getting anxious I'd usually catch it before he reacted and would tell him "Easy". 9 times out 10 that was enough. I'd also make sure that he was aware of dogs in our vicinity so that he wouldn't be surprised if they came from behind. We went to the park for years. He never caught anything that I was aware of. I did pick him up and leave if there was another dog he and/or I weren't comfortable with. And, I also recall walking away before ever entering the park if there was a dog we didn't like already there. I guess my point is that part of protecting your dog and others is knowing and focusing on them without over-reacting at the same time. I don't want to set him off. But, I want to know what he's going to do before he does. You have to read him. All dogs give signals one way or another. Tune in to your dog, not the other people at the park. I liked the other people at the park, but I wasn't there for them. My focus was always on Jengo.
  • S

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    Lots more information needed here. As Debra asked, how old? How long have you had this dog? Is this a new behaviour and if so how recently has it appeared? What training have you done with this dog? IMO, it isn't unusual for a Basenji to object to doing something it doesn't want to do (or when asked to cease doing something it does want to do!), but usually this will be only a grumble and if it has escalated to biting or threatening to bite you need to deal with it, and if you aren't confident then you need help from a qualified trainer.
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    Patty this is heartbreaking and disgusting. How can there be so many sick people out there?
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    I had a minor heart attack today.

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    Or the other sure fire method for my kids is to open a car door and yell "go for a ride"…. Of course that would do me no good now, since Kristii in her elder years is a deaf as a door knob.....