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Behavior Worsens?

Behavioral Issues
  • S

    Hooray! That's the answer I was hoping for. I have made some pretty significant changes in my lifestyle to accomodate little miss. (I don't think I've gone out on an evening for more than a couple of hours since we brought her home.) I'm pleased to hear that the efforts we've made to spend time with her and bond are going to pay off long-term.

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  • BuanaB

    :D Most Basenji's are very close to their family, that's a great thing about Basenji's!

    Kim and my Basenji pack, Buana, Chafuko and Enya

    http://www.kwabandurus.com

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  • wizardW

    My first basenji made it to 9 years and I think he became more calm.
    I know a lady in the neighborhood that has a "old" tri bitch and she does get cranky (isn't that a tri trait? ;)).
    I think it just depends on the dog.

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  • etzbsederE

    Medjai has gotten a little less patient with the dogs at the park over the last 6-8 months, but other than that, he's great. i think as long as you're working with her, it's mostly comparable to teen years. If they get more cranky, it's just temporary, but as with kids, not all of them will get the cranky streak.

    I'm glad Medjai has gotten a little less patient. He used to get walked all over at the park and would get humped by two dogs every time we went, so now he stands up for himself. I wish he would listen better when at the park, but that's as much my fault with lack of proper training at home as it is his for not listening to what he was taught before.

    Michael Feldman
    Gilbert, AZ

    Chaverim Basenjis

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  • tanzaT

    @sherryclarke:

    Hi All;

    Our girl, Bassit, is 10 months old, and, as much as I'm afraid to say this too loudly, she's simply a joy! Not very distructive, very, very sweet and loving, friendly to people and other dogs, exceptionally cuddly. We were at Woofstock this weekend and met someone with a 7 year old Basenji who said that theirs had gotten progressively more 'ornery' as she got older. Is this common? Are we in a honeymoon period and my sweet little girl will grow more distant and cranky? Would love to hear from others with more experience than me.

    Thanks!

    Usually this would be a sign that they should have her thyroid checked… any change in behavior is a clue to make sure it is not health related.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • tanzaT

    @wizard:

    My first basenji made it to 9 years and I think he became more calm.
    I know a lady in the neighborhood that has a "old" tri bitch and she does get cranky (isn't that a tri trait? ;)).
    I think it just depends on the dog.

    Nope, cranky is not a Tri strait…. "wicked" is a Tri trait....;)

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • BasenjimammaB

    Is it really "true" that the different colored B's have certain traits? I have heard/read that before, but thought…"there is no way''?

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • tanzaT

    @Basenjimamma:

    Is it really "true" that the different colored B's have certain traits? I have heard/read that before, but thought…"there is no way''?

    People that have had and have Tri's have always said that they are "different"…gggg .... Tris are "Tri-ing"...ggg and "wicked" in a good way..:D I have had a few Tris over the years and there is no doubt in my mind they have a different sense of humor then the reds....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • S

    We met a red for the first time this weekend (up until now, our Bassit, a tri, was the only real-live B we knew). What I found hilarious, was that I could pretty much see what the red was thinking. His behavior was fairly predictable. With Bassit, we never EVER know what she's thinking until she's wreaked some sort of havoc!
    Edited to Add - I'm sure that the humans owned by the red would beg to differ on his being 'predictable' but that was my opinion. His behavior made sense, whereas Bassit's…sometimes I have to think really hard to trace where her thought pattern started out!

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  • E

    @sherryclarke:

    We met a red for the first time this weekend (up until now, our Bassit, a tri, was the only real-live B we knew). What I found hilarious, was that I could pretty much see what the red was thinking. His behavior was fairly predictable. With Bassit, we never EVER know what she's thinking until she's wreaked some sort of havoc!
    Edited to Add - I'm sure that the humans owned by the red would beg to differ on his being 'predictable' but that was my opinion. His behavior made sense, whereas Bassit's…sometimes I have to think really hard to trace where her thought pattern started out!

    Sherry,

    I think part of that difference was the fact that the red was a BOY. They are much more transparent than the girls, I hear. I also think that both black/white and tri are a little harder to read, because the expression is harder to see, due to the face color. Every change in wrinkle shows up crystal clear on the lighter faces….more there to read.

    Just my two cents.

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  • BasenjimammaB

    I can see that it is easier to read lighter colors, i.e reds, Otis is a very dark brindle, so unless you stand over him, you can hardly see his wrinkles/expression..

    Petra and Pippin

    with Otis in my heart…

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  • agilebasenjiA

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    TimesthemythT
    This is an interesting thread. Any afghan owners notice this in their dogs as well? When Beo was younger, back when I was using the crate with him, when he would have a 'poop' accident he would take a blanket and use his nose to encircle said accident, didn't do the same thing with pee accidents….I don't know if it's the same thing or not, honestly I think he just wanted it as far away from him as possible. He still does this mounding behavior with like bones and the like; he'll use his nose and push a blanket or something on top of it, and then further us his nose to bunch it up into a relatively good looking circle shape. He won't have anything to do with dog feces now though ....he prefers to go in the bushiest/covered area he can find, and then wants absolutely nothing to do with it afterwards (I have to literally drag him through public areas where there's a lot of dog poop lying around).... It is kind of funny to see his "wide-eyed, EW! ICK!" reaction when he accidentally steps in some. Seems like it's more common for basenjis to half halfheartedly attempt to bury it, as opposed to take the time to cover it up with their noses?
  • Heinz57H

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    NemoN
    A way to do what Debra is suggesting in a game format is Crate Games, which you can get on DVD. You said this happens when you are getting ready to leave. Pay attention to exactly what you are doing before you leave and then see how your dog is reacting. You should be able to pick up on the cues that your dog is picking up on. You can try changing the pattern of how you get ready and potentially remove the cue to lessen the behavior until you can build the good associations others described. visit BCOA on Facebook. http://facebook.com/basenji.org
  • V

    Basenji behaviors common ??

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    KipawaK
    I can only comment on my experiences with Kipawa, my first basenji, who is just shy of 2 years old. @viv58: 1. OBS #1: they were only affectionate on their terms and didnt like to be petted or picked up.Is this more common than not. They wanted to be by you, but hands off for the most part. 2. OBS#2: Off the leash - they are unpredictable and may not come when called. Had some wild roaming experiences at the off-leash beach. Always kept treats -and 95% of the timeit worked.Can you train them to counter this? or is this a stretch ? 3. OBS#3: Not snuggly 4. OBS#4: Only looked me in the eye when I had food- everything was a distraction. 1. Kipawa is just an extremely affectionate dog. His affection for me is special, but he recognizes all family members and care aides who come into the house and enjoys their attention and gives it back. He loves being petted and adores being massaged, but has a preference for it being from someone in his 'pack' (family members and care aides). He will tolerate being picked up by anyone, but prefers it when I do it. He is a little uncomfortable when turned on his back, however, we practice this quite a bit and he's getting better at it, especially if tummy rubs are included. 2. The only areas Kipawa is off leash is in our backyard or dog parks that are fully fenced. For these places, he is predictable, because he is very used to them. He usually comes when called, but if it doesn't work, I carry the squeaker part of a squeaker toy with me, and that most always brings him back. If he needs to come to me based on an emergency situation (say he got onto a street by accident), I have a word/sound that I only use in emergency situations. He is excellent at responding to that. All this said, if he spotted a bunny in the dog park, I don't think the emergency recall would work. Based on his breeders seeing him this summer, they have indicated he has a very high prey drive. 3. Kipawa is super snuggly all the time and is also a 'velcro dog'. We are tightly bonded. He is on my lap when I watch TV, or at least laying against me. He sleeps under the blankets on my side of the bed. 4. He easily looks me in the eye. If I am talking to him, we have full eye contact. He enjoys when we give each other 'soft eyes' - the slow blinking a person/dog might do when fully relaxed or before settling down for a nap. If he is distracted (only happens outside) I use the command 'watch me' to get eye contact. Usually 95% success rate, but that would go down to zero should he see a bunny. I can't answer your other questions. Kipawa will be a solo dog in our home. As for the breeders, his breeders were Therese and Kevin Leimback (FoPaws Basenjis) from Washington state. We researched for a year before selecting them. Their breeding program concentrates a great deal on temperament. Hope this helps.
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    A
    yeah she likes california natural. didnt know it would help with her energy level. great news! just got back from a nice 3 hr walk w/ a friend. Now we're passed out on the couch and mommy has some quiet time. Good day. :) also, i vaccume stuffing at least 3 times a day. my neighbors/tennets must think i'm an impulsive cleaner!! haha. take care!
  • luzmery928L

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