My Basenji is growling at Everyone


  • @Schouiffy:

    Whatever you do , don't force her physically into submission!! it will only make things worse

    And I totally agree here… Do NOT force her physically.... someone could really get seriously hurt...


  • I was sort of kidding about the grudge thing, Tanza: B's just have so much personality as you know: our breeder, who is awesome, reccommend the "leg lift" time-line: seems like most reccommend 6-8 months: i think thats what we will do


  • @calimcc:

    I was sort of kidding about the grudge thing, Tanza: B's just have so much personality as you know: our breeder, who is awesome, reccommend the "leg lift" time-line: seems like most reccommend 6-8 months: i think thats what we will do

    I have had males that never lift their legs…gggg...


  • Okay so many questions to answer…

    No she's not left alone with the kids ever...
    She's under a year old and isn't spay... I purchased her to show...
    Her last check up was 5 months ago when I shipped her in from her breeder...
    No I haven't thought about contacting her breeder about the problem...

    I was thinking about contacting a trainer about it so I think that's what I'll do... She's a great little girl other then this one problem, but it only happens when she's like comfortable on the couch and they go to move her to touch her... She doesn't snap (thank god) but growls and runs away from them...that's the only time that she growls


  • If the only time that she growls is when she thinks she is going to be to moved, try calling her off the couch and rewarding with a treat when she moves. The kids can do this too and it will help with making her feel that the kids mean good things.


  • @Ducati457:

    Okay so many questions to answer…

    No she's not left alone with the kids ever...
    She's under a year old and isn't spay... I purchased her to show...
    Her last check up was 5 months ago when I shipped her in from her breeder...
    No I haven't thought about contacting her breeder about the problem...

    I was thinking about contacting a trainer about it so I think that's what I'll do... She's a great little girl other then this one problem, but it only happens when she's like comfortable on the couch and they go to move her to touch her... She doesn't snap (thank god) but growls and runs away from them...that's the only time that she growls

    You should always at least contact your breeder to get a reality check… IMO.. and I agree with lvoss... if she is on the couch... make sure she is awake first and call her off the couch before touching her... especially with small children.. their natural reaction is to reach in and touch... you need to teach them to respect "her" space... and they need to call out first before touching... same for your BF.....

    I think that a behaviorist would be a great idea... be sure it is one that understands Basenjis and has worked with them if possible


  • Gosh this story sounds so familiar Ducati. Our Basenji Benji would always growl if we attempted to get him off furniture with our hands. We learned you just don't go there. Like someone else has suggested you need to tell them to get down, usualy over and over untill they do and then reward when they do. I'm sure you will have sucess with her being so young. Just needs loads of patience.
    I also found that if he got into my place i could get him to move by pressing him etc with my body rather like another dog would, but probs this method would be considered unsafe in case it triggered a bite. Good luck.


  • My first basenji would absolutely freak out (never saw an animal move that fast) if he was touched while sleeping on the couch. My second one would sometimes fake nip if he were startled while sleeping on the couch. My two cents worth would be to work on making sure she is awake before grabbing her off the couch as Lvoss and Tanza said.


  • I have a 4yo male that doesn't lift his leg probably 80% of the time.


  • Ditto! My girl never lfts her leg either & she's 5yo now. She squats like any other respectable woman :D


  • ya my male is 1.5 and hardly ever lifts his leg to go, as for the growling my pup about 1 and ahalf yrs old has a similar problem hes super nice with ppl but whenever my other dog goes near a bone hes chewing or his food while hes eating he makes this viscous growling noise. actually any dog he does that to. and he also tries to be dominate over the older basenji and constantly stands over her while shes lying down like hes some big tough guy.

Suggested Topics

  • Growling at my wife

    Behavioral Issues
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    And your wife should be feeding him....not you.....
  • Basenji packs

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    eeeefarmE
    For what it's worth, I have noted that in households with a strong human leader/boss/alpha/disciplinarian (pick one!) there are less squabbles among dogs, at least when the human is present. My neighbour has Rotties, had two bitches that hated each other and would fight, but they didn't do it when she was around. She did have to be careful that they could not get together in her absence. ;) Interesting anecdote: If my mare is bothering my old gelding and I notice it, I can break it up by yelling at her out the window! Guess I am "alpha" in that herd.
  • Basenji kisses?

    Behavioral Issues
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    6k Views
    CrazySenjiC
    Just 20 minutes ago Elliot was extra excited and running around and when he saw me he was SO excited he gave me a little kiss! I put a command to it ("kiss" lol) and praised him. I asked for another and he did it again! He got bored after the 5th or so time but I hope he remembers it! My Cody used to LOVE wet hair. If you sat down on the couch after a shower he would crawl behind you and rub himself on your head. It was both funny and annoying (much like a lot of basenji quirks).
  • Basenji puppy growling when woken up

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    9k Views
    C
    I made sure when my girl did it, I con tinued to pick her up and say stop being so snarky and she would stop imedietely and lick me. I have a very unusual Basenji who loves to kiss and maybe that is because we kissed on her all the time from the day we got her, and whenever she got grumpy and than stopped she got loved on and kissed on. She rarely gets annoyed now because we follow through and never let her think she is the boss. So just follow through and tell her no and dont stop what you already started or she will think she is in control. I was literally a nervous owner with mine because I had heard so many stories about Basenjis and how difficult they can be, and I always had Whippets which are so laid back it is not even funny. But now I have totally gotten over it. I would get another Basenji in a minute and not think twice about it. She is the most entertaining awesome dog we have ever had. Just make sure she knows her place in the pack and love on her alot. It has worked with ours.
  • My Defective Basenji!

    Behavioral Issues
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    5k Views
    BARTB
    We've had barely a dusting here but its been cold enough to keep it on the grass. Mr. Annoyance is acting like its "rutting season". In, out, in, out. If I don't jump up to let him out he proceeds to pull at the blanket over my feet, or worse yet, bills/mail on the coffee table (much like teachers, bill collectors won't believe "the dog ate my check"). It's kinda fun though 'cause he's also just more playful in general right now. A couple more weeks and he'll probably hate the cold and snow like every other self respecting Basenji is supposed to….:D Silly Basenjis...don't they know their rep???:)
  • Basenji Growling & Aggression

    Pinned Behavioral Issues
    89
    0 Votes
    89 Posts
    109k Views
    O
    Hello, Im new here and have a question in regards to growling. We just rescued an older male Basenji that was just neutered. We have had him a week. He doesn't play with toys. Seems to like any dog he comes across. Tolerates small children and seems to want attention from any person that comes along. He doesn't seem to be food aggressive and is perfectly happy to sit by me most of the day when I'm home. I even come home for lunch to walk him every day. My question is that when we first got him he had no issues getting into his crate, but now he has started growling and getting his back hair up when I tell him to get into his house. Hes too new for me to want to allow him to wander the house with the cats alone. I tried giving him treats when he went in to make it a positive experience but he doesn't seem very happy and now growls every time I ask him to go in. Any suggestions to help with this issue?