Is this normal?

Basenji Talk

  • Pepper likes to entice Mister Two Dicks to play with her by dropping down on her two front legs and having her bum elevated in the air. They are both desexed, so I know that she isn't trying to tempt him sexually. Is this normal basenji behaviour?

  • First Basenji's

    I think it is. Cody does that when he wants to play… both with humans and other dogs.


  • Thanks crystalncody. It just looks so funny.


  • That is normal play stance - mine both do it when they are trying to get the other to play. They also do it toward us when they want us to toss their toys around so they can chase them.


  • It's normal dog behavior, not just Basenjis…our Brussels Griffon does the play bow, too. She also does the B500 around the house...or maybe it's the BG500! :)


  • Definitely an invitation to play.


  • I'll second everything said here. Kipawa does it all the time when he is around dogs. He seems to treat humans a little differently as he waits for play to be initiated from the humans.


  • It is called play bowing… all canids seem to do it from wolves to coyote to dogs.


  • What Debra said.


  • 100% right on both of my B's do it to each other and us two legged people.

    Rita Jean


  • Thank you everyone. I have had three basenjis since 1999 and Pepper is the only one that does this. By the way Shaye's Mom, prior to bringing Pepper into our home, Mister Two Dicks would play with his toys on a regular basis. With the introduction of Pepper, he is never interested in his toys at all. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, just interested.


  • Having always kept several Basenjis at the same time I do find that they aren't all that enticed to play with toys when they have each other.


  • Thank you Patty. Don't get me wrong, I think it is a wonderful thing that Mister Two Dicks is so happy with Pepper as a mate/friend that he does not need toys to entertain himself. :)

  • First Basenji's

    Mojo does it too. We he's ready to play, we call it "he assumes the position"!!!!


  • My 13-year-old B still does it. He caps it off with a spin, then either play bows again or races off, daring you to chase him. We call it the Exorcist spin, because he swivels around like Linda Blair's head. I've never seen another dog do it, but he always has. It cracks people up!


  • @ownedbyspencer:

    We call it the Exorcist spin, because he swivels around like Linda Blair's head. I've never seen another dog do it, but he always has. It cracks people up!

    Many if not most do Linda Blair with their heads. :) My Arwen does spins… levitates and spins. Bizarre. Others here say their dogs do too, but please video for us!


  • If you want to see your dogs really play, get down on the ground with your elbows on the floor and your butt in the air..
    At first, my 2 stopped, shocked, where they stood..when I pounded my arms on the floor they just began to play…just joyous...
    don't do this with company, however, they will think your as odd as I am!!!


  • Mojo's mom, that is very funny.


  • @sharronhurlbut:

    If you want to see your dogs really play, get down on the ground with your elbows on the floor and your butt in the air..
    At first, my 2 stopped, shocked, where they stood..when I pounded my arms on the floor they just began to play…just joyous...
    don't do this with company, however, they will think your as odd as I am!!!

    Okay, so when Spencer does that aforementioned Exorcist swivel… this arms-pounding-the-floor-butt-in-the-air human play bow thing is what I'm doing to make him respond that way. :D I wasn't going to admit it, but since I see I'm not the only one... Wonder if anybody else's dogs respond this way to their human's antics?


  • @sharronhurlbut:

    If you want to see your dogs really play, get down on the ground with your elbows on the floor and your butt in the air..
    At first, my 2 stopped, shocked, where they stood..when I pounded my arms on the floor they just began to play…just joyous...
    don't do this with company, however, they will think your as odd as I am!!!

    LOL Sharron! :) Somehow I can see you doing this - you're such a wonderful basenji person!

    P.S. I think I will try it myself.

Suggested Topics

  • Teddy Roosevelt Terrier

    Basenji Talk
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    971 Views
    SavingS
    Ah yeah though the site that I saw clearly had a picture of a Basenji representing the breed! Your link, they look nothing like Bs
  • basenji sighting!

    Basenji Talk
    2
    1 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    SavingS
    Nice, they are about in a few different adverts, I spot them every now and again.
  • recommendations for harness with a support handle

    Basenji Talk
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    1k Views
    N
    Well isn't she a sassy little thing? Thanks so much for the information. I had not heard of this one at all. I will Google it to get more info and find where to purchase! Deb
  • Picky Eater

    Basenji Talk
    5
    2 Votes
    5 Posts
    1k Views
    auryA
    @nyoung15 My basenji was super picky when he was a puppy.... until I started to cook for him amazing recipies heheeh, but then pandemic season was over and I had to go back to work and started to give him whole barf ( raw food ) it comes with meat veggies, fruits, raw bones and vitamines.
  • My not so normal basenji!

    Basenji Talk
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    2k Views
    SyberSadeS
    Haley used to do this also! She REALLY didn't like me to leave her home alone and would not eat anything - even her favorite treat - while I was gone. Then as soon as I got home she'd run and get the treat from the very spot I left it and devour it. This all came to a screeeeetching halt when we got our BRAT dog, Prince. Now Haley (who used to be finicky) has to eat everything FAST and IMMEDIATELY so that Prince doesn't get it! She's always afraid he's going to get something she doesn't get, so at meal times she has to check his bowl out first…before eating from her own bowl. Of course, if he tried checking HER bowl out he'd get his face bitten off!!!! All of the individual personalities crack me up!
  • Otis is a normal B

    Basenji Talk
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    3k Views
    BARTB
    Of course we have to love them!! Who else would? I feel for you. Luckily, my little guy has never tried to help himself to the pantry/closet. And I often forget to close the door. I think, maybe, because there are bleach and vinegar bottles on the floor that he doesn't get interested in the rest above, (including boxes of stock) or maybe I'm just on borrowed time?!?