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Why? Nip & Brawl

Behavioral Issues
  • tanzaT

    Typically bitches do rule the house… they might let the boys think they do, but in reality, girls rule.... Mouthing the neck is normal.... along with the other things you describe... and sounds like they will work it out, OK... and yes the noise can be unreal....gggg
    It is really a good thing if Daisy will let him take a toy... that is a good sign that she and he have a pretty good relationship....

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • lvossL

    I agree with Andrea that it is difficult to tell from just writing exactly what is going on. Mine play hard and rough. Rio is becoming less scabby around her neck as Sophie learns better bite control but they both nip and bite in play with each other. I would say at least once a day they have a really good wrestling match that occasionally expands into a 4 way free for all as the older two adults join in. Mine are not very vocal in their play usually and have various levels of play. I will see if I can get some video and figure out how to post it.

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  • jys1011J

    Typically bitches do rule the house… they might let the boys think they do, but in reality, girls rule.... Mouthing the neck is normal.... along with the other things you describe... and sounds like they will work it out, OK... and yes the noise can be unreal....gggg
    It is really a good thing if Daisy will let him take a toy... that is a good sign that she and he have a pretty good relationship...

    We have plenty of these same exact incidents here. The sounds are much more unnerving then they intend to be. So long as they don't hurt each other I don't get involved.

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

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  • QuercusQ

    <>
    I agree, Pat. And I never interfere with a dog taking a toy from another, unless it looks like it is going to evolve into a fight. I think you can do a lot more harm by trying to *make them "play nice" than just letting them sort things out on their own. Of course, only when we are talking about both dogs being okay with their method of "sharing"

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • tanzaT

    Exactly Andrea…. most times if you are around enough Basenjis, you can pick up pretty quickly when that is going to be a problem at a later date... and you can pick up on what is normal play.. and what is not... One thing that I learned about fights... it is when they get quiet.. and and are fighting that there is big trouble..... Once you have a "want to be" in the group chances are pretty slim to none that they would ever really get alone...

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • jys1011J

    Ditto Pat- If it gets quiet & the stares begin darting back & forth then I know there will be trouble :eek: SO as long as there is noise then I know it's ok and they're working it out.

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

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  • DukeD

    I would guess they are just sorting out who is in charge of what…

    So to answer the "Why" question, the nipping and brawling is about who's in charge? GEESH! They have a short memory. Because it has to be sorted out over and over and . . . Haha!! :rolleyes: Will this go on until one day Daisy is big enough to wrap her jaws around Dukes neck? It is unnerving to sit back and watch the assaults. Dog speak - I guess. I'll let them be best I can but sometimes, I can't take it when the sounds escalate for too long.

    If it gets quiet & the stares begin darting back & forth then I know there will be trouble :eek:

    I've seen this happen twice. :eek: :eek: Then it's over. Don't know who won. A few minutes ago, Daisy on sofa staring down at Duke - Duke turned away. Is that submission?

    For the record, they do play games I call tag and hide & seek. Doing the B500, one runs after the other and tags the front dog. Then they switch directiions running till they tag again and so on. When they play hide & seek, one chases the other and the other stops short in another room till found and the chase is on again til (usually Daisy) finds a spot and waits till Duke comes around the corner and finds her. These games are so fun to watch. It's what I call play-play. The price of this enjoyment is that our lamps are now all unplugged b/c they have been knocked over. One is now broken. :eek: (I plan to buy all new furniture, when Daisy is older. Do you think next year would be OK?) :o

    Also, Daisy doesn't always mind Duke taking her chewy's. Maybe she'll tolerate it some of the time and find something else. When she doesn't tolerate it, brawling game is on - again.

    Thanks for all your input. This is the first time I've had more than one dog, young ones at that! :eek: Except I grew up with Pomeranian pairs. All they wanted were biscuits and a lap. Nothing like my two warriors. :)

    Jill

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  • QuercusQ

    <

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • tanzaT

    Hey, I have done many a "Knock it off" and "SHUT UP"… (or worse..ggg).... happens to the best of us...
    Of course mine look at me with disgust... and then continue on with exactly what they were doing... :-)

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • lvossL

    This is my first attempt at posting a link to a video, hopefully it works. This is Sophie and Rio playing yesterday.

    http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w168/lrvoss/?action=view¤t=RioandSophiePlaying.flv

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  • lvossL

    While I was making the other movie, Nicky decided he would start a wrestling match so I decided to to make another movie.

    http://s176.photobucket.com/albums/w168/lrvoss/?action=view¤t=NickyandSophieJoinForces.flv

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  • QuercusQ

    Cool! yes, that looks like pretty typical play…it can get more rambunctious at times, and louder...but that is a good example...

    and is that Sally Jesse on the TV, or Judge Judy ;)

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • lvossL

    I think the movie from yesterday is Judge Judy and the movie today has NCIS. :D

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  • tanzaT

    Great Video Lisa….. and yes that is so typical of play.... and I love that Rally was at the other end of the bed... with that "I am so way above all that!"... attitude!!!!

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • DukeD

    @lvoss:

    This is my first attempt at posting a link to a video, hopefully it works. This is Sophie and Rio playing yesterday.

    Thanks Lisa - These videos look typical of Duke & Daisy too. Except of course when there's real cause for concern - you know, the turn for the worse. I am attempting to upload a short video from my camera - so you can see my two going at it like yours. Haven't done it b4 either - so maybe it'll work. (don't know when I'll be done) :confused:

    Jill

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  • DukeD

    This is my first attempt at doing a video - Yesterday after work, as usual Duke & Daisy were doing their thing. At the end of the video - they must have hurt themselves locking teeth b/c they're licking nose & mouths.

    This video is quiet & mild. Not the growly kind of fight.

    http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/dukerspooker/?action=view¤t=NipBrawlFirst.flv

    Jill

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  • QuercusQ

    Very cool! So, that is the usual? Or is there more noise usually? That was all play.

    So….do you have a digital video camera? Or is that a feature on your regular digi cam? I will have to do this....I could make a video of Querk screaming his head off for y'all.

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • B

    Looks so familar!:D Yep Senji play for sure. Good job on the Vid Jill!!!!:D :D :D

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  • B

    :) Looks so familiar!:D Yep Senji play for sure:) . Good job on the Vid Jill!!!!:cool:

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  • DukeD

    @Quercus:

    Very cool! So, that is the usual? Or is there more noise usually? That was all play.

    So….do you have a digital video camera? Or is that a feature on your regular digi cam? I will have to do this....I could make a video of Querk screaming his head off for y'all.

    This is the usual - almost all the time when they get out of the crates. Also, they almost always have to do it in my presence. Wherever I am - they follow. It will usually get heated once or twice a day. They're heated now - just took another short video - will publish it - for kicks.

    I used my digital camera using the video setting. Downloaded it like the digital images and then uploaded it to Photobucket in the video index. I don't know how to edit it like Lisa did with the captions.

    I figured that Duke, being the bigger and stronger of the two was playing too rough with Daisy. But if you say it's normal . . . just being senji.

    Jill

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    I've tried this a few times. I think he's getting it. Although my husband is having a tougher time with it. I'm not sure he's using the right body language. I immediately stop my attnetion. And when he starts to play nicer I give him my attention again. I think C3PO is too rough for everyone in the house. Even Topaz my female B sometimes walks away from him when he's too rowdy. The stranger thing is that SHE (2yrs) is actually younger than him (3yrs). She'll sometimes get upset & growl & nip at him.