Basenji or...not?

[Dagodingo]

@yodelma As a rescue advocate you should be very glad that there are so many caring and responsible breeders. My first B came from a pet shop, developed diabetes and had a very hard life health wise. He died of cancer at eleven years. My second and third are from a reputable breeder and the eldest is now eleven with very few health issues. If there were more responsible breeders and owners, the shelters would not be full of suffering animals who are caged.

[Dagodingo]

@heidiace Sounds like your son is very smart and a basenji is the perfect match. The saying that in order to own a basenji you need to be at least half as smart as the dog is very true. Which is why people either love them or hate them.

[DebraDownSouth]

@HeidiAce

Please don't think you have anything to do with the drama. Some people just wait for an excuse to pet their peeves.

We have some wonderful breeders here, many who do help rescue and none that look down on mixes. While those who rescue and/or breed hate the irresponsible folks who create badly bred dogs or mixed, that has nothing to do with the dogs or with the wonderful people who adopt them. It sounds like you found a wonderful addition to your family. If I can help in any way, let me know. I have friends who train therapy dogs and if there are things your dog could do that would help your son, let me know and I'll ask or put you in touch. My daughter got her Samoyed with a goal of teaching him to be a therapy dog to visit with the elderly or programs for special needs kids. Right now he's a wild year old boy but we hope he'll soon mellow. He already is very gentle with children.

[Rugosa]

With that description, and that photo, I'd say definitely a BASENJI mix.
Addie is very fortunate she gets to live with you!

Does she smell like a dog when wet? If not, that's some basenji DNA making its appearance.

[HeidiAce]

@dagodingo I'm sorry I have not responded sooner. Since getting Addie, I feel like I have a new full time job. 🤣 I wholeheartedly agree with having to be at least half as smart...and one step ahead. I'm exhausted at the end of the day... sometimes, the middle of the day. I do feel more and more that she HAS to have some Basenji in there. She's so incredibly smart at what she wants to be smart at and VERY stubborn on things she has no interest in. To answer your question, she doesn't seem to smell like a dog, but I may be biased. Lol. Thank you so much for your time. It means a lot.

[HeidiAce]

@rugosa Thanks so much for your input. I accidentally answered your question in a different response, but I don't think Addie smells like dog at all, but I may be biased. 🤣 Lol.
We are very blessed to have found her regardless of what she is or isn't. She's been a great fit for our son. They're cuddled up together right now watching the Avengers together. That's all we wanted or could hope for. I appreciate everyone's opinions and encouragement. Thank you.

[HeidiAce]

@debradownsouth Hi Debra. Thank you so much for the offer. I may take you up on it if our progress slows down or stops. Addie was jumping and puppy nipping/biting at our son for the first few weeks we had her. We tried ignoring and turning away and praising when she had 4 on the floor, "no jump", keeping her leash on so he could step on it to keep her down, etc. Nothing was working. One day about a week ago, I had enough and taught her "time out" to go to her crate as soon as she started. And she did. It took 5-6 tries and I think she's broken of the persistent, insistent need to clobber him. Now, do you or anyone else have suggestions, about how to get her to walk nicely? This is another challenge area. If we can get that under control, I feel life with 2 ADHD family members will drastically improve.
Thanks again for the offer to help with therapy training. That's very sweet of you.

[elbrant]

@yodelma IMHO, I don't really "see" a Basenji either... now, a German Shepard Mix - definately! But, like I said, "in my honest opinion".

[DebraDownSouth]

@heidiace said in Basenji or...not?:

@debradownsouth
Now, do you or anyone else have suggestions, about how to get her to walk nicely? This is another challenge area.

Teaching loose leash isn't hard, it just takes persistence. Having worked with feral dogs who had never been on a leash, I promise you can do it. The other things on her page can help your son. :) Clickers are remarkable for anyone who has issues with timing rewards to mark a behavior. But with you and a clicker, he can teach her most of these. Teaching helps to bond. Mary is wonderful and her instructions very clear. You can do the exercises with or without a clicker, but your son really may love the clicker part.

http://www.clickerlessons.com/index.htm

Lessons on left; behavior things on the right

[HeidiAce]

@debradownsouth Thanks you so much. We'll give it a try.