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Basenji Boy Puppies

Behavioral Issues
  • My breeder recommends that our little guy be fixed in a year. I guess it has to do with health concerns. Having them fixed early could mean that your B does not fully develop

  • @JazzysMom:

    I'm sorry…I've never heard that before and it just gave me SUCH a visual :D

    Completely understandable! Maybe someone with first hand experience will chime in with a funny story.

  • we had never heard of that longer leg business before, how interesting. if possible we will wait until fela is a year old too. i wonder why their testicles are different than other dogs? anybody know?

  • @felakuti:

    our Fela, 4 1/2 month old male has an undescended testicle…the vet said that the testicle tucked into his warm body will produce too much hormones, and will make him very aggressive, and should be removed. That requires exploratory surgery to find and remove it. Any comments and/or suggestions?

    Ciarasmom is correct. Male Basenjis have the ability to pull their testicles up into their body, usually when scared, excited, or cold. Does the testicle in question ever "settle" into the scrotum when he is relaxed? If so, the pup doesn't have a problem. "Yo-yo" testicles, where they go up into the body and back out again, is usually caused by a vas deferens that is too short. The "cord" is simply not long enough for the testicle to be in the correct place. If this is the case, you just have to wait it out and hope it drops down into the scrotum and stays there. If the testicle has never dropped down, you have a true undescended, or missing, testicle. One missing is called monorchid while both missing is called cryptorchid. Monorchids and cryptorchids are disqualified from dog show competiton and since the problem is thought to be inherited, they should be altered. In any case, wait a few weeks and try to schedule the neuter while the testicle is down into the scrotum. The surgery will be easier for your boy.

    And I'm sure that is more than anyone ever wanted to know about Basenji testicles. :p

  • @Mantis:

    Cairo is officially at 5months and has found a new bag of energy at night that is extreme to say the least. Caesar and I wanted to know what age you guys are fixing your boys?

    Neutering is not as likely to affect your pup's energy level as much as maturity will. Try to fit in more exercise sessions such as long walks and play sessions with another friendly dog to help curb the problem. My best wishes. :)

  • @felakuti:

    our Fela, 4 1/2 month old male has an undescended testicle…the vet said that the testicle tucked into his warm body will produce too much hormones, and will make him very aggressive, and should be removed. That requires exploratory surgery to find and remove it. Any comments and/or suggestions?

    Many, many years ago when I was in highschool :) we had a cocker who was very aggressive. Back then–it wasn't that common to neuter males. Our vet recommended he be neutered to try to help with the aggression. He had one undescended testicle (maybe that contributed to him being aggressive). He went into shock on the operating table when the vet was trying to find it, so he stopped the surgery, and the one was left in there. He was several years old at the time and continued to be aggressive.

  • Undescended testicles are a health concern for dogs.. and I have heard that also about "not" being able to remove them even during surgery, however now days with so many specialist, that is who should be doing that kind of surgery… IMO....
    Also, wanted to chime in about a 4 month old with an undescended testicle.. I would wait until at least over 6 months.. especially with a Basenji. In one of my litters, we had a pup that I could find both at 2 wks, however at 10 weeks I could not, nor could my Vet... He was placed local, so I was able to see him a lot and it was not till he was 7 months did the other testicle drop..

    Basenjis also carry their testicles different then other dogs, which is another reason people have problems (even Vets) finding them.. instead of like most dogs that carry them side by side, Basenjis carry them one in front of the other... which I suppect is the reason it is so easy for them to "suck" one up... and yes they do that.. especially puppies... Cold hands from a judge and you can bet they are gone!... Many judges will have the handler take them off the table and move them around the ring and then re-check....

  • Basenjis carry them one in front of the other?????? First time i have heard of that. Is that verified by anyone else?

  • Yes, they are often front and back, often in puppies. And they can be retracted much later into puppyhood than other breeds. In general their testicals are small for their size…probably because They are definitely *different ...maybe because small and discrete are important for bush dogs?

  • I have noticed that Cairo's are one in front of the other and have dropped lower now where you can see them from behind.

  • I have never heard that Basenji's can "suck up" their testicles. It makes sense though. Monkeys can do the same thing, and with the dogs running throught the bush you would want to keep them safe from being snagged. Very interesting.

  • LOL, I haven't paid much attention but now I feel compelled to study Keoki's testicles next time I hold him.

    LOL what are you people doing to me? ;-)

  • monkeys can do that???????? i never heard of that before. LOL, this is getting more and more interesting dont you think? the vets must go crazy trying to neuter basenji male puppies. lol

  • Well, when put under for surgery, they will be "down" unless they have a retained testicle… and even sometimes those will drop...

  • felakuti, yes, monkeys do that. I have worked with them for years and I was told it was to prevent them from getting nailed, ripped or bitten during fighting for territory or jumping through bush. They pull them up any time they are nervous or anytime they want.

  • @dash:

    felakuti, yes, monkeys do that. I have worked with them for years and I was told it was to prevent them from getting nailed, ripped or bitten during fighting for territory or jumping through bush. They pull them up any time they are nervous or anytime they want.

    Dash, where do you work with monkeys, and what kind? I also worked with monkeys for years, but never was in the position to notice whether they were decended or not ;) Apes (with which I have more experience) most certainly cannot contract their scrotums (at least not voluntarily).

  • I used to work with cynomologus monkeys and rhesus monkeys in a research setting. I was there for 8 years before changing to my current position in the business office. I was wondering if greater apes could do it as well but I guess not. Maybe it is just lower species?

  • Did you work at OSU's primate lab? Do you know Dr. Sally Boyson?

  • no. Battelle. Is she the one who was in charge of the chimp facility that was shut down? If so, then a friend of mine worked with her there.

  • @dash:

    no. Battelle. Is she the one who was in charge of the chimp facility that was shut down? If so, then a friend of mine worked with her there.

    Yes….unbelievable tradgedy.....I think at least two of her chimps have died during/since transport. Have you been following the story?

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    I'm no Basenji expert since I've only had one. And, I don't want to start a dog park argument. I'll just share my experience. Jengo LOVED running free, but he's a Basenji. Can't do that cause... cars. The dog park near our house is HUGE. A big completely enclosed lawn area the size of a football field with towering oak trees. We were OCD about keeping Jengo's vaccinations up to date. He was chipped and wore a collar with contact and rabies tags 24/7. He loved the dog park, but not all the dogs there. He hated any dog of any size that would try to dominate him in any way. He rarely instigated it, but he never tolerated it meaning regardless of size... he wouldn't back down. He also hated if another dog approached him from behind and would snap immediately. My solution was to stay near him and to keep moving. We would walk laps around the perimeter and by about the second or third lap he'd been or had checked out all the other dogs. Then things were good. If I saw that he was getting anxious I'd usually catch it before he reacted and would tell him "Easy". 9 times out 10 that was enough. I'd also make sure that he was aware of dogs in our vicinity so that he wouldn't be surprised if they came from behind. We went to the park for years. He never caught anything that I was aware of. I did pick him up and leave if there was another dog he and/or I weren't comfortable with. And, I also recall walking away before ever entering the park if there was a dog we didn't like already there. I guess my point is that part of protecting your dog and others is knowing and focusing on them without over-reacting at the same time. I don't want to set him off. But, I want to know what he's going to do before he does. You have to read him. All dogs give signals one way or another. Tune in to your dog, not the other people at the park. I liked the other people at the park, but I wasn't there for them. My focus was always on Jengo.
  • Basenji lab puppy aggressive

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    Playing by mouthing is how she played with her littermates and Mom (or any other adults in the house)…. so it is totally normal... if too rough with her littermates/adults, they would yell/squeal at her... Takes time and patience to teach what is acceptable as what she is doing is normal for dogs. Will not change overnight... and likely will last till she is done teething....
  • Puppy crate training around adult basenjis

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    NemoN
    @tanza: Well, seems that "he" Nemo is not following the "normal" thinking… remember this pup has come into his home and "taken" over his space.... so you have some adjusting to do... you need to just step back... and make sure that he is secure.. and it takes time... and you need to make exceptions to what would be the normal... try different things.. and remember as each day passes... Nemo will understand this girl is "not" leaving....ggg Not the best answer to your questions... but we have all been there... done that.... it is like a game of chance Thanks, Tanza. I think I probably knew the answer should be…"stay out of it". I'm sure it's usually the owner who needs the "behavioral adjustment" and not the dogs 9 times out of 10. :rolleyes: I'm pretty good now at not interfering with them than when I first got her, particularly if Zoni is pestering Nemo. I just need to remind myself not to interfere when he is pestering her. @lvoss: If she is sleeping in the crate, shut the door. You don't necesarily have to lock it that way she can open it and leave but he might be deterred from pestering her. Thanks. I'll give it a try, that might help.
  • My puppy is no longer a puppy.

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    renaultf1R
    @tanza: So you think…ggg.... I will be waiting to here what happens when you put panties on your girl.... go out and come home.... Tea Tree Oil or not...:rolleyes: LOL, took the words right out of my mouth…we want pictures of how the panties look after you leave her with them on and you're not around to watch her. :D :D :D With Ruby, anyone I talked to about the panties said, skip it because they'll get shredded and clean up after her...so that was what I did. Wasn't really a big deal. I have wood floors, area rugs that are easily washed, and blankets I put on the furniture. :D And with Ruby, I know exactly how it would have gone w/panties (not good) just based on how she was about me checking that area to see if she was bleeding.
  • Basenji Watchdog

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    it is just socialization….my australian shepard was that way with men with facial hair because my dad and brother were always clean shaven....
  • Same Sex and Basenji to Basenji aggression.

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    I agree with Catherine, socialization is a must, but it depends on the personality of the individual dog. When we had 4, they all slept on the bed together and ran together and rarely did we have any problems. We added a puppy and things were still going ok, just really crowded. However, one day our youngest girl decided she was all grown up and didn't want to be bossed around anymore by our 'wanna-be' alpha. Neither of them was a true alpha. We managed to defuse the situation, but a month later it happened again. The girls could never be together again. In fact, the tri developed a predjudice against all red girls after that! Both girls were terrific with people and with Basenji males and even with males and females of other breeds. I had 2 intact males, brothers, who stayed together with absolutely no problem for almost 4 years until one went to another home. They even got along during season. Terry