@Saving thank you very much for the suggestions!
Is Tyler Jealous?
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My advice is stand up abruptly, don't say a word, and walk away. Don't pet Keoki. Eventually she will connect that she snarks, you leave. Don't correct, it can make it worse because she will just learn not to make any noise, and just launch into attack.
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Whenever Duke is on my lap getting attention, Daisy comes over and starts nipping Duke's legs/feet, wherever she can to make my attention with Duke end. It's frustrating for me b/c I want to be giving Duke his snuggle time, but he's forced off so he can retaliate with Daisy. He's not going to let her get away with nipping him. (I've tried to holding her back, but she finds another way to get him). Any advice how I should handle Daisy's intrusion?
On the other hand, Duke is a perfect gentledog when I give Daisy her lap time…he looks the other way.
These two little rascals!!!
i would say, this will pass….
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i would say, this will pass….
Oh - another phase of puppyhood - among other squabbling! geesh :rolleyes:
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Again, some play this game their entire life, like my Kristii…. she will do this no matter where she is... Chair, Couch, Dog Bed, Lap...... She hisses, spits, snaps.... OJ just stares until she jumps off after him and then jumps up and lays down.... (if the couch was the object), Kristii will then just get back up and laid down next to him....ggggg
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My advice is stand up abruptly, don't say a word, and walk away. Don't pet Keoki. Eventually she will connect that she snarks, you leave. Don't correct, it can make it worse because she will just learn not to make any noise, and just launch into attack.
Thanks, and good point. Like I said, when we correct or try to make her stop, she gets louder and more determined.
I'm going to stop dumping her and see how that goes.
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Thank you for all the wise words. I so appreciate this forum. When I got my first B over 16 years ago, the first few years were such a struggle a lot of times–even with good training classes--because I didn't have resources like this to go to for help. When Tyler acts up again, I will try leaving the room. Hopefully, he will get the idea that growling to keep Zoey away from me will only make me go away--and that's not what he wants.
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I would suggest that you dont address either one as the alpha. Give treats at the same time so you are not selecting who is alpha.
Basenjis always challenge each other for alpha in my experience. It is just a natural thing.
Caesar was added to our family as a puppy. Beta was the same age and added when she was a year and a half. They ate together, sat on top of each other and slept together.
The rescuers told me it takes about 6months for a rescue to adapt to the new home.
6months later, beta became food aggressive with treats, peeing in other rooms, and snarfy with Caesar while sleeping.
I talked with a trainer and he suggested keeping them seperate at night and feeding seperately so they have thier own space. It worked and they always played well together after that.
I have a large wire dog kennel that has a splitter in the middle. They used to be in the giant kennel together, now I have the splitter in. Not a peep and they always played well after I gave them their own space.
Caesar has definately displayed jealousy now that Cairo is in our home. When I see the jealousy I will take them on walks seperately giving them each attention.
Let us know how it goes!
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I would suggest that you dont address either one as the alpha. Give treats at the same time so you are not selecting who is alpha.
Zoey has been very submissive towards Tyler and me. Tyler is submissive to me but quite dominant with Zoey. I treated Tyler as the leader so as not to give Zoey any ideas about challenging him. A vet I had years ago advised me to let my dogs sort out the ranking and then honor it (i.e., giving the leader treats first, etc.). I'm curious to hear what anyone else thinks about this? Do you agree that I shouldn't treat Tyler as the leader–or actually second in command after me? I am going to plan to give each more "alone time."
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Zoey has been very submissive towards Tyler and me. Tyler is submissive to me but quite dominant with Zoey. I treated Tyler as the leader so as not to give Zoey any ideas about challenging him. A vet I had years ago advised me to let my dogs sort out the ranking and then honor it (i.e., giving the leader treats first, etc.). I'm curious to hear what anyone else thinks about this? Do you agree that I shouldn't treat Tyler as the leader–or actually second in command after me? I am going to plan to give each more "alone time."
I agree that Tyler should be treated as the leader (after you)… you should "honor" the ranking they have developed (as long as no one gets hurt)... And I agree that each need "alone time".. but that Tyler should learn that being dominate to Zoey doesn't mean that he get you all to himself...
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In my experience I don't try to figure out who's leader or who wants to be leader…I think Topaz is the leader among the two of them but outside she's ok to let him be leader
just like a woman! ha! 
But as for treating them differently...I simply use the who ever can work for it first gets the treat...sit/down/stay..with "find it" it's whoever can get to it first. Both dogs need to be sitting in their crates before I even approach with dinner dishes & then I set them down at the same time. BUT that just works for me in my house. It all depends on the household
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In many cases there really is no leader… with my girls, Maggii and Mickii are pretty much equal and don't care one way or the other... so not only does it depend on the household but the temperament of the dog too... and yes, my girls let the "boy" "think" he is the leader...gggg NOT!
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That is how I do it too. I don't ever assume that I know enough about their status with each other, to make it effect how I deal with them. With our girls it is hard to tell with Ivy and Blondie who is higher in status....I think it is Ivy...but Blondie so doesn't care most of the time it doesn't seem to matter. Blondie has the high status position of sleeping in the bed...but Ivy doesn't seem to care. However with a the other girls, I am afraid to let Luna sleep in the bed if I don't let Bella, because I think it might make her think she has higher status because she sleeps with the humans. With Bella and Luna, Bella clearly calls all the shots...Luna has such an easy going temperament in every aspect, so far she has been okay with Bella being the leader.
As far as Querk, I think he is the unquestioned leader...but he is pretty laid back at all and almost never uses his status. If it comes down to it, he will usually reprimand the girls...but he really lets them walk all over him most of the time. All of the girls as pups, and even as adults after a separation about fall all over themselves greeting him..to me that is a pretty clear sign that they really respect him.
Pack dominance or status is complicated, and it isn't really agreed upon or totally understood by expert behaviorists. I try to just do what works for our dogs...sorry that probably doesn't help much. -
After reading my post, I realize that my assumptions about the dogs' status DOES effect how I manage them, because I mentioned the issue about sleeping in the bed. So, yes I do think about how the things I do MIGHT effect their relationships to each other…but I don't really know if they do....clear as mud?
In other words...I don't think that things like who goes thru the door first, and which dogs get fed first really matter that much...but I think that access to humans (especially in favored places, like sleeping places), or extended disruptions in the pack (new baby, dog leaves for show weekend) can effect their relationships.
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In other words…I don't think that things like who goes thru the door first, and which dogs get fed first really matter that much...
When we just had four, Penny, Max, Cleo and Raven, the wife was letting them all out to go like she would every morning. Raven ran ahead of Cleo to the door , Cleo didn't like it and they went at it. Cleo did some serious damage to Raven and Gail. Whether something had been brewing prior or Cleo is just evil I don't know, but trust me we changed how we let them all out. We eventually gave up on keeping Raven and Cleo together at all.
Now we let Max and Cleo out together, she doesn't seem to care what he does.:rolleyes:
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There are personality differences in each dog and one minute they seem to be fine and the next-WHAM! you're wondering what was going on!
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When we just had four, Penny, Max, Cleo and Raven, the wife was letting them all out to go like she would every morning. Raven ran ahead of Cleo to the door , Cleo didn't like it and they went at it. Cleo did some serious damage to Raven and Gail. Whether something had been brewing prior or Cleo is just evil I don't know, but trust me we changed how we let them all out. We eventually gave up on keeping Raven and Cleo together at all.
Now we let Max and Cleo out together, she doesn't seem to care what he does.:rolleyes:
Yeah…again, I should clarify. If two dogs are having status issues, then, yes something like one dog being disrespectful (or even just not being aware of the other dog) will trigger the other dog to reprimand, and that often starts a fight. If they aren't having status issues, then it doesn't seem to matter what happens. They can bump into each other, they can accidentally jump on the couch next to each other. They can hustle each other out the door. The tricky part is to try to figure out if they are having status issues BEFORE the next fight errupts. And I have found that it is very difficult, and takes a very wary eye to be able to see it before it comes to a head.
But, in my experience...guarding issues are not necessarily related to status issues. So a dog that launches off the couch to guard her human lap may not be trying to sort out status issues with the other dog. It sounds strange, I know...but that has been my experience.
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The tricky part is to try to figure out if they are having status issues BEFORE the next fight errupts. And I have found that it is very difficult, and takes a very wary eye to be able to see it before it comes to a head.
Amen to that Andrea! We're learning and just when I think we're on top of things they throw another curve at us.
Just based on what I've experienced with our's anyway, the AF's seem to be more concerned about status than the more domestic B's we have. -
this is a really interesting read. I always thought they are constantly challenging each other for top dog status.
i try to show no favoritism by feeding one first to not establish my opinion in the matter and remaining alpha mom.
in the pack of basenjis at the park, there is a definate alpha female and male of the group.
in the home when beta was around. caesar was constantly challenging her, biting her neck until she cried, but in the end, if she was pissed she would pull her ghetto side out and let him know who was in charge
cairo as a teen pup is trying to keep caesar off of my lap at night. he also is challenging caesar all the time. caesar does what beta used to do. when he is irritated he does one little move and cairo is on his back.
i am not talking about real fights though. but it seems like they are always challenging for that position.
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Some dogs may be always challenging…it does depend on the individual personalities. Just like some people, some dogs are constant status climbers
some won't rest until they are unquestionably on top in every situation. But most are happy with status quo....Some of what you described could just be raucous play. Querk doesn't care about status...he doesn't have to worry about his. But he will drive the girls NUTS when he is in a play mood. He growls, snarls, bites their butts, and their necks, until they are furious...but it is all in play, at least on his part.
I would hazard a guess, that if you (general you) aren't having actual fights, you probably don't have status issues. Puppies always have to sort out where they stand in the group around six months to a year old._
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Sugar is the one in my house with the issues-she doesn't like the other dogs playing together and she will get snarky with them. She's also very needy of individual attention. She wants to be top dog to the old girl that was there first. Doesn't happen when I'm around, she gets snarky off she goes for some time out. Depends on how tired she is as well as to how snarky she gets.
I don't think you'd want to see an actual fight, then you'd know you're in trouble-big time!
