Basenji Growling & Aggression

[3basenjis]

i have 2 boys Jimmie and Jasper and 1 female. Gracie, Jimmie is 5 and the Jasper is 2. we have had issues with boys trying to establish dominance over each other, both are fixed. it seems there will be a squirmish and usually gracie get to the boys and breaks them up before i can reach Jasper to grab him as he will keep at it if i grab Jimmie then its all peace love and cuddling together on the couch until the next little erruption a couple of weeks later. I don't know why this happens, maybe its is a case of boys will be boys. it looks ferocious. but thank goodness no bloodshed. Good luck with your two!

[belloknight36d]

Our boys took there fight to bloodshed. Not serious but enough to separate them. We have now had both neautered. It has only been one week but the older boy still growles at the eight month old. They have been separated for a week. How long before we start to introduce them back together? Keeping them separated is extreemly though.

[tanza]

I hate to say it, but I think it is going to be a long haul to get them back together. Usually males will "get over it" pretty quickly and go back to getting along, more ofter then bitches who never forget… (usually). But it sounds like one of your boys really has a new dislike for the other....

If you are a good leader, then you should start walks right away... best to have two people, one for each dog, unless you have done Obedience training and have good control with walking them.

[3basenjis]

yes i agree the boys do get over it sooner than the girls ( why is that), our 2 boys had to be seperated at dinner time after japser came home. thankfully that only lasted approx 2 weeks, all 3 really do get along quite well now…. it was quite an adjustment when jasper came along as he was much younger that the other 2 at the time,,,, all is well in our household...chin up it does get better...:)

[annimon]

Thank you for this post. I'm in a similar postition and I'm doing all you suggest except for the lead in the house. I'm glad that you have also used the rollover method in extreme times as it does have it's uses in such situations although many consider it to be cruel and useless. When I roll my dog over and he calms I tickle his stomach and believe he does not see this as an humiliating process. The oddest thing here is that the agression is directed at people and not other dogs he meets on walks. He loves the company of other dogs and howls when they leave. We're determined to get there with him.

[Shaye's Mom]

Shock collars are never a good idea, IMO. Also, the "alpha dog" training, like that used by Cesar Milan, holding them down to show you're boss, etc., doesn't work with Basenjis. Someone I had walk my dog for a while tried this with Shaye, and the only result was that she would never want to be around her. Trying to train a basenji using force is counterproductive, from what I've seen. Treats, bonding and distraction - when anything works, those work best for mine - usually - of course, sometimes nothing works if she's in a mood.

[annimon]

I agree with you, but once again I'm not talking about training, I'm talking about agressive behaviour that is unexpected and surprising with no apparent reason. We love our dog but it's hard to carry on being bitten and not play biting either.

[prchrsgirl]

Hello, I am new here and have really one question. Let me give a little info. Our basenji (Harley) is almost 5 yrs of age. He has never had any aggression problems until a few months ago. It started before we got 2 new puppies (female mixed breed mutts). He actually has bitten my husband luckily on the boot but it did puncture through. He has also acted like he was going to bite me but no skin contact. I know some dogs go bad and I do NOT want to have to put him down, we have a grandchild on the way. He has never been treated badly always a good boy until 8 months ago. What I want to know is will getting him neutered make this aggression go away? tia

[DebraDownSouth]

@prchrsgirl:

Our basenji (Harley) is almost 5 yrs of age. He has never had any aggression problems until a few months ago. It started before we got 2 new puppies (female mixed breed mutts).
I know some dogs go bad and I do NOT want to have to put him down

Dogs do not "go bad." Really. I promise.

Get a full medical check up, particularly have a full thyroid panel sent off to reputable place (ie not your vet!) like Michigan. Yes, get him neutered. YES, protectiveness and issues over the new pups could be a contributing cause (please tell me they are both spayed because you need to do that IMMEDIATELY if not!!!!).

But please, do not think a dog "goes bad" and had to be destroyed like outdated jug of milk. If this dog was good for 5 yrs, then his health or things you changed in the environment need to be checked, tweaked and fixed.

[prchrsgirl]

@DebraDownSouth:

Dogs do not "go bad." Really. I promise.

Get a full medical check up, particularly have a full thyroid panel sent off to reputable place (ie not your vet!) like Michigan. Yes, get him neutered. YES, protectiveness and issues over the new pups could be a contributing cause (please tell me they are both spayed because you need to do that IMMEDIATELY if not!!!!).

But please, do not think a dog "goes bad" and had to be destroyed like outdated jug of milk. If this dog was good for 5 yrs, then his health or things you changed in the environment need to be checked, tweaked and fixed.

Thank you for your reply. The puppies will get spayed as soon as old enough. But he did go after one of them. Although he does not act like this all the time, maybe a couple times a week. I am not sure we can afford a thyroid check up until after the holidays. But that is something I will save for. Thank you again

[tanza]

First of all, he should be neutered, while it is NOT a cure all to aggression, it will help. Second, have you discussed his behavior with his breeder? Third, if you got the puppies a few months ago, then I would assume they are between 5 and 7 months old? Certainly old enough to be spayed. And if they are not and he is not neutered, you are pretty close to a window that they will come in season.

How does he interact with the puppies? The fact the he went after one could just be an adult teaching a puppy proper manners.

What was the interaction when he bit your husband? And tried to bite you? Was there a warning before hand (growl)…

[prchrsgirl]

we just got the puppies around 3 weeks ago. They are about 2 months old maybe younger. they were left on road. He gave no warning growls, just growl bite. I went to play with him like normal and he went off on me. For my husband, just walking past to sit down. We can't get a hold of his breeder. We tried yrs ago when we wanted another basenji. he never bit until yesterday and the pretend bite was last week. Most of the aggression I believe has only been while getting him up off the couch for bedtime. or having him move off the chair so we can sit down. Those are the only times he's been cranky. Otherwise he is a great dog. He plays well with both puppies and I know he is teaching them. I really don't know why he went after the one. We did move a few months ago to a farm if that might have any effect. he gets plenty of exercise. he is also great with the cat. I would have to say it started right before the move.

[Ellusionz]

It was probably the mood change and packing that could have caused it. Animals def feel when things are about to happen. Maybe you packed up one of his favorite toys and he's taking his frustration out? LOL

[DebraDownSouth]

The fact it started before you moved might indicate medical issues, or your stress at moving. The crankiness at being made to move can be dominance, it can be medical problem making moving an issue, it can be a lot.

Really first step is a complete medical.

As for going after the pup, if no injuries occurred, then the intent was correcting not hurting because he definitely could have killed it.

[Ellusionz]

Actually the toy was a joke… but if they were in the packing/planning stages of moving and that's when his behavior changed, how they behaved during that time could have been a factor.

Whenever I left after the holidays were over to go back to school my cat would pee on my stuff Or when my dad came home from working over the road (he's a truck driver), she'd pee on his stuff. Just an idea.

[DebraDownSouth]

LOL you must have been posting when I was editing and removed my comment as I realized by the wink you meant it sort of tongue in cheek.

[MDbookworm]

Does anybody know of a Basenji-specific trainer in Maryland? I don't want one that recommends shock collars, as I don't approve of them, but my dog's a bit aggressive, and with all the dogs in the neighborhood, I think it's a good idea to get him some training with a trainer who knows Basenjis.
My Basenji mix lunges at strangers when he's out on walks, growls at the neighbor's dog, and has bitten three dogs in the year that we've had him. Our vet's opinion is that Beasley's a Nervous Nellie, who doesn't want strangers too close to his property. He's pretty good with us- he seems attached to us, laying his head on my lap, sometimes following us around and looking like we're the best thing to ever happen to him. I don't want to have to give him back to the shelter, since I've fallen in love with him, and once people come into the house and Beasley's had a minute or two to get used to the strangers, he's often fine with them.
We've taken him to doggie obedience classes, but while he was good in there(no aggression towards the other dogs), he still seems to think other dogs are Satan's spawn when he's home or on walks.

[Buddys Pal]

I really hope you look into Pat Miller's website, she is located off Speilman Rd in Fairplay. Although her Reactive Rover programs are full until Sept, you can click on her 'Referral' trainers and graduates. I attended a seminar a few months ago, and I highly recommend the procedure. I have used it with great success with many dogs/owners. Please run from any shock collar user! I just recently was hired by a couple who adopted a black lab puppy, at 4 months old he was overly nipping and growly. They had this 'trainer' put on a collar and poor Jasper got worse. He is at my day care center and is doing sooooo much better. The trainer you decide on may not have a full Basenji experience, but should be open to you giving them an account of your problem and if they are worth their weight, should look at many testimonials of Basenji personality (show them the forum!!!) Hope you get good help soon! http://www.peaceablepaws.com/classes.php?type=workshop

[eeeefarm]

@Buddys:

Please run from any shock collar user! I just recently was hired by a couple who adopted a black lab puppy, at 4 months old he was overly nipping and growly. They had this 'trainer' put on a collar and poor Jasper got worse.

Unfortunately there aren't a lot of trainers who use the collars effectively, but someone who is skilled can work magic (I have seen it done). They get results by very subtle corrections, not full on jolts. But I would concur that it is a last resort, if you can't solve a problem any other way. (I know of a couple of dogs who did not get put down because a skilled trainer reformed them. However, the owner must also learn the correct use of the collar for any ongoing concerns, and it is more complicated than just buying one and slapping it on the dog.)

On leash aggression isn't unusual, and can be challenging to deal with. Often a dog is "good" at classes and shows, not so much when walked locally. I know of two titled Utility Obedience dogs that are wonderful at shows but dog aggressive on walks. Go figure…..

[Buddys Pal]

Yes, eeeefarm, I agree with the use of the e-training collar to be used in such events as hunting/retrieving etc, but not really for 'behavioral issues' where the dog is already reactive to a stimulus that 'it' perceives as threatening. The collar really does not give owner/trainer the necessary input for changing the dog's perception to the aversive stimulus as the collar is just that. It does have it's place, but for most emotional reactive dogs, Basenji's a little more so…..it should not be considered; my opinion. yes, there are magic workers out there for the dogs too! Thanks for your input on that!!!! PS: big YES on the comment concerning the owners understanding the subtle mode!

PS THE SUBTLE MODE BEING THE BUZZER OR VIBRATION AND/OR SOUND NOT THE 'SHOCK'-TO AID IN WHERE THE DUCK WAS DROPPED FOR INSTANCE.