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Aggression at bed time

Behavioral Issues
  • Robin_n_JackR

    @lvoss:

    Did he snarl or did he make a growly type sound? If he growled/snarled when he was woken up to be moved, I would suggest trying to wake him up using voice to call him off the sofa or where ever to get a treat and then put him in his crate.

    Sometimes mine make what at first sounds almost like a growl but is actually a playful noise, it has a slightly different tone and rythym and they dart back and forth trying to start a game of "catch me".

    Since your husband is gone for such long periods of time, it might be helpful when he comes back from a long trip to have him hand feed Jack. Hand feeding is great for helping to build a bond between human and canine.

    He was definitely not playing. Apparently his hackles went up and he bared his teeth. We will just have to remember to call him to wake him, rather than touch or move him. The other thing is DH refuses to treat when he goes in the crate…..which I always do. I told DH that he needs to start doing that- it is positive reinforcement that the crate is a happy place to be.

    I think you are right about hand feeding him, I think it will build a little more of a bond between the two. Jack definitely remembers him from trip to trip, and he loves him to death, but I think he sees him more as an equal than a leader in the pack.

    Of course, everyone knows who is really the Alpha in this family. http://www.basenjiforums.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

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  • lvossL

    It sounds like he was unhappy at being woken up. I would really suggest calling him off the sofa and definately work on your DH about giving a crate treat. It will make it a much more positive experience for Jack.

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  • Robin_n_JackR

    So, he wasn't snarly at bed time last night, and I told DH that he needs to give Jack a treat to go in his crate. I told him that "it is positive reinforcement, and it makes it so that Jack thinks his crate is a happy place to be"

    He thinks that since Jack goes in by himself, usually, that he already knows it is a safe happy place, but I think we need to keep the idea up with treats and happy little things.

    I think you are all right- he probably woke him up somewhat suddenly, and that is why he was snarly. It was 12:30, waaaaay past Jack's bedtime. He was probably deep in the REM sleep. Do dogs have REM sleep?

    Anyway, it seems that harmony has been restored.

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  • BasenjiDivaB

    @Robin_n_Jack:

    He was probably deep in the REM sleep. Do dogs have REM sleep?

    Anyway, it seems that harmony has been restored.

    I don't know for sure but I always thought that was what they were having when they look like they are chasing rabbits in their sleep. When Jayden gets deep asleep, he snores…loudly.

    Pat

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  • Ninabeana26N

    Yes dogs experience REM sleep. That may be one of the few interesting things I learned while working towards my degree in Psych :p

    Nina & my baby boy Dallas

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  • Robin_n_JackR

    @BasenjiDiva:

    I don't know for sure but I always thought that was what they were having when they look like they are chasing rabbits in their sleep. When Jayden gets deep asleep, he snores…loudly.

    Pat

    Jack snores, too- its really funny, I'd never heard it before- we used to live in a bigger house, then we moved into the condo when we moved to Boston and everything was closer, and the first night there, I hear him snoring and I was looking all over to find out where the noise was coming from!

    That's kind of a funny thought- the dogs having REM sleep, too! Jack never really squirms like he is dreaming- although I have heard about that from other dog owners. When he is sleeping, he goes "dog-atonic" lol!

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  • BasenjiDivaB

    @Robin_n_Jack:

    Jack never really squirms like he is dreaming- although I have heard about that from other dog owners. When he is sleeping, he goes "dog-atonic" lol!

    Cory and Jayden don't get active when they sleep either. But almost all of our other breed dogs did - even our lazy basset hound chased bunnies in her sleep. Cory and Jayden either curl up or stick their legs out like sticks. Cory likes to tuck her head into or under something …..like a human armpit, between back cushions of the sofa, ....whatever is convenient. I've even seen Cory glare at Jayden for his snoring.

    Pat

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  • gbroxonG

    @BasenjiDiva:

    …Cory and Jayden either curl up or stick their legs out like sticks....
    Pat

    LOL! We call that "stiffy legs"! :D I don't know how it can be comfortable having all the bones in your legs locked, but apparently it is!

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  • Ninabeana26N

    Dallas sleeps "stiff-legged" too. It's funny because he can sleep with his legs stiff straight up in the air! I just don't see how that is comfortable but hey, to each his own :p & he snores almost every time he sleeps. Little cat naps he won't snore but if he is actually sleeping, he snores pretty loudly! I think it's cute when he moves his paws in his sleep like he's wakling. He doesn't run in his sleep, just walks. Hahaha. It's hilarious to watch.

    Nina & my baby boy Dallas

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  • QuercusQ

    We call it 'pokey leg syndrome' ;)

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • Robin_n_JackR

    Jack does that when he is sunbathing. He finds the biggest patch of sun he can find, and lays down crossways with his legs poking straight out and his head thrown back.

    He also likes to sleep with his head propped up on something, like a pillow….or my legs!

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