Bitten & Constant Growling - Please Help!

Behavioral Issues

  • @sharronhurlbut:

    I have to tell you my thinking on putting a dog who is aggressive down.
    In my mind this dog is scared, very scared and reacts when it doesn't need to..taking clues from the damage done to it before we get it.
    Giving the dog the PEACE of the rainbow bridge can be the kindest thing we can do for these dogs.
    Its takes the stress off of all…the humans, the possible target for their aggression, and most of all the dog, who can't control itself and needs to lash out.
    Its not a fun thing to do, but in my mind, its the right thing to do.
    I do think this is the kindest thing in the long run.

    As always, Sharron… well said....


  • Pat thank you.
    I hate these type of posts.
    I want every b' well any dog to be mentally happy and able to bond with any family they have*.
    THIS is the ideal, but the reality is that we have some very damaged b's out there.
    We need to give them peace.
    So, please, don't pass these dogs on, you can be libel , but more over, you can send a damaged dogs into a home where further damage can be done.
    Hard decisions.
    BUT its the right one for the dog.
    IMO.


  • I'm certainly not going to rehome him. We're bringing him back home tomorrow and like I said in a previous post, I realize I was being naive in thinking he could possibly be rehomed and in major denial of how serious the problem was. This is my baby, foster or not, and we see him being nothing but sweet and loving 99.9% of the time so it's easy to be a little deluded right after something like this happens.

    We're meeting with a trainer/behaviorist this week to try to get some answers and help dealing with him. We need to give him a chance because right now we just don't know enough to make a major decision like putting him down. We only have Joey's best interest at heart and we above anyone don't want him to suffer so if it comes to that then it does.


  • I have kept biting b's.
    Hubby and I both were nailed.
    After a period of time, we learned to read his "signals" and I could tell when he would react.
    We loved him dearly.
    However, we ended up managing him.
    We had folks over the dog was contained, always.
    He was always on a leash when out and we made sure No one come over to "pet the puppy" kids were the worst for this.
    It was hard, but we made it work.
    Just know it can be done…
    You have to make the commintment sp to the dog at all times.
    Once you decide that, you can make it work.
    But you have to protect the dog from "triggers" and the people from harm.
    Good luck.
    I wish you well.
    Please keep us informed and believe we only want the best for you and this b.


  • There has been many of us on this Forum that that has had to make that really, really hard decision to "let" one go… it is never easy... I have been there... and I know that Robyn (Sherwood Basenjis) with a rescue dog has too ... it is not easy... but in the end.. it was the right thing for everyone, including the dog.... peace comes in many ways...

    We do what we can... and if and when the decision comes that the best we can do is send them over the Rainbow Bridge to be free.... there are many, many here that will support your decision and cry the tears with you.. but know that you made the right choice....

    Don't worry about denial.. those that have been in this position have been there, done that.... you are not alone.... there are many here that will support you.... if it comes to that choice.....


  • Thanks Pat…well said.


  • Sharron, I would love to ask you a question about Joey's behavior since you've had similar experiences with Basenjis but it's too in depth to do here. Would it be at all possible to chat with you for a few minutes in the next couple days? I won't take up much of your time but I have this niggling thing that keeps bugging me and think you could offer a good perspective.

    And sorry to anyone if I sounded short in my last post. Everyone's been so supportive on here and I really appreciate the input, regardless of your opinions. It's just been an awfully long week and I'm stressed because he comes home tomorrow and I'm pretty clueless as to how all this is going to turn out.


  • Thanks Pat. Again, I appreciate the support. It means a lot.


  • Ok, I posted to admin to let them give you my info.
    BUT if you want to go the BRAT site, and look under Wa state.
    That is me!
    http://www.basenjirescue.org


  • Good luck…direy01... certainly you are trying to do the best possible that you can... .... certainly you have support here...


  • I am home today, please phone before 7pm.
    We try to keep the evening for family time.


  • I had a similar situation years ago (but not nearly as bad) with a german shepherd mix. She was about 2 when we adopted her. She was able to bond with me and my boyfriend–but I spent the next 12 years providing special care/management for her. I had a trainer evaluate her early on, and she distinguished between fear based "defensiveness" and "aggression." She said Pepper was being defensive out of fear. I loved that dog with all my heart and provided a good, comfortable, safe home for her until she had to be put to sleep due to kidney failure. I also brought in a basenji puppy (Max) early on, and she was able to live peacefully with him--but it did take special care/management again during the initial stages when we brought him home. She gradually got better as she got older--but also regressed in her very old age to be just very fearful (not defensive).


  • Good news! I talked with Angie Woods - the Atlanta Dog Whisperer who comes highly recommended by other rescue folks in the area - and we're taking Joey to her place Wed at 10:30 am. She wants him to stay with her for awhile, about a week I think, so we're going to board him one more night so we can just take him there right from the vet clinic. Her regular price is $1,200 but she's giving us a discount rate of $500 given the circumstances with him being a foster, etc. That's awesome!

    And I've said it before but I'm just blown away by everyone's support. There are even a couple rescue groups here that are going to try to raise some money to help w/the costs. Absolutely amazing. And Sharron let me call her this morning to pick her brain and was so sweet and helpful. And and and.

    I'm so thrilled that we have an actual plan of action now. Thanks so much for your guys' help and input! I'll let you know how it goes.

    MaxBooBooBear, I'm sure we're going to have to do exactly what you did with Pepper in terms of taking special care/management for as long as we have him but if that's what it takes then that's what we'll do. Thanks for sharing.


  • Honey, I am so greatful your willing to do all you can to see what you can do to give you dog peace.
    I hope you get some answers soon.
    Major hugs.


  • My hat's off to you direy01 - you're truly an amazing person to put yourself into working so hard with Joey. Strong training vibes are headed your way with Joey. Good luck - keep posting.


  • good luck, best wishes I so hope this works for all of you. It so tragic that bad things have to happen to good dogs due to the uncaring of some previous
    owners Rescue groups and good fosters like you sure change the lifes of so many that would have been lost Keep us all posted we are really rooting for you


  • Oh, thank you all so much. I know I sound like a pollyanna but I never dreamed I'd receive so much support from complete strangers.

    Well we are meeting the foster coordinator at the vet clinic in about an hour to sign the adoption papers. We're even going to get to take him out and play with him a little bit! I'm sure curious to see how he'll behave. Then first thing tomorrow I'll pick him up and take him directly to the behaviorist. A rescue group recommended that I put together a fund raising page for him. We're getting a great discount to have him stay there for a week but truth be told we're kind of struggling right now. I hate to even post this here because everyone already does so much to help in their own communities but I thought I would. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I'd be happy to do an animal painting that you could auction off or sell at an event to help recoup some of the money (although they probably won't sell for much!) I can share my art website if anyone's interested.

    Thanks so much everyone.


  • I would like to see your art website.
    I think you should post it here if admin thinks its ok and maybe some of your work will sell to help you.
    Hugs for doing all you are for this boy.


  • Absolutely. You can't hint at talent and then not share.


  • Might be a way to make some $$ to help your boy.
    Just a thought.

Suggested Topics

  • Help please!

    Behavioral Issues
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    4k Views
    D
    @basenji_life said in Help please!: Oh and yesterday evening she started peeing on the sofa while looking straight at him... and she normally goes outside to pee... maybe she was upset that he was home? Did you solve this issue? I had a dog who didnt like kids. Someone told me it could be because the previous owner had kids who scared the dog. So it could be a traumatic experience for the dog. And when kids were around, the dog would bark a lot always.
  • Help, we need advice re training classes please

    Behavioral Issues
    47
    0 Votes
    47 Posts
    19k Views
    thunderbird8588T
    Helena, we still have a long way to go with Kwame but i feel more relaxed about him now. The support from people has helped along with the advice. It was such a relief not to go to classes with him on saturday, i felt like a load had been lifted off my shoulders. I guess i felt we should keep going because Malaika has done so well with them. It took a while to become apparent that the enviroment was wrong for him. Kwame and Malaika do try to avoid having the leaders on and occasionaly on the walk will try to wipe them off on our legs ;) however i feel they are worth persevering with as the effect is so dramatic and our walks are transformed. I am keeping the harness in mind though if neccasary, it's good to know there are options.
  • Help

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    S
    Do let us know what you found out from the vets.
  • Wit's End… Please help.

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    5k Views
    PhocoenaGirlP
    @khanis: Um yeah.. not. You should NOT give her the freedom to display her dominance. There should be only ONE alpha in your house and that is YOU. All those dogs should get along. I am sorry if I was confusing in my original post as the above post obviously indicates that I was. I agree with the above post in that you should be the only one alpha in your house. You should have control over the dominance displays and any other behaviors of all members of your pack. However, between pack members displays also occur and you have the final say over what is tolerable and what is not. Your b should never be allowed to display dominance over you or other humans in the household however even the behavior where adults growl/bark etc at pups to correct them is a dominance behavior - just not dominant over you. I hope that clears up what I was saying. If not, please ask again.
  • Basenji Growling & Aggression

    Pinned Behavioral Issues
    89
    0 Votes
    89 Posts
    109k Views
    O
    Hello, Im new here and have a question in regards to growling. We just rescued an older male Basenji that was just neutered. We have had him a week. He doesn't play with toys. Seems to like any dog he comes across. Tolerates small children and seems to want attention from any person that comes along. He doesn't seem to be food aggressive and is perfectly happy to sit by me most of the day when I'm home. I even come home for lunch to walk him every day. My question is that when we first got him he had no issues getting into his crate, but now he has started growling and getting his back hair up when I tell him to get into his house. Hes too new for me to want to allow him to wander the house with the cats alone. I tried giving him treats when he went in to make it a positive experience but he doesn't seem very happy and now growls every time I ask him to go in. Any suggestions to help with this issue?
  • Need help with crate training please

    Behavioral Issues
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    7k Views
    DukeD
    How is the crate training with Ripley going? It's been awhile since we've heard any progress.