Benny bit the neighbor!

[Benny]

Thanks for the tips Jason…

Benny went in for his annual checkup a few weeks ago, my fiance mentioned the aggression and said we were very concerned. I missed the Thyroid thing, I'll call the vet tomorrow and set something up.

[lvoss]

From your earlier posts, especially saying that you felt Benny is biting people that he is not comfortable with. It sounds like this could be more of a fear based behavior than a dominance behavior.

I would work on things that will build your relationship with Benny and if you can get him into a positive reinforcement based class where you can work on skills that will help build confidence and give you a means to effectively communicate with Benny. Hand feeding can be a great tool to help relationship build and reinforce basic obedience. It doesn't have to be for every meal or for an entire meal but the daily interaction is good.

Get the book that Kim recommended, Control Unleashed. I would also recommend getting the DVD, The Language of Dogs. You may find that Benny is giving early warning signs that he is stressed that you aren't seeing.

In the meantime, management will help make you and Benny more successful. Crating him when company is over so that he doesn't have the opportunity to behave badly. When you are on a walk don't let people try to touch him, you can tell them that he is working, or he is in training and needs to concentrate on what he is learning. When people are around praise and treat Benny for calm behavior, make him feel that people being around is a good thing.

[Benny]

The behaviorist today said he is definately being dominant… also from what I've seen personally, he is definately a dominant dog. My sister's lab acts out of fear on occasion.

[lvoss]

In what way is he behaving like he is trying to be "dominant"?

[lvoss]

I would also recommend reading this article about the current thoughts on dominance theory. http://dogpublic.com/articles/article.aspx?sid=14&pid=1640

[ComicDom1]

Please do not confuse Dominant behavior with Manipulation. Basenji's are great Manipulators. From what I have read so far, your Basenji has done a good job manipulating you and possibly others. Interesting enough, just like any other animal, if a basenji or any other dog senses fear in you or someone else they will react to it.

Like lvoss I am also interested in knowing what Dominant behavior or Behavirors your Basenji has exhibited. Can you please be more descriptive in regard to this. In My opinion, Biting alone is not enough.

Jason

[Quercus]

@Benny:

Update: The behaviorist came over today…

He told us that Benny thinks he's the pack leader and we have to break him down and build him back up.

1. He walks us, we don't walk him. We need to get a training lead.
2. We give into him at the dinner table and feed him.
3. We basically have to make him earn everything we give him.. beit attention we give him or food we give him
4. We always keep his dish full, we were instructed to feed him 2-3x/day.
5. Benny bit him about 10x on his hand when he held him down on the ground to show us what to do if he trys to bite someone. He's been aggressive towards family and friends who don't come over often, including my 2 year old nephew who loves Benny.

Please, PLEASE find a new trainer….

[Quercus]

@Benny:

That's what I thought, I didn't like what he was doing. Benny didn't either, and there was a big puddle of blood in the floor because of it. But yes, he said if he trys to bite someone then we should hold him down on the ground for a minute and said "this is what the mom does to pups who misbehave".

I felt horrible for Benny… He was screaming and sounded like a little kid doing so.

I am sorry…but that is so wrong. No trainer should put themselves in the position to let the dog bite him over and over. The dog just practiced the behavior you don't want 10 times!!! And now he expects you to hold your dog down, and let him bite you until he stops????? No way!

[Quercus]

@lvoss:

From your earlier posts, especially saying that you felt Benny is biting people that he is not comfortable with. It sounds like this could be more of a fear based behavior than a dominance behavior.

I would work on things that will build your relationship with Benny and if you can get him into a positive reinforcement based class where you can work on skills that will help build confidence and give you a means to effectively communicate with Benny. Hand feeding can be a great tool to help relationship build and reinforce basic obedience. It doesn't have to be for every meal or for an entire meal but the daily interaction is good.

Get the book that Kim recommended, Control Unleashed. I would also recommend getting the DVD, The Language of Dogs. You may find that Benny is giving early warning signs that he is stressed that you aren't seeing.

In the meantime, management will help make you and Benny more successful. Crating him when company is over so that he doesn't have the opportunity to behave badly. When you are on a walk don't let people try to touch him, you can tell them that he is working, or he is in training and needs to concentrate on what he is learning. When people are around praise and treat Benny for calm behavior, make him feel that people being around is a good thing.

Exactly!! Biting stranger is generally fear based….biting owners is usually control based (unless the owner is putting the dog in a position where they are afraid). And what did that trainer teach the dog....strangers will hold you down, and defending yourself won't work....so if *I was the dog, I would now run up to strangers and bite them, and not let them have a chance to hold me down.

[agilebasenji]

Oh, I feel so bad reading this post. I don't think being confrontational with you dog is going to get you anywhere (or at least not anywhere you want to go). See if your local library has "For the Love of a Dog" by Patricia McConnell (Her other book is also worth reading: The Other End of the Leash.) Sit down and read the chapter titled ANGER before you read anything else. Then read the rest of the book, but I think that chapter is really going to speak to you. Unlike Control Unleashed, these books are more mainstream and I know my local library has both of those books.

I'd bet this training method does not feel right to you, in your heart, in your gut. Is this really the type of relationship you want with your dog? Breaking the dog down. I promise you there are better, kinder ways of training. You are the one in charge of your relationship with you dog.

Having said all that, I'm not opposed to a Nothing In Life is Free model. My dogs do sometimes miss breakfast because of their own behavior. They are expected to behave before we go out the door. I don't have to be first out the door, I find that complicated, but they do have to wait for my verbal before they go out. If not, the door gets closed until they are acting how I want them to. (The basenjis are expected to stand calmly; the malinois has to sit because she's too wiggly to stand calmly, but in your case, i'd go with a sit for Benny) I also make my younger dogs work for their food. We practice sits, downs, stands, going to mat, staying on mat, etc and for everything they do, they get a little kibble. It doesn't take too long to go through 1/2 cup of kibble and it really is a bonding/fun time.

[agilebasenji]

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ian_dunbar_on_dog_friendly_dog_training.html

Watch. This will be the best 15 minutes of your day. I promise. I think I've watched it 3 or 4 times.

(And all of the talks I've seen on this site are wonderful, but this on is about dogs. Jane Goodall is also amamzing, as always.)

[sharronhurlbut]

Do let us know what the vet says.
I agree that long walks are a way to start.
Working for everything, food, love, rides in the car, is another good way to go.
Again, getting him into a basic gentle obedience class, one on one with the treacher, wouldn't be something I would rule out. It can help you to read your dog and help him learn to trust you, but it does take come time and work.
That "trainer" you saw, is a fool and should not be allowed to work with animals.
I can only imagine the damage that person has done to dogs and humans alike.

We sure do want to help you turn this around.

[Janneke]

@agilebasenji:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ian_dunbar_on_dog_friendly_dog_training.html

That's a great video! Thanks for sharing!

[renaultf1]

@agilebasenji:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ian_dunbar_on_dog_friendly_dog_training.html

Watch. This will be the best 15 minutes of your day. I promise. I think I've watched it 3 or 4 times.

(And all of the talks I've seen on this site are wonderful, but this on is about dogs. Jane Goodall is also amamzing, as always.)

Fantastic video…thanks for sharing that link!

[MacPack]

Wonderful video, thanks for sharing!

[tanza]

To continue with that trainer, someone in your family is going to seriously get hurt… winding up with this dog being PTS for biting, this is no way to train.... IMO

[nobarkus]

The key is to establish a good trusting connection/relationship with Benny. In my 33 years with Basenjis using force/dominance did not work period!! I stopped it immediately and used more positive ways to work with the dog. Have some fun outdoor adventures with him and play games with him. When you're in the yard throw something he'll chase after then go hide. Wear him out! Socialize little by little. Try to remain calm when you're around Benny as he will pick up on any negative energy. Reward good behavior always. Getting bit ten times with a pool of blood on the floor means that person is fired!

[Benny]

@lvoss:

In what way is he behaving like he is trying to be "dominant"?

Humping, the way he walks on the leash, he's not scared of anything… If I yell at him, he gets more rowdy often.

[Benny]

@nobarkus:

The key is to establish a good trusting connection/relationship with Benny. In my 33 years with Basenjis using force/dominance did not work period!! I stopped it immediately and used more positive ways to work with the dog. Have some fun outdoor adventures with him and play games with him. When you're in the yard throw something he'll chase after then go hide. Wear him out! Socialize little by little. Try to remain calm when you're around Benny as he will pick up on any negative energy. Reward good behavior always. Getting bit ten times with a pool of blood on the floor means that person is fired!

Oh yeah, he's not coming back into my home. Benny tried to bite my mom today (who is like his mom). He lays with her every night when she's in her chair and spends as much, if not more time with him than my fiance and I. Benny was laying in the chair that she just got out of, when she came back, she tried to move him and he growled and snapped at her. My dad yelled at him and he put his ears back and then jumped on her when she sat in the chair (to lay on her lap).

Biting strangers is one thing, biting my mom is a whole nother beast. Benny really needs help .

[nobarkus]

Sounds like a case for the Dog Whisperer. Have you seen him?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cffj0vOBWsc&feature=channel