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Benny bit the neighbor!

Behavioral Issues
  • lvossL

    @Benny:

    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.

    Considering what happened with the trainer, it is not surprising that Benny does not want humans to touch him. It is going to take some relationship building and trust building to help mend what happened with the trainer.

    As for humping, many dogs hump not because of dominance but as a form of stress relief or because they are over stimulated.

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  • nobarkusN

    I adopted a red/wht in 1994 at the age of 2. Oh man was he defensive and growley. If he was laying on the couch and you approached him he would growl at you like he was going to bite. I didn't yell at him "NO"! I just slowly worked my way at him little by little each time I approached until over time he trusted me. The first day I took him to dog trainning class he wanted to fight every dog around us. It took some time to calm him down.
    Also please get his thyroid checked. A lot of time there's something wrong physically that can cause bad behavior. Maybe take him to a holistic vet. Don't give up.

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • BennyB

    He just growled at my girlfriend… who is his mommy. She went to pick him up off of the couch (to see if he would growl at her). I will get his thyroid tested... what types of treatments are available if he doe shave a thyroid problem?

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  • nobarkusN

    @Benny:

    He just growled at my girlfriend… who is his mommy. She went to pick him up off of the couch (to see if he would growl at her). I will get his thyroid tested... what types of treatments are available if he doe shave a thyroid problem?

    They will see what his thyriod levels are from his blood work then if it's low put him on Thyroid pills. They will then check again in a few months. I had 2 on them.
    Please check this link.
    http://www.apubasenjis.com/bhealth.html

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • nobarkusN

    Also just a note about the red/wht. He was physically sick too. So after handling that he really started to change and became a fun dog. He still occasionally like to challenge a bigger dog but not too bad.

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • nobarkusN

    How long has Benny been like this? Did it start at a certain point in time? He's obviously feeling threatened by someone or something.

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • BennyB

    Started roughly 4 weeks ago… he started by snapping at a kid and an old man who tried to pet him on a walk. Then it progressed to him biting the neighbor, biting my neice, snapping at my nephew, my friend, and then biting the trainer... now today he snapped at my mom, dad, and my gf.... I approached him and did the same thing shortly after and he didn't snap at me. I didn't think he would, but I wanted to make sure of it.

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  • BennyB

    I have noticed his fur got slightly lighter around that same time. We mentioned it to the vet and he said it was normal…

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  • nobarkusN

    How long have you had Benny? How old is he?

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • nobarkusN

    I really suspect there's a physical problem going on with Benny.

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • BennyB

    Also, back in February, my sister's lab started getting a little bigger. She snapped at benny when he tried to take his bone back from her. Benny backed off somewhat… The very next day, benny started snapping at her when she tried to take his treats and bones from him.

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  • BennyB

    @nobarkus:

    How long have you had Benny? How old is he?

    We've had him for 13 months… he is 16 months old.

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  • nobarkusN

    How often does your sister come around with the lab?

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • nobarkusN

    So Benny's behavior before this was pretty good?

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • BennyB

    @nobarkus:

    How often does your sister come around with the lab?

    2-3 times/week… It's my nephew's dog really.. and she goes where he goes. He comes over after school a few days a week and spends the night over the weekend 1-2 times/month. They love each other, they occasionally snap at each other (when one is trying to steal the other's bone)

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  • BennyB

    @nobarkus:

    So Benny's behavior before this was pretty good?

    For the most part. Before we got him neutered, he humped a lot and seemingly got bad for about an hour every night. We got him snipped and started taking him for an additional 2-3 more walks and it did the trick.

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  • nobarkusN

    @Benny:

    2-3 times/week… It's my nephew's dog really.. and she goes where he goes. He comes over after school a few days a week and spends the night over the weekend 1-2 times/month. They love each other, they occasionally snap at each other (when one is trying to steal the other's bone)

    The lab and Benny love each other?

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • BennyB

    @nobarkus:

    The lab and Benny love each other?

    They're best friends… when they're together, they play non stop with the occasional nap in between.

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  • nobarkusN

    OK, well get that full blood work done then and see what comes up. Do it as soon as possible. Keep us updated on how Benny is doing.

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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  • ComicDom1C

    @lvoss:

    Considering what happened with the trainer, it is not surprising that Benny does not want humans to touch him. It is going to take some relationship building and trust building to help mend what happened with the trainer.

    As for humping, many dogs hump not because of dominance but as a form of stress relief or because they are over stimulated.

    Yep. lvoss is right on it. I would second the idea that your dog is over stimulated. Just to go further, do you mean humping in a sexual way or hopping on his back feet and pulling as you attempt to walk him. When my Basenji sees another person in the park, and believe me he is interested in meeting everyone, he attempts to pull so hard, he ends up on his hind legs walking and hopping or what appears humping along. He also does this when he sees a bird, a squrriel, a rabbit, another dog, or any other animal that he might be approaching. That was one reason I wanted to try the Gentle leader or a harness. Of course I understand this means my Basenji is very nosey and has a strong prey drive.

    Jason

    Get your Basenji Fanconi DNA tested today!

    https://secure.offa.org/dnatesting/index.html

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    Thanks everybody for the insight. Still can’t believe our sweet little dog that curls up with us, has it in him to bite somebody. The more I read, the more I believe that this is fear related founded or not. Our vet recommended a behaviorist, so we might go that route. We did already do some formal training, but that was just a Petsmart class. It was more for the benefit of our kids but he was in a unusual social environment and did so well....better than all the dogs In the class. We will keep working on this. Thanks! J
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    I hope nothing comes of it since it was their dog that was coming into YOUR yard and the parents are acknowledging that. Hopefully they'll talk some sense into their daughter too and she'll be extra careful about letting her little monsters dig. Putting bricks down should keep them out. Good luck!
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    It true that many dogs give signals humans miss. Its amazing when I go over to see someone about their bad basenji, how I watch them much closer than the family does. I think it just comes from most folks not knowing what to see. Hopefully, someone can come over and help you. It would so be worth the $$
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    We just don't like that ONE neighbor kid

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    I admire you care with this basenji. I agree, some treats from the child, and slow,gentle movements from her when she is around the dog, will probably work, but it might take some time. Do let us know how it goes.
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    BarklessdogB
    Is thread is sooo in line to what we have been through and the suggestions are spot on with what we have done to correct it. You eliminate the situations. We put our dogs in crates if someones coming over. We never leave them out unsupervised with anyone, except our direct family. They never get loose at anytime. Our dogs love our kids, but they respect the dogs and know how to handle them. The dogs love the kids as well, but strangers they want nothing to do with. We treat our house like a submarine, we have several doors or 'hatches" that must ALWAYS be closed coming or going, this includes our garage door as well. We also put up beware of dog signs, which keep kids & strangers (meter readers) out and also provides some safety from burglers which have hit our area from time to time. No ones going to mess with a basenji!
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    A cold Basenji is a cuddly one! [image: recline.jpg] Winter has it's advantages in cold parts of the world! I find Basenji's are like cats, sometimes they want tons of physical attention and other times. it's DON'T TOUCH ME!!!