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What reactions do you get?

Basenji Talk
  • thunderbird8588T

    Well Alan, we do have very friendly window cleaners around here :D

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

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  • Shaye's MomS

    The only time Shaye's tail is uncurled is when she's asleep and when she's scared. I don't play with it, and don't encourage others to do it - I know they won't "break" it, but I just feel like it shouldn't be messed with. No reason, just a feeling.

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  • lvossL

    Like anything if your dog is not used to having their tail uncurled then they will think it is something "odd" when it is done. If the first time it is done by a stranger and the dog overreacts it can end up being a bad situation. I don't encourage people to do it but people seem compelled to do it. I don't mean just people we meet on the street, I mean vets, vet techs, and even AKC judges have all uncurled my dogs tails. So I uncurl tails as part of their socialization so when it happens they think "whatever, people are weird." So it is no big deal.

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  • KitKatK

    My bs tail will go straight when she runs the faster she goes the straighter her tail is. it funny to watch.:)

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  • AndrewnShangoA

    I work at a dog bakery so I am surrounded by "dog people" as customers and very rarely will any of them know that Shango is a basenji.

    I've heard every guess in the book. The other day a man even tried to convince me that Shango was a Fox Terrier by comparing him to a dog one of his friend's had! I told him to hang out with Shango and then hang out with that Fox Terrier and he'd certainly know the difference!

    Andrew, Shango & Newsom

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  • noodleN

    It always takes me at least 3 times as long to do anything when I'm out with the pack! People on the street just have to stop, talk and ask questions. Most people haven't got a clue what they are. The most frequently asked question (apart from 'What is it??') from the people who have a little knowledge of them is if it's true that they don't bark. I tell them that they make up for it in other ways!
    I sometimes find people as a child have had an aunt or neighbour etc with one.

    Sometimes I laugh and tell people that they are Jack Russell's with novelty tails. :D
    And if I'm in a hurry, I DON'T take the dogs!

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  • wizardW

    People around here have a lot of hunting dogs (labs, retrievers, spaniels, etc.) so generally I get the "what kind of dog is that" question rather than guesses. Occasionally I'll come across someone who knows; not too often though.

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  • KanangaK

    @wizard:

    People around here have a lot of hunting dogs (labs, retrievers, spaniels, etc.) so generally I get the "what kind of dog is that" question rather than guesses. Occasionally I'll come across someone who knows; not too often though.

    That or when you do tell them the breed, they have the most puzzled look on their face.

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  • basenji_fanB

    With my two I play tail games, we have "Give that curly" where I grab the tail and then let it slide out my hand as they dash away.

    Then there's "Get your Tail" where we uncurl the tail and I hand them the tip and they hold on to it for a few seconds or if they are standing up might do a few circles or chase for a sec

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  • Forever AmberF

    I still get alot of people who ask what breed zoe is. At least at 8 months no one asks if she is a chi anymore. Some start out asking what kind of mix she is. Every once in awhile someone recognizes that she is a basenji. Just yesterday we were waiting outside a sheetz gas station when a woman looked up and saw zoe at the window with me and had to come over to ask if she was a B.

    I get people who uncurl her tail all the time luckily she doesnt mind in the least you can touch her all over no problem. And most of the time she loves the attention. I swear if someone passes by her without petting and adoring her she will look at them like they are idiots.

    of course I'm comfortable

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    Getting a basenji, but...

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    on the heat of the sun???? Basenji love the heat. If you had a fireplace, it will be within inches of the hot logs.
  • M

    Getting a new dog

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    Her face looks Basenji, maybe not the muzzle however. Are they destructive? Can be, don't have to be. I don't like to crate and I never have, beyond the initial puppy stage or with a rescue until I can get a handle on what to expect. I do restrict access to areas of the house that might be vulnerable until I am sure of the dog. Not all can be trusted to have free rein. Be consistent in what you expect or will tolerate, and be very watchful until you understand what behaviour is "normal" for your new dog. Are they really that active? I would say no. She is likely excited to be in a new place and curious about everything. She should settle down. Of course, with a rescue there may well be reasons someone gave up on her, and it's not always immediately apparent if a dog has problems. Hopefully she will fit in well with your family. Invisible fence......likely not a good choice for a Basenji, particularly if there are coyotes in your area. You need to protect her. Coyotes will go after a small dog, and sometimes even a not so small one. I know someone who lost a Jack Russell when he was lured by coyotes and then attacked once he was beyond his master's protection.....and Jack Russells are tough little dogs! However, invisible fence can be useful to back up a physical fence if your dog turns out to be an escape artist. Regarding landscaping.....there are some deer fences that blend well and become almost invisible. Perhaps combined with invisible fence that might be a good option. Otherwise, walks or biking your dog should help, and definitely challenge her mentally. Basenjis are clever and I believe they enjoy learning. I taught my boy to retrieve objects by name.....it was fun for both of us. Good luck with her.
  • ?

    When to get another Basenji

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    ?
    Wow! Somehow, I never got emails letting me know I had responses to this thread and just assumed there weren't any. But now that I'm back in the loop, I did want to thank everyone for their feedback and provide some thoughts of my own. That makes me laugh about the rescue person who wouldn't let young families or lawyers adopt her dogs. :-D I can understand her rationale from both perspectives. It's a compelling argument on her part about lawyers, but not all lawyers are the same, of course. I know a lot of extremely busy lawyers in large firms who struggle to hit their billable hour requirement each month. They're machines instead of people, and I wouldn't even let them dogsit my babies for fear of neglect. That's not my situation, fortunately. The young family part will be, but I've been thinking really carefully on how I'll balance this when the time comes. My dogs are my first children, and I would hire as many trainers as needed and try as many alternatives as I could before I would give them up. Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of people have that mindset about their dogs. :( I would absolutely be open to the idea of having the breeder choose a puppy for us based on their experience and prediction as to personality. All basenjis are gorgeous to me, and as long as the markings aren't completely off-base and I can get a tightly-curled tail (I've seen that the Avongaras can be lacking in this area, and I need a cinnamon bun in my life), personality is the most important thing. I wouldn't nitpick it to death. I'll have to decide on a breeder at some point, and I'd love one who's relatively local so I could visit. The man I got Penny from had great pet Basenjis that he bred… I'd like to go with a more reputable breeder this time around. At the very least, he tested for Fanconi. I can be grateful for that, as all is well so far and I more than likely dodged a bullet when I ended up with such a fantastic dog. My plan would be to decide and get on a waiting list far enough in advance that if there were a couple litters that just didn't produce what my family and I were looking for, we wouldn't be waiting forever. In short, what I'm banking on is that the right pup with the right personality will fit in pretty flawlessly. I know what sets my basenji off in other dogs, and I'm hopeful that I could find one that would suit her and suit our home. Daisy certainly worked out well for her, and I'd love to have that same success again. I've done three puppies in my lifetime, and all of them have grown up to be well-adjusted adults. I know what it takes, and I know it's hard work. I would never go the route of having an infant and a puppy at the same time (isn't THAT actually the definition of insanity?? ;) ), but I am still trying to shoot somewhere in the next 3-4 year range so my two aren't past ten and too old to handle a puppy.
  • L

    When should we get him fixed?

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    we waited the full year. We thought we might want to do agility and lure coursing, and had read that early neutering could lead to thinner bones. Thinner bones means more chance of injury, so we figured we'd wait. He seemed to sail right through the surgery, recovery wasn't too bad. I say, why not wait, if there is no intact female in your household, and the dog is properly contained.
  • Robin_n_JackR

    Got to get that bunny!

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    Ninabeana26N
    @EskiLovr: Don't forget that the most favorite game to play for most Basenji's is, guess what? Chase games! They love to chase other dogs, and BE chased too. That's the favorite activity for our boy at the dog park. If he can find another dog that understands how to play the 'chase game' he's in heaven! And heaven help you if want to get ahold of him around the house. If I step after him, he immediately darts away and looks back as if to say "come-n-get me" tail wagging the whole time! That sounds just like my boy! He will grab something he knows he isn't supposed to have [i.e. a sock] & make sure that I see him then just start running through the house. If I don't chase him, he will drop it after he notices I am not chasing him. Haha. It cracks me up!
  • tlbuddyT

    Cali gets houseguest

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    tlbuddyT
    The neighbors boxer was not so much aggressive with Cali as she was with my brothers boxer. Cali usally plays with their German Shepherd pup and they get along really well. True, I shouldnt have taken Lady anywhere near their boxer, but I thought they would get along because their boxer gets along with the other boxer down the street.. My brother also has a Cane Corso(Italian Mastiff) and a Rottweiler and his Boxer is used to playing with them all of the time because they live together. When I say discipline I mean more of a "time out" in the crate or a stern NO! Sometimes if I clap my hands once and say NO! at the same time she gets the message. I have had her 2 months now and we are both making progress. I am learning what worked for my other dogs does not necessarily work for Cali. I do notice that training her is a lot different from my previous 2 dogs (Pitbull/Rottweiler mix and a German Shepherd). I have been reading a lot of the posts about obedience and training on the forum and it has helped a lot. Cali is like no other dog that I have owned, but I like being challenged.:) :) :)