Skip to content

Can an abused Basenji ever be completely rehabilitated?

Behavioral Issues
  • Of my two BRAT boys, the red & white, still is scared of doors, not as bad as it was 4 months ago, he also cowers when I reach down to pet him, Improvment is small, but I do get toe kisses and tail wags in the morning and he looks at me with trust. Hopefully the rebhab of go slow, talk calm and assertative will eventually win him over, his brother is a terror , but we love em.

  • Update on The Prince: He really seems to be making progress and is an absolute doll! Thank you all for your supportive messages and great advise. I'm sure I will have to be calling upon all of you again….........so nice to know you all are here!!!!

    Here's a sweet pic of the little (big) guy (I'll be posting more in "my albums"):

    attachment_p_93129_0_sadie-s-camera-thru-11-06-09-006small.jpg

  • He is stunning! :)

  • jepp, he is gorgeous..that prince of yours..:)

  • I rescued a 4-5 year old male from an owner who treated him more like a cat. Never spent quality time with him, never trained him, no routine, ignored him, yelled at him, and never took him for walks (didn't even own a collar when I got him). Little Benji didn't even own his own bed!

    I noticed he was very curious at first about our family, our house. You have to let him explore, get into trouble and use posititive reinforcement only. Especially if you suspect your dog was abused, using negative reinforcement will only cause more damage. Fore example, Benji was obviously use to jumping up on counters to see what's going on, or on the dinner table. In 2 days he was trained to stop doing that with a simple squirt bottle. Now he only needs to see the squirt bottle and he knows it means not to jump. Some habits can be changed, others could be a little harder but use treats and lures to start changing habits. Eventually the lures won't be needed and he will do it because you tell him he is a "good boy" and loves to hear that from the whole family.

    My Benji was also very jumpy when you approached him at first, didn't even know how to walk on a leash… but I started walking him 3 times a day and that is the best way to get him use to being very close and beside you. Get all family members to do this and spend one-on-one time with your Prince. Now, Benji just LOVES going for walks. I also went through a lot of treats the first 2 weeks, teaching him to stop on command, sitting at streets, and of course my favourite saying "Let's Go" and watch him run off like a mad man!

    Benji now has two beds, stays off the couch, off tables, comes 50% of the time you call him (that's just Basenji trait - hehe), and loves the whole family. I'm now only in the 3rd week and can't believe the transformation of little Benji. He's sometimes up to no good, like chewing apart a bunji cord to keep a gate in place, or clawing a door frame to try and escape confinement, but hey he's a dog not a robot....

    :D

  • I think most b's can learn to come around. It takes time, routine and giving the dog time to figure out its better in the house than, out in the yard, or in kennel.

  • Exactly right Sharron… time, time and more time.... however "being up to no good" is the slang term for a Basenji!!!!

  • Pat, I thought that was a Basenji Motto! LOL

  • When I got Ra & Shango last July, they were very nervous too, Shango, was scared of doors, loud sounds, I couldn't pet him…..So the first night, they just paced and cried. I just lite some lavendar candles and incense, layed on the floor with them and sang a lullaby, I know ....but it worked. I just had to transfer their little hurt brains to a calm, loving feeling......try it. I did this for three nights and after that no problems. Good Luck. Everyone Lavendar works on humans and B's and soft music.....

  • We adopted a 2 yr old red/white Basenji from BRAT last August. She also came from a puppy mill. when we first got her she was shy and nervous. We also have three house cats and a 1 yr old Basenji mix so it was quite an adjustment for little Bana. since August, we kept seeing a gradual improvement in all her behaviors. The past month she has really come out of her shell and is absolutely fantastic.

    We presently are considering another Basenji from BRAT and have had her in the house for 1 week…it has been challenging to say the least. Lucy is 4 yrs. old and was abused...mentally not physically. She is extremely over weight, the previous owner allowed her a self feeder...she blew up to 38 lbs, have been on a diet and is down to 38 now...needs to lose another 7 lbs or so until she looks like a Basenji.

    Lucy was very agressive with the other two, but they had their fights and things improved. Still have plenty of snarling by Lucy but no fighting. So stick with it, have patiance and continue to teach yours right and wrong. Basenji's are smart and will come around.

  • Thanks , I'm hopefull, he is a handfull, I can't keep a collar on him, he gets out at least once every 3 months, I can't tighten to much becasue he has a allergy and his hair rubs off. Our vet just has made a few extra rabies tags, sometime when it is not so wet I will find the two he has broken out of.

    Does anyone know of a collar that is basenji proof?

    Till Later Shango, Ra, & Belle's human:)

  • we have an escaper, and the only collar he cannot get off is one that is material and chain. it slips over his head and the leash clasps on the chain part. he cannot back out of it. we also use a reflective snap collar to put the tags on. when we walk him, he wears 2 collars, one with the tags and one with the leash. it works well. if you want pics. let me know and i will take a few and post them.

  • Crazybasenjimom, Have you considered not using a collar on him and maybe just have a harness, nice and snug, not too tight but snug enough so he can't get out of it?
    How are you feeling? I know you just had surgery right?
    Let's do a play date (I guess I am humanizing my dogs…) once the weather gets better, in the park..if you feel up to it..

  • There are collars that b's can't slip out of…they are greyhound type collars..*anyone seeing how narrow a GH head is, they see that this is the only thing to use on a basenji.
    I will try to find a site for them.
    the name escapes me right now, Pat or Lisa, do you know the collar I am speaking of??

  • I am not Pat nor Lisa, but i think you might be talking about Martingale collars, or lurcher collars..Otis has one.

  • Petra, yes, thank you honey…I had a hell day at work, and can't remember my own name.
    Those are the collars everyone should get for their b's...to keep them on a leash!

  • I would get one, but (only my opinion) they look so clunky to me. They look comfortable and I like the design of the fabric they use, but they're so big.

  • Not all martigales are big. I have several that are the same size as a regular buckle collar. For lure trials and race meets, I find it better to have the dogs on the wider martingales because loose leash walking goes completely out the door when the lure moves and I would rather spread out the force they are putting on their necks when they pull.

  • You can get them in thinner styles, the one Otis has from Lupine is not that wide..

    and they have a lifetime guarantee. If the dog chews it even if to pieces they will replace it..We have replaced Otis' once…

  • BIg is better with pulling b's…this makes the pressure on their necks less...the wider the band. Myself, I don't like "thin" collars for our breed.

Suggested Topics

  • Basenji and Baby

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    You need to get a professional to come to your home and observe... and give suggestions
  • Basenji packs

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    eeeefarmE
    For what it's worth, I have noted that in households with a strong human leader/boss/alpha/disciplinarian (pick one!) there are less squabbles among dogs, at least when the human is present. My neighbour has Rotties, had two bitches that hated each other and would fight, but they didn't do it when she was around. She did have to be careful that they could not get together in her absence. ;) Interesting anecdote: If my mare is bothering my old gelding and I notice it, I can break it up by yelling at her out the window! Guess I am "alpha" in that herd.
  • Basenji kisses?

    Behavioral Issues
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    6k Views
    CrazySenjiC
    Just 20 minutes ago Elliot was extra excited and running around and when he saw me he was SO excited he gave me a little kiss! I put a command to it ("kiss" lol) and praised him. I asked for another and he did it again! He got bored after the 5th or so time but I hope he remembers it! My Cody used to LOVE wet hair. If you sat down on the couch after a shower he would crawl behind you and rub himself on your head. It was both funny and annoying (much like a lot of basenji quirks).
  • What can I expect from muzzling my Basenji?

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    I'd suggest getting the book Control Unleashed. Available from dogwise.com or cleanrun.com Maybe amazon. Check around for the best deal. I've done a bit of training with my baesnjis and I've been doing the CU protocol with my youngest and I am so impressed! This is one of the best books out there on how to deal with a dog that is distractive or reactive. There's also a list (HIGH volume!) that may help you find someone in your area to do some of the CU exercises.
  • My Basenji training

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    jys1011J
    WOW!!!..Words to live by!! I commend you for all the effort it sounds like you've put into your dogs. I wish people were more like you…and your mantra should be placed on every B owner's refrigerator door :D :D It's all about knowing your dog & KNOWING their limitations. Respect is key and so is a no tolerance policy. At least that's how it is at our house! :) BTW-I went to a Basenji Fun Match...and A LOT of B's are bitchy snarky little fur balls. Rest assured yours are not the exception. Mine are exactly the same way but we work with them every day on this!
  • Basenji Watchdog

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    MantisM
    it is just socialization….my australian shepard was that way with men with facial hair because my dad and brother were always clean shaven....