A tale of two sparrows

Basenji Talk

  • Last fortnight I was sitting on my lounge and Pepper was scratching around the side of my lounge. I hunted her away and didn't think much of it. When my girlfriend arrived home from work, I told her of this strange behavior and went to get a drink of water. My girlfriend started to move the lounge to see what had aroused Pepper's interest. It is a wonder that you didn't hear the scream in America, it was so loud. Sandra had found the center of Pepper's interest and it was a dead sparrow. Of course, now that my girlfriend had found the deceased, I had to dispose of it. We assumed that Pepper had killed the sparrow and brought it in, only to have dropped it down beside the lounge. It was interesting that there was not much damage to the sparrow. Anyway, we left it at that. A week later, I was sitting at my dining table computing as I do, when there was an almighty crash as the two dogs, Pepper and Mister Two Dicks, came charging in through the doggy-door. Pepper had caught another sparrow and this time it was alive. Of course Mister Two Dicks wanted to get in on the action. There were sparrow feathers and basenji dust (much like pixie dust but for basenjis) flying though the air. As much as I felt sorry for the sparrow, I couldn't stop laughing. Fortunately, my girlfriend was close by, and the two of us were able to remove the bird from Pepper, but just as we did so, it escaped our clutches and flew under the lounge where it sought refuge. We put the two dogs in the laundry and gingerly moved the lounge to try to save the sparrow and set it free. The sparrow saw it's opportunity for freedom and few straight into a kitchen cupboard, as one of the doors was partially open. We finally had to remove all the plates from the cupboard before we could gingerly grab the sparrow and finally let it free. I am sure that there will be further sparrow stories to come.


  • Pepper must be pretty fast! My first Basenji (75-92) was a bird catcher too. Black birds in the front yard. Those birds are really mean, she'd kill one and they would dive bomb her and she wouldn't even be fazed by it. She killed a Pheasant once in a field and a large wood pecker at my Mothers. My cat used to bring in Finch through the cat door then they would get out of his mouth and be flying around the house.


  • OOOOhhh i hope Malaika doesn't start catching little creatures, have enough problems with the cats, they only catch mice as they are not quick enough to get birds.
    Pepper must be fast i've never heard of Dogs getting birds before.
    I have noticed Malaika doing stalking cat like behaviour when i'm playing with her.

Suggested Topics

  • Advice for raising two females

    Basenji Talk
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    Patty MP
    Hi Sarah, congratulations on your new puppy! I have two females that are 3 and 5; they've lived together for 1.5 years. When they met, the younger one wanted to assert herself as the dominant one, and the older one acquiesced…. they've determined their roles, so there really isn't an issue here. The younger one, Lola, is a "licker" and often initiates playtime. If the older one doesn't want to play, she will snark at Lola, who then decides that the new game is to clean Becca's ears. :) I think the guideline to introduce them in a neutral place is a good one until you know how they will interact when your puppy goes to visit Bananas. Hugs and roos! Patty
  • Oct Basenji Tales is out

    Basenji Talk
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    4k Views
    DaMacD
    Thanks for reminding me that I wanted to subscribe but forgot. I had to look at the site and the contact person. Seems like I know that address. I got my first four "B" from her, know her for almost 40 years. Da Mac
  • Two New Books for me!

    Basenji Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    7k Views
    R
    Reading is very good activity. It increase our knowledge and vocabulary. I suggest to some books like P.S. I love You, Piranha and Horror fairytale world. I hope you like it and enjoying reading.
  • Are two better than one?

    Basenji Talk
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    bcraigB
    We have occasionally thought about bringing in a second B, which is shocking because most of our first year with Ella was so hard. But the second year has been so good it has become a fleeting thought. But the description you gave of what happened with Cassie and Alex is exactly our fear. Ella loves to meet all other dogs on walks but is pretty submissive and I have a feeling she very well might get bullied by a new pack-mate. We think about it because Ella also stays home alone for much of the day 4-5 days a week. But I do not sense that she is stressed about it at all. She sleeps in the sun or looks out the windows most of the time. I usually have to wake her up when I come home for lunch and at the end of the day. When I am home during the day she pretty much ignores me and sleeps in the sun and looks out the window anyway. After the novelty of a new dog wore off, I think she/they would still do the same thing each day. The thought I have is, if you get a second dog do it because YOU want a second dog. Don't do it because you think that is what your dog wants.
  • One Basenji or Two?

    Basenji Talk
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    8k Views
    sabaS
    @Flash: Good to hear of another Aussie! The breeder I got my basenji bitch from and will get my second b from is: Kay and Ross Eldred from NSW - both lovely people and wonderful with basenjis. Where abouts are you? I'm in Canberra. I'd love to hear more about your expanding b family - particularly whether your 2 basenjis are working out well together. Well, well, well, what a small world it is ??? :). Saba is by Kay and Ross's gorgeous Zulu, out of a Wazazi bitch, and Ochre is by their stunning Rusty, also out of a different Wazazi bitch :). I think I like my Wazazi/Jebelmarra puppies… I only just, (a couple of weeks ago), emailed Kay, after Rusty's fabulous win at Sydney Royal... I am in Tassie, about 35 kms south of Hobart, on a wonderful 13 acres, with my hubby, and 2 daughters... The B's love it too, although no free running on the property, for them :p, but we have a large fully fenced, (9 feet high), off lead area, for them and the Cattle Dogs too.... I got Saba first, and really had no thoughts of getting another for a while, Yeah right !!! 12 months later, along came Ochre :D. (Im very glad they only come into season once a year, or Dog knows how many we would have by now...). Now another 12 months and I might be getting another, I must have rocks in my head !!! Perhaps you will do the same thing too, and get another one next year :D. They are very moorish, arent they ??? A bit like chippies, hey... We had no problems at all with introducing Saba and Ochre. Saba was a touch put out, but he was soon playing very happily with his new pal... They get on very well together. Ochre takes everything in her stride, and I think Saba would love another little girl in his harem... I dont predict I will have any problems, if I do get another little girl, (thats what I am hoping for !!!), this year, either. Ochre is a very temperamentally stable little lass, who would adjust quickly to another girl, I think !!! Also, during the last 4-5 months, we have added another Cattle Dog as well. He currently lives in the house with the 2 B's, and he is about 6 months old now. Ochre gives him a hard time, and does get a little cranky with him at times, otherwise she is ok. Saba was being very dominant with him, in the house, so in the house they arent let out together, (either Nosh, the Cattle Dog, or Saba is loose, and the other is crated...), but they are happy to race around the off lead area we have, together, which Im pleased about... Saba isnt as tolerant with other dogs, particularly other males, but, we deal with that ;). They are both our first Basenji show dogs, we show the Cattle Dogs, which we are enjoying. Saba is having a few issues on the table at the moment, and we are working on this, and Ochre is showing very well, with pleasing results so far :). She is going to be a very slow maturer, (thanks Rusty, and to a lesser degree, her Mum Electra :D), so her time will come later :). My OH and I lived in Canberra, in the early 90's, both nursed at Woden Valley Hospital. Great memories of the place. First in Waniassa, (sp?), then Bungandore, (sp?), till we came back home to Tassie... So what is the breeding of your first Jebelmarra dog ??? Then obviously the next question is, who is the potential parents of this years puppy ??? Looks like we will be able to pass the time away, firstly, hoping for our new puppy to be conceived, then "grown", then born, then the VERY long time waiting to get it at 8-10 weeks. I think I am ahead of you slightly, cos Electra was mated on the 16th April, your guys are "having fun", at the moment, I think... SORRY ;):p:)... Gee, this has turned into a bit of an epic :D
  • One crate or two?

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    B
    I would not reccomend doing that, fights start over the slightest things. Too many things can go wrong…...seperate cartes is the way to go IMO.:)