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Help with newly adopted basenji!

Behavioral Issues
  • N

    I am so sorry to hear this.
    I talked to your sister, and she sounded really motivated to help this little guy. She must be devastated. Give her my condolences.

    -Nicole

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  • P

    My sincere condolences to your sister - what a sad outcome!

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  • agilebasenjiA

    I was afraid this might happen. Perhaps if it is any consolation for your sister, we can be grateful this dog was not placed in a home with young kids. And I think it was better to euthanize him sooner rather than waiting 10 days then euthanizing him. Your sister made an honest effort to help and do the right thing. This is so not her fault, please let her know nobody blames her.

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  • C

    Hi Everyone :) I'm the sister referred to in the posts. My name is Cathy and I'm new to the Basenji world. I rescued a 4 yr old Male at the end of May and he is the most wonderful addition to my family. He came to me with no history but is so very loving and gentle. As you know my 2nd attempt to rescue didn't go so well.

    My hand is healing just fine, but my heart aches. This poor little dog did nothing wrong. It was all human error that caused his death and I'm so sad. Sad that my uneducated behavior had a part in his being destroyed. Mad that the organization didn't give me a better explanation of what behaviors he had been exhibiting.

    If I could only go back and make changes…..but its too late for him :(

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  • agilebasenjiA

    Welcome Cathy! I'm Kim (with 3 basenjis, a hubby and a malinois) and so glad you made it to our forum, but sorry about the circumstances. I'm glad your #2 has not soured you on the breed. They are quirky little creatures. I know your heart (and hand) hurts and I hope you can find peace soon.

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  • QuercusQ

    Welcome Cathy! I am so sorry you had to go through this. Please know that this was no fault of yours…sadly this dog was probably quite dangerous because of his lack of bite inhibition. Hugs to you...and again, welcome...

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • curlytailsC

    I'm so sorry this story had to end like this.
    But thank you for checking in with us. I hope you will be able to have more, less tragic Basenji adventures with us for some time to come.

    M.C. w/ Bowdu (shiba inu) and Bowpi (basenji)

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  • MacPackM

    Cathy, you just had a most horrible all-around 'rescue' experiences. I am so glad your hand is healing, but please don't blame yourself at all. Who thinks of all these things when you are adopting a cute dog from the shelter? I have had many basenjis who were "touchy" about their tails, but never such a reaction. I'm sure there are lots of things you would do differently if you could hit the 'undo' button, but nothing that you did was 'wrong' in any way. Try and look ahead and use your sad experience to educate (as you have done to us). As someone said, thank goodness it wasn't your face, or some small child…kids can't keep their hands off a basenji's tail. Like any accident,it all happened so fast (literally, at 60 mph) but it is past and try and put it behind you. Things work out for a reason, even if it makes no sense at the time.
    Hugs.

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

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  • P

    As always Macpack comes up with the right words. I totally agree with her - you did your very best Cathy, and that's what we all try to do.

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  • Patty MP

    Thanks, everyone, for welcoming my sister, Cathy. Anne, we've met once here in Tampa, but you feel like a kindred spirit, for your words of wisdom and love truly hit home. Thank you!

    "I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."

    ~George Bernard Shaw

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  • BasenjiByTheBayB

    What a sad outcome for that pup, but good to hear that you'll continue to love basenjis and basenji rescue. It's so hard to stop at one. :p Bet you'll be adding to your B family at some point, all the wiser.

    Catt…with no ordinary dogs!

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  • C

    Desperate for help with my biting basenji

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    M
    Hi - a few thoughts in case they are helpful, although ours doesn't bite. For biting: Figure out the reasons for biting first. if it is around toys/possessiveness - we gave him the toy on his bed and let him be there gnawing on his own. Then walked close by (not too close) and threw him something yummier in his view (eg a small piece of sausage that he can eat quickly) and walk away. Do this at random (though not too often) and have different people in your family do it. Soon she will associate your coming close to her and her favorite toy as something good. Progressively get closer (ie throw the sausage from closer), and then squat down, then touch on head briefly, then hand sausage to her, then move hand towards toy but don't touch it. By this time she will anticipate your coming to her when she has a toy as "yay, something more tasty coming my way". Evenutally, you should pick up the toy/bone hand her the sausage then hand back the toy/bone. Pretty soon she'll let you pick up her toy/bone without biting or thinking you are going to take it away. The key is to progress slowly in terms of distance etc, and mix up the treats (sausage, cheese, chicken). -if she does bite someone, then immediately isolate her in a basenji-proof room where she cant destroy things. And when letting her out, ask her to sit and be calm for a few seconds first so that she's not hysterical and she learns to watch and listen to you. There may be something else that one does for biting, so maybe others or a trainer would have good ideas. For pulling on walks, 2 things worked for us: A gentle leader - suggested by our trainer. This means she can't control her head (if they pull forward their head moves to the side like a horses halter) and so she won't be able to forge ahead. It will give your arm/shoulder immediate relief while you work on the rest. In the yard and on walks start rewarding with small treats every time she looks back at you/checks on you. At first she'll do it by chance, or if she is checking to see what you are doing, and sometimes it's a side glance. As soon as she does it - give big verbal praise and get her to come to you and give her a treat and lots of pets. She will begin to do this more often. initially treat every time she looks at you, and once she is good at it, then randomly. On walks you'll find her looking back and coming back to you more often, and as a corollary less pulling, which is a relief. We usually keep the leash in one hand and a handful of small, soft treats in the other - so you don't run out and have to keep going into your pocket to get treats. So, she'll come and nose your hand and you can pet some times, treat sometimes, etc. The one thing is to progress slowly, praise the right behavior and don't get impatient (count to 10, stop training or go do something else for a bit till you feel ready to try again). When doing the praise really have an excited voice and go overboard even! Our basenji really loves being praised. It takes more time perhaps than other methods, but it's long lasting because they see these behaviors as rewarding so you don't have to get into a battle of wills. And once they get the idea, they'll improve rapidly, even over one walk. Good luck!
  • Heinz57H

    Help!

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    KipawaK
    Kipawa went through a rambunctious stage at 13 months - he didn't do anything bad, but he seemed to be 'testing' who the boss was. He was reminded, consistently. (Grin) At 15 months he started to show very nice maturation qualities and a complete understanding of his place in our family pack. Be patient, be consistent, give him lots of exercise and really praise him when he is good.
  • P

    Help! Not sure about a trainer to help with a kid-nipping basenji

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    Buddys PalB
    Wow! this is one of many, many threads that I have responded to and I am very interested in the outcome of Poopydog and the nipping. As I was going through the Thread, I really had to bypass any of the responses of those who enjoy attacking one another. I sure hope this behavior did not thwart our member who really needed help. The majority are replies to one another trying to impart important knowledge or experience to someone who did not ask for it in the first place. Don't try to sound important. Everyone is, just give happy good-hearted advice and let us just not dig into the other who has a different opinion. Just dig, digs, and more digs. Really getting old….........................I know you won't miss me, but this is just too much.................................................................
  • J

    2yr old Basenji nipping problem HELP!

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    KipawaK
    @Kananga: I agree on the last post about playing vs. walking. I can take my Basenji on a walk for a solid hour and he won't be very tired. Encourage a few B-500s and play a few games with my B and he'll be napping in no time. I think the short bursts of high intensity exercises become more effective at wearing these guys out. Just my opinion though. I totally agree. In the course of Kipawa's day, we go to an off-leash dog park so he can run like crazy. For the evening walk, we do controlled leash walking. He is definitely more tired after the off leash play time where he runs like a bat out of hell!
  • J

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