Dash, thanks for the update. I hope Sugar is soon doing better. That heartworm treatment is a b**ch for any dog. I hope your continued updates convince people that the the annual blood work and preventative are well worth their time and money, because as you well know, the alternative is quite a bit more costly and painful for the dog (and family) in the long run. Again, thank you and my prayers to you for a better month for you and Sugar.

You can help BRAT even if you can't foster. We need folks to eval dogs coming into rescue, check out homes who want b's, transport, …many things. Sometimes, all you have to do is take your b's over to a home that "THINKS" they want one... After seeing how the real dog behaves, they decide its not the dog for them..that is a good thing! So, please, to offer to do what you can. It all does help. Honestly.

So of course, this weekend she seems to be fine. We took her to meet her new family (hopefully) and I think she will fit in well. She will only be about a mile away so I am loving that I will get to see her on walks! Keep your fingers crossed all goes well.. Jen

Tucker is a big fan. And he likes the mocrowave kind. Especially the 'movie theatre butter' type that is super bad for you. :) He only gets a few pieces, though.

@BDawg: I have one for my two- and they do best when we're all running. If they're just walking, they end up pulling each other more often. But it's still easier than having two leashes. We have a hands free leash too… It's great if you're a runner. The dogs get used to it and it's really useful!! Here's some pics of the kids on their . The kids on tandem at Harpers Ferry The kids on a stump. ;) Great Pics. I love the hands free.I picture us doing what that lady is doing while jogging only I would be running sideways :D I had kind of hoped that Dash would help pull Sissy along and Sissy would pull Dash back. In theory it sounds perfect. I have been just taking Dash for jogging and leaving Siss at home. She can't jog very far and it seems more stressful for us both.

A long time ago I was at a seminar put on by the Senior Conformation Dog Show Judges. When we were on the structure section, something that was said really resonated with me. The example they gave was 2 dogs 2 different breedings that you are considering for a stud dog. Both have many sterling qualities one has Fair hips and one has Good hips - who do you use. Most everyone said Good hips. However then we got the rest of this information. The Fair dog was the only Fair in a litter of Good. The Good dog was the only Good in a litter of Fair/Poor. With that additional information - the Fair dog is actually the best choice. Too many times we are making breeding decisions based on incomplete information. I reimburse my pet people who get thier dogs OFA'd but they still seldom do. :(

I don't know if they are in your area, (I doubt it) but Nala had bites on her from black flies that were red and itchy and more of a ringed look to them. I took her to the vet immediately, only to be told what they were! Boy did I feel silly…I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it...

Funny how good training pays off and makes you proud of the little rascal. Family who've seen Duke in action when he was younger couldn't believe I got another one like him (Daisy). I am a so proud of Duke. Daisy is coming along OK, but we're still going thru all the training . . . it pay off big time.

She-Ra was one of those "Mall Pet Store" basenji's so even as a pup she'd gotten accustomed to eliminating where she ate, so crate training was really not much of a success. However, using pee-pads, if you're going to be gone, isn't a hard thing to train them to use (spray with bitter apple spray though…She-Ra LOVES to chew up the pee-pads!). We've also used "baby gates" with success to keep her out of danger rooms (kitchen, etc.). While Basenji's are natural climbers, Target sells a nice one that she's not been able to handle. Finally, just "Puppy-proof" your home and leave plenty of toys and chews around. Every now and then you'll come home to an accident, but for the most part she's quite content to have the run of (most of) the house.

I am not sure how old you basenji is, but i found basic training very helpful at the park. Caesar could understand what i expected from him when out. crazy running is normal humping or biting is very poor conduct at any dog park no matter what size…it is an action often immitated and is to show dominance there is nothing wrong with a basenji that prounces around stiff when other dogs are sniffing them....that is there way of saying, " you may sniff, but not dominate me! I am basenji". the hair standing on the neck and back or posturing is another way the basenji asserts him or herself at the park.... typically hair standing means nervous or scared= i watch that more closely than posturing or puffing up.... i am weary of the large dog areas when there are more than one pits in the mix. they naturally translate the basenji running as game and will try to tag team as well as play more orally than i like. if your basenji is humping a lot and is fixed, the small dogs may not be providing enough exercise or stimuli.... I try to have my basenjis in dog pens with vislas, bird dogs and running physical dogs. chasing retrievers is a great way to burn that basenji energy when casear was young and had difficult times at the dog park that seemed only addressed by a time out, we would leave and tight leash walk together. as soon as he would pull i would stop walking until he sat. then we would walk again. i also used hide and seek at the dog park as another technique for the park. Both my boys know to keep me in sight at all times. this keeps them from going off and getting into too much trouble. i would hide behind a tree until they realized i was gone and they found me. also, leaving the park with the dog in the pen is another way to let them understand that they should keep you in their sites. i did that a few times when i had a friend there with me and they stayed in the dog area. there is nothing more annoying IMO than an owner with treats in the dog park. or an owner with a dog on a leash in a dog park. or a person holding their dog in the air in a dog park. or a small unsupervised screaming and running child. the best rule is to communicate well with your animal. realize that time at the fenced dog park is free time for them to learn how to socialize. i have learned that basenjis do guard. if i am standing in the dog park, they run, sniff and play. if i sit in the dog park they will post near me and not go to far away. have fun, try new techniques, and watch other dog owners and how they participate with their dogs. you may pick up some good tips and see bad behaviors that you may want to avoid. as socialization continues at the park, your basenji will adapt and learn how to communicate with the least amount of conflict, so they can sniff as many butts as possible....

You can start them with a empty pack at any age, to get them used to it, ideally near they're adult size so you're not buying two. With adding weight it's just like hard exercise you'd want to wait till 18 months to 2 yrs. You can also add things light weight like empty water bottles or balled up news paper once they are used to the pack. This adds bulk to the pack without weight so they can then learn to wear it with the sides sticking out. Then you can add lighter things around a yr, maybe just house keys, two half empty water bottles, to get them used to gradual weight. Remember to make the weight even, that is the most important thing. Also when training with added weight don't go until they are tired start with slow times, maybe around the block or so, helps them get used to it and thier body to build up the desired muscle. Training to pack with any dog should be a gradual event, with a dog I'd say 3 months with a pup again the 18 months and up. Also a very important thing a dog should not carry more than 15% of thier body weight.

The last one is my favorite. What great pictures!!

Hello and welcome to the forum. Can't wait to see pics of Dash, and the rest of the family!!! I do home visits for BRAT. Would love to foster one, but space will not allow it at this time.