Basic Rescue Guidelines for Basenji Adopters

Please read these tips and ask your adoption coordinator any questions you may have about
these items and how they apply to your new Basenji. Expect to be tired for the first few weeks
your new Basenji is in your home.
Do keep your Basenji safe. It is nearly impossible to catch an escaped, scared Basenji.
• Plan ahead. As soon as your Basenji comes home, practice calling him in the house and
each time he comes, give him a fabulous treat.
• Basenjis will bolt through any open doors. Be certain your new Basenji is in your control
before opening any doors.
• Basenjis will back out of their collars. A martingale collar or limited slip collar will prevent
the dog from backing out of the collar. As soon as you receive your dog, fit the collar to
its neck to lessen the opportunity to ‘back out’.
• If your Basenji escapes, chasing will only make it run faster. Try running in the opposite
direction, as he may decide to chase you; or lay down on the ground and roll around, or
act as if you are eating – your Basenji's curiosity may bring him back to see what is
going on. If you are in a vehicle, open the door(s) on one side and call because many
Basenjis like to go for car rides. Notify your placement counselor immediately for more
guidance.
Do remember that it may take up to four months for a dog to settle into its new surroundings.
For a Basenji who has been placed multiple times, it may take longer. Try not to pressure the
dog to work with you too much or expect anything extraordinary from the dog during this time.
Do act like you get a new dog in your house every day of the week: It's no big deal. This is hard
because you're nervous yourself, but it's SO important. If you are nervous and uptight, the dog
will get nervous and uptight, as well. Your confidence will be contagious and help your Basenji
realize s/he has a confident "leader.”
Do talk to your Basenji a LOT. Use your natural voice. Talk to the dog about anything — just
babble, but throw the dog's name in every so often. What you are doing is getting the dog used
to your voice and helping it to learn to read your body language. The faster the dog learns this,
the more quickly it can start to settle in, so talk to it a LOT.
Do act sympathetic toward the dog. While dogs may not understand sympathy, they do like to
be comforted just like any other family member.
Do have the dog sit before you set their meals down after the second or third day, if he already
knows the command. If he doesn't know SIT, begin teaching in a positive manner. Do not risk
stressing your Basenji by jerking, pushing, or over-handling him into a sit position. One way to
train sit is to simply wait for your dog to sit, then immediately praise by saying, "Good sit!" and
offering a treat. (Carry treats with you in a Ziplock bag).
Do feel comfortable about petting your other dogs, if you have them. It's VERY important for
them to realize they have not been displaced, and for the new dog to see you interacting in a
pleasing way with them.

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Do be aware if you are causing tension between dogs as you provide attention and play time.
Resource guarding or protection of "my" human can cause disagreements. Calmly leave the
area and avoid aligning yourself with any one dog — this helps to reduce the stress.
Do remove all toys if there is another dog in the home. Let the dogs adjust to each other before
adding the stress of squabbling over toys, or provide toys only while the dogs are individually
crated.
Do pay personal attention to the dog when he begins to ask for it, but be cautious. Some
Basenjis want attention but then revert to fear when you reach out to them because they're still
unsure of you. Approach from the side, pat the back. Leaning over a dog with hand extended is
an invitation to bite. If he looks the least bit tentative, stop. If the dog IS tentative, he will turn
away.
Do expect the dog to become a "Velcro dog" the first weeks. He has been abandoned once and
doesn't want to be abandoned again. You can tell whether and how well a dog is adjusting by
how soon and how long it lets you out of its sight.
Do keep a leash or some kind of line (about 3 feet long) attached to the dog's collar at all times
when in the house. (You may wish to spray with Bitter Apple to prevent it being chewed.) A new
Basenji tends to try to find a place he can claim as "his". This is OK; let him have his "space."
However, if he growls while on any piece of furniture, say "OFF!" and use the line to gently pull
him off. Don't jerk the line, just pull gently but firmly until he is off. Or, offer a treat, rewarding the
dog for complying with the "OFF" command.
Do counsel your children about interacting with your new Basenji. Children require the highest
degree of supervision when around the new Basenji. Children's play frequently consists of
making loud noises and running, flapping arms, and sometimes waving toys in the air. This type
of behavior may be very frightening to your new Basenji. If your children want to do something,
they may put the Basenji's food bowl down, and they may put treats on the floor for the Basenji
to eat. Going slowly is the best policy. Make sure they understand not to have their hands in the
Basenjis face.
Do advise visitors to avoid approaching your Basenji. Advise them to ignore the dog until the
excitement of a new person in the house has worn off, then they may meet the Basenji by
holding still and letting the dog approach them.
Don't expect ANYTHING extraordinary from the dog. The only thing you want to do during these
first weeks is to show the dog your basic leadership skills. Just show your self-assured traits for
now; they help the dog understand that you know what you're doing.
Don't respond negatively to a growl or nip. Should the dog growl at you for ANY reason, stand (if
you aren't already), turn your back to the dog, and slowly walk away. Should the dog try to nip
you as you're walking away just STOP and stand still, ignoring the dog completely.
Don't wake your Basenji by touching or shaking it. Many Basenjis will awake snapping at
whatever woke them. Make waking up a happy thing. Simply call the dog's name in a happy
voice and ask, "Who wants a cookie?" Give the treat, then return to your normal interaction
style. If your dog has a hearing or vision problem, stomping lightly on the floor to awaken him
before touching will help.

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Don't try to retrieve your Basenji from a crate, under a bed, or some other hiding place if he
becomes frightened. Wait patiently and let the dog set the pace, or encourage him to come out
by calling and/or offering a treat.
Don't touch the dog. LET THE DOG COME TO YOU in its own good time. When a Basenji is in
a new environment, the only thing that's familiar to him is the immediate space around his own
body. This space becomes inviolate to the dog. He may likely feel threatened if you touch him
before he is ready. If you drop something next to the dog, either wait for the dog to move, or
offer a tasty trade if he has gotten something inappropriate. If it's edible, let him have it. Avoid
making quick movements with your hands or body that might startle the dog.
Don't leave washcloths, towels or any cloth item where your Basenji can reach it. Many Basenjis
chew and ingest the material, which can result in a life-threatening situation and costly surgery.

These tips were originally compiled by Jean Skaggs and have been modified and enlarged upon
by volunteers of BRAT.
Reviewed and Revised by BRAT's Board of Directors on 08/27/2012

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