The Adventure Continues...
Lindy Is Charmed by a Leprechaun
Grief and DespairSearching for a New Pal
The
AdvertisementPlay Bows and Real Challenges
Was it All Worthwhile?
So Should I Adopt a Rescue?
But Can't There Be Drawbacks to
Adopting a Rescue?I mentioned our corgi on the previous page, Leprechaun of Coalbyn Corgis, with the call name of Khan. Khan was a sweet dog, eager for attention and always willing to please. Aside from once anointing a live Christmas tree as if it were an outdoors plant, he was a completely pleasant and inoffensive dog who in no way deserved the level of abuse... er... play that Lindy inflicted upon him.
Lindy's idea of a good time was to pester Khan. Once she grabbed a stick in her mouth and started jumping over him. She kept jumping back and forth, and every time she cleared Khan's low body, the stick hit him and he yelped. Needless to say, Lindy thought this was very amusing and Khan did not. Her other "game" was to get behind him and nip his fuzzy rear, then (as Khan swung about slowly, like a great battleship) my evil darling would bound behind and nip his butt again. I think Lindy earned the nickname "the Evil One" for her unwitting abuse of Khan.
As the older dog's health failed, we realized that our next dog would have to be fast, tough, and able to hold up well under basenji teasing. We decided to adopt a second basenji, a rescue, and name him "Khan's Revenge," or Connor for short.
When he was twelve, Khan's kidneys failed. He crossed the Rainbow Bridge as I held him in my arms. And, as you might expect, the humans in the pack weren't the only ones to grieve. Lindy was heartbroken - no amount of love and daily walks would console her.
One evening, near sunset, Lindy and I met a lost, little, black dog. Worried that the poor little guy might get hit by a car, I carried "Little Bits" home until we could locate the owner. Lindy was delighted and the two dogs romped happily for about two hours. Then Little Bits went home to his family, and Lindy flung herself on the sofa with her muzzle between her paws. If ever a dog was angry with her humans, it was Lindy at that moment. How dare we let those people take her friend away! She sulked for several days.
In the dark ages of Basenji rescue, before Basenji Rescue and Transport came to the Internet, it was more difficult to locate a rescue in need of a home. We checked with the local basenji breed club: there were no dogs available at the moment, but we were told that, as soon as this year's crop of young adolescent males began trying to move up in the pack, there would be lots of young dogs available.
That, unfortunately, is true for many breeds. When a cute young puppy begins to challenge authority, many humans don't know how to cope, and give up the dog rather than learn how to rule their pack. Yet many of these same dogs, given basic obedience training and a confident owner, make wonderful pets. We generally put up with our children's turbulent transition into adulthood; we have far less patience with the adolescent canine's struggle to find his or her place in the world.
(Peculiar, isn't it, given how difficult teenagers are to live with, and how easily dogs fit into our lives? Ah, well, the Author is coping with her teenagers and enjoying her dogs, who are civilized pack members and pleasant companions. The Author hopes to one day discover as much joy in her "adult children" as she is currently experiencing with her "adult dogs." Perhaps we shall one day post an update....)
I started to watch the paper and found an ad listing a basenji for sale. I wasn't exactly looking to purchase a dog, but what the heck? Lindy was really lonely. I called and asked about the dog's history.
This poor red-and-white boy had been found running along the Interstate at night. A Sheltie breeder had seen him and managed to catch him. She had put the ad in the paper, trying to find this dog a home. And boy, did he ever need one!
At this point, soon after being found, he was unneutered. His coat was in such terrible condition that our vetinarian wasn't sure whether or not the dog had mange. There were huge calluses on his elbows, probably from lying on concrete, and the pads of his feet were worn off from running along the road. His ears showed evidence of recent yeast infections. But he hadn't been on the streets long, because he was overweight, and was still wearing a leash and collar with no tags when he was found. I imagine someone was walking him who did not understand how strong a frightened basenji can be, or else someone intentionally dumped him by an onramp somewhere.
Our vet reassured us that this dog had no serious health problems and would probably make a fine pet. But I think I probably would have taken Connor no matter what. When we first saw him, Connor was huddled miserably in the back of a crate, and when he came out and we offered him treats, the look in his eyes changed from fear to hope. Somehow, I don't think I could have lived with myself, if I disappointed him.
We took Connor in to meet Lindy. She was only a few days from coming into heat, and she took one look at this dog and said, "God job, Mom! You brought me a boyfriend!" Even before she gave him a good sniffing, Lindy greeted the newcomer with a deep play bow and tore off across the house. Connor responded enthusiastically, and we knew he was "in." After all, he had the Princess of the Universe's Seal of Royal Approval, and I don't think she would have forgiven us for letting a Real Dog get away. (I can't imagine how disappointed she felt when Connor got neutered less than a week later. But at least he's a really good chew toy, even if he's not a Real Dog anymore.)
Later that afternoon, I set Connor in my lap and held him for over an hour, as he leaned into me with all his might. From then on, he trusted me, although he is very cautious around people he doesn't know. I think something happened during that long cuddle that told him he was finally home.
Now, don't imagine that introducing a new pack member is that easy. After the Basenji 500 ended and the two dogs started sorting out who was in charge, we had some serious snarking but, fortunately, no serious bloodshed. They snapped and growled and made ferocious noises, and put a couple of little holes in each other, but they worked things out within a couple of weeks. We backed Lindy as having more status in the pack, partly because she is a total Alpha-wanna-be, but also from some human sense of justice that says the one who was there first has the most right to be there. It turned out to be a good judgment call, because Connor is just a really nice guy, and he's perfectly happy being a subordinate member of the pack. He does grump if you move him when he's in the bed, and he would like to be the only dog in the chair, but he's willing to compromise. As long as Lindy leaves his chewies alone, he doesn't care if she thinks she's the Boss.
The only real problem was housebreaking. Just as the callused elbows suggested, Connor had been a yard dog, and he didn't have any concept that he should let us know if he needed to go out. As a matter of fact, he was a little mystified about why he should go out in the first place. It took treats, patience, and leashing him to my waist to get the idea of "Go do your stuff" across.
Then there was the separation anxiety. Connor quickly learned that he was supposed to go outside, and perform his duty on command. No problem. However, when left by himself in a room, even for just a minute... Yeah, you guessed it. This was a dog that could NOT be left alone without falling apart. He would panic, and start crying and peeing all over the place. Over time, he figured out that it's not the end of the world when I walk down the hall, and that he's safe here, whether I'm sitting next to him or not.
It's taken a couple of years for him to learn to enjoy being by himself. He's so confident now that he can even be left in the yard without Lindy. Instead of howling pitifully, he just relaxes on the porch until someone notices him and lets him in again. He will even go outside alone to lay in the sun, or stay in a chair to finish his nap if I leave the room. This may not sound like a big deal to you, but believe me, it's a matter of life and death to my carpets. We are all very happy that Connor feels safe and secure.
A second, more serious problem has been Connor's dog-hostile behavior. At first, he would panic when he saw another dog. He would spin in circles at the end of the lead and bite whatever he bumped into. We spent a lot of time socializing him. We would muzzle him and take him to the petstore, or to lure coursing, or to a basenji fun day, and walk him past other dogs. Or we would keep him at a distance, without the muzzle. Although today we can walk Connor within a few feet of other leashed dogs, he will never be a socialite, and he may never even be reliable around a loose dog. I expect we'll have to exercise caution with him for the rest of his life. Rehabilitating a dog a dark past is not a quick or easy process; once a dog has experienced hurt and abandonment, it never quite believes that the world is a perfectly friendly place. Having a friendly and outgoing Basenji as his companion has helped Connor tremendously. When he sees Lindy being petted by strangers and enjoying her outings, he wants to join in on the fun. Sometimes lately, he is even more willing to meet new people than Lindy is.
Why is he so afraid of other dogs? We know, from the woman who found him, that Connor was beaten up at least once by a male Collie. In fact, Connor is much more worried about big, long-haired dogs than he is about small, short-haired ones. He may also have had other bad experiences on the road or with a previous owner. Certainly his fear of strangers and other dogs suggests abuse or neglect, but since he can't tell us, we'll never know.
You bet! Connor is a really sweet, loving dog. Among his many accomplishments are: Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Shake, Other Paw, Wave, Give Me Five, Dance, and Roll Over. He has the cutest way of jumping on a ball with his paws and knocking it around before he brings it back to you (or past you, if he want to hide it in his blankie under the grand piano). When you pet him and he's happy, his toes curl in bliss. And he has absolutely the most appealing paw waves in the whole world. Even if he weren't Lindy's Personal Trainer and best friend, we'd cherish him, 'cause he's a great guy.
Many people say that a rescued dog is especially loving and eager to please, as if, having lost one home, they are really grateful for a second chance. Connor's such a sweetheart that I think he'd just adore us anyway, but I know that he really does appreciate being here. And when I think of what might have happened to him - a dog-hostile, unhousebroken dog with separation anxiety - I feel a real sense of achievement when I look at the beautiful, cheerful, affectionate creature who makes me laugh and enriches my life. I made a difference; I saved a Basenji.
Okay, so it's not an Albert-Sweitzer kind of achievement. I'm not Albert Sweitzer. I'm not going to save the whole world from space aliens, or the forces of darkness, or even from its own stupidity. But I can do these little things to help the people, and animals around me, and I think that counts for something. And you could do something like that too.
If you're considering a dog, and are "basenji enough" to own one, sure. Many dogs are "unhomed" due to no fault of their own. Their owners divorce, move into apartments, become ill, or die - in short, people experience changes in lifestyle that make living with one or more dogs impossible or awkward. A mature rescue Basenji will be a loving pet, and may require far less effort and attention than a puppy that needs to be housebroken, leash-trained, and taught not to destroy the world. If you adopt through an organization like BRAT (Basenji Rescue and Transport), the dog will be screened for potential problems, and every attempt will be made to ensure a good match for the new owners' experience and needs. If the dog has been in foster care, many of the health and behaviorial issues (if there were any at all) will have been dealt with. You won't have to go through the hassles we went through with Connor - he was rather a special case.
Yes. You may encounter some unexpected health or behaviorial problems. But please realize that experienced rescue organizations will not put you at risk by adopting out a potentially dangerous dog. If the dog has a known health problem, you will be told what to expect; if the dog is not reliable with children, other dogs, or cats, the dog will not be placed with in a home where there are children or other pets. If the dog is an escape artist, he or she may require a home with a tall block wall, or an owner willing to take the dog out only on a leash. But the dog may be a perfectly wonderful dog without any health or behavior problems, and only need someone to love. Generally, an adult dog is much easier to live with than a puppy, and you will experience far less stress (not to mention damage to your home) if you adopt an adult dog than if you buy a puppy.
During your first few weeks, anticipate working though the same sorts of things you'd go through with a puppy. Your new pack member will have learn the "house rules" and will wonder who's in charge (also known as "working out the pack order" with humans and other pets in the family). In addition, you may have to review a few housebreaking basics as the dog "marks" his new home. This is normal, and if you need help or advice, call the rescue contact who helped place the dog in your home. He or she is familiar with the breed and will be happy to answer your questions or find some answers for you.
Your rescue dog may initially require extra assurance and affection. Remember, if you had recently lost your family and everything you'd ever known, you would need some extra T.L.C. too. As the dog begins to feel secure and relaxed in its new surroundings, the dog will need less physical contact and comfort; but be lavish with the praise and the petting in the beginning. The dog needs to know it's doing the right thing; it needs to feel welcome; it needs to feel safe. Your guidance and approval are vital to helping your new friend settle in. Be generous with both.
However, a word of warning: basenjis love physical contact and like being involved in everything you do. Your new dog may never voluntarily stop sitting on your lap, plumping a warm rump down on your feet, or pushing against your leg as you work in the kitchen. Basenjis are great cuddlers and great helpers. Right now, my two basenjis are lying side by side in a chair, watching the bird feeder while maximizing their body-to-body contact; if I were on the couch instead of this office chair, they would be curled up in two neat little balls next to me. They are inobstrusive and polite, but always present. It's a bit like living with cats, and much less work than living with a cocker spaniel. For me, the constant, quiet companionship is very satisfying. But if you want a dog you can stick in the backyard and ignore, a basenji is not the dog for you.
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Tina
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