Basenji Passing Out?

I have a dog named Flash who is a Basenji cross.  He is 4 and I have had him for 6 months he came to us to from a shelter.

 

Flash passes out when he get a fright.  We have had over $1000 worth of tests done by the vet and have come up with no answers.

 

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience.

 

Kate

Nobody Knows the Trouble They've Seen

Rescue basenjis often have parts of their pasts that we’ll never know about, people or events that will stay with them forever, circumstances that helped to shape their perspectives on the world. Details of their pasts might well remain unknown, so we need to patiently try to learn how our little curly tails see the world.

We moved from Florida to Illinois just a few months after we adopted Dasa. When we bought our house in Illinois, the back yard was surrounded by an inexpertly constructed shadow box fence that would not have significantly slowed an escape by the Munchkins. One of the first things we did, even before unpacking much more than essentials and all dog-related paraphernalia, was arrange to have a 6-foot privacy fence built with landscape timbers along the bottom and padlocked gates to make it as secure as possible. While we were waiting for the fence to be constructed, we decided to give the Munchkins some back yard time with 40 foot tie outs. They were never left alone on the tie outs, just as we don’t leave them alone in the backyard now. I took them into the back yard, attached the tie out cables to their collars, and undid their leashes.

They had differing reactions to the tie out. Ivan immediately went to the end of his cable, nearly walking sideways to sniff a spot just a tad out of reach. No matter where I put his tie out, there was always something wonderful just beyond it, and he kept himself entertained with his busyness and efforts to take over the entire yard.

 

Dasa, however, was quite happy to be on a six-foot leash. As soon as I hooked the tie out cable to her collar, her little tail drooped and she sagged with misery. I tried to assure her that I would not leave her alone in the back yard, but even sitting with my arm around her, administering lots of reassurances and rubbing her tummy did nothing to comfort her. A dark suspicion began to form when I clipped on her leash, unhooked the cable, and saw the transformation. She was quite content and her little tail assumed its jaunty arch. A bit later I tried the cable again, and she fell into the same disconsolate posture. The dark suspicion became an angry black cloud. Someone had left my tiny girl tied out somewhere. My tiny girl. Cold and alone. I immediately switched back to her leash, and promised my now happy little girl that she would never be left tied to anything.

We may never know Ivan and Dasa’s entire stories, but we do our best to make all of our chapters good ones.

The Way of Basenji

I suppose my BRAT rescue story is like many others: a wonderful and special Basenji named Clover Four Leaf came into my life through the tireless efforts of many BRAT rescuers and fosters, and all the sad and lonely places of my life and home were taken over by an exuberant little character, whose tail never seemed to stop wagging. I was forever hopelessly hooked.

I did, of course, expect some things to change. After being Basenji-less for a year and a half, I knew I'd have to get back into the old habits: rising earlier; daily walks and exercise; budgeting for food, toys, and the usual canine accoutrement; sharing the bed - or, more precisely - clinging to one corner of the bed, with one leg dangling. Yes, all these familiar things came back to me again; but I didn't mind. Clover Four Leaf gave back so much more than she took.

What I didn't expect from Clover was a crash course in Life 101. I mean, how could a dog teach a human anything about how to be a better person? And my first case study? Being fully present in the moment and appreciating the little things. When you think of it, who better than a dog to teach this most valuable lesson; for if there were ever a creature with the capacity of understanding "here and now", it's a Basenji. And so began Lesson One....

Clover and I kept coming across the same fallen tree branch on our daily walks. Nothing special about this small branch - as far as I could tell. Yet Clover stopped and studied it each time we passed it. I couldn't see any creatures on it or underneath it, but she behaved as if there were an entire micro-cosm on its surface. Those times - when her brow wrinkled in curiosity, her head cocked to the side as if she were hypothesizing, her whole body tensed with perplexity - those times I recognized her just being present and living in the moment. Seeing the world through her canine intelligence made me take a look at it myself. I must have passed a thousand things that had no meaning to me whatsoever; but Clover noticed everything. And it was like the first time she'd seen it. Always new, always interesting. She never rushed past any encounter: she slowly absorbed it, sniffed it, walked around it - as if she were memorizing every detail. I anticipated, and got, a "now, it's your turn" stare! She challenged me to actually look where I was going.

On other occasions, I observed this preternatural calm. Even during play or times of excitement, she would exhibit perfect understanding of where she was and what she was doing. She'd try to go after a squirrel, or challenge another dog, or growl from the car window at a passing motorcyclist. But once the squirrel, or dog, or biker passed by, it was over. Done. Completely forgotten! Frankly, it was freakish how she could switch gears and get back to the present. I would think, "here I am...so frustrated because I'm not somewhere else...but here's the Basenji, completely at peace with just being where she is right now".

Maybe I will never be able to explain what all this means to me. Maybe I'm just overly attached to my dog, an anthropomorphizing fool.  But I can't help but believe that dogs really can teach us a few things. Every day with Clover Four Leaf is kind of like sitting with a four-legged guru who eats from your hand and wants to lean against you all the time. I didn't even have to climb a mountain to get here.

Petting the Dog

As an owner of 2 small basenjis and one small kid, I'm often the recipient of the question, "How do the dogs get along with the baby?"  My general answer is that they get along well, and that we're trying to teach the baby how to be respectful of the dogs.  It's a bit of a daunting task, given that our son is only 10 months old, and up to this point most of our baby-dog intervention efforts have centered around making sure the baby doesn't poke the dogs, or invade their personal space while they're resting on the couch, or bother them while they're eating, or startle them by touching them on the behind.  We try to foster good interactions by showing the baby how to pet the dog nicely, praising both baby and dogs for tolerating the act.  I often wonder how much of this is actually sinking in for the baby, but hey - we've got to start somewhere, right?  And I do think that it's teaching the dogs to be more tolerant of the baby, by allowing them to get up close with him without being poked at. 

Reef patiently allows Declan to pet her

Declan stares in wonder at his buddy Biko

Very often in rescue, we see dogs that are turned in as being "not good with kids," who realistically were just never allowed to appropriately reject unwanted invasions ("pets" or "hugs") into their personal space.  A lot of humans, and in particular young kids, don't recognize the signs that a dog shows when he does or doesn't want to be petted.  In teaching my son how to pet the dogs, I'm trying to also pay attention to the dogs' body language when they're around him, which would indicate to me whether they're comfortable with the interaction with the baby.  Here's a fantastic video I found which demonstrates what dog body language looks like when he doesn't want to be petted:

While I know that it's going to be a long road to teach my son how to respectfully pet the dogs, I also know that paying attention to their body language and signs will definitely go a long way towards making sure that they're comfortable with the interaction as well.  Right now they just merely tolerate the baby, which is fine for now, but one day I hope to be able to answer the question "How do the dogs get along with the baby?" by saying that they're best friends, and knowing that the dogs truly think so too!    

2014 BRAT Convention

On June 12-14, Basenji Rescue and Transport, Inc. (BRAT) convened its 12^th annual convention at Maplewood Inn and Suites in Syracuse, NY.  Convention chairman was volunteer Katharine Moore of Syracuse.  As folks began arriving at the hotel Thursday night, the convention room fairly blossomed with Basenjis. All told, there were 49 humans attendees this year, and 52 dogs, including one Schipperke, an honorary Basenji.

During the Meet and Greet that night, attendees got a sneak preview of hundreds of donated items slated for Saturday night’s raffle, and auctions:dog food, treats, stuffed Basenjis, books, collars, leashes, magazine subscriptions, vouchers for medical testing, T-shirts, collectible books, an original 8” x 10” oil painting of the winner’s dog, over-stuffed gift baskets, ornaments, pillow, signs, coasters, mugs, and framed prints of original Basenji art, and more.

  

(photos: Suzee Aff)

Friday morning seminars opened with President Liz Newton “Walking a Dog through BRAT,” followed by Jean Martin, a Basenji breeder from Tully, NY who spoke about her decades-long experience with Basenjis, (she got her first Basenji in 1967!), among other things stressing the importance of regular exercise in keeping Basenjis healthy and well adjusted. 

Jean Martin, breeder (photo by Suzee Aff)

Next came Mark Christensen, a former director at a humane shelter now operating a doggie daycare center, who encouraged volunteers to continue working with shelters to educate shelter workers and counsel families considering adoption. The day’s seminar agenda concluded with a discussion of volunteer opportunities within BRAT.

Next on the schedule: a fun-packed adventure at Wegmans Good Dog Park at the edge of Onondaga Lake, followed by a picnic. It was a rare treat to witness dozens of off-leash Basenjis. Spontaneous play bows, pee-mail checks, chases, and fence races immediately broke out. One little black and white girl spent the entire time racing up and down the fence separating the small dog area from the big dog park, while, at the other side of the park, a knot of curious Basenjis clustered around a visiting pure white American Eskimo Dog diva. One volunteer seemed to have a Basenji fan club; wherever he went there was a knot of dogs cavorting about his legs. It turned out he wasn’t a “dog whisperer” – he just had a pocket full of salmon dog treats.

(photos: Suzee Aff)

Later, back at the hotel, fun and games continued with contests.

Most Freckles resulted in a 5-way tie:  Roscoe (Carol Vossler), Zandi (Nancy Grant), Tess and foster boy VVG/Vincent Van Gogh (Terrie and Dean Sigler), and Khari  (Carin Horowitz and David Wagenheim)

Best Wrinkles:  VVG (Terrie and Dean Sigler)

Least White:  Miko (Chris and Tom Miles)

Best Baroo: Benny Sigler (who also led his cohorts in at least two “group howls” in the meeting room during the convention, as if to convince hotel staff and loitering guests that Basenjis are wild and their owners crazy!)

Best Trick:  Viggo (Liz Curran), with his utterly convincing vocalization, “Momma, I love you!”

Quickest Down: Kato (Liz Curran)

Longest Stay:  Zandi (Nancy Grant).

Smallest Basenji:  Nikki (Megan Pisani)

Tallest Basenji:  Abraham (fostered by Kate Moore)

Most Unique Costume: tie between Barnie as a vampire (Tania Doran) and Dee Dee as Zorro (Kathy and John Duffy)  

Scariest Costume: Congo in his skeleton attire (Suzee Aff)

Funniest Costume: tie between Ellie the Pirate (the Duffys) and Dottie Devil (Tania Doran)

Viggo: "Momma, I love you!" (photo, Suzee Aff)

Saturday’s agenda included a presentation by Dr. Kerry Brown, who has a special interest in canine reproduction and enjoys working with dog breeders; he is also interested in internal medicine, surgery, and nutrition, is certified in acupuncture, and co-authored “The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog”. Among other topics, Dr. Brown discussed immunization, testing procedures, Lyme disease vaccine and treatment, and the holistic approach to veterinary medicine, and its value as a compliment to traditional western medical practice.

Dr. Kerry Brown (photo by Suzee Aff)

Next, the floor was opened to Janet Ridgeway, animal consultant/communicator and Reiki Master who teaches classes, provides consultations, and is writing a book about her work. She emphasized that pets take cues from their owner’s physical and emotional issues, and discussed ways to change unwanted behaviors and get to the bottom of chronic health problems through proper nutrition and other practices.

Following morning presentations, there was a five-hour break to allow participants to sightsee, shop, or visit some of the Finger Lakes area’s world-class wineries before returning to the hotel.

The evening program commenced after a buffet dinner, with awards in recognition of twenty-two volunteers for their outstanding dedication. Honored this year were Megan Pisani (NJ), Xan Raskin (NY), Janette Hughes (NY), Heather Stanton (ME), Nick Russell (KY), Susan Chuvala (NH), Mark Ziegler (VA), Doug Miller (NY), Jeanetta Brown (FL), Kate Moore (NY), Jennifer Hill (OH), Janet Pace (LA), Terri and Dean Sigler (IN), Pam Lowrey (IL), Bill Newton (IL), Betty Garcia (CA), Jennifer Burgart (CA), Jan Burnham (CA), Lisa Rasmussen (NV), Rena Steele (AZ), and Dr. Laura Stadtmore (CA). Special recognition was given to Kate for her generous efforts as convention chairman.

The convention finale was the raffle and auctions of all the goodies! The raffle began with President Liz Newton and Treasurer Debbi Johnson at the helm, helpers Bill Newton, Kathy Duffy, and Mary Gunter retrieving individual items, and 8-year-old TJ Cosco, daughter of volunteer Lisa Cosco, drawing the winning tickets and entertaining the audience with enthusiastic commentary. The raffle was followed by the silent auction and distribution of prizes to high bidders. Bill Newton wrapped up the festivities with his well-practiced performance as auctioneer. Bidding was lively and fun as coveted items fell to the gavel; even bid losers walked away as winners, recognizing that their loss was a great gain for the relatives of the little dogs snoozing at their feet.

  

TJ Cosco with her prize Basenji puppy (photo Suzee Aff)

Auction finished, prizes and pups were gathered up, and goodnights and goodbyes exchanged, thus ending another happy annual meeting of basenji rescuers. Planning is already underway for the 2015 BRAT volunteer convention in South Carolina. 

To learn more about BRAT visit www.Basenjirescue.org and follow Basenji Rescue and Transport on Facebook.

Always Basenji Time

Multiple times a day I marvel at Ivan & Dasa. One of their remarkable attributes is the apparent ability to tell time. I understand when they hear Eric’s car coming down the street; that’s not psychic, it’s their (also remarkable) ability to hear and distinguish the sound of his car from others and to do this from some distance away.

It is entertaining and also, we think, beyond clever that even when she’s asleep under blankets in a bed on another floor of the house, Dasa hears Eric put bread into the toaster. Ivan snores away under his part of the blanket and doesn’t stir so easily. He knows we will bring his thyroid pill upstairs to the bedroom and serve it to him in a bit of baked sweet potato so he doesn’t have to get out of bed and can sleep for another hour until breakfast.

Later in the day when he is officially awake, Ivan also materializes in the kitchen whenever the frig door opens or there’s a promising rustling; looking expectant because if there’s something edible at hand, it must be for him. We find this charming, and it brings us contentment and joy.

However, their ability to tell time or distinguish periods of time, or in any way perceive time as a concept amazes me.  On the nights I work until 8 pm, Ivan goes to Eric at 8 and looks at him, willing him to make me appear. And I do. My commute is very short, so I walk into the kitchen before 8:15.

Dasa also has a preternatural sense of time. Ivan gets his thyroid pills one hour before breakfast and dinner and his Prilosec 30 minutes before lunch. Dasa comes to me demanding food almost precisely at the 60 and thirty minute marks, respectively. How did she internalize these periods of time?

How does Ivan know when it’s 8 pm and that I come home at that time?
When Dasa shows up at my desk and scratches at it, I look at my watch in surprise. She’s very accurate. How does she do that?

The Munchkins are extraordinarily miraculous creatures. This perception of time is yet one more component of the miracles that make up my babies. They are so exquisitely packaged, these beautiful compositions of  love, smooth fur and muscle, so physically compelling, packed with so many gifts and talents. All this and the bonus of telling time. We never cease to be amazed and delighted by our magical Munchkins. They are fallible, however. No matter what the clock says, it’s always meal time to them.