RockyBalboaBo Beauregard. He was our very first Basenji. Bo was with us for 7 years, got him from a college student who was moving out but admitted later that she could not handle the dog. He was a handful! No manners at all and just as aggressive as can be. When we picked him up he was kept locked up in a garage, no yard to run in and tearing up anything he found. Cute as a button but had a bad attitude. We took him home and found out first hand what a Basenji was all about. We had read web pages, books, magazines and all sorts of educational material before deciding on this bread but there is no lesson well learned like a real life experience. And Bo was an excellent teacher!
Our first clash was a wakeup call – literally, I was trying to wake him up to take him out before leaving to work. He was grumpy to say the least! Our next lesson was all about walking – or dragging. Bo had not been taught to walk on a leash properly but to pull a large male on rollerblades – great exercise but Bo had no distinction between rollerblades and just walking. We (unaware of this behavior) took him to South Beach (another lesson learned about Bs when they get freaked out!) and ignored all his bad behavior only rewarding his good acts – came back with a bag full of treats and bloody fingers. Lots of training began after that!
Just problem after problem from food aggression to escaping and when I had reached the point of giving up – I called Basenji Rescue and Transportation. I was ready to give up on him. I talked to someone on the phone for what must have been more than an hour. I was determined to get rid of the dog and this person was determined to make me understand the nature of the dog. I did. It took more than a year, but Bo and I finally had a relationship. This person’s patience in explaining behaviors and helping me understand completely confirmed my true belief in rescuing dogs and not buying from breeders. I accepted that he just did not really like me except when he was feeling under the weather. That’s when he would come snuggle up with me other than that he was the kids’ and my husband’s and I was Ok with it. He grew fond of his family and home (me included).
Our final day with Bo was dark. I came home to find him dead in the yard. I could not speak for a week thinking that something had gone terribly wrong and he could not find me to comfort him. although I was saddend by his death I took comfort in knowing that the puppy we took from a dark, hot garage had live a wonderful life with us for 7 years. I wish it could have been more. I made the decision then to help rescue organizations as well as fostering and with my husband’s encouragement we decided also to help with Basenjis. They are wonderful dogs if you learn from them and have great support. I wanted to be a part of that!
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