The Rip Van Wrinkler,
Volume XIV, Issue 2, May 2010

Page 16 <previous page next page>


Tico & Pepe, irrigation day (Bev Bland photo)

Feedback. . .


Natalie Culver & Amelia

Feb. 20th, 2010

Love the duck photos…………………...............…..ROB CHODOCK


Jan. 29th, 2010

Hi Susan,

I just received the lovely “Basenjis Enjoying Dog Parks” poster for Chili’s contribution, but I’m not sure that I ever got around to sending you a story – just the promise of a story.  So, here are a few Dog Park tales that can maybe find their way into the next Wrinkler edition.


Nefer & Chili, who is rolling

Our 7-year-old (!) basenji boy was a dog-park regular from the time he was about 12 weeks old.  It was the only way we could tire him out enough before puppy class in order to get him to sit (down and stay were a write-off at that age, so no amount of pre-class exhaustion would have helped).  There were no official dog parks in our city (Guelph, Ontario), but there were a few parks with leash-free zones and dogs were permitted off leash on all sports fields outside of peak hours.

When Chili was about 6-months-old we started to frequent Exhibition Park where a large crowd would gather around 4:30pm each day to let their dogs run wild.  And they certainly ran wild!  Sometimes the high school football team would show up to practice on one of the fields and the dogs would have fun running interference.  Usually wee Chili played the game of “how many dogs can I get to chase me at once?”  I don’t remember for sure, but I know that on many occasions the number was greater than 10 - and these dogs were typically medium to large-sized dogs.  The climax of the game occurred when Chili, lead-ing the chase, would run nimbly into the centre of the human crowd, while the chasing dogs crashed into their owners and each other.  I also remember a funny day when the weather was wet and cold (so awful), but we insisted on Chili going to the park for his daily exercise.  While the dogs with the yellow ball genes faithfully and repetitively retrieved the balls their owners threw, Chili parked himself on the feet of a woman with an umbrella so that he could observe the fun without getting wet.

There were so many great canine characters when first started visiting the dog park, which leads to my cautionary tale.  In my experience, dog parks aren’t really for dogs.  They’re for humans who want what they think is best for their dog – which is to greet all strangers as friends, play nicely with everyone, and never have disagreements.  Would that human children behaved as well!  Anyway, some of the great canine characters from Exhibition Park were the older, crustier dogs who would let the youth know when they were getting out of line.  I have to admit that it used to scare me, as a first time dog owner, when another dog would tell Chili off in the way that adult dogs do, but I could see that no harm was done.  Some other owners didn’t feel the same way (fair enough) and created an environment that was sufficiently hostile towards the owners of the “dog police” that they stopped coming all together.  At that point, we were left with a group of teenage dogs and inexperienced owners and there started to be a lot more squabbles and scraps.  One day a new owner and his dog, an intact male shepherd -mastiff cross, arrived at the park and before long Chili, who was also intact, was in this dog’s mouth - picked up by the back and shaken like a rag doll.  I think Chili’s loose basenji skin prevented more severe damage from occurring, but his chest wall was punctured and despite excellent surgery he still has a dent in his side.  The “dog police” probably wouldn’t have prevented this incident, and maybe the more experienced dog owners wouldn’t have either, but it’s worth noting that dogs take going to the park a lot more seriously than their owners do.

Our younger basenji, little Miss Nefer, was not as enthusiastic about dog parks as Chili was in his youth.  She liked dog parks that were full of small and toy-sized dogs - she could loom over them and whack them on the head with her paw, and when they snapped she just whacked them again.  But most parks were full of big dogs and that terrified her.  The big dogs were fun if they stood still or if she was chasing them, but as soon they turned to chase her she would scream (really, it was loud!) and run for the nearest human.  We started frequenting some of the local trails that permitted dogs off-leash (I call them walking dog parks), and that turned out to be a lot more successful for our two because they spent most of their time exploring in the woods, and when they met unfamiliar dogs it was often in passing, so that if they didn’t agree with one another they could just keep on going.  I remember the dog park days fondly, but I’m not sure that my basenjis are the right candidates for a long-term career as dog park attendees.

When we were apartment-dwellers I used to dream of running my own off-leash park (a fenced one) where my dogs could play as long as they liked and only dogs we knew were invited. 

This, I discovered, is called a back yard……. MELISSA CAMERON


{Ed. Photos from visit to Karen Sahulka}

True at 15+


Just too cute. This is Eve, ex-barn kitten.

Jan 29th, 2010

What a pleasant surprise to get the beautiful watercolor of Basenjis in Africa.  I didn't realize by winning the 'Basenjis Enjoy Dog Parks' contest that I would get anything.  Thank you so much.  I loved reading the Wrinkler from front to back.  Especially liked your article on starting the first dog park, getting your belongings stolen and Flash leading a sing a long at the police station.………………………………..DEBBIE JOSLIN


Cody weaving


Jan 26th, 2010

I hope it's OK, but I forwarded the newsletter link to all "my" people.  Several have written to tell me how much they like it.  You outdid yourself this issue, Susan, it's nothing short of fabulous! ..................................................................................................CHRIS MAXKA


March 10th, 2010

I really like the on-line newsletter. So many great articles, and all those lovely color photos that showcase the articles so well. I've looked through it several times, and it's a joy......................................….PEGGY PICK

Jan. 24th, 2010

Thanks for including me! Very impressive…............…JANYCE SELKIN

April 3rd, 2010

Update on Florida basenjis

My, how time flies when there is so much pee and poop to clean... I can't believe how much time has passed since my last update. So much has changed - and our house now has a revolving door. There has been so many who have come by to help on short notice, to adopt, to drop off, etc.

Three of the five-month-olds came back to here for fostering since their foster homes had to leave town for work. It has given me a chance to see how well Jeanetta and Erin did with their charges - it is difficult to tell that they were once wild. One is a little shy and will scream if she thinks she's about to have a negative experience, but she's certainly not the first drama queen I've fostered. The other two are more bold. One is very average basenji - "I'll let you know when I want to be part of things and when I want to do my own thing." All are quite friendly. Afrika, who was initially fairly cautious and distrustful at HCAS, is very outgoing, ready to greet all strangers. His first day at the doggy park seemed as if it was his thousandth. The other fosters are also doing well - I can't wait to see for myself.

I wasn't planning on bringing the mature kids in every night (it was supposed to be warm a long time ago and they are in very secure kennel runs) or when it is raining (I was going to build more shelter, but haven't since it has been too cold to leave them out - and it is better for the shy ones to not hide in a den...), but now that I am, I'm kind of glad I was forced to do it. It has forced me to jump right into working with them in a way that has just the right amount of casual nature to it. As a result, they are already crate-trained. Even though they were stuck inside in crates for a couple of days a week or so ago because of downpours, they kept them clean! I let them go out for play/potty breaks several times a day between downpours. They now realize that they won't be stuck in them forever and whine if the weather is cooling or getting humid and I haven't brought them in yet. They need less and less direction to go to the right spot - in or out.

The level of interaction has also given me an opportunity to see who gets along with whom and what or who will make them relax. The mature males must be kept separated at this time (they show a bit of male aggression through the fences towards each other still, though all get along with the older male pup, Hogan), but everyone else gets along. I have had everyone else out together to play - cycling the three males with the group to give everyone a chance to have some fun.

They seem to like to come in to their cozy crates where the rain is kept far from their beds and heat lamps are available when it gets cold - I can't believe how long this cold weather has persisted. I feel better knowing that they are in. I think it will also help them to make the transition to indoor spoiled b more quickly. I don't think they will find our b's so strange once they get a taste of life on cushions...

Kato (Big Daddy) is a major couch potato - I can see him laying on a couch with a remote control while someone spoon-feeds him puréed chicken. His biggest effort here was to grouch at another adult male. I find it kind of odd that he could come from such a feral life yet appear so lazy. He has already moved onto another foster home who has decided to adopt him! One of the 3 mo. old pups went with him - the pup was adopted as well. I have a couple of cute pictures with the two together - and both enjoying the furniture in their new home...

Kenya is the most active and needy of the bunch, though he is settling down and is into our routine. He has the most difficulty with having to live with boundaries and someone else's rules. It is amazing that a feral dog from such a large pack is so similar in behavior to a recent "city" foster I had. He plays quite well with Hogan and Chiku. The play goes a long way to keeping him happy. He is very interested in nosing all over me - touch, touch, touch - but is leary about being touched by a human. I would be too, if all I ever had was needle pricks when touched... He does give me invitations to play quite regularly. He is apparently fairly attached to one of the older R&W females, Amoré, and/or the smaller tri-colors. He is much quieter and more content with his boundaries when he is in a pen next to them.

Amoré is the first that I spent time with when they were still all at Hillsborough. She was the third mom that had stopped producing milk just after the pack was confiscated from the field. She looked so pathetic - I felt she might shut down completely, stop eating and die, so I picked her as the first one with whom to spend time. She lets me massage her and does relax with the attention. She is very submissive and needs to have her confidence boosted. It is great to see her play and enjoy life.

Hogan and Chiku are a pair of very cute older pups that are blossoming nicely now that they are out of jail. My image of Hogan at HCAS was a growling cat. Chiku was so frightened that she cowered in a water dish just to get as far from everyone as possible. Petite Chiku is still the more timid of the two, though she will come up to me or Chris to investigate when they are in the play area. Hogan is becoming more outgoing with us every day and accepts a chin scratch when he is investigating whatever we are doing. I'll save the rest of the b's for another update.

Crates and VariKennels have arrived, compliments of BCOA (and BRAT who provided a few larger ones for the bigger, mature kids who may have difficulty with close confinement at times)! Crate and potty training has begun for the first set of pups who were born in the field. It was so exciting for me to wake up this morning and not have to clean their floor! I now have the opportunity to see who is going to need companionship and who will be okay alone. Homes have been selected for all in this group - we will get pics up for the next group shortly. It is neat to see their personalities developing. I'm happy to say that none are anti-social - humans are cool. The next group (Koka's and Kenyatta's pups) will get vaccinations and spayed/neutered shortly.

The last group will be at least several more weeks before they are ready. Keondra, the mom for the very last litter, has had a tough time supporting nine pups. I was hoping that Koka would help her out - she has had so much milk - huge mammary glands - but both moms are very much over the nursing/mothering thing. They both run away from pups trying to nurse. We are back on duty to feed supplement - Kenyatta's were just weaned off of it. The pups are having a bit of difficulty switching - nothing tastes as good as the real thing... They are getting better, but it's always a worry that they are not taking in enough. Nursemaiding is just a bit stressful...

Again, I appreciate everyone's support................................PAM HAMILTON
FL District Coordinator/Advisory Director
Basenji Rescue and Transport

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