Earl is a handsome almost five-year-old male Basenji currently located in Ohio. Earl is not only comfortable with other dogs but respectful and submissive to them. He loves taking walks with the resident female Basenji, and he would love a canine companion to welcome him into his new home. Earl is comfortable when his foster leaves the house and currently stays in a pen content to sleep on his blanket. Earl loves car rides after his foster lifts him up and puts him in the vehicle. Looking out the windows, he is a model passenger enjoying the scenery. Once you gain Earl's trust then you will have a loyal Basenji companion for life.
Earl is one of the eight Basenjis that were transferred from the National Mill Dog Rescue in Missouri to BRAT after being surrendered by their breeder. Though we do not know much about Earl's background, we suspect that he lived in the breeder's kennels for the first four years of his life and never lived in a house. Being transported in a van full of dogs to the rescue and leaving the only home that he had ever known was an overwhelming experience for Earl. He arrived extremely skittish and terrified of humans. His initial response to this scary, new world was to growl and snap. Since then, Earl has spent the past 8 months living in a BRAT foster home and has made tremendous progress.
In the beginning Earl was so scared of humans that he would only eat his food in the middle of the night and never in front of humans. He did not know what treats or toys or bones were. He did not know how to go up or down stairs or jump onto a couch. He did not know how to walk on a leash and had never slept on a blanket. Being outside of his kennel for the first time, open spaces were overwhelming and the sound of traffic going by was intimidating. A human reaching out their hand to pet him scared him, and he snapped and growled out of fear. When he arrived at his foster home terrified, he hid in his cage and was scared to come out. When he did come out, his tail would hang down, uncurled, unsure of his surroundings.
Now Earl enjoys multiple long walks daily. Initially scared of a human clipping a leash onto his collar, Earl now runs eagerly to his foster when he knows it is time for a walk. He jumps onto his hind legs and puts his front paws on his foster and waits for his leash to be clipped on. Initially scared and intimidated by the open space and noise of the outside world, now Earl is the first one out the door to start his walk, sniffing every spot and enjoying the outdoors. Walking by a construction site every day has desensitized Earl to those sights and sounds and has helped him adjust to the normal noises of life. After never knowing toys, Earl now shakes his flying pig doll furiously until it flies out of his mouth and through the air. Then he chases it down and shakes it furiously and lets it fly again and again. After never having bones, he now lays down and holds his bone in his front paws and enjoys chewing on it. After having a tail that hung down straight, his tail is always curled now.
Having lived in kennels with other dogs, Earl has always been comfortable with a canine companion. Currently, Earl lives with a petite female resident Basenji. Though Earl is a solid Basenji boy and ten pounds heavier than her, he respects her and realizes that she is the boss. On walks if she gets excited and snaps at Earl, he backs off, and he has never shown any aggression towards her. He learns from watching the resident Basenji interact with humans. Earl had never ridden in a car without being caged. His foster picked up the resident Basenji and put her in the car while Earl watched. It did not take long, before Earl began standing on his hind legs and putting his feet on the back of the vehicle in anticipation of being picked up. Now Earl loves riding in a car and rides loose, looking out the windows and enjoying the sights.
Once Earl is comfortable in his home and with his humans, he is a laid-back Basenji even docile with cats. His foster home has several outdoor cats that frequent the patio and yard. Earl pays no attention to them and walks by the cats as they lay on the patio ignoring him. After Earl warms up to his humans, he loves head scratches and pets. Initially when humans approached, he would run and hide in his cage. It was difficult to coax him out even with treats. He feared these strangers coming into the house and coming near him. Now Earl sits beside his foster and leans on his leg to let him know he is ready for pets. On walks he watches the resident Basenji interact with people and now Earl approaches strangers and will sniff their fingers. In fact, their walks include stopping by a nearby sub shop, and the workers come out and greet Earl and give him a slice of meat. Earl takes the treat from their hand.
After spending his first four years in a kennel, Earl was not potty trained, but he has made significant progress. With a consistent walking schedule, Earl has learned to go to the bathroom outdoors and not in his pen. He realizes the pen is his living area, and he has not had an accident in the past three months. His new home will need to continue to work on his potty training by slowly expanding his training outside of the pen and to the rest of the house. Earl sleeps in his pen at night and often goes 12 hours or more without going to the bathroom. His foster does not have a fenced yard, so Earl has a consistent walking schedule. He has thrived with a consistent routine. Earl has not shown any separation anxiety, and he stays in his pen when his foster leaves the house and is content to sleep while the resident Basenji naps on the couch.
Earl continues to learn and grow with incremental exposure to new experiences and positive reinforcement. Initially Earl was intimidated and scared of visiting the vet. He did not know these strangers and the experience was overwhelming. His foster scheduled "happy visits" with the vet techs. The day before the first visit, his foster took him to the vet office and walked him around outside the building to sniff all the smells and see the activity. For his first "happy visit" his foster led Earl into the waiting room, and the vet tech led him to the scales where he was weighed and then led him into an exam room. Then several vet techs came into the room one at a time and talked to his foster and offered Earl treats. On the second visit his foster lifted Earl up onto the exam table in the room by himself. On the third "happy visit" the vet tech came in and petted Earl while he was standing on the exam table. In giving Earl a positive interaction on each visit, he gained confidence and felt more comfortable. Earl would do best with humans who are willing to be patient and slowly introduce him to new experiences and help him to gain confidence. Once you gain Earl's trust then you will have a loyal Basenji companion for life.
Earl is looking for a Basenji experienced home that will continue to work on desensitizing him to scary, unknown situations in the world. His humans need to give him space, patience, and time to become comfortable in his new home. He would do best with a canine companion who could show him the ropes and show Earl that humans are not scary. Earl is still learning how to be a dog and how to play and enjoy life, so another canine would help. His perfect home would include a secure backyard where he could run the Basenji 500 with another dog, chase squirrels, and learn how to be a Basenji. His new home will need to continue to work on his potty training with a consistent walking schedule. He thrives on a routine, so getting him on a schedule will set him up for success. Earl has overcome many scary things in his life, and as he continues to grow and learns to live with humans, he will gain more confidence. Earl is a wonderful Basenji who came from a tough situation and needs someone to give him a chance and continue his progress.
If you think you could provide Earl with love, activity, and evening cuddle time, please read the data sheet below carefully, complete the BRAT adoption form (if you have not previously done so) and contact the BRAT coordinator, Brooke Stephens.
The coordinator's link will take you to a form that will ask you your name, email address, the city and state you live in, why this dog is perfect for your family, a typical day in your household, and, if applicable, how you plan to transport Earl.
Earl has a guardian angel who has paid his adoption fee. His adoption fee is now $0. Our fees are used for the extensive costs associated with vetting and otherwise caring for Earl and future Basenjis in rescue. BRAT adopters receive a dog that has been spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, treated for fleas and internal worms if necessary, DNA tested for Fanconi syndrome (dogs under 10), and heartworm tested. Our dogs get recommended dental work. When indicated, we test our dogs for thyroid deficiencies. They are also temperament evaluated. In addition, BRAT provides free lifetime post-adoption counseling to help deal with behavioral or health issues. Finally, we provide a free lifetime identification tag connected to our "lost dog" toll free number.
ABOUT THIS BASENJI
Dog's name: Earl
Dog is currently in: Ohio
Birth date: 4/12/2020
Gender: Male
Color: Tri Color
Weight: 30 pounds
Neutered/Spayed: Neutered on 7/18/2024
Micro-chipped: Yes
VACCINATIONS AND MEDICAL TESTS
General health information: Healthy in general
DHPP: 7/18/2024
Rabies: 4/12/2024 for 1 year
Rabies certificate: Yes
Coronavirus: 7/18/2024
Bordetella: 7/18/2024
Fecal: Tested on 8/2/2024
Fecal test comments: No issues detected
Heartworm: Negative Heartworm Test on 7/18/2024
Regular heartworm given: Yes, Simparica Trio
DNA test for Fanconi: Clear/normal
Other tests: Basic blood work before neuter was fine
Other regular medication: Earl takes a calming supplement capsule, Zylkene, every morning. His foster puts it into a ball of wet senior food and Earl eats the supplement without issue.
Other medical issues: Earl was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) which is controlled through his diet with the dog food noted below. If he has a loose stool, then an Endosorb tablet resolves the issue. His foster has used an Endosorb tablet approximately three times in three months.
EATING HABITS
Eating schedule: 1.5 cups twice a day of kibble and can be mixed with Purina EN gastroenteric dry/ Purina FortiFlora probiotic powder
Type of food: Kibble
Brand(s) of food: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog HA Hydrolyzed Dry
Begs for food: No
Food dislikes: None
Favorite foods: Earl is food motivated, and his dry kibble can be used as treats. Earl eats a Pro Den Plaque Off dental bone nightly.
TEMPERAMENT
Temperament description: Earl was reserved and subdued when arriving in his foster home and easily startled. As a result, he would withdraw and hide in his crate. He has overcome this behavior with his foster and now welcomes pets and allows his foster to handle him and lift him into a vehicle for car rides. If strangers make quick sudden movements toward him, then he moves away from them. If strangers are calm, then Earl approaches them and will sniff them when properly introduced. Earl does not show aggression toward other dogs and in fact is submissive towards the older and smaller resident female Basenji. Initially when starting a walk, Earl pulls on the leash, but after walking and doing his potty business, he pulls less and is observant to the sights and sounds around him.
Lived with children: No
Likes children: Unknown, but with Earl’s nervous nature the activity of small children would make him nervous.
Lived with cats: Yes, outdoor cats
Likes cats: Yes, no problem with cats that are Basenji savvy and do not run
Lived with dogs: Yes
Likes dogs: Earl is comfortable with all dogs and would do best in a home with a canine companion
Prefers men or women: No preference
Likes strangers: With his skittish nature of humans, then it is best that strangers do not rush up on Earl. If they do, Earl will back away.
Nips (playfully): No
Bites (in anger): In the first few months after coming into BRAT, Earl has air snapped when scared or with fast movement but has not bitten. Now that he is comfortable with his foster, this has not been an issue.
Crate trained: Yes, but he does well when left in an exercise pen
House broken: Earl stays in an exercise pen in his foster’s house, and he is potty trained in this area. His new home will need to work with him on the rest of the house. He has not had an accident in his pen in over three months.
Destructive outdoors: No, but he is always on leash with his foster.
Dog is a climber: Unknown, because he is always on leash with his foster, but he has never climbed the walls of his pen.
Easily startled: In new situations with new stimulus, Earl is easily startled but with repeated exposure he becomes calm and comfortable.
Rides well in car: He loves riding in a car and rides loose, looking out the windows at the scenery.
Gets carsick: No
Rides in crate: He can ride in a crate, but he does fine riding loose.
Yodels: No
Screams: No
Dog sleeps where: In a pen in his foster’s kitchen.
If you are interested in Earl, please use our coordinator contact form, to email our BRAT coordinator, Brooke Stephens. Thank you!
Earl has a guardian angel who has paid his adoption fee. His adoption fee is now $0. Our fees are used for the extensive costs associated with vetting and otherwise caring for Earl and future Basenjis in rescue. BRAT adopters receive a dog that has been spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, treated for fleas and internal worms if necessary, DNA tested for Fanconi syndrome (dogs under 10), and heartworm tested. Our dogs get recommended dental work. When indicated, we test our dogs for thyroid deficiencies. They are also temperament evaluated. In addition, BRAT provides free lifetime post-adoption counseling to help deal with behavioral or health issues. Finally, we provide a free lifetime identification tag connected to our "lost dog" toll free number.