[FatherProphet]

Well it has been over seven months with Presley and man what a ride, I must first say we love her absolutely to death, and she's the strangest dog I've ever owned, she's nothing like dear Elvis was, and I'm glad because she don't remind me of him all the time..but man is she a handful, it seems like we have owned her all her life already, she loves us so much, she is a good dog, Basset in every way, Stubborn, Stubborn, counter-cruizing,Stubborn did I mention Stubborn? or strange? I have a couple of issues I would like to ask you guys about... First here is a recent photo of her.

My first concern is her obsession(she has several) with metal, she will lick your keys for hours, anything metal that you sit down she will lick..If you want her to leave you alone, just give her your bundle of keys she will lick on them for hours..also rings, watches etc.. whats up with that?

My second and biggest concern/problem is that she constantly chases shadows, I mean she barks and trys to jump/paw at any sliver of light,reflection,shadow etc on the floor,ceiling,wall etc.. she is constatly on the lookout for them.. its all she does, I can't even use my cellphone in a dimely lit room because the light from the screen lights up the wall, making a shadow, and she goes ape-nuts, I can't let her in the garage because all the shiny stuf cast reflections on the walls and she jumps up on my Harleys and stuff, when I let her out she lives to chase the reflection the stormdoor makes as it opens.. she will sit for hours looking and whinning at shadows, it's the strangest thing I've ever seen..does anyone else have a Basset that does this? when you walk she will run after the shadow you make on the floor and bark at it.. I dont know whats up with her.. I know it seemed to start when my son messed with her once with a laser pointer, I made him stop and never do it again..ever since that time she seems to have done this..is there anyway to "fix" her? I mean I can live with it, its really funny sometimes to watch her, but I'm concerned about her being so upset all the time over it.. any info would be great..
Here she is after a ray of sunlight!
<img src=\'http://home.insightbb.com/~presleythehound/images/april200603.jpg\' border=\'0\' alt=\'user posted image\'>
I\'m sorry for the long post, I just wanted to catch everybody up on Presley the worlds strangest Basset, she really is a sweetheart though, and she has us just where she wants us. It so weird the things she does, like her crate issue.. well getting her in the crate used to go like this. Presley see\'s you getting your stuff together and she would run to the the corner of the house farest away from her crate, roll over on her back, stick all four legs in the air and refuse to move..she would go totally limp and not help you pick her up in anyway, you would have to, pack, push, pull her to her crate, then just last week I picked up my backpack for work and she looked at me went straight into the living room and went in her crate!! I\'m totally dumbfounded, I tell my son, he don\'t believe me, I tell my brother thats over alot, he don\'t believe me, then my son tells her to get in the crate and she goes right in..now when I pick up my pack, she goes straight to the crate and looks at me.. I say get in the crate Presley and she goes right in..man my dog got smart overnight I guess..just a strange dog..

So I took her to the vet for a six month check-up, heartworm treatment, nail trim etc, My vet informed me to "Never bring that dog back unles you give her a pill/sedate beforehand", she was a absolute terror. it took three of us to hold her down for the nail trim..but she is healthy and gaining tons of weight and I found out why......
<img src=\'http://home.insightbb.com/~presleythehound/images/april200606.jpg\' border=\'0\' alt=\'user posted image\'>

Well sorry for the long post, I just wanted to talk about my girl Presley..shes a fine hound....




LOVE YOUR HOUND!!

 

[murraysmom]

Well Hi - it's good to see a post from you again! I wondered how things were going. I don't have answers to any of your questions: it seems like Presley just has a few quirks - but don't we all!! Good to see you back on the forum-

 

[Lynne & Huck]

Hi there! The "Dog Whisperer" had an episode where the dog was obsessed with shadows. I can't remember all of it (I did look it up tho and know it's Episode 5 from December or January). I think he talked about more exercise being important. Sorry I can't help more but I know he did address this issue.

Welcome back and good luck. She's a cutie!

 

[charvie]

All I can say is ... She's a basset! *hehe* i think they are all strange personally... heh when mine are being quirky and my mom starts comparing the hounds to -her- "polite" 5yr old chow/lab cross all I can do is smile and say, "Mom - they're bassets!"

I'm not sure what advice to offer about Presley's particular quirks though.

Although the crate thing (the going limp part) sure sounds familiar with Mocha! I say "Bed time!" And Beldin trots right in and curls up - Mocha will trot to the other side of the living room farthest from her crate and do the "limp basset" legs in the air with a look on her face like "Yeah?! Just try and move me!" hehe

She sure looks like a cutie though (your Presley).

 

[Emma and Doris]

Good to hear you're all doing great!

 

[mgbrown66]

Stay the course. They get so much easier to deal with after 2 years.

 

[BubbaLeroy]

Glad to hear that Presley is doing great, even with the quirks. Loved the picture and what a beautiful hound. It seems quirkeness ( is that a word) seems to come with the breed.

Bogie will lick the ceramic tile floor in the kitchen while we eat. He has a rug that he lies on, he knows that's his spot while we eat. He'll gets to the very edge and licks the floor. We decided he was bored, so he gets his knuckle bone to gnaw on and that seems to help. Just hang in there and keep on loving Presley.

Aroooos from Bogie!!
You don't own a Basset, a Basset owns you.

 

[Valerie and George]

She might just be amusing herself with the shadows and reflections rather than being upset by them. You know how cats will get all freaky with no warning and start chasing something only they can see? Maybe Presley is just playing a game with herself. George chases kibble all over the room, throws it and catches it, and we call it "hunting the elusive wild kibble" and have decided he's trying to entertain US with his antics. He also stashes waffles. He'll beg for a waffle but he wouldn't dream of eating it -- he hides them in the sofa cushions and under the bed for a rainy day. I GUESS that's why he's hiding them. :lol: It's not like we FEED him or anything...

Just sounds like she's got more energy than she knows what to do with.

 

[Elvismom]

I'm so glad you posted about Pressley - I wondered what your beautiful girl was up to.

Can't offer much advice except to say I have a cat who chases shadows and light. He seems to enjoy it very much. Maybe you can find the episode of The Dog Whisperer and get some insight.

But, as we all know, bassets will be bassets and we rarely understand them!

Give Pressley some belly rubs from us.

Chris, slave, chauffer & doorperson for Elvis, Georgia, Ginger & Maggie

 

[Basset Momma]

Good to hear about you and your beautiful girl! Chasing shadows sounds cheaper than ganwing on dog bones I can't think of a reason why except maybe boredom- have you asked the vet at all? Take care- Wendy
Mom to Sami, jake, Abby & Indy

 

[Rocket]

Well you certainly won't be bored!! I have no suggestions except for the toenails. I would suggest that in the evenings when you are petting Presley or giving her bellyrubs that you also touch each paw, and each toe on each paw. It is important that she know that you are all allowed to do this. My Rocky is terrible about toe nails and I found that it really helps if you touch their toes all the time. Good luck!

 

[copsmom]

She is certainly a beautiful girl, she also doesn't sound as strange as you may think{for a basset anyway}. Two of my bassets do the on the back limp deal when they don't want to do anything. Also my Copper is always awful at the vet. He has to muzzled sometimes but as soon as he is finished with the vet he loves everyone and begs for attention. He is a strange little fellow too but the absolute love of my life.

 

[bassetgirlsmom]

She is just beautiful! I wish I had some advice for ya, but mine is a wierdo too!

 

[Marcia]

Our Sally is also obsessed with reflections and shadows. I believe it started when my Hubby played with her with the laser pointer. We had to stop that quick - she would bark, wag, tremble and otherwise freak out while looking for it. Now it's reflections, and it doesn't matter how tired she is. She has become a bit less intense over the years - she's seven now. We just ignore her while she's doing this. Once she's calm we give her lots of positive reinforcement.

 

[Guest]

Presley is beautiful!!! Laser's ARE NOT funny!! My friend had a great Rottweiler and her son teased the dog with the laser. Same thing happened. Darla (the Rottie) became obsessed with light, any shadows, etc. I got SO bad, she had to put the her on a form of doggie prozac!! She too told her son to stop teasing/playing with the laser and dog together. I know her Vet said he has seen several cases of where a dog becomes obsessed like this. Eventually after several months of not seeing the laser, she overcame her behavior. Hopefully Presley will too.

She looks great!!!! Glad to see you posting again! I know what you mean about being glad she doesn't remind you too much of Elvis. Rusty & Stickers are nothing like my precious Maggie Mae was. I'm glad they are different too!!

 

[Guest]

She is a pretty girl. My two get obsessed with lazers also. We stopped that but there were no last effects. Hang in there. She is a fine hound! yvonne

 

[FatherProphet]

Thank you..

Thanks for the kind words.. whats messed up is I saw Laser pointers at Kroger being sold as a "Pet Exerciser" this is going to make alot of messed up hounds.. it was in the pet isle and labeled for use as a way to exercise your pet... I wish I could warn everyone about the risk.. I feel so sorry for my Presley.. she really is looking for that red dot everyday and she was only teased with it by my son for acouple days.. I do so love my hound.

 

[Guest]

Sorry can't help U with licking metal.Maybe something she needs in diet :?: Ditto with above posters on dog whisperer. Had a dog chased his tail-non stop.