Skip to content

Grooming-chewing?

Behavioral Issues
  • My female, Zhara, likes to "chew" on Ziggy. She runs up to him and begin chewing, or nibbling, on his neck. These are very tiny, very fast movements and she's never biting or, from what I can tell, hurting him at all. He just sits calmly, basically ignoring her. She generally then licks his face a few times.

    I'm wondering if this is some type of grooming behavior … has anyone else seen this type of gentle "grooming-chewing" in their Basenji?

    Lori

  • Maya does this all the time, to herself, the other dogs AND me! It doesnt seem to hurt her or the other dogs but she has pinched my skin a couple of times when she did it to me.. Naughty girl!

    My cats groom like this also though, i wonder if thats one of the reasons for the basenjis reputation of being cat like :)

  • Amina is our most persistent 'nibbler.' We joked that she would have hairless puppies if she continually nibbled them the way she does all the other dogs. None of them seem to mind it; I agree, I think it's grooming.

    Terry

  • I call it flea-ing - All of mine do it to each other.

  • @renaultf1:

    I call it flea-ing - All of mine do it to each other.

    LOL, we call it "de" flea-ing!! Franie does it to C-Me all the time and C-Me really likes it… she will stop what she is doing, even when chewing a really good bully stick!

  • We call it 'flea-biting' and grooming. Some do it, others don't, no one seems to mind it. I would call it natural and affectionate!

  • My girl Wheat does that to me when we are just getting settled down to bed.
    I think its a bit of love they do with their mouths…very gentle.

  • Cara flea bites me a lot but omg, poor Leora, it's almost nonstop when she is home. One day she made her get under the covers, then said in a sad voice "now she's flea biting my thigh." LOL

Suggested Topics

  • Chewing on his toe nails

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    10k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Both Cara and Arwen keep their back toenails chewed appropriately short, but yeah if too short distract. You might even try using baby wipes when he comes in to wipe his feet down before he starts the licking.
  • Random yelps when grooming/licking

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    6k Views
    T
    She now did this after getting up from a loong long 2 or 3 hr nap , after doing her downward dog and cat stretch , stretching down then back into a normal position she whined and turned to her left hind side , muscle cramp ?, stifle stuck?, is really weird I've squeezed every place it might be and nothing , she does go into a sit when I'm around her back end and squeeze her back end ? Could that be an issue ??
  • Basenji Nail Grooming

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    5k Views
    R
    I have found a great tool to help with nail cutting/drummeling. It's called the Calming Cap from the makers of the Thundershirt. It goes over the head like a hood and because the dog can't see well, it stays calm. About 20 or so years ago, I used to put a sock over my dogs head. It worked much in the same way. You might want to try it because it really works.
  • Chewing Toys

    Behavioral Issues
    24
    0 Votes
    24 Posts
    9k Views
    MacPackM
    With all this talk about elf, er, elk meat, is it time for everyone to re-read the (yes, true) story of Dogs in Elk??? If you have never read this old 'chat list' discussion, be sure and empty your bladder first. http://www.webtree.ca/tree/keeper/dogs_in_elk.htm
  • Need Help with chewing, everything

    Behavioral Issues
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    5k Views
    BlueBellB
    I am finding out quickly that if things are too quiet I better go find Bella. Most of the time she is asleep but there are those times that my tennis shoes or sandals are now becoming just chew toys. Upsetting but funny too. Kind of like my 2 year old grandson's antics.
  • Carpet Chewing

    Behavioral Issues
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    5k Views
    RedVelvetLynxR
    @Shaye's: Shaye has never chewed on stuff she shouldn't until the last week or so - she's almost 6 months though, and lots of her behavior has gotten worse - if we go into the bathroom she starts chewing at the door jambs - she has also discovered carpet is a good toy - and if we are not paying attention to her, she purposely starts doing something she knows she shouldn't - my friend b owners tell me it's her "teen phase," pushing all the limits - hope she grows out of that soon…..maybe that's what your dog is up to - Exactly. Trinity was so good about not chewing on things she isn't supposed to until a few months ago - I thought I must have been blessed with the best behaved chewer ever! Ah-haha! It started with the base board corners & has moved to carpet threads. I would like to believe she doesn't realize what she's chewing on, but this isn't so. When I catch her in the act, there are no no toys around her, unless she's carried one over for a decoy. Otherwise, she sniffs around until she finds a spot. As soon as she stops & starts digging her nose in the threads, I know the chewing is not far behind, so at least I have an opportunity to nip it in the bud. I happen to think the chewing has also become an attention-getting mechanism. She wants to play ALLLLL of the time - it gets ridiculous! :eek: