Skip to content

Expensive Distructive Behaviour

Behavioral Issues
  • Ok everyone i need help. My 4yr old Basenji cant get enough of ripping/destroying his bedding. I always wash them, spray them and even roll around on them to put my scent on them….and nothing helps. One night on them and its gone. He will rip them shreds. Its not only annoying but expensive.

    Both basenjis get lot of play, activity and excercise.

    Any help would be appreciated

    Thanks

  • Been there done that.My dog Kaiser has destroyed all the beds that had stuffing in them and now we use polar fleece blankets which are cheap to buy, quick to wash and dry so don't worry if he decides to chew on them, which he hasn't really wanted to and when he did as a pup I just locked it in the crate. Have tried stuffed beds, bean bag beds, flat mat beds and sheepskin so gave up. The blankets are also nice to crawl under when it gets cold.
    You think they would love to have the nice soft comfy bed you buy them but no it's only good for de-stuffing as if it's a toy. We just use layers of blanket to make it softer for him and he's fine.

    Jolanda and Kaiser

  • Most of the Basenjis I have owned will destroy bedding if they are locked in a crate with it. I learned to use something disposable…...newspaper or similar......a long time ago if I need bedding for a crate.

    But I learned my lesson, and seldom use a crate anymore. My Basenjis almost always sleep with me and therefore never destroy bedding or anything else at night. :) Best solution I know.

  • We use fleece in all sizes and huge quantities - indeed cheap and versatile; our whole house is covered with it, as are the backseats of our car…
    Lela would ripp a sheep skin to pieces, but fleece is safe from her teeth. Maybe try to create a pile of fleece that he can arrange to his taste.

  • LOL at eeeefarm… yeah mine sleep with me, but when we go out and Arwen is crated, she shreds. I just have lots of old towels. You can buy them for a buck or less each at places like flea markets and thrift shops so it's cheap. I need to video her as she goes WILD shredding as we come in the door as if to say "THIS is what I think of being in a crate!"

    However, I have friends with BIG destructive dogs who swear by primo pads. http://primopads.com/

  • After we started letting the 3 Terorists sleep in the bed with us they stopped shredding their beds during the day. Attached is a pic of the 3 in their matching dog beds, they have had them, intact, fot almost a year now.
    attachment_p_167492_0_couch-potatoes.jpg
    attachment_p_167492_1_sleepers.jpg

  • Becca used to shred blankets when she was in her crate too, but she has a little bit of separation anxiety. Once I got my male and we moved to an acreage now they aren't crated but are baby gated in the porch with a doggy door they don't shred blankets anymore. I did use a lot of old towels like Debra as they are fairly inexpensive. Now they can be half trusted with a few blankets and a Costco bed.

  • Well, i have crate for each one of them in one room and they sleep/rest in their. The crates are never closed….i guess its time to buy blankets or towels in bulk and see what happens.

    they dont get to sleep with cause the 12yr old female gets very possessive and pees and also insists on my wife not sleeping in the same bed....lol

  • Just be careful of one thing: my Oakley (having just had surgery for his incessant dietary indiscretion) eats cotton or cloth material, fleece blankets he won't but actual bath towels he will shred and eat…while I doubt many dogs would go that far, if yours has a liking to cloth materials then I'd suggest supervision or nothing when not home....safety trumps comfort...

    Luckily (in my case) oakley finally stopped shredding his beds (out current bed is a year old and probably the 17th bed in his first year and a half...and he stopped shredding blankets...hope for you it's a habit that can be outgrown!!

    Been there,done that!!

Suggested Topics

  • Destructive behaviour

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    1k Views
    elbrantE
    I was a little pre-occupied earlier today, and Doodle displayed her displeasure at my constant delays... how? She got up on the sofa and did this little prancing-dancing thing. Like she was saying, "haha, look at me misbehaving". LOL oh yeah.... if that is her "breaking bad", I'm in trouble, she's got my heart!
  • Aggressive behaviour out of the blue

    Behavioral Issues
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    1k Views
    tanzaT
    @jengosmonkey - I mostly agree with you but you had a bit of a different situation because you got Logan as an adult.... sort of like a stranger that is now feeding that boy.... so you did the right thing for the process of taking in an adult. The result of you laughing at him and then moving him was the right thing as you didn't take him serious or freeze up... you just let him know that was your spot and he needed to share! Good job
  • Stressed out about this behaviour and need help…..

    Behavioral Issues
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    11k Views
    A
    I agree with JayCee. I had to know his limits with my male and not put him in a position where he would fail. As yes, some dog owners dont understand the basenji play, but some do. I have met a great bunch of folks at the park who have taken some time with their dogs to help mine out. Very much appreciated. No matter what kind of dog you have, there will always be that one person at the park the park who has a problem. I avoid those folks. I also want the park to be safe for all. If someone brings their children in, I remove my dogs immediately since i dont know how they are with children. Always be respectful of other owners and dogs at the park. Anyway, i want my basenjis to be able to play with any kind of dog and not just basenjis. Success so far.
  • Unusual Behaviour

    Behavioral Issues
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    1k Views
    Buddys PalB
    Well, it sounds like you are on the right track in what you are doing-asking people to ignore her until she feels ready for the new person interaction, not threatened, and on her terms. She is a little insecure (not bad, I have a hound dog that will do the same thing if I am not there, otherwise she will lick you like you are part of the pack/family) She needs to have interactions slowly and on her terms and in time will possibly improve with maturity and self-confidence. She depends on you and your partner as protectors of her pack, and when she is ALONE, she is defensive. NORMAL to some degree. Maybe the next controlled situations where you have people over, instruct them to ignore her with not eye contact, no talk, no touch, and throw a treat. You both have to ignore her as well, let her gain confidence. The very fact that this person is here lets her know all is well. Leave the room, come back. In time she will accept. Now, mind you this is being typed without being there and observing the whole context. Hope this helps…..Deb
  • Funny behaviour

    Behavioral Issues
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    6k Views
    S
    Bassitt is pretty sure that she's agile like a cat. Except she outweighs cats by at least 10 pounds. She's forever falling off of the back of the couch because she thinks her butt's smaller than it is. (Then she gets scared because she fell off. Then she runs away and doesn't look where she's going and runs into stuff and gets scared.) In short…She's a total klutz, but in such a delightful way!
  • Sudden Aggressive Behaviour

    Behavioral Issues
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k Views
    P
    We have already started the positive reinforcement. My 12 year old daughter is very good with him, and she feeds him in the morning. He is always fed in his crate, and we always thought it was cute and funny that as we were putting the food in his dish he was crawling underneath us to get to it. That changed last night. When I was putting water in his dish I made him wait until I had finished. He was trying to drink it through the bars as I poured it. My hubby and daughter have both read the article I printed out. I think Paige will better follow it as my hubby is very softhearted and all our dogs run our life because he simply can't dominate them.