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B does NOT stand for Beaver!

Behavioral Issues
  • VanessaV

    Here is another fun issue that were dealing with. Kiya likes to chew on our new dining room table chairs. She has already chewed a hole in a pillow on the couch and now graduated to the wood table.
    We've applied Apple Bitter and it doesn't seem to phase her.
    What do you do?
    We do not crate and will not crate while we are away during the day or else we will have a lot of explaining to do when the cops knock at our door calling about noise complaints. :(

    Basenji Forums Staff

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  • MacPackM

    Tobasco, Vicks vapo-rub, lock her out of the dining room. We have had wood chewers in the past, preferred a chunk of wood to a bone. good luck

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

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  • bellabasenjiB

    A friend of mine has a dog that she rescued. She had developed some bad habits, apparently… The dog chewed up her bedroom furniture legs; bedposts, end tables, etc... She even chewed up some of her favorite GLASS figurines (unbelievably):eek: !!! This golden retriever "Tess" is a loving and beautiful dog and is my Bella's best doggie friend! But times were rough at the beginning for the family until they got her through this. First of all the dog was young and may be growing out of the "naughty puppy" stage, second of all they did have to put her on anxiety meds for a while, third of all they have an existing "alpha" weinmeraner (not sure about the spelling) dog that may have put Tess in her place. Whatever it was, this golden is doing much better now and not chewing on the furniture anymore. Somehow they managed to do it without crating... So maybe there is hope for the future for you and your furbaby.

    _**Lisa Lynn ![](images/smilies/smile.png "Smile")

    BRAT Basenji Rescue, &

    Mid-Atlantic Basenji Club**_

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  • soulmateS

    I have experiences with deep cat-sleeping-holes in sofas, digged by a architect-basenji (Banshee). I also experienced that things like this mostly stop, when the next young basenji moves in (Panda). Then the "old" one is no longer in charge of destructive works. Pray, that the youg one has other hobbies….In our case this did not work, as Panda chews everything and even thinks it is fun to tear off the wall papers while she is bored...

    A Basenji does not obey to orders, it may listen to proposals.

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  • VanessaV

    @soulmate:

    I have experiences with deep cat-sleeping-holes in sofas, digged by a architect-basenji (Banshee). I also experienced that things like this mostly stop, when the next young basenji moves in (Panda). Then the "old" one is no longer in charge of destructive works. Pray, that the youg one has other hobbies….In our case this did not work, as Panda chews everything and even thinks it is fun to tear off the wall papers while she is bored...

    Its actually the exact opposite. Chance is our older male and he is fine. Its our puppy Kiya (she just turned 1) who does this.
    Trying to section them off in the house can't happen since our home has an open floor plan.
    I found a gel which can be applied to furniture which should alleviate the chewing. I'll have to order it and find out.
    Finger crossed it works.

    Basenji Forums Staff

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  • snorky998S

    My mom had a wood chewer (Rottie pup). The breeder suggested making a cayenne pepper paste with a small amount of water and then apply it to the wood. It worked great and didn't stain the furniture. Just be sure to scrub your hands and nails after working with the paste.

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Suggested Topics

  • mixieM

    Bladder stand-off

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    Buddys PalB
    @mixie: All good suggestions! We use the "elimination on command" stuff, so from day one she had a specific potty word, praise and treats for peeing. She is food-motivated, but only to a point. That first 27-hour standoff, she didn't get fed from the day before because she hadn't peed yet, and nothing good happens until everyone's had a morning pee. I tried offering every kind of treat, including her actual prey-model-raw meal, and she was more insistent on leaving the yard than eating. =/ I am curious about how upping her fluids would change things. She really drinks very little during the day, by choice. Maybe I'm just used to a dog with a less-efficient water-consumption protocol, and she really doesn't need to pee as much as I think she should. ;0) She's had four days on the Cipro, it would be handy if it's just a bladder infection and we see some changes from that! I just read this last post and if you are feeding her raw (as I do), then her urine output is a little less than the norm because the raw food is moist and our pooches (esp B's) don't drink as much. Though, you said she exercises a lot and since I also share the humidity factor like you, the fluid intake should make her bladder full. Take mental notes of when you feed, when she drinks, when she pees and you'll get in a rhythm. Like eeeeefarm mentioned, just don't push the issue, adjust to her 'pee schedule' and make it yours via commands, the crate etc. She can sense your frustration and it only adds to her not wanting to go in that backyard area….This definitely is one of those scenarios where digging for patience is needed! Give it time......continue to work with her as you want and it will get better!
  • RedVelvetLynxR

    Bad B

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    tanzaT
    That is usually one of the biggest problems… someone in the house is NOT good about remember to pick up after themselves... or putting things out of reach of the "Basenji"...
  • etzbsederE

    Smells the B hates:

    Behavioral Issues
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    snorky998S
    @BDawg: Ours will drink wine and beer. Lexi HATES the smell of a banana. When I peel it, sometimes we let her smell it and then runs all over the house. It's so funny and sometimes we chase her with it (good naturedly) and she goes nuts and spins on the bed all playfully. She will roll in anything mint flavored or scented. She also loves to roll in leather and will stick her face in ANY stinky shoe and go bizurk. It's hilarious!! http://www.dogster.com/video/379313/The_new_shoes_leather_is_my_catnip The video is ADORABLE! Just wondering….rolling and/or rubbing on scents is called self-anointing. In wild animal studies they are researching if this is an innate behavior to mask personal scents or to repel external parasites. (Pandas, not only in our United States, but in China breeding facilities, many times choose to anoint with scents that are not found in their natural habitat.) I wonder then, are our dogs also self anointers as a throw back to their wild heritage, or are they just plain strange? Does anyone else have dogs with scent preferences (other than the nasty dead/decayed stuff they find on a regular basis) My Kate is a 'nasty' scent anointer, Tyler will rub on apple scents.
  • VanessaV

    This B needs an attitude adjustment!

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    BarklessdogB
    The other kind of guarding - for things that he gets by accident - that still continues, but less and less, although I don't trust him fully. He has been trained to go in his crate very willingly because he always gets a treat when he does. If he has something I don't want him to have I tell him to "get in your crate!" which almost always works the first time. He gets his treat, I close the crate, and then I clean up the mess without any worry. For our dog, if it's something like a cookie or pizza, nothing will stop him from devoring it.
  • L

    Into of the third b

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    L
    Thanks for the info! Yes we just got over the rain for the most part,,,,,,,thank goodness! What part of Maryland are you from? My aunt lives in Cumberland and the last time we were there we went to Rahobath beach (not sure of the spelling). We had a great time except for the DC traffic – we here in Southeastern Ohio are NOT use to that type of traffic! It was funny once my cousin (from Cumberland) came in town for a visit and we were going down one of our main drags on a Sat. morning and I said "Man,,I cant believe this traffic,,,,,its awful!" and she laughed and said I didnt know what traffic was! Well ,,,,,,,,,she was right,,,,,,,I couldnt imagine dealing with the DC traffic every day. About the furbabies though,,,,,,,they seem to be getting familiar with each other. Only a few minor scuffles today over a rawhide I forgot to get out of the backyard . Also, the marking has seemed to end-- we were a little worried. Lastly, the eating in there crates thing has worked out except our Bella (1st BRAT dog) has been dealing with some seperation issues again after we left her for the weekend to drive to Missouri to get Wrigley. Anyway, hopefully we will be one big happy family! One last thing, kudos to you and your wife for fostering so many dogs. My husband and I are considering volunteering for BRAT after this spring. My son is a senior and I am afraid as we get closer to the spring things will get crazy around here with all of his senior stuff.
  • VanessaV

    How Loud Is Your B

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    VanessaV
    @tanza: True… but don't let that put you in a false sense of security... nothing worse then "2" howling Basenjis!!!!! Ha! So True. That would be my worst nightmare :eek: