Hello everyone! I'm so glad I found this site. As I have read the many threads throughout your forum, I found myself at times nodding my head in agreement, astounded at the stories that could have very well been written from my own home, laughing out loud, and even shedding a tear or two. Thank you fellow 'senji owners/lovers, especially the forum administrators.
I live in Waukegan, Illinois with my husband, 21 yr. daughter (now part time resident and full time college student in Ashland, WI), 4-legged son, Tyler (Rwanda's Tyler the Tiger), and 4-legged daughter Kate (Faded Rose's Divine Miss Kate).
Our b. saga started aprox. 15 years ago when my daughter first saw the old movie "Goodbye, My Lady" (1956). She begged us for a Basenji. We ignored her. At the time we owned a Bulldog (Snorky, also called Crisco because he was white and fat-in-the-can:D ) who was the love of our lives and, we lived in a mobile home. –No room, no more dogs-- On top of that, our Bully was born deaf and hand signing trained in 'people speak' and basic obedience. With the research we did on 'senjis, we couldn't imagine bringing another high maintenance dog into the mix.
Fast forward to the daughter's 11th birthday. We were buying a new (?) home (100 plus year old Victorian) with a large fenced back yard, and a large living space (soon known as the b500 track-- bolt in the pet door, around the formal dining room table, jump onto and slam off of the parlour room sofa, out the parlour door to the staircase, up the stairs, over all 3 beds, down the stairs, and slam into the living room sofa, then directly out the pet door to race the preferred course of the day through the back yard) Needless to say we caved and purchased our first Basenji.
Tyler was a God send to Snorky. Engaged him in easy play, and kept Snork young thru many more years. (Although he chewed the crap out of his ears the first 6 months or so)
The most amazing thing about Ty was how easily he bonded with Snork and how much he understood the Snorks needs. We started the "bell training for out" with Ty at 2 weeks into the home. He caught on within 2-3 days.
What we never trained for and what we were unprepared for was that Ty, within a weeks time began ringing the bell for Snork to go out when he noticed his brother Snork sitting and staring at the door (Snorks behavior to let us know he had to go out) The Basenji pup would ring the small cow bell over and over until one of us would open the door for the elderly Snorkie. Most times Ty would never go out, just prance away and go back to sleep!!
My heart melts at these memories. Our first 'senji is now a grouchy old man with strangers, but still plays with his 'senji sister Kate as if he were 3 years old again.
OMG, have to make some dinner and try to stop the current attention getting behavior from Katie. Sorry for the long post.
If you want the rest of the story (ie.. Snorks passing and Katie as a new family member) let me know. I'll let the long winded introduction post stand and hope I have not offended anyone:o
