As far as chocolate goes, one of my dogs (not a basenji, but a 70 lb. collie, spaniel mix) ate a full bag of chocolate chips. She stole it from the kitchen table while I was baking for Xmas. This was before we had a 24 hr. emergency vet where I live, and it was the middle of the night. I really thought we were going to lose her (xmas eve, not to many vets available). She was about 8 years old at the time. Luckily, she threw it all up (on my bedspread, but that worked out well as I just picked up the bedspread and threw it in the wash). After that, she started to recover, but it was pretty scary for a while. I guess we all need spirit of icapeck (I know I spelled that wrong, but the stuff we keep in the house for our kids to make them throw up if they eat something poisonous) in the house for our dogs.
Anyway, I've never been so relived to have one of my dogs throw up all over my bed.
She lived another lovely 7 years, and I never left chocolate where a dog could reach it again!