B does NOT stand for Beaver!


  • 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. :(


  • 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


  • 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.


  • 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...


  • @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.


  • 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.

Suggested Topics

  • Introducing other dogs (puppies) to my B

    Behavioral Issues
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    1k Views
    eeeefarmE
    On feeding, when I had multiple dogs I always did the same as Zande, all dogs fed at the same time, although not always the same place. When the weather was nice I sometimes fed outside. But wherever, I sat and supervised until everyone was finished. I had one who would try to poach if not watched, but she knew better than to make a move with me sitting there. Never had a serious fight with any of mine, and never a disagreement over food, but a breeder I know had to permanently separate two bitches who hated each other and would fight instantly if they had the opportunity....the cause of their dislike had nothing to do with food and everything to do with one bitch interfering with the other one's pups.
  • Bladder stand-off

    Behavioral Issues
    34
    0 Votes
    34 Posts
    18k Views
    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!
  • Bad B

    Behavioral Issues
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    5k Views
    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"...
  • Is Your B Afraid Of Wet Grass?

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    BasenjiDivaB
    Cory and Jayden loathe wet grass….especially Jayden. Cory will at least get off the patio long enough to pee. Jayden uses the patio. And he thinks the flower bed next to the patio with its nice dry pine straw is his personal potty! That is where I have to do most of my pooper-scooping. Pat
  • What does your B do all day?

    Behavioral Issues
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    7k Views
    wizardW
    Just before I leave for work, EL D goes crazy until he gets his kong toy with treats then he just sleeps until I get home. Then a walk and then he search the yard for squirrels and rabbits, unless he's hungry – he'll prance around the house carrying his food dish or sometimes throwing it. Sometimes he'll watch TV in the evenings or just tear up his toys. Every now and then he'll do the Basenji500 - though mostly it's when he needs to go potty.
  • Does your B do this!!!

    Behavioral Issues
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    6k Views
    BarklessdogB
    Thats fine I dont want to get on the wrong paw here!