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Need Help with chewing, everything

Behavioral Issues
  • Mine is about 8-9 months and he tries to grab and chew things. Even after long hard walks or trips to the dog park. Safest place when I cannot supervise him is in the crate. I have found over the years that getting them out as much as possible and socializing helps to calm them down and mature. I was lucky with my first tri that she did not chew anything as a puppy.

  • I know what you mean, my tri girl neveer chewwed on anything, but he's nother story. I wish i could crate him but he getts so stress that he just flipps out. My vet told me to try a faromon spray they have tried on other dogs, they said this might help him when he is in there. I have to see if the pet store carries it and how much it it. She told me it is pricy. I also now he is in his teen years. He has been a good boy it is just latley be has been acting up. I know we all will make through it on way or another.:p

  • A tired b is a good basenji..I would get him into a basic obedience class and take him out for 3 very long walks!

  • @sharronhurlbut:

    A tired b is a good basenji..I would get him into a basic obedience class and take him out for 3 very long walks!

    Exactly! Also just taking them to all kinds of different places satisfies that curiosity thirst they have. Walk them on different routes, like people they get bored going the same old walk.

  • He has been to 2 basic obebaince classes. I want to start taking him for walks, but I have to take him into town to do so. I live in the country next to a busy high way so I don't want to walk him around here so if ever gets out he doesn't take him self for a walk. right now he usally runs to the car to go.

  • Really glad to read this thread because my new 6-7 month old puppy is chewing on everything. She doesn't seem interested in chewing on her toys. I thought I had found something that worked which was a cow hoof but she managed in a couple of days to break it apart into pieces and then I felt things were getting dangerous for her. I don't know what to try that she will want to chew on that is safe and nondestructible. We walk several times a day and play Frisbee in the backyard so I feel like she is getting plenty of exercise but I could be wrong.

  • @BlueBell:

    Really glad to read this thread because my new 6-7 month old puppy is chewing on everything. She doesn't seem interested in chewing on her toys. I thought I had found something that worked which was a cow hoof but she managed in a couple of days to break it apart into pieces and then I felt things were getting dangerous for her. I don't know what to try that she will want to chew on that is safe and nondestructible. We walk several times a day and play Frisbee in the backyard so I feel like she is getting plenty of exercise but I could be wrong.

    This is the typical age for B's to be "really" a handful, you just need to make sure that you are watching her and redirect her when she chews things she should not… I know it sounds "simple" but it isn't, because you need to know where she is all the time. Have you tried toys that you put food in and they roll it around to get the food out? There are a number of different ones, one of the first to come out was the Buster Cube... Watch using hoofs as they can break their teeth... and if you ever step on one with bare feet, you will never give them that again..gggg

  • Mental stimulation wears dogs out much more than physical exercise. Dogs are really built for physical activity so it take more of it to wear them out. A 15 minute training session can be more tiring for some dogs than a nice long walk. This is especially true when you are working on new behaviors.

    Toys like Pat metioned are also good because they work the brain.

  • She has two toys that you put food in - a football and another one but she could care less. Maybe the food inside isn't desirable enough. Great a puppy who is a handful and a two year old grandson who I keep 3 days a week who is going through the terrible twos. So wonder Bella gets along so well with him and not as much with the 5 year old. :)

  • My youngest Basenji is 16 months. She does well most of the time, but temptation being what it is gets the best of her. I have a 6x6 inch hole in my new mattress! I laundered the linens and the mattress pad. The house seemed too quiet. I checked on my dogs; on top of my bed were my two Basenjis and my terrier-mix … the youngest Basenji was pulling stuffing out of the mattress for the other two, and they were all having a ball....that is, until I walked in the room and screamed!!!

    Gotta love 'em!

  • I am finding out quickly that if things are too quiet I better go find Bella. Most of the time she is asleep but there are those times that my tennis shoes or sandals are now becoming just chew toys. Upsetting but funny too. Kind of like my 2 year old grandson's antics.

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    Sudden behavior change at this age is almost always medical. I am glad you are now keeping him separated, but honestly you should have the first incident. After the first bite, most courts or judges would rule you knew he was a danger and he could not only have been seized, but you sued for significant damages. You are lucky no one is filing. Thyroid is the primary cause that I am aware of for sudden change. Yes, brain tumors are possible, but more likely thyroid. Some forms of epilepsy also can cause a dog to attack, but typically this is truly out of nowhere-- not like what you describe when a dog is told no about something. Pain can also do it.. sadly cancer had been found in similar situations of sudden growing aggression. The ENCOURAGING part is you had several months without problems... so again, look at the most simple... thyroid. Make sure you get a full panel, not just an in-house partial. In the meantime, understand you didn't cause this, and it may be fixable. If thyroid, it's inexpensive medication. But you won't know until you get tests runs. Hopefully those wanting him put down will feel better knowing you are acting to find out if there is a medical issue.
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    Helena, we still have a long way to go with Kwame but i feel more relaxed about him now. The support from people has helped along with the advice. It was such a relief not to go to classes with him on saturday, i felt like a load had been lifted off my shoulders. I guess i felt we should keep going because Malaika has done so well with them. It took a while to become apparent that the enviroment was wrong for him. Kwame and Malaika do try to avoid having the leaders on and occasionaly on the walk will try to wipe them off on our legs ;) however i feel they are worth persevering with as the effect is so dramatic and our walks are transformed. I am keeping the harness in mind though if neccasary, it's good to know there are options.
  • Help!

    Behavioral Issues 28 Jan 2012, 03:31
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    Kipawa went through a rambunctious stage at 13 months - he didn't do anything bad, but he seemed to be 'testing' who the boss was. He was reminded, consistently. (Grin) At 15 months he started to show very nice maturation qualities and a complete understanding of his place in our family pack. Be patient, be consistent, give him lots of exercise and really praise him when he is good.
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    Basenjis are known for chewing and even my older/elderly dogs must be crated because of it. I was hoping it would lessen as they got older-it has somewhat but not totally. They like to chew the cover on the sofa and chair! Jennifer
  • Chewing

    Behavioral Issues 6 Oct 2007, 11:27
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    Cory seems to really like her crate at night. It is beside our bed and when she sees that we are on our way to bed, she goes right in and does everything but shut the door after herself. My husband is away on a trip and so the other night I left the crate door open at bedtime to see what she would do. She still stayed in there all night. She didn't come out until my alarm went off the next morning. At least if she starts to shred at night I should hear it. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope that doesn't happen. Is Keoki in the room with you? Pat