Hungry Dog

[nobarkus]

@Basenjimamma:

I have a pretty unconventional way that worked on our westie in the past that would get on the tables. We put out lots of mouse traps all over the table, set ready to go off, and then we carefully covered the mousetraps and table with a thin sheet or the like, the next time Bogus got on that table, he got a scare unlike anything else, that did the trick for him. A basenji might need this done several times, I don't know. We tried everything with him, and nothing bothered him and he was stubborn as mule.
Otis' biggest problem, or I guess our biggest problem with Otis is the counter surfing..last night, while we were eating dinner, he once again stole something I didn't even think of as interesting and tore it in a million pieces, so powder went allover him and the kitchen..what you might ask..a brand new, unopened package of Alfredo sauce mix..I never would've thought of him getting that..He got it into his nose and allover his body..He got this huge sneeze attack and looked pretty puny after that..

LOL!! Sorry Petra but Otis' thievery cracks me up. Does he jump up on your counter? I guess I'm lucky as Buddy does not jump on any tables or counters. He will jump up with front paws on the counter and sniff but not up on it. He doesn't even try to jump over the pickett fence around the front yard. When I'm eating he patiently sits and waits, he doesn't even paw me or make a sound.

[Basenjimamma]

Does he jump up on your counter? I guess I'm lucky as Buddy does not jump on any tables or counters

No, he just stands at the counter with his front paws on it, firmly grounded and puts his head to the side, puts one of his front paws on the counter surface and swipes it like an automated arm..even if we put things in about a foot or so on the counter he reaches it somehow..If he were to jump up, I would loose it..no way.

[nobarkus]

@Basenjimamma:

No, he just stands at the counter with his front paws on it, firmly grounded and puts his head to the side, puts one of his front paws on the counter surface and swipes it like an automated arm..even if we put things in about a foot or so on the counter he reaches it somehow..If he were to jump up, I would loose it..no way.

OK, got it. Buddy hasn't done the automated arm thing yet. He's a large male with long legs so that would be a problem.

[Basenjimamma]

Yes Otis is large as well, when he stands on his backpaws he is at chest level with the counter or table..

[Shaye's Mom]

My girl slept through the night without peeing or pooing right from the start. If you are crating her normallly during the day, then putting her there while you're eating should not feel like punishment to her. They sell "ziggies" that you can put into her Kong - they last a lot longer than filling it with stuff. Incidentally, cheeze whiz is not a good snack - peanut butter in there is good, and they also have stuff specifically made for squirting into the Kong. We have also given Shaye the chicken hardpressed bones by Nylabone, and when we have company over to play dominoes or something, one of those will keep Shaye busy long enough to get to her quiet time anyway. We've found that once Shaye is down for the night, she is down to stay. Most others I've spoken to agree sleeping outside the crate won't hurt anything, and makes crating easier - saying that, Shaye was never crateable, and we tried everything out there. Confinement and separation issues.

[lvoss]

@Basenjimamma:

No, he just stands at the counter with his front paws on it, firmly grounded and puts his head to the side, puts one of his front paws on the counter surface and swipes it like an automated arm..even if we put things in about a foot or so on the counter he reaches it somehow..If he were to jump up, I would loose it..no way.

This is Nicky's method of choice. We joke that he is made of rubber because it seems he can stretch his arm way further back than seems possible for a dog his size. He is capable of jumping up on the table and counter but learned at a young age that it is inadvisable to leap where you cannot look. He jumped into a chocolate cake which required an immediate bath and then into a large bowl of water that was soaking in the sink. Now he won't jump anywhere he can't get a good view of first. The great thing is that he seems to have taught all my other basenjis not to leap where you cannot look. My mom's basenjis on the other hand learned from "The Interloper" that you can indeed leap where you cannot look and now all of hers will jump on the table if they think no one is watching. "The Red Devil" is the worst though because she jumps up there and has stolen and chewed my mom's cell phone and one of the trophies for the SCBF's Puppy Match next weekend.

[Basenjimamma]

We joke that he is made of rubber because it seems he can stretch his arm way further back than seems possible for a dog his size

We sometimes call Otis Gumby, like the rubber guy, remember? You are right though, it is sort of amazing how far and well they stretch their legs to reach something..after all that effort, you almost (I said almost) think they deserve the thing they stole..

[nobarkus]

The cats that I used to have at one point lived on a covered table because the Basnejis would chase them. My rw, Ringo would just pull the cover and everything including the food would go on the floor for eating. After he ate their food he would chew up their furry mouse cat toy.

[GenJMar]

My cody is also a very tall boy. He never jumps on the countertops or the table but with is long legs he can reach very far. Not much stands in his way. He once knocked off a bottle of liquor that I had though was far enough back on to the ceramic tile of my kitchen floor. When I got home he was very tipsy. Luckly no injury from the broken glass.He has also knocked over an entire bag of flour while I was baking. It looked like it snowed in my house.

[MacPack]

Yes! Topper also does the 1-armed stretch, raking anything on the counter off onto the floor. He will get into my shelves and cupboards as well, once got a 5-lb bag of powdered sugar and what a fine mess that was! I keep bungee cords on all my lower cabinets!

[Basenjimamma]

MacPack, I am so glad that was in your house and not mine..

[nobarkus]

One time Ringo stole a bag of ground coffee off my dresser, ripped it open and spread it all over the queen size bed rolling around in it. There was coffee all over the bed and him. He loved anything with a strong smell. When I went in the room to see what all the wrestling around was he just looked up at me with a "what"? on his face. He made me laugh despite the mess!

[Basenjimamma]

Man, they are so funny..and mischievious..

[Rita Jean]

I like the coffee mess sounds like there was a lot of fun going on.

Basenjimamma, Jaycee has those really long legs nothing and I mean nothing can in middle to edge of counters anymore we have sort of learned. At least we have learned until the next mess. I have never had any dog get up and look in my washer or dyer and steal as I am loading or unloading. I really use to love my front load put top load may be better now that we have Jaycee.

Rita Jean

[tanza]

@Rita:

I like the coffee mess sounds like there was a lot of fun going on.

Basenjimamma, Jaycee has those really long legs nothing and I mean nothing can in middle to edge of counters anymore we have sort of learned. At least we have learned until the next mess. I have never had any dog get up and look in my washer or dyer and steal as I am loading or unloading. I really use to love my front load put top load may be better now that we have Jaycee.

Rita Jean

Hey… don't be getting one of those "top" loaders...gggg you will spoil all her fun...ggggg

Mine live for the front loading washer/dryer.................

[Basenjimamma]

Otis' favorite household machinery is by far the dishwasher…joy to the world, when it is open and the dishes are still dirty...yumm-o!!

[nobarkus]

@Basenjimamma:

Otis' favorite household machinery is by far the dishwasher…joy to the world, when it is open and the dishes are still dirty...yumm-o!!

Dishwasher a favorite for every B I've ever had. One time I had a guest here and he had taken a shower earlier using a towel he brought. Ringo pulled his damp towel off the rack, hauled it in the living room and right in front of the guy proceeded to roll around on it until it was a twisted mess. I was embarrassed to say the least. He didn't care.