I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread about Toys that Basenji Owners have found to be the Safest and Best for their Basenji's.
We are always on the look out for new and durable toys to keep our Basenji busy and provide alternatives to couches, garbage cans, curtains, toliet paper, Victoria Secret underwear, shoes, and other temping various items.
I think we can also include the best places that owners have found to purchase these toys at reasonable prices.
Maybe this can even be made into a sticky for the site.
Jason
Ps. The phase Basenji Safe Miranda approved gets credited to Miranda
Good idea Jason - my B's enjoy and have not gotten into any trouble playing with "no stuffing" animals, Kong tennis balls that squeak, big hard plastic keys on a ring, Nylabones, HuggaWubbas (and the other toys in that line) knotted cloth ropes to play tug of war with. They have also confiscated some stuffed animals my grandchildren left here, and so far they haven't started de-stuffing them, but if they do those toys get tossed. Of course the most fun they have is chewing on each other's ears, neck, legs, etc.etc.
Safe as far as…. can't be chewed up into little pieces? I haven't found anything yet for Buddy. Luckily he spits it all out. All his toys are reminents of what was a toy meaning all the stuffing is pretty much gone and the outside is all frayed. The only thing that has some what lasted is a large rope toy.
I didn't think he would do this to a tennis ball.
Boy, I guess I've been lucky - my girls haven't done that to anything - yet.
Our dogs both seem to like the toys that we can put food in like the Molecule, Kong Football, and others that keep them busy working to get the food out. They also get Skinnys or the flat animals without stuffing but as the rip them up Miranda either repairs them or throws them away. Roo (the basenji) likes to defuzz toys so we are very careful what kind of animal toys we buy. He has chewed through the tails of several wubas and has even shredded ropes. So now we look for the most durable toys we can find.
Our Basenji does retrieve at least indoors, so we have several of those types of toys too. You might laugh at this, but I discovered that Roo likes to play with the Hard Empty plastic Jars from the Raw almonds we buy at target. He is very happy just to roll that around the room and bat at it with his paws.
I am thinking of constructing something like a punching bag on a stand in the hopes that he will find it amusing and box with it.
Jason
The two toys I know that are durable enough for a Basenji are Kongs and sterilized beef bones. Both are cheap and effective.
Although for some reason, Kananga much prefers his Kong, and I don't even fill it with anything. He has yet to damage it and chews on it pretty much every day.
I have a low inflated basketball in the house but he'll jump up on it only for a few seconds and that's it.
Otis gets raw bones, like knucklebones or nylabones, he seems to love them…so long as another dog is trying to steal it..
He also loves stuffed animals, so far he hasn't untuffed any, but our dachshund does it for him..I so wish I could find a strong stuffed, dog toy, without a squeaker in it, that seems to be what they are trying to dig out..but no luck yet. Toiletpaper, not chep in the long run, but boy does he love it..
I too, have a few empty containers that seem to bring some entertainment to him, either batting or rolling it around.
I have had 7 dogs in my adult life and I have never had a dog that liked the kong toys..I buy them in hopes of them falling for it, but they all have just looked at them and walked away..why, the look so much fun?
Great thread by the way..
Yea, I really don't understand why Kananga enjoys the Kong so much. I've filled it with stuff before, but as it is now there's absolutely nothing in there for him to be so excited about. It's the actual Kong material that he now looks forward to… strange huh...
For chew toys, my 3 love the hard white Nylabone Dental Dinosaurs (particularly the brontosaurus - not easy to only find the brontosaurus :rolleyes:) - they have no use for regular Nylabones, not interesting enough for them I suppose.
For interactive toys, they like stuffed kongs but once they are empty they ignore them completely. The all LOVE Busy Buddies and Liyah's favourite is the Squirrel Dude.
They all love stuffed toys - Ruby is a plucker so I need to watch her like a hawk, and she is the only one of my 3 that unstuffs toys - and will eat the stuffing. She unstuffed Liyah's snuggle puppy so now it is only a skin in Liyah's crate :(. We also have a handmade tug toy that Brando & Liyah play with - Ruby isn't interested.
Brando is a fetcher, and so I have assorted balls (stuffed for inside, hard for outside) that I throw. He taught Liyah to fetch and he will actually grab a ball and toss it from his mouth for her to chase - super cute to watch :D:D:D! Ruby's only interested in the ball inside and she will steal it when they are playing only to lie down with it on the couch and not let them have it back - brat :rolleyes:!
My 3 are super active :eek::eek:, so they tend to play with each other more than toys - especially because Liyah always gets them all going. Usually they are worn out after they are done with her, so toys tend to last a long time in my house.
AJ loves soft hand puppets…probably because it involves me chasing him around with them. I get them on sale and make sure to get the ones that make noise (roaring lion is his favorite...go figure) When I see fluff coming out of one, I put it away until I can sew it up. He gets natural bones, either one of those sterilized ones stuffed with peanut butter or a rib bone I save him from my bbq dinner, always beef. He can't tolerate pork and will vomit every time he gets it. Must be Islamic, but that's okay, I can accommodate his religious needs.
You might laugh at this, but I discovered that Roo likes to play with the Hard Empty plastic Jars from the Raw almonds we buy at target. He is very happy just to roll that around the room and bat at it with his paws.
Jason
Jason, Have you ever put another toy or a treat in the plastic jar?? Kona goes crazy for that - especially if she can get it on the tile. It keeps her busy for a good hour, then she is exhausted!
Jason, Have you ever put another toy or a treat in the plastic jar?? Kona goes crazy for that - especially if she can get it on the tile. It keeps her busy for a good hour, then she is exhausted!
Yep actually did that a couple of days ago. I bought a hard plastic ball which had ropes that ran through it in two different directions with knots on the end. After Roo shred the ropes and pulled them both out, I took the ball and put it in the empty almond jar.
I have also found he likes the large superballs as well.
Jason
Mine like the squirrel dude as well. It's much less noisey and more portable than the old buster cube I have. I use it quite often in hotel rooms to distract Zoni when traveling.
Zoni is a chewer and likes the newer Nylabones which are more funky shaped than the traditional ones. They both love the dental dinosaurs. Nemo never chews on any nylabone or similar things but he will chew on the little dinosaurs.
Zoni likes the little squeaky tennis balls, and she will play fetch with them.
Otherwise, one of their favorites is a cat toy which is basically a little battery powered squeaky mouse hanging from a stick that squeaks when you move it. It's not very sturdy but it they absolutely love it. It only cost a few dollars.
The other toy is a plush "tree stump" with little squirrels inside which the dogs can pull out thru several different holes. It's a lot of fun too. Once they pull them out, I just stuff them back in again. Here's a little video to illustrate. They love flinging the little squirrels around. I put a little duck in there too which makes the noise.
Nemo, I love that toy, did you get it online or in store..where oh where did you get it?
Nemo, I love that toy, did you get it online or in store..where oh where did you get it?
I got it at the Dr. Fosters and Smith store but I don't see it on their website. Hopefully someone has seen it elsewhere online. Sorry! If go there again I can get you one. 
I was wrong! I found it. There are different versions and they had the birdhouse picture posted.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3307+3+9937&pcatid=9937
Nemo, Thanks that is so sweet to offer, but I looked online and found it, at Foster and Smith, under "hide and seek toys", they have several versions, I am so getting one of them. Thanks for the tip.
Nemo, Thanks that is so sweet to offer, but I looked online and found it, at Foster and Smith, under "hide and seek toys", they have several versions, I am so getting one of them. Thanks for the tip.
Good, I found it after you did. I'd suggest getting the replacement 3 pack too. I didn't but there is plenty of room in that tree trunk and it could easily fit 3 more in there for added fun!
I'd suggest getting the replacement 3 pack too. I didn't but there is plenty of room in that tree trunk and it could easily fit 3 more in there for added fun!
Great , I will do that, the more the merrier, right?
Great , I will do that, the more the merrier, right?
Yep! The fun ends too fast with only three. But if you have small stuffed animals already they would work too. But the little squirrels are really cute and they also squeak!
