@basenjicurious
It’s great that you’re doing your homework on the basenji. I think the reason you read all these “horror stories” is because they are not your typical dog. They are a beautiful and highly intelligent breed with a very strong prey drive. My Kembe is my first basenji but I was familiar with the breed because my brothers were basenji owners. I got her when she was 1years old - she was returned to the breeder by the previous owners. Kembe has never been destructive, she has free reign of our house, and I can leave her at home alone. It’s extremely important to exercise them regularly - especially exercise and stimulate their minds, and establish a routine (I can set my watch to my dog). They are definitely trainable - it scares me to see how smart she is and also well behaved. Basenjis are extremely lovable and hilariously funny. If I have a treat that my dog especially likes - she will do her whole “repertoire of tricks” without me even asking her. She dances to let me know it’s time to eat and will sit right next to me and hit me with her paw when she wants to go for her walk.
I think our basenji chose us - when we went to the breeders home to look at her - She jumped up next to my husband on the couch and curled up! I was sold on her! I really hope you find a basenji that right for you!
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What do you feed your Basenji?
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We feed Kenji Diamond Chicken and rice for puppies. For teats, his favorite is Healthy Omega Treats: Chicken, but we also give him Raw Naturals by Pro-Treat: Chicken, and lastly we have begun giving him Prime Taste Treats: Freeze Dried Chicken.
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Hello there! I actually work in holistic dog food and nutrition and hope to help. If you're sticking within the same BRAND of good (i.e, Blue Buffalo) and Dexter doesn't have an ultra-sensitive stomach, you can switch freely without any transition time at all.
This is very good to know, Thanks!
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Hello there! I actually work in holistic dog food and nutrition and hope to help. If you're sticking within the same BRAND of good (i.e, Blue Buffalo) and Dexter doesn't have an ultra-sensitive stomach, you can switch freely without any transition time at all. The reason why holistic lines have so many different flavors and meat options is for this very reason. Dogs, like humans, become bored with eating the same thing over and over, so feel fee to switch it up AS LONG as it's in the same brand (and that there aren't other restrictions to consider- large/giant breed, grain free, senior…etc)
Hope this helps!
Andrew, Shango & Newsom
I disagree about it having to be the Same Brand. I have switched brands on my girls every time I fill up their kibble can and have since day one. I have never had to transition when changing because they are always getting something different. I do use one in particular as a base and then mix in different brands, however. I get 5lb bags of each (base brand-Fromm's Surf and Turf) and then mix with a 5lb bag of all different grain free brands.
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I disagree about it having to be the Same Brand. I have switched brands on my girls every time I fill up their kibble can and have since day one. I have never had to transition when changing because they are always getting something different. I do use one in particular as a base and then mix in different brands, however. I get 5lb bags of each (base brand-Fromm's Surf and Turf) and then mix with a 5lb bag of all different grain free brands.
I like the idea of mixing foods. Is that something you do for all of their meals? i.e. taking 2-3 foods and mixing them together
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It is, most times it is the Fromm's with one other Grain Free but depending on when I get low, could be two other different Grain Free which they get morning and evening. I have never had a problem with changing foods, which was the purpose… I can go most anywhere and know if I needed to buy food for them, I am not limited to just one brand.
Also I mix in homemade Mutt Loaf for the evening meal. They get usually some canned with the kibble in the morning with yogart and cottage cheese at lunch time (which is just a cookie snack).
I have to admit however, when I first started doing this, I was a bit careful. When it came time to mix in a new/different brand, I would start for a day or two just throwing in a small bit of the new brand with the kibble but once I was through a couple of different brands, it really was not necessary. They are really used to change and different things from kibble to canned to raw to cooked. Makes it pretty easy to feed them. I am sorry that I didn't do this years ago with my very first Basenjis.
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I disagree about it having to be the Same Brand. I have switched brands on my girls every time I fill up their kibble can and have since day one. I have never had to transition when changing because they are always getting something different. I do use one in particular as a base and then mix in different brands, however. I get 5lb bags of each (base brand-Fromm's Surf and Turf) and then mix with a 5lb bag of all different grain free brands.
Be thankful you have strong-stomachs in the house!
I've been in holistic pet health for 5 years now and you are certainly in the minority. Switching brands without transition periods, especially if they're drastically different formulas, can cause loose stool like you've never seen! -
I had switched between raw and kibble a couple times w/o problems. For some reason, Kananga has had issues on the Nature's Variety grain-free kibble (semi-loose stools at times), I figured it might make sense to mix in another brand to add a variety (pun intended).
I really should be giving him yogurt at times (its like crack to him) because I've noticed it helps solidify things for him, and why not give him a treat that he loves so much.
Thanks for the info Pat. I'll try slowly adding in a different brand or two and see how he does. I've never been a big fan of using one food for a long period of time. Part of me thinks this is just not a proper way to feed them, could lead to allergies over time. Another reason why I had him on raw for awhile and then back on grain-free kibble. I've actually noticed him losing interest after awhile.
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Be thankful you have strong-stomachs in the house!
I've been in holistic pet health for 5 years now and you are certainly in the minority. Switching brands without transition periods, especially if they're drastically different formulas, can cause loose stool like you've never seen!Again, I disagree…. while there are some dogs with sensitive stomachs either due to breed specific or genetic, I honestly believe (and I have had Basenjis for 20+ years) that transition periods are not needed if you work up to using different brands over the course of months. Along with other things like raw, veggies (raw/cooked), Meat/veggies/friuts/eggs (raw/cooked), yogart, cottage cheese.
My OJ who lived till 17+ as a very young dog had terrible eating habits... sometimes he would eat, sometimes he would not... more often then not he would have tummy/digestive problems. When he was about 4yrs old, I started mixing the foods, not as much as I do now with kibble because that was before there were really any grain free foods, but with home cooking. His eating habits changed totally and he very, very rarely had any digestive problems for the remainer of his life.
And I know this also works fine for Silky Terriers, as another breeder that has both Silky's and Basenjis has also done this.
But then there is nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree. Just different points of view
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Again, I disagree…. while there are some dogs with sensitive stomachs either due to breed specific or genetic, I honestly believe (and I have had Basenjis for 20+ years) that transition periods are not needed if you work up to using different brands over the course of months. Along with other things like raw, veggies (raw/cooked), Meat/veggies/friuts/eggs (raw/cooked), yogart, cottage cheese.
Yes, agree to disagree, though "working up to using different brands over the course of months" is a type of transition period, yes. Just not the traditional 7-10 day that is recommended or most used. Agree to disagree
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Again, I disagree…. while there are some dogs with sensitive stomachs either due to breed specific or genetic, I honestly believe (and I have had Basenjis for 20+ years) that transition periods are not needed if you work up to using different brands over the course of months. Along with other things like raw, veggies (raw/cooked), Meat/veggies/friuts/eggs (raw/cooked), yogart, cottage cheese.
Yes, agree to disagree, though "working up to using different brands over the course of months" is a type of transition period, yes. Just not the traditional 7-10 day that is recommended or most used. Agree to disagree
Not really, because now I do no transistion I change brands at least once a month and just start feeding it.
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i mix different brands for suki with no transition period. i usually get a big bag of nutro natural choice or wellness, and then mix in small bags of another food like evo or eukanuba or other quality food. she's never had any problem with this.
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I started off with feeding my Basenjis raw and biscuit but changed to 'complete feeds' for a while. After having had problems with one particular bitch I switched back to raw and have fed it ever since.
They have all sorts of vegetables and fruit and supplements when necessary.
My vet bills are small over the life of the dog and I put this down to their feeding management but of course it could be just coincidence.
Mine do eat grass but the reasons vary, and they also dig up certain roots and eat certain plants!
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http://www.maryshouse.us/Recipes.htm
Here's the muttloaf recipe I've been using. I am lucky in that I get the beef from Betsy who raises longhorn cattle. Excellent quality grassfed lean beef and she usually throws in a few hearts and livers for free.
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LOL… love that Mutt Loaf... I make 3 or 4 loafs at a time from the mix... cook one, freeze the others.. defrost and bake as needed... and I warm up the evening ones in the Micro for about 30 seconds. I change up what I use in the mix from time to time... adding different things... but always ground meat (Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Pork and Lamb)...eggs, bananas, apple sauce (unsweeten green apples) dried cranberries, and other fresh/raw fruit/veggies....
I do not use cheap ground beef, but a good cut ground of grass fed steers... one of these days I will get a grinder or food processer and add some organ meat....
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I have a grinder attachment for my Kitchenaide mixer. Works great! I always use blueberries or cranberries for the fruit part (depending on the season) and potato flakes for the grain. I had not thought of adding apple sauce. For seasoning, I add garlic and cinnamon. Pups LOVE it. In fact, I started making this b/c I'd get 1/4 an animal from Betsy and had LOTS of ground beef. It's just hubby and I, so that's a lot of ground beef for 2 adults, so I found this recipe and it helped me get Digital to eat. Yes, he's picky. Yes, I cater to him. He's my dog and I can spoil him if I want to. (And if I and hubby dies, he goes back to Mary Turner who will spoil him as much as i do!)
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LOL Kim…. I agree when they get older we all "cater" to them... and I use blueberries too sometimes fresh, sometimes dried... and the applesause works great... IMO... And I wish that I had a local farmer that I could get fresh from... but I do try and get the same quality that I would eat myself... and like you, there is just the two humans and then the "critters". I have used potato flakes but also have used rice flour or in a pinch, nothing at all... it is a "bit" wet to form and freeze or cook, but it works. Have not tried Cinnamon, great idea... I will do that next time (this weekend)! Oh and I also use dried Cranberries... just mix them in the mix and when you cook them up (like blueberries) they plump up and cook really well.
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yes, i use the dried cranberries when the blueberries are $$$ and the fresh cranberries are not in season yet. Dried cranberries now come in so many different flavors! And yes, I too have omitted the "grain", usually b/c I forgot to add it. Cinnamon is one of those "wonder" foods and it helps mask the smell of the liver (if I've added that on that go-round). I don't really think liver is fit for eating, but the dogs seem to like it. I get fresh beef and farm eggs (the holistic vet sells them), but the rest i get from the store. Hopefully I'll have lots of zucchini in the garden this year. That and green beans. (I have purple green beans that turn green when you cook them. You'd think I was 6 the way it amuses me!) Last year the poor garden was sort of neglected, but for some reason the dill thrived. Fresh herbs are way more potent!
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Dreamer eats a cooked homemade diet- mainly chicken + sweet potatoes - with some yogurt, a tablespoon or so of pureed raw fruit/veg(brightly coloured stuff - berries, leafy vegs etc) and appropriate supplements. She seems to do best on a simple, highly digestible cooked diet. She gets an egg sometimes when I don't have any chicken cooked. She does ok on kibble, worse on raw.
My non-b puppy gets 1/2 earthborn holistic costal catch dry and 1/2 home prepared raw… and any dog safe leftovers. Sometimes I feel like all I do is feed him... he eats enough in a day to feed dreamer for at least 5.
I curious how much other basenjis eat - Dreamer eats about 4 ounces of cooked chicken(dark meat+skin) and 8 oz of baked sp a day + treats coming up to about 400-450 calories/day. She weighs 16-18 lbs and is not very active...
Edit: Dreamer loves dried cranberries too... and I always get local eggs from the farm store(2/dozen for any size, so I always get the jumbo ones- and they sure are big), so much better then even the free range/etc ones from the grocery store. And if you If you like purple green beans you should try growing Dragons tongue beans - they're yellow with purple stripes, turn yellow when cooked.
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I curious how much other basenjis eat - Dreamer eats about 4 ounces of cooked chicken(dark meat+skin) and 8 oz of baked sp a day + treats coming up to about 400-450 calories/day. She weighs 16-18 lbs and is not very active…
The food you make sounds dee-lish… but 8 oz. of sweet potato a day?? :eek::eek: That's about how much Bowpi gets an entire day at most, and I've come to think we're overfeeding her a bit! Bowpi is 22 ~ 24 lbs, sleeps/lounges around the house for what seems like 18 hours a day, and gets vigorous walks, off-leash park running, and whatever-around-the-house for the rest of her waking hours. She gets 1/2 a cup of kibble in the morning (at least that's how I do it, but my partner's been feeding her in the day when I'm not around and I'm starting to suspect he's slipping her more...) and up to 4 oz. of meat/non-meat in a roughly 70/30 ratio in the evening.
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Yeah… it sounds like more then it really is, sp is reallly dense and mostly water/fiber. It's about 1/2 a cup cooked I think...
I always feed mine because my mom is the same - thinks I'm not giving enough though she admits that Dreamer at least is the right weight. Silly puppy on the other hand is hard to keep weight on, the whole litter is the same and so was his sire. At least he's not like his sister who will only eat ground chicken...
