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My first and smallest

Member Introductions
  • G

    Hi- we just moved in with our first Basenji, a good looking black and white boy. We started in dogs with Great Danes 35 years ago, we have down sized our house, our income and our workout so it was time to get a dog that was a size I could live.

    We live in northern Vermont and the trees willl start to change color in about 2 weeks (really).

    I would love to get some input on how to handle these little guys in sub zero weather, we get a lot of it, any tips on feeding schedules and exercise would be appreciated, he has already staked out his position by the wood stove.

    GB1951

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  • MothM

    Welcome :)

    You have come to the right place for basenji knowledge.

    Visit the Curly Tailed Brigade

    http://curly-tailed.blogspot.com/

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  • eeeefarmE

    @gb1951:

    I would love to get some input on how to handle these little guys in sub zero weather, we get a lot of it, any tips on feeding schedules and exercise would be appreciated, he has already staked out his position by the wood stove.

    You might want to invest in some footwear! It gets very cold where I live and some days my guy can't really stay out long enough to do his business without boots! These are "muttluks", which I find work very well….

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

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  • jonny b.J

    Where did you get those boots… very stylin' and it gets cold here too.... but hard to imagine it now. been over 100 for about 3 weeks now...

    jonny b. and HAnsel, he's so hot right now

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  • eeeefarmE

    @jonny:

    Where did you get those boots… very stylin' and it gets cold here too.... but hard to imagine it now. been over 100 for about 3 weeks now...

    They are a Canadian product, but available in the States as well….

    http://www.muttluks.com/home.php

    I find them easy to use and they generally stay on, unlike some boots I have tried. The closure is Velcro, so it's easy to get a good fit. The reflective tape makes it easy to spot your dog in the dark, too! ;-)

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

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  • P

    Welcome - we are very lucky not to have your extreme temperatures.

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  • Shaye's MomS

    Those muttlucks look wonderful! There are lots of good websites that will show jackets and fleeces for your B. I wouldn't think feeding needs to change when it gets really cold unless he spends lots of time outdoors - some basenjis actually love the snow, so they say, although mine would not. Once the plows come through and you have running or walking room, his exercise doesn't have to suffer either. I lived in Vermont for a few years and our dogs (not basenjis then) managed just fine, both the longhaired ones and the sleek great dane. Basenjis have a lot less body weight, though, so a good warm fleece or fleece lined jacket would be in order. It gets real obvious when they're cold - they stop moving, shiver a lot, and try to get picked up! Of course mine does that at 55 degrees.

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    Welcom to the forum and congratulations,, your b sounds wonderful and no, you are not the only one that feels guilty for leaving them. Think about it.. you got a basenji… you are already kind of crazy!! :-) Ayo is 2 1/2 years old now, and I still hate leaving him. I have only slept away from him one night in the whole 2/ 1/2 years. I know I will have to leave him more often in the future , luckily I already have a perfect place to leave him which worked perfectly that one time. Its a friend who loves dogs, she breeds yorkies and shows many breeds, Ayo loved it at her place. he stayed perfectly calm in his crate, no anxiety whatsoever. I was so relieved. Its good to find a person like that so that hey get used to them, and that way you know that they will be happy when you have to leave them...not everyone can handle a basenji, its hard to find people who can properly "babysit" while you are away. .....
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    Ok now comes the story about Missy. Missy would destroy things around the house, get into the garbage, chew on socks and underwear. Mom would punish her , tell her she was bad, and Missy would go pout. Mom would have to leave her bedroom door shut for a week or Missy would go in and pee on Mom's side of the bed, but never Dad's side. who was punishing who?:p
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    When Sada is finished she kicks with her back legs and grass will fly up in the air. I think she thinks she is covering it or something. And it takes her forever to find a place to go she will have poop coming half way out and she stops because she desides that isn't the place she wants to go. When she is finished doing her thing and I bring her into the house she does the basenji 500 on my furniture. I guess she is happy to relieve herself. CRAZY DOG!!!!
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    Welcome!! I would also add that Basenjis are high energy dogs…umm so good luck having them "calm" down :) But if you exercise them often they will come home to sleep! Which is great down time for you. They will also do these wild sprints around your house/yard/wherver there's space!! We call it the "Basenji 500" because it's JUST as fast as the Daytona 500 or the Indy 500 :)