Any tips out there on how to train basenjis not to eat stuff? I had the birth control pill mishap earlier this week (where she got half of a pill, luckily nothing happened.) Now tonight she took a folded up drinking straw off the table and ate the whole thing! Do you think I have to worry, or will it just come out the other end? Also, how can I train her not to go after these unedible things?
Bitter Apple and training the leave it command. Zahra is pretty good about leaving something when I tell her too, it has taken time for her to learn it though.
do you think I need to worry about her ingesting the entire drinking straw?
Train a Basenji "not" to eat things?… doubtful.... but keeping things out of the way is about the only way... and I would guess it will come out, was it a plastic one? Wrapped in paper? It would have usually been the paper she was after... again.. if worried, there is the Proxide method...
It was just a regular drinking straw. My husband had it in a soda and was chewing it up himself so it was folded into a pretty small piece when she ate it, hopefully it won't unravel in her stomach. I guess I won't use the peroxide method, I figure it will come out of one end or the other so I would rather her puke it up naturally rather than forcing her. This is irriating, though, I get so worried, as I have never owned a dog before so I don't know whats ok and whats not.
Train a Basenji "not" to eat things?… doubtful.... but keeping things out of the way is about the only way... and I would guess it will come out, was it a plastic one? Wrapped in paper? It would have usually been the paper she was after... again.. if worried, there is the Proxide method...
Ditto….you can train a leave-it command for when you are in the same room and the dog starts to go for something they are not allowed to have...but once you leave the room, all bets are off. I would say that is one REALLY pervasive thing about Basenjis that is different than other dogs. A lot of dogs when you teach them something is a "leave it" they remember forever, and won't even think about trying to get it when your back is turned. But if you think about "basenjis are actually cats" in this situation...think about trying to train a cat not to go for something when you arent' home? unlikely.
I am guessing the straw will come out. It is pretty flexible, even if it unfolds, and it probably isn't sharp enough to do much damage...and chances are she probably chewed it up real well...after your husband had (??? of course she ate it...she probably watched him! 
). But be on the lookout for it coming out...and also for any signs of impaction...fever, lethargy, throwing up, no eating.
**I've got to give you credit, you sure keep this forum interesting! As far as the training question. My wife says you stand a better chance with training Tosca not to eat stuff than you do your husband.
I wounder what she means by that? :rolleyes: :p**
No problem, anything to entertain 
Although hopefully this is it and I won't have anymore bad stories for awhile…although who knows, I swear my basenji develops super-powers when I am not looking and mangages to get stuff i thought was out of reach. Lets see, so far we have a pill, a 20 dollar bill, my husband's work ID Card, a laptop power cord, a straw, a cadbury egg, and who knows what else...luckily she has only ingested the straw and half the pill. Anyone know of any good training classes out there??? That will probably be my goal this summer when I am not working once school gets out!
Let me know when you find out how to get a B to not surf your tables, kitchen counters, bathroom counters, bedroom furniture for things. My B, Sahara, does this all the time, and we have pretty much cleared all tables of my nick nacks, picture frames, coffee table books and such. Sahara has destroyed many of my things when she grew tall enough to stand on those hind legs and reach real f a r, with that long neck. She pretty much knows the Leave It Command, but she is stubborn which is a B trait. So, good luck, and just make sure you put up your valuables for now.
