Let's also consider that when you chase your dog, the dog thinks it's a game and will run away from you. Like... "you can't catch me!" Man, Basenji's can bolt! On the other hand, when you are the one running away, the dog instinctively joins you because you are part of the dog's family/pack. This is not to be confused with a learned command to chase an assailant, in Police work, for example. That would be a totally different game of chase.
protecting cords
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If you're in the US:
Rub the teeniest, tiniest dab of 'Vick's Vaporrub' on the cord. The tiny amount won't make the room smell like Vick's, but will be enough to keep any basenji away.One day I was making a poster for the local dog club titled 'Reasons NOT get a basenji. I was using the computer, and suddenly it wouldn't work. It never happened before, but my Sid had chewed the cord to the mouse in 2! Luckily my son was living here at the time and had a spare. Out comes the small jar of Vick's!
If you're not in the US, I don't know if this product is available where you are.
Vickie Perrine
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@tanza Tea Tree oil is toxic...
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@eeeefarm I have seen this behavior also with people\kids that forced (without a choice) to change their living environment. After all, no one asked nor explained the dog whats going on.
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@yodelma - I have used it for years and never had an issue
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@mshilo said in protecting cords:
@eeeefarm I have seen this behavior also with people\kids that forced (without a choice) to change their living environment. After all, no one asked nor explained the dog whats going on.
Absolutely! With my last boy, Perry, I swear he thought he was "only visiting" for some months after we got him. He was three years old and had lived with his breeder all that time, and I am convinced he thought she would come back for him. He had never had a problem being crated when he was with her......she had several dogs, all in the house, but allowed their freedom in pairs at a time, and when she went out he was used to being crated alongside other dogs. Change of venue, immediate separation/confinement anxiety. I had to transition him out of the crate ASAP, as he would have what I can only describe as panic attacks if left in it when we went out. (he was never crated when we were home to supervise) Being alone without the company of other dogs was intolerable for him in a crate. I tried all kinds of treats, but nothing worked and he remained upset all the time we were absent. He learned fairly quickly to deal with it when only confined to a room, not the crate, and where he could look out, although he was by times so anxious he couldn't hold his bowels. He got over it when I discovered the magic green roller ball. Treats alone did not work, but working for the treats did! It wasn't long before I could trust him with full run of the house and he became the most reliable Basenji I have ever owned, not even tearing up tissue from the garbage.
I would load his ball up with goodies and lock it in his crate to build anticipation. (the only use I was putting the crate to, since I never locked him in it anymore). We progressed to where he would encourage us to leave so he could have his ball. After that breakthrough issues only arose if there was a major change in routine, e.g. my going to the airport at 1 a.m. to pick up my husband resulted in feces on the couch on our return.
Amazingly, when we moved from the farm to a house in town he adapted as soon as our furniture arrived (you could almost see the sigh of relief), and he was far more comfortable here right from the get go. You never know whether a change will bring improvement or disaster!
Your point is well taken, particularly with an adult dog, that they don't get to choose. All of a sudden their world turns upside down and they are stuck with people they may or may not like. We need to allow them the time to adjust to their situation and exercise empathy and understanding instead of condemning them as "bad" when they act out. Trust me, it is easier to express this on the page than it is to live it in the moment!!
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@rugosa I forgot to mention, you must wash your hands very very well so you don't have the smell on your hands.
I'm serious, they avoid this stuff and a young pup should not be avoiding human hands. -
I never tried Vicks with my Basenjis, but it's sometimes used by horse people on a stallion's nostrils if there is a mare in season around when they are showing. Not sure how well it masks the scent, but I'm sure the horse finds it unpleasant.
"In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"
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@eeeefarm - Used that for years with the horses... sort of works, LOL.... Also have used it on Basenji male noses at shows when bitches are in season... again, sort of works....LOL
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@tanza For those of you who'd like to be better informed than Tanza here, PLEASE research essential oils before using them on your dogs
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@yodelma said in protecting cords:
@tanza For those of you who'd like to be better informed than Tanza here, PLEASE research essential oils before using them on your dogs
Wow, if we were all as informed about Basenjis as Pat, things would be a lot better.
She isn't feeding her dogs tea tree oil, or rubbing them in it. Hence while tea tree oil is toxic, her dogs' exposure is minimal. If the dogs did ignore the area with it, that would be a problem.
https://www.aspca.org/news/latest-home-trend-harmful-your-pets-what-you-need-know
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If tree tea oil works like Vick's, the dogs don't get closer than 3 feet!
