Nagging Question Needs an Answer

Basenji Talk

  • With Kito I have gone back to Resco clippers - he just lies in my arms and accepts it ! Its quick and easy. Mku gets the dremel.


  • Lick pad smeared with banana helps a lot. Distracted long enough to get used to it. Got all four paws clipped. Wife helps hold the lick pad vertically (stuck to a plate) as he lays on side. First had to train with high value treats to lay on side. Eventually won't need the pad.


  • @sanjibasenji Such contortions ! I sit with the dog sitting on my lap, firmly tucked under one arm, and snip or dremel away. The banana (or whatever 'special') comes when all the dogs are done.


  • @zande said in Nagging Question Needs an Answer:

    @sanjibasenji Such contortions ! I sit with the dog sitting on my lap, firmly tucked under one arm, and snip or dremel away. The banana (or whatever 'special' come when all the dogs are done.

    Wish that was possible with a 15 week old...


  • @sanjibasenji said in Nagging Question Needs an Answer:

    Wish that was possible with a 15 week old..

    But my Kito is only 18 weeks now and I have been doing his nails like that since he arrived - ten weeks ago !

    It is indeed possible - I have been doing puppies and adults that way for almost 40 years. What are you using ? Of course for the moment, nail scissors probably work but they won't for long !

    Resco 'guillotine' style clippers are best in my book because they don't crush the nails - but easiest of all is a dremel from the hardware store. It very quick and efficient.


  • I have the guillotiine clippers, but Sanji won't relax enough without a lick pad. He'll squirm and bite (not hard, but the teeth are sharp!). It's not the clippers, it's just him. You've got special puppies. Or you haven't yet said what you're doing to get them to stay still while you cut.

    I'm looking for better quality guillotine style. These are highly rated in Amazon, higher than the Resco.

    Gonicc Dog & Cat Pets Nail Clippers and Trimmers - with Safety Guard to Avoid Over Cutting, Free Nail File, Razor Sharp Blade - Professional Grooming Tool for Pets


  • @zande - I sit on the floor with the Basenji on their back, head first, feet up... My arms are not really long enough to reach around and hold them, so this works for me


  • I've said this on another thread, but all of mine, upside down on my lap, back feet against me, and I used the guillotine clippers. They were not thrilled, but they put up with it. One of those "no options" items, "yes, I will clip your toenails, get over it." I would allow a break half way through if the "victim" was getting restless, but for the most part I had no difficulties. I used to finish up with a file to smooth things out, and because I didn't want to chance cutting too short. And being released at the end was reward enough for all of mine! :winking_face:

    I want to add, I have had the most success working with animals (mostly horses and dogs) one on one. They do not like feeling ganged up on, which can be a problem if you have an assistant. Yes, sometimes necessary if you need an extra hand for the job, but otherwise I think if the animal trusts you, better to work alone.


  • Mine were trained to sit in a lap while the person is seated. Dog faces away from the person (dog's back against person's chest). Helps to lean back a bit so the dog is a bit on it's back against my chest. I hold the dogs paw that I'm going to trim secure with my left hand, and trim the nail using a grinder with my right hand. But, I get that puppies can be really squirmy. Every dog is different. Logan hates the vacuum cleaner. Sparkle could care less. Jengo use to attack it. :man_shrugging_light_skin_tone:


  • @sanjibasenji Marvin brought a couple of Resco clippers over from the States when he married me and moved this side of the Pond. Although that was 45 years ago now and Marvin joined his huge pack of departed Basenjis a while back, the clippers are still going strong and I haven't needed to look for others -

    Probably there are better ones around these days, but my old ones still do a good job.

Suggested Topics

  • A couple of questions

    Basenji Talk
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    ShannaniganS
    My boyfriend and I got our Basenji in February, and he's 9 months now. We did our research, used positive reinforcement training, crated him at night until he was potty trained and then let him sleep in the bed with us, and we had extensive play sessions with him in the mornings and walked him until he (or we!) got tired in the afternoon/evening. He's crated for a few hours during the day when both of us are at work; we live in a small apartment with no room for an x-pen, and are considering doing some test runs with leaving him free in the apartment, because he hasn't been destructive the few times that he has escaped his crate. Result: he sticks to us like glue. Though we rarely get to let him off-leash anywhere, he likes to keep us in sight and keeps a watchful eye on strangers who come near us both in and out of the house. We still have playtime with him in the morning (anywhere between 30 mins and 1 and a half hours of fetch, tug-o-war, chasing, and the Basenji500), and we try our hardest to give him a good long walk before we go to bed. He's okay with the crate, though he doesn't hang out in it of his own free will, but he tolerates it for when we're gone. His most destructive times are in the morning when he wakes up before us and decides to see if we were silly enough to leave any clothing or paper in his reach to shred up (we've lost money, a deck of cards, shoes, underwear, shirts, bookbags, etc.), and in the afternoon when one or both of us happens to be home but not paying attention to him, so he starts tugging on drapes, bedding, even the carpet - but more to get our attention than actually ruin anything. It's work, but Paco makes it worth it in the end with cuddles, doggy-smiles, and never-ending enthusiasm!
  • Microchipping question..

    Basenji Talk
    20
    0 Votes
    20 Posts
    3k Views
    jonny b.J
    both our dogs took about 2 seconds from walking into the room with the needle to walking back out. jonny just looked at the vet, hansel yelped quickly and on our way we went. i cannot imagine putting them out for THAT. but neither one dislikes going either. they both look at it as an AMAZING chance to smell, jump, chase, visit, investigate,… well you get the idea. they love it there. SO MANY dog food bags to smell. lol
  • Question…

    Basenji Talk
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    2k Views
    bellabasenjiB
    Home is a dog's "territory" and sometimes they will protect it as such (especially against other dogs)… Possibly the breeder is concerned this would be an issue. Maybe she would consider meeting somewhere "neutral" with you and some of the dogs...
  • Eating question…

    Basenji Talk
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    4k Views
    nomrbddgsN
    Shadow also used to 'pick' at his food. He started expanding so I cut back the food at each feeding and now he is eating normally and finishes his bowl when the others do.
  • Socializing Question

    Basenji Talk
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    8k Views
    KipawaK
    Thanks Linda and Nemo - got it! Lots of great info there.
  • Questions?

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    L
    On tv this morning they showed some dogs that were to be adopted at Petsmart from the Humane Society. One of them they said was a basenji/terrier mix. That dog was huge and he didn't look anything like a basenji to me. No batwing ears but the tail was curled.