She is just precious, I have seen the pen sneak act many times. You know pens are a Basenjis prize posessions, haha!!! When I got my B from a pet shop I was riding home with her and before I could get out of the parking lot she was screaming, she got her front tooth caught on the crate, and then once I got that problem solved, awhile later I see this precious dog sleeping sitting up. I was like, "Wow, that is the strangest thing I have ever seen, what have I got myself into." I am so glad I got her, she is such company for me b/c my hubby works the night shift and I am home alone. She is my baby girl, I have a son 24 who lives 5 hrs. away so he says I have a new baby. haha!!!!!!
I understand what you are saying, but I wouldn't say she has "issues." Maybe the way I wrote about her scratching her eyes seems exaggerated, she only right now does it a bit in the morning, like waking up to get the "Crusties" out of the eye. Like I said she did it a bit more last summer, and I was going to ask the vet about allergies, but then it stopped so I decided to wait until what this spring will bring.
We have had her exactly one year today, and (knock on wood) she has been EXTREMEMLY healthy, great appetite, great bathroom habits, I really can't say how she could be better. We have never been to the vet other than for routine shots, etc. So, I am not saying you are wrong or anything, I just don't have much motivation to switch because he likes her food and is a very healthy dog. If I see anything to indicate otherwise I would definitely be willing to switch, and I will definitely be talking to the vet if her eye scratching comes back with the warmer weather
Ok, your dog is young. I don't know how old you are.
But I am old.
laugh.
So, when I was a young, I could love on junk food, and there was no issue.
Believe me, as you or anything ages, it does catch up with you.
The general rule of thinking is if you can get the animals food at a grocery story, its not "great" food.
I will stand corrected on some items/some stores, but mostly, if you want a healthy long lived dog, you treat them as you treat yourself and make sure the diet is the very best that there is.
So, good luck with your dog.
We are always here to help.
Thank you for your input. Tosca is either 3 or 5, the humane society in Dubuque said she was 4 when we got her (1 yr ago) but my vet thought more like 2 when I brought her in for an eval when we first got her. I understand what you are saying about junk food, lol, I am almost 28 and you are right, it catches up to you much faster than when you are younger 
That being said, I know Beneful isn't the greatest, but what about Science Diet? Do you feel that is not good as well? What kinds of dog food do you recommend? I would definitely be interested in checking into it and speaking about it with the vet next time we go in for her routine appt.
I feed my dogs organic.
Its dog food you get at a dog food store.
Lots of info on this list re food.
My boy is ichy with wheat and so we do a chicken/rice food.
No colors no additives.
Heavens! the 2 b's I have eat better than I do. Laugh, but we have not had to go to the vet in years…and except for dental, they have not needed any
other procedures.
So, for me this works.
Others will give you their ideas.
Thank you for taking my post as it was meant.
I wanted to help you and your dog and I hope I did.
Oh, when Cody starts chewing/iching, usually in summer if I get him on benadril 2-3 times a day, its all good. We do this for a few weeks and slowly taper off..
Otherwise, we see no ichy issues here.
Oh, if your dog does have food issues, and having ichiness always makes me think they do...watch what is in the treats you give them as well.
Dies that make colors in the biskets are for the humans.
Dogs can't see them, and it just something else they don't need in their bodies.
I love the picture of her leaning on the desk going for the pens. We always make sure that we move the couch, chairs and anything else they can jump up on away from the desk…...but the other day while I was working on the computer Sawyer just jumps up on the desk right next to me with no effort and starts sniffing the pens and paper and looks at me like "What?'
They are sneaky, arent' they?! She was very smart about it too, we had to move the couch closer to the computer desk and had the tree on the other side of the couch, so she would grab the pens, then when we would see her, she would take one in her mouth and run behind the couch or the tree so we couldn't get her. I finally had to resort to baiting her with a treat to get her out, which of course encouraged the behavior! Even after moving the pens, she would continue climbing up there to see what she could sniff out…for once I was glad to take the tree down (usually I love it and keep it up way too long )
Sometimes I let EL D sit on my lap while I work on the computer but often he gets antsy and stands up and starts to try to climb onto the desk and snatch stuff. Just like in your picture
