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B does NOT stand for Beaver!

Behavioral Issues
  • VanessaV

    Here is another fun issue that were dealing with. Kiya likes to chew on our new dining room table chairs. She has already chewed a hole in a pillow on the couch and now graduated to the wood table.
    We've applied Apple Bitter and it doesn't seem to phase her.
    What do you do?
    We do not crate and will not crate while we are away during the day or else we will have a lot of explaining to do when the cops knock at our door calling about noise complaints. :(

    Basenji Forums Staff

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  • MacPackM

    Tobasco, Vicks vapo-rub, lock her out of the dining room. We have had wood chewers in the past, preferred a chunk of wood to a bone. good luck

    Anne in Tampa

    Chipley, Missy & Lucky

    Topper, Nicky & Eddie in the clouds

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  • bellabasenjiB

    A friend of mine has a dog that she rescued. She had developed some bad habits, apparently… The dog chewed up her bedroom furniture legs; bedposts, end tables, etc... She even chewed up some of her favorite GLASS figurines (unbelievably):eek: !!! This golden retriever "Tess" is a loving and beautiful dog and is my Bella's best doggie friend! But times were rough at the beginning for the family until they got her through this. First of all the dog was young and may be growing out of the "naughty puppy" stage, second of all they did have to put her on anxiety meds for a while, third of all they have an existing "alpha" weinmeraner (not sure about the spelling) dog that may have put Tess in her place. Whatever it was, this golden is doing much better now and not chewing on the furniture anymore. Somehow they managed to do it without crating... So maybe there is hope for the future for you and your furbaby.

    _**Lisa Lynn ![](images/smilies/smile.png "Smile")

    BRAT Basenji Rescue, &

    Mid-Atlantic Basenji Club**_

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  • soulmateS

    I have experiences with deep cat-sleeping-holes in sofas, digged by a architect-basenji (Banshee). I also experienced that things like this mostly stop, when the next young basenji moves in (Panda). Then the "old" one is no longer in charge of destructive works. Pray, that the youg one has other hobbies….In our case this did not work, as Panda chews everything and even thinks it is fun to tear off the wall papers while she is bored...

    A Basenji does not obey to orders, it may listen to proposals.

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  • VanessaV

    @soulmate:

    I have experiences with deep cat-sleeping-holes in sofas, digged by a architect-basenji (Banshee). I also experienced that things like this mostly stop, when the next young basenji moves in (Panda). Then the "old" one is no longer in charge of destructive works. Pray, that the youg one has other hobbies….In our case this did not work, as Panda chews everything and even thinks it is fun to tear off the wall papers while she is bored...

    Its actually the exact opposite. Chance is our older male and he is fine. Its our puppy Kiya (she just turned 1) who does this.
    Trying to section them off in the house can't happen since our home has an open floor plan.
    I found a gel which can be applied to furniture which should alleviate the chewing. I'll have to order it and find out.
    Finger crossed it works.

    Basenji Forums Staff

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  • snorky998S

    My mom had a wood chewer (Rottie pup). The breeder suggested making a cayenne pepper paste with a small amount of water and then apply it to the wood. It worked great and didn't stain the furniture. Just be sure to scrub your hands and nails after working with the paste.

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  • mixieM

    Bladder stand-off

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    Buddys PalB
    @mixie: All good suggestions! We use the "elimination on command" stuff, so from day one she had a specific potty word, praise and treats for peeing. She is food-motivated, but only to a point. That first 27-hour standoff, she didn't get fed from the day before because she hadn't peed yet, and nothing good happens until everyone's had a morning pee. I tried offering every kind of treat, including her actual prey-model-raw meal, and she was more insistent on leaving the yard than eating. =/ I am curious about how upping her fluids would change things. She really drinks very little during the day, by choice. Maybe I'm just used to a dog with a less-efficient water-consumption protocol, and she really doesn't need to pee as much as I think she should. ;0) She's had four days on the Cipro, it would be handy if it's just a bladder infection and we see some changes from that! I just read this last post and if you are feeding her raw (as I do), then her urine output is a little less than the norm because the raw food is moist and our pooches (esp B's) don't drink as much. Though, you said she exercises a lot and since I also share the humidity factor like you, the fluid intake should make her bladder full. Take mental notes of when you feed, when she drinks, when she pees and you'll get in a rhythm. Like eeeeefarm mentioned, just don't push the issue, adjust to her 'pee schedule' and make it yours via commands, the crate etc. She can sense your frustration and it only adds to her not wanting to go in that backyard area….This definitely is one of those scenarios where digging for patience is needed! Give it time......continue to work with her as you want and it will get better!
  • cazC

    'Beavering' problem

    Behavioral Issues
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    DebraDownSouthD
    My rottie removed the rockers from my rocking chair, lol. But that is very impressive for sure.
  • RedVelvetLynxR

    Bad B

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    tanzaT
    That is usually one of the biggest problems… someone in the house is NOT good about remember to pick up after themselves... or putting things out of reach of the "Basenji"...
  • etzbsederE

    Smells the B hates:

    Behavioral Issues
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    snorky998S
    @BDawg: Ours will drink wine and beer. Lexi HATES the smell of a banana. When I peel it, sometimes we let her smell it and then runs all over the house. It's so funny and sometimes we chase her with it (good naturedly) and she goes nuts and spins on the bed all playfully. She will roll in anything mint flavored or scented. She also loves to roll in leather and will stick her face in ANY stinky shoe and go bizurk. It's hilarious!! http://www.dogster.com/video/379313/The_new_shoes_leather_is_my_catnip The video is ADORABLE! Just wondering….rolling and/or rubbing on scents is called self-anointing. In wild animal studies they are researching if this is an innate behavior to mask personal scents or to repel external parasites. (Pandas, not only in our United States, but in China breeding facilities, many times choose to anoint with scents that are not found in their natural habitat.) I wonder then, are our dogs also self anointers as a throw back to their wild heritage, or are they just plain strange? Does anyone else have dogs with scent preferences (other than the nasty dead/decayed stuff they find on a regular basis) My Kate is a 'nasty' scent anointer, Tyler will rub on apple scents.
  • ZenGrrrlZ

    What does your B do all day?

    Behavioral Issues
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    wizardW
    Just before I leave for work, EL D goes crazy until he gets his kong toy with treats then he just sleeps until I get home. Then a walk and then he search the yard for squirrels and rabbits, unless he's hungry – he'll prance around the house carrying his food dish or sometimes throwing it. Sometimes he'll watch TV in the evenings or just tear up his toys. Every now and then he'll do the Basenji500 - though mostly it's when he needs to go potty.
  • etzbsederE

    B In Need of Company

    Behavioral Issues
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    QuercusQ
    @Barklessdog: They are like babies Sometimes you just have to tough it out and let them cry [image: dish.jpg] Cute pic! But ftr, most people don't let babies cry it out anymore :) That method has pretty much been debunked as the best way to "train" them….they need to find a way to calm themselves, not exhaust themselves! Sometimes it IS best to let a puppy cry and whine...but if it is hysterical screaming, letting it go on will not fix the problem.