I'm just curious if other Basenji owners have noticed a similar thing:
When my B was younger he kept chewing up beds (all were made of foam). Finally, we got him a bed that he didn't chew up (it is polyfilled). I just thought it was because he had gotten out of that stage (he still chews up crate liners, but not his bed). We recently got another dog, so I brought home a bed for her which was made of foam. Immediately when we got home my B started attacking the bed and I had to keep disciplining him to get him to leave it alone. However, I went and sat down in the livingroom for 10minutes, and he destroyed the bed. The next day I went out and got another polyfilled bed, immediately washed and dryed it. When I put it down for the dogs, my B sniffed it, and laid down it to go to bed.
Has anyone else found that their B destroys foam beds but leaves polyfilled beds alone?
nope. but I may go buy a polyfilled bed now. 
Wal-mart has them for pretty cheap….
I've never used foam beds because the idea of the kids swallowing the foam always scared me with the thought of it causing a blockage. At least with polyfill being a fiber, it gets smaller if it is soaked with fluid or bile.
So far the only beds that we have that Nicky isn't inclined to chew a hole in and unstuff are Travel Beds by Cat 'N Dog Cozies that are all tapestry. If I get the more popular ones with the imitation sheepskin then Nicky puts a hole in it and unstuffs it. The only other bed they don't destroy is the PVC hammock type beds they have.
Mine have always chewed their beds but never eaten the foam (and I usually pick it up and toss it when I find it). I think I will look for polyfilled too now just in case.
Medjai can't stand the foam beds either. He also likes to eat the thick parts of any blankets that have thickly stitched corners. I don't know what it is about those things, but Medjai is perfectly fine with his polyfil bed. He also did ok, when i got poly to fill over the foam of one of those taller sided beds. Medjai also has to get out anything out of the ordinary on the toys. Any stuffed toys are IMMEDIATELY relieved of their tags, strings, and any thickly filled parts.
I just associated it with a natural desire to even everything out. I'm a psych student, so I just related it to human disorders like OCD, where people have to have everything just perfect. I'm kind of like that sometimes, so it was easy to assume my dog might be.
Tags on ANYTHING is the first thing to go, next come the squeakers which are immediately dissected. It's become a routine that whenever I work at home the dogs get at least 1 new toy. It keeps them occupied until they get bored with the fact that I am home.
My old Marley chewed poly beds. Never swallowed anything though. Sometimes we would come home and it looked like she had a white beard and mustache because all of the fibers would get stuck between her teeth. Kind of like flossing.
Costco has some amazingly HUGE dog beds for under 30 bucks! They are made with down comforter material. No foam! They are made really well. We have 2 in every room of our house 
So far the only beds that we have that Nicky isn't inclined to chew a hole in and unstuff are Travel Beds by Cat 'N Dog Cozies that are all tapestry.
What size Travel Beds do you use?
The basenjis all prefer the small even if they are practically overflowing them. My cats on the other hand like the medium size which is big enough for 3 of them.
The basenjis all prefer the small even if they are practically overflowing them. My cats on the other hand like the medium size which is big enough for 3 of them.
Funny that you post that… it is so true... all my B's prefer beds that you would think are "way" too small for them. I have a pic of OJ in a bed size that would be considered for a "toy" breed... gggg
Here is a pic of one of my pups that lives in So Cal trying to fit into his bed. It wasn't made by Cozies and is a little smaller than their small. I can't find a picture of my dogs in their cozy, I seem to have too many pictures of dogs, is that even possible?
Here is TC in a medium sized bed. As you can see it is huge compared to a basenji.
Rocky ate all beds… including the one I sleep in (which, in turn, he slept in!). Good luck!
Here was OJ in a Small (for toys) Cozie bed… (he was 28lbs and 18")
And here was Maggii in the same bed (she was 20lbs and 15")
I love those pictures, where can I get one of those beds?
They are the small travel beds from Cat 'N Dog Cozies.
Responding to Vanessa's earlier comment … "Costco has some amazingly HUGE dog beds for under 30 bucks! They are made with down comforter material. No foam! They are made really well. We have 2 in every room of our house" ... down material? Gossy would have that stuff all over the house in no time - just thinking about that gives me the goose bumps (pun intended).
Over the weekend we had a twist to our dog bed experience. Colbey (my 
still has not chewed up the new bed (thankfully). However, Indy (our mutt) decided to chew the zipper on Colbey's bed (that has been chew mark free for like 6 months)! Thankfully I caught her in the act and there is only minor damage to the zipper, and not the rest of the bed. Argh… why can't dogs just be happy that we gave them beds and not insist on trying to destroy them.....
