Digging in things like the couch is pretty typical for Basenjis as they love to "nest"… BUT if they get a hole started in the couch fabric... you will come back to a "unstuffed" piece of furniture.. just like they do with stuffed toys...
"must unstuff... must unstuff.... must unstuff"....
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Too Right! - most of my dogs sleep on fleecy vetbeds, but i have been buying big padded beds for my old girl (13.5) - Tilly disappears inside the bed to get all the stuffing out - i have went through about 4 ?40 beds in the past 6 months. Now i just keep the toughest covers, and buy cheap quilts from the supermarket to stuff them with - at least they are easy to wash, and cheap enough that i dont have a breakdown when i find tilly and old tess (tess still sound asleep) surrounded by white fluff…..
Well, my basenji is only 5 months old but so far she has been MUCH less destructive than any labrador puppies i've had over the years 
Maya has the run of the kitchen/dining room in the daytime while i am at work and she has managed to resist the temptation to destroy it!! The only things she has chewed, and it was entirely my fault for leaving it within reach, was my digital camera and my phone. But on the whole, she is pretty good in the house.
Though, i've heard horror stories (with photos to accompany lol) of basenjis eating whole sofas and stuff!
My first two basenjis were not destructive at all (except to their stuffed toys). Gossy, on the other hand, likes to chew plastic lamp shade knobs, lawn sprinklers, etc. She did chew on the couch arms when I first got her but she is has stopped that now that she realizes I always come back after disappearing out the door.
It really does depend on the personality but also on how you treat your pup when leaving her to be on her own.
This made me smile, Shar Pei have very strong prey drives, mine are obsessed with 'hunting'. Only one of mine can go off lead the other two would be off up the fields even if it meant running 5 miles to get there. Are Basenji's the same, if they see something are they are totally fixated on it, nothing else matters, totally selective hearing when it suits them?
Oh yes. At least my B is. If he sees a Rabbit running across the road he will try his hardest to run after it. He'll usually look back at me with a sad face after he attempts to get free wondering why I held him back. Cars, leaves, branches, etc. If it moves he will want to chase it.
I could never have him off-leash out in the open.
Thank you so much everyone, they don't sound much different from many other breeds when it comes to chewing. I have had a Shar Pei who ripped a door frame from the wall and others that would never dream of chewing the furniture, just toilet rolls, socks and soft toy de-stuffing.
I don't think the chewing will be a issue for me, most of my furniture is now metal and glass anyway
Nothing seems to be holding me back now! 
When we were first considering getting a Basenji, my husband talked to a few people who told him he was insane for even thinking about it because they would tear up the leather furniture, etc. He was really concerned about these awful creatures – but then he somehow made contact with Sharron Hurlbut {still don't know how he found her} and she managed to calm his nerves.
We have had minimal damage to anything that matters -- when Keoki was very young he did chew on the rungs of a dining chair; left teeth marks that I was able to sand down and eventually we'll refinish them. We have lost a flip-flop or two, some shoe laces, a couple of pens, one stuffed Santa..... nothing really important. And neither has even attempted to damage the leather furniture.
I second the leather furniture… I have had leather for over 10 yrs know, 5 adult B's and raised two litters... there has not been on that bother the leather... that said, I do put a throw on the couch for when they "nest"... but no one, not even the puppies ever chewed or tried to chew the leather....
As JazzysMom notes... table legs or chair rungs were pretty much fair game if you didn't watch them... but that was during teething....
My basenji, will be destructive when he gets frustrated. We maintain the wolf pack postion while with him, He has is own room for when we leave and we designate "paper ripping time" We asked for advice on how to stop the behavior and many owners said learn to love around it. We are learning and the special paper ripping time helps him enjoy what he loves and keeps the mess confined.
My basenji, will be destructive when he gets frustrated. We maintain the wolf pack postion while with him, He has is own room for when we leave and we designate "paper ripping time" We asked for advice on how to stop the behavior and many owners said learn to love around it. We are learning and the special paper ripping time helps him enjoy what he loves and keeps the mess confined.
Sounds about right. When I crate my B, he will get very destructive. If I put a towel in there with him it will be shredded within minutes.
With that said, he's rarely crated unless I'm using a carpet extractor or if he got into something. But since he's crate phobic, the frustration turns into destruction. I have to put the wire crate on my tiled floors with no plastic pan, otherwise he will chew the plastic pan and/or dig into the carpeting like he's trying to get to China. He digs at the tiled floor but it does not even concern me. Unless his nails are diamond tipped, he can't damage the granite.
I have learned my lesson. 
Any dog can be destructive no matter what breed. The larger the more damage they can do.
Basenjis vary, but i would say that those that do chew, really chew and continue to do so throughout their lives. I have always had both varieties (chewers and non-chewers) My Bungwa is definitely a non-chewer but he is a jumper and climber and will fetch things down for Spring and Gbala to chew!!.
I know several people with Basenjis who have leather sofas and their Basenjis don't chew them (although they scratch sometimes) - I have always thought about getting leather but don't quite have the confidence to take the chance!!!! Spring and Gbala's (my worst chewers) sofa is down to the springs - all the stuffing removed and I pad it out with vetbed.
The output from the other end is very pretty though, so that's a plus!! Ha ha!! - before I clear the garden looks from a distance as though full of multicoloured flowers!
Don't let the fact that they might be chewers put you off though because then again they might not!
I once had a prospective puppy buyer laughingly tell me how her previous Basenji ate her Prada shoes - I knew then that she'd be an ideal Basenji owner!
My Bungwa is definitely a non-chewer but he is a jumper and climber and will fetch things down for Spring and Gbala to chew!!
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Sounds like my B. He likes to climb and jump on furniture when i'm not looking. Then he finds something he knows he shouldn't have and brings it to my boyfriend's Boston terrior/bulldog mix for her to destroy. Then he comes and paws at me to get my attention and to let me know she is destroying something. Almost seems like he tries to get her in trouble then rats her out for it. :rolleyes:
Charlie, that makes me happy to hear. Don't hesitate for a minute to get a B because of their "destructivness". I have had several dogs (different breeds) and they have all (except on of our dogs) been very destructive…when they got bored. I think that is the key..if a B or any dog for that matter gets bored, all hell witll definitely break loose. our Westie actually went through a whole couch as a threemonth old puppy...he was mighty happy, that same dog went through the trash and got a flat (24count) of eggs, he totally demolished the shells and they basically got shelact onto him in the process, again a very happy dog. Our Dachshund will not let any toy, pillow or the like go unstuffed, that would be unnatural for him...unfortunatley he also tries to unstuff our live chickens so he has effectively killed two within th0 elast month and a half...again very happy dog. The only thing our B has done so far...unroll a toilet paper roll. Now I have only had him for a month so I realize many more things are to come...but let me tell you, bring it on..it sure doesn't make me scared or want to shy away from this lovely breed.
Any breed will be destructive if you "let" them, B's might tend to be more determined about their destruction, I don't know. But I have had like I said severela different breeds, all have seemed to be the more stubborned variety...I ain't scared.
If you got love in your heart that's all you need to worry about. The love you get back from your B will take care of all the rest. Get your B and enjoy have some fun.
Rita Jean
Your Shar Pei are gorgeous.
Basenjis are a wonderfull breed and like has all ready been said a lot depends on the individual Dog.
I think most Basenjis have a thing for plastic, someone correct me if i'm wrong.
Benji certainly couldn't resist plastic items and used to root through handbags to extract combs, glasses and pens, he would then run off and chew them up if not caught. We once heard him chewing behind the chair and when we investigated found him just starting on my mother in laws false teeth.
He was a royal pain sometimes but i know i will have another someday.l
Your Shar Pei are gorgeous.
Basenjis are a wonderfull breed and like has all ready been said a lot depends on the individual Dog.
I think most Basenjis have a thing for plastic, someone correct me if i'm wrong.
Benji certainly couldn't resist plastic items and used to root through handbags to extract combs, glasses and pens, he would then run off and chew them up if not caught. We once heard him chewing behind the chair and when we investigated found him just starting on my mother in laws false teeth.
He was a royal pain sometimes but i know i will have another someday.l
PAPER, especially on rolls is another favorite (paper towel, potty paper rolls, tissues)… but your right, plastic is another favorite... as is "rooting" through purses... ggg... I tell visitors unless they have nothing of value in their purse.. I don't suggest you put it on the floor!
I was very fortunate with my last 2. Ringo and Nika were loose in the house all their lives with just the dog door. Never used a crate. I was gone sometimes for 12-14 hours, sometimes days with my neighbor stopping over to feed them. They really didn't do anything to speak of. Only when Nika was young she tore the chair cushsion a little.
PAPER, especially on rolls is another favorite (paper towel, potty paper rolls, tissues)… but your right, plastic is another favorite... as is "rooting" through purses... ggg... I tell visitors unless they have nothing of value in their purse.. I don't suggest you put it on the floor!
This is something that I have NOT been able to retrain in my MOM!!! She comes in and sets all her various bags on the couch! Next to a dog! And then gets irritated when the dog snoots through her bag!! It's been ten years, Ma….they are always going to go through your bag!
We once heard him chewing behind the chair and when we investigated found him just starting on my mother in laws false teeth.
I almost peed on myself when I read that…I would've died if my dog was caught doing that...too funny
, B's might tend to be more determined about their destruction,
Yes, I agree! My female just loves to push everything to the limit - and sometimes beyond!
