Topics created by jdido09

Are you moving to the city or the suburbs?

I lost my dear boy last July. He was 16 1/2. Nice to know there are some basenji owners around the Burgh.

Completely agree with you thunderbird! I'm glad to here that Malaika is doing well–there is hope!! 🙂 . Control Unleashed has a lot of strategies (e.g. the Look At That game & hand targets) that I hope will make an impact. Keep us updated on your efforts!

Thanks everyone! We couldn't be happier, he is everything we could have asked for! Still training for the therapy route, but we certainly won't force it on him if he isn't enjoying it. He wants a sister…I mean WE want him to have a sister :)... but we're probably going to hold off another couple years before doing so! Especially since we may possibly be moving in the next year or so.

@DebraDownSouth:

Becca I can ask them and get back with you. I know the owner 🙂
I could also send you a handful and if your guys like them, I can then, just let me know.

Sorry Debra, are you talking to me? My name is Kristen…...Becca is my female's name! LOL. I emailed them yesterday and am waiting for a reply. Thank you for your kindness. I would really like to get a bag, I know the dogs here would really love them!

Be aware that if a Basenji gets really stressed he is well able to chew through the metal covering of the cable of heating pads.

I have never let my Basenjis sleep without making sure they're very warm at nights especially the older ones who aren't always able to maintain their body heat. Some of mine pile up on each other and some sleep with me. I maintain the sleeping area at 70 degrees F for those that sleep in the living room. I hate warm bedrooms myself!

@Nemo:

He just sounds stressed to me. Give him frequent breaks from all craziness around the holidays. I don't think it is necessarily fair to expect him to be perfect when all of that activity is going on. One of my dogs gets a stressed more easily than the others so I limit her exposure to large crowds of people, particularly when she is tired. When dogs get stressed, it can get more difficult for them to respond to commands they more reliably respond to under normal circumstances. Plus they can act out.

I agree about the stress. So, with that in mind, maybe give him a rigorous exercise before the party starts and then, after awhile….the 'break' could be a walk with a number of the guests even around the block to help the trust with the extended number of people in his world! Just a thought!

Sounds like the tear duct might be clogged. I would have the vet check it.

We have a shop here in Norway with pretty cool collars: http://petshopgirls.no/html-sider/Halsband_til_luksusdyr.html

Here are the different sections: http://petshopgirls.no/html-sider/Halsband.html

Frozen food is very good. I usually give my dogs raw bones/marrow bones and meat with bones that I find cheap. Turkey necks are also very good for keeping them pups busy for a while.

I'm kinda scared to give my dogs toys alone, especially in a crate where they can easily get very bored. Chew and eat a rubber toy, isn't good for a dog stomach. You can get the same problem with bones too, but they are probably easier to digest, than rubber/plastic.

And remember, always feed RAW bones, never cooked! Cooked bones splinter easily, and can tear up a stomach … good to remember. 🙂

Has Dexter had any basic obedience classes?

I sa this news on T.V. that mentions about a certain cat food which is basically suspected with salmonella contamination. In the news, they have mentioned that Nestle Purina PetCare Co. has recalled 870 sacks of dry kitten food Monday due to potential salmonella infection. The animal food was distributed in three states. The company warns, however, that it may were dispersed further. The pets are not the only ones possibly facing risk. The disease could be moved to humans dealing with the food or infected animals. The proof is here: Purina recalls cat food for possible salmonella contamination

Thanks for the replies. Dexter is on Orijen, the same food he was on with Kyle.

He is adorable, he looks so intense. Great photos.

I've used an xpen for lots of things:
a) area for a puppy before they were potty-trained (big enough to include a crate an litter box)
b) outside dog containment unit for picnics, lure course events, spending time outdoors on the deck up North. It's great because they can hang out with all the people but are safely contained.
c) I block off all of the areas of the basement we don't want the dogs, and
d) and on top of that created a dog-training area in the basement that is pretty sweet, if I do say so myself. :rolleyes: You can only see a part of it in the picture, but it is a 12x12 area in the basement, that I recently expanded to a larger area. That is the cool thing about xpens, they are pretty adaptable to a lot of spaces.

Definitely ask for your deposit - nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'd be doing a lot of talking to trainers to see what success they have had or not had with training a basenji as a therapy dog. They are pretty active, and it might be good to find out from those who know whether they can be trained to be calm and gentle on demand…...

I spoke to him once and seems like a great and knowledgable guy. He is very reputable and I am sure lots of people here have good things to say about him.

@jdido09:

I am looking into getting a Basenji and am really excited. I am a college student and am interested in getting a dog to train as a service dog (Canine Good Citizen). I want to get my dog involved in the Pet friend program at the local Children's Hospital,

I know more people with therapy dogs of all breeds that came from rescue than from breeder… maybe because many of the people I know doing therapy are also involved in rescue, but please consider that a GOOD rescue keeps a dog a couple of months before placing. A GOOD rescue can help you evaluate and find a dog with the temperament.

That said, sorry... I don't think a dog, particularly a Basenji, is probably a good choice for you right now. Why rush? Finish college, find out for SURE if you are maybe going to grad school or maybe ending up with some super job that demands many hours work or travel. I know you are excited... but think of being fair to the dog. How about fostering basenjis for a while. A win/win. You get to truly know the breed AND it gives you time to finish school and determine what your "grownup" life style is going to be. Rescues are full of dogs from people who were young and in college and THOUGHT they knew because it is hard to imagine the changes coming your way soon.