Hi everyone im a newbie :)
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yep, i went all 4 days, Zumi did even better on Monday.
Ok, so maybe Zumi is a tad weird, he doesn't destroy anything, doesn't ever bother with tassels, towels or rugs. even beaded collars are A-okay with him.
i think you saw his collar with the beads at the show. though i was told he was not a basenji because he didn't even look at them funny.Zumi as a puppy only ever chewed one book, i told him off and that was that. Pillows are something to be revered for softness, he doesn't destroy them, he sleeps on them.
for dog-proofing, my best advise is to army-crawl through your house. that way you are getting the dog's-eye view of your house. if it looks like something a puppy might get a hold of/chew/destroy, then move it. you are basically baby-proofing your house. the trash can though must always be hidden, but while Zumi is pretty good about leaving it alone, if our puppy knocks it over all bets are off.
Basenjis are also:
your best friend
your enemy
a cuddle buddy
loyal (until they see a squirrel, or such things)
Loving
funny (they will always amuse you, even if you have to stop seeing Red first…)
good listener
neat/clean
cat-like
good teachers
hilarious with their odd antics
and oh, so much more. -
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The answer is "B", if you are really a basenji person!
A sense of humor is the most important feature for prospective adopters, as you will have the choice to laugh or cry fairly often.
As others have said, destruction varies with the dogs.
My 2 boys (ages 14 and 10) never bother anything, my 12 year old girl just turned my purse over and ran off with my work ID badge, if I had not seen her, I would be spending $10 tomorrow for a new one. I have to keep all leather shoes put up, likewise purses, though it is my wallets that she will steal and destroy (3 times now).
But, I have a few pillows with tassels and most are still intact.I do have leather furniture and no basenji has ever chewed on it, but some have 'dug' holes in cloth sofa cushions in the past.
Lots of exercise, long walks or dog park visits, means they will nap a lot at home. Mine have run of the house all the time, but many people crate when you are at work, or have a 'dog room' for them, and I say 'them' because having 2 is great, they keep each other company and are often less destructive.
So welcome, I hope you take the plunge!
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Welcome, so nice to "meet" you. Sounds like you are doing a great thing finding some crucial things out about the breed.
They are different, but in so many positive ways. So you might have to basenji proof the house, so what. Maybe you can't leave your toilet paper down where they might get it..'cause then this will happen..
Maybe you have to move your fruit bowl up higher then counter height..
Maybe towels are in trouble..and maybe just maybe you have to be keen on crate training for you puppy's safety and for your belongings safety…BUT, those are small details in the big picture...you will have a very interesting 10-15 years ahead of you, full of laughter, annoyance, amazement, intrigue and all the other emotions (positive and negative) basenjis bring out in humans, because they truly are the most fascinating breed.
Do your research and have an open mind, if you want a dog that is here with you, not here for you, basenjis are a good choice.. -
I wonder if this thread is going to be renamed the tassel thread? lol. Thanks guys for plenty of input. Ill start posting some pics of the inside of my house for some potential "dog rooms" later on, and of course the TASSELS… I think I'ma gonna needa lotta helpa LOL. Good thing I am doing alot of research on the breed. I think its only the right and responsible way to do it. :)
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And depending on the basenji, child safety locks on the cabinets. My 12 1/2 year old loves opening cabinets and drawers. He doesn't often do anything with the contents but loves to get into them none the less. My problem is that my girls do like to mess with the contents and though they do not open cabinets and drawers they take advantage of his opening of them.
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Considering a crate is probably smaller than your laundry room-it should be just fine. Just make sure you have a check list whenever you leave-
- garbage pail up-check
- doors and drawers closed and locked-check
- old rugs that I don't care about being used-check
- tiles on floor (or linoleum) solid with no rips-check
- no foam or fluff present to make into confetti-check
And that's just a start to my check list-LOL
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Laundry room looks great..make it his/her room, a happy place while you are gone..if problems arise crate him..in my opinion, you should alawys crate train them anyhow, should the need to be crated arise, like if you are gone and a dog sitter is having him, or if you travel and stay in a hotel with the dog..the crates can be positive, our podengo goes into it all day long just to lay down, he also eats in his and knows as soon as I am in the kitchen fixing their brkfst or dinner to run into his crate and sit..he loves it.
Now, many dogs hate theirs, but if you start out when you first get them the odds are better for liking them, I think. -
If you can crate your B, it is probably a good thing, provided he/she doesn't have to be in it for long. Both of mine roam free, and although there have been "issues," they pretty much leave things alone - mainly because I've dog-proofed the house. We do have two pillows with tassels, but they like laying their heads on them, so they've not chewed the tassels off yet. I would suggest always leaving bathroom doors closed, and remembering that if you have a basenji, you always need to keep them on leash outside, and watch when you open your doors - one of mine can be two rooms away, and at the sound of the door, is right there, trying to escape. Like most people on here, I would suggest if you are going to get a basenji, visit with people who own one, or just keep reading all the posts on this forum - you will get a great preconception of what they are - we secretly don't think they are "dogs" at all, but a species all their own.
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Yes. It seems crate training is super important as safety to the dog. As to B escaping, I am not too worried as at my house there is a inner court yard that has another door leading up to my front door. Usually when people ring the door bell, they ring the outside bell. I though have to go through 2 doors, which is great especially if the dog escapes from one door, he is stopped at the other ;) That portion I am pretty confident.
