Skip to content

Something all basenji owners know

Basenji Talk
  • Lol - yup, well aware if it. :rolleyes::D

  • Sneak it, or just nab it off your plate if you even glance away. I once saw a basenji of ours snatch a sandwich out of a toddler's hands, the kid looked up and when he looked back, his hand was empty, he just looked puzzled. His mom probably thought he was a good little eater. Meanwhile, Bruiser swallowed it in one gulp and stood there looking innocent.

  • These b's train us to p/u things when we are not with them..that goes for food on a low table as well….

  • It's not just basenji's. Dogs are opportunistic. If they see something, and they are successful at getting what they want, they will repeat the process. Doesn't matter what it is. Putting a sandwich on the edge of the counter is an invitation. The first word was right-DUH!

  • Shaye will come sit right beside me, wherever I am eating, and keep creeping closer, not looking at me or the food - pretending even to be sleeping - but if I take my eyes off her or the food, she grabs and runs. I am training her to not sit beside me. Of course, she isn't happy about it, and tries every time anyway.

  • My mentors always told the story of their first Basenji, Dinka. When Marilyn's elderly Mom came to live with them, she was legally blind and had Parkinsons. Marilyn would sit her in a chair with a TV tray table in from of her and put her lunch sandwich on it… that way it was a small table and easy to feel around with her hands for the sandwich. Well one day (and this happened a few times) her Mom kept telling Marilyn "I am hungry"... and Marilyn would say "but you just ate your whole sandwich"... to which her Mom with say "I didn't eat any sandwich".....

    So Marilyn took up a post to spy..... Sandwich on the TV Tray, Dinka standing in front of the TV Tray.... Mom feeling around for it with her hands.... Dinka rising up on her hind legs, takes a front paw (hand), swipes the sandwich off the plate as quiet as can be... and in one bite, its gone!

  • If we sit on the couch and eat something in front of the tv, all three are there. We learned not to have them around if we are actually eating a meal using tv trays. But say we have popcorn or icecream without the trays - all three sit in front of us with the saddest look on their face as if they haven't eaten in weeks. Especially the boxer. I can practically hear her say "mom, please, just a tiny peace of food… not eaten forever... so starving..." I'll have to take a picture sometime. Surprisingly enough, Lana is usually the first one to give up. By the way, is popcorn bad for dogs?

  • Um….seriously? Somebody needed to do a study for this...gimme a break....

    Case in point...last night I said to Tim "did I put away that bag of left over chicken breasts? Did you?...Could you go check?" He comes back upstairs...and says "they weren't in the fridge....they weren't on the counter...." and we both looked at the sleeping dog on the bed...Tim says "there is an empty bag with a hole in it on the floor of the dining room...sound about right?" At least four grilled chicken breasts lost to the oldest, best trained dog in the house...sigh...

  • @tanza:

    My mentors always told the story of their first Basenji, Dinka. When Marilyn's elderly Mom came to live with them, she was legally blind and had Parkinsons. Marilyn would sit her in a chair with a TV tray table in from of her and put her lunch sandwich on it… that way it was a small table and easy to feel around with her hands for the sandwich. Well one day (and this happened a few times) her Mom kept telling Marilyn "I am hungry"... and Marilyn would say "but you just ate your whole sandwich"... to which her Mom with say "I didn't eat any sandwich".....

    So Marilyn took up a post to spy..... Sandwich on the TV Tray, Dinka standing in front of the TV Tray.... Mom feeling around for it with her hands.... Dinka rising up on her hind legs, takes a front paw (hand), swipes the sandwich off the plate as quiet as can be... and in one bite, its gone!

    Taking advantage of the elderly - they are definitely opportunists. :rolleyes:

    When my father was alive, both Ruby and Brando would lie on the floor near his seat at the table - knowing full well he'd drop something. They never actually stood up and took anything off the table though - must have been because the spot on the floor was plenty lucrative.

  • @diff_eqs:

    By the way, is popcorn bad for dogs?

    Gosh I hope not.

    I'd guess it's about as good for them as it is for you. Personally, I think popcorn is a suitable for dinner, but hubby thinks differently.

  • My 1st B, Casey, was a pro at this. A friend came over one day and brought a bunch of homemade oatmeal cookies neatly stacked on a plate. She set it down on the coffee table and I non-chalantly mentioned to her not to put it there so I moved it to the center of the table but I forgot about it.

    Casey was quietly staring at those cookies for a VERY LONG time while my friend and I were chatting. And then she made her move - SWOOOSH!!! She took the biggest cookie and ran out in the backyard in less than a second! :p:eek::p Apparently she was (strategically) planning how to get that big cookie - which was located in the center of the pile. She somehow figured out how to do it while keeping the rest of cookies neatly stacked!

    When we saw this, we burst out laughing and we just let her enjoy it! We thought she deserved her "reward" for being so clever and neat. We still can't figure how she managed to get that cookie in the center of that pile without toppling the rest. :D:D:D

  • it is normal for dogs to steal food when you are not around, in a pack in the wild it also goes this way, when the leaders finished their food and leave it the other are allowed to have it. So when you think about it , it is complete natural behaviour :)

  • Our boys don't touch human food at home, when I put my dinner at the couch next to Buana or chaufuko they won't look up… :D
    Also when we aren't in the room they won't steal food from the table (thank god because they should be really fat already thanks to the cats and Ryan)
    When it's on the floor, they will steal it :D

Suggested Topics

  • Advice for potential basenji owner

    Basenji Talk
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    16k Views
    eeeefarmE
    @EMurata said in Advice for potential basenji owner: The "weather permitting" part of your statement wont work with a Basenji. My dog doesnt care if its 100 degrees out or 10, she needs constant exercise. If outside exercise isn't available for whatever reason, mental exercise is a good substitute. Basenjis are very clever and if you keep their minds busy it often serves to minimize or avoid destructive behaviour. You are not going to wear a fit Basenji out by walking him or her a couple of hours a day, but I have seen them perfectly content to kick back and relax after half an hour of demanding mental exercise! Clicker training can be useful here.....
  • Advice for potential first-time basenji owners

    Basenji Talk
    67
    0 Votes
    67 Posts
    51k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    @Cafu LOL on cutting leash.. I am certain they have retractable scissors in their gums. I have had mine cut leashes and cut straps to clothing that were so smooth, nothing else but scissors explains it (okay or razor blades). Which is why I put these on the collars... snap/ o ring, chain, o ring, leash [image: 1508253202524-leash.jpg]
  • Basenji owner musicians

    Basenji Talk
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    1k Views
    No one has replied
  • Now I know why there is a basenji-forum

    Basenji Talk
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    5k Views
    L
    THe place we kennel our dogs (also go to day camp every other Friday) love our Basenjis. They beg us to bring them back and someone there has asked us every time we have been there about when we were getting our new pupy since we called and asked how old they had to be to start going. That place is missing out big time.
  • Looking for basenji owners in MD

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    AlexA
    Hi yul, Welcome to Basenji Forums! There is no dog breed that is truly non-allergenic (not allergy causing) because all dogs produce dander (shed skin cells), saliva, and urine. You can be allergic to the dog dander, dog saliva, or both. Urine is less of a problem since dogs usually potty outside. Pet hair itself is not an allergen, but it can collect dander, dust, and pollen. To answer the question about shedding, Basenjis do shed, but its not as much as some other breeds and they keep themselves very clean with their own grooming methods. Their coats are so short, though, with you'll hardly notice if they shed. Basenjis are known to supposedly produce less dander than other breeds, and many people who are mildly allergic to dogs can tolerate some of these "low dander" dog breeds with proper environmental controls. Be careful though, as there are no guarantees. People's pet allergies vary greatly. Severe pet allergy sufferers may not tolerate any dogs at all, even with the best environmental controls.
  • The Basenji Owners Manual

    Basenji Talk
    14
    0 Votes
    14 Posts
    8k Views
    thunderbird8588T
    Have sent for my book, can hardly wait, all we need now is the Basenji :)