Skip to content

Chewing problems

Behavioral Issues
  • Hello,

    My 10 week old Basenji puppy Aurora loves to chew. She chews everything, including people and it can hurt a bit. Unless she is sleeping or winding down from playing if she can get a hold of your fingers she will. I know lots of puppies chew its a phase a lot of them go through but out of all the puppies i have had i have never had a puppy bite and chew this much. I have just been ignoring her when she does it by putting her back onto the floor and refusing to play with her if she bites. Does anyone have any good suggestions on how to deal with this? Any replies will be helpful.

    Thank You!
    attachment_t_13095_0_my-girl.jpg

  • It sounds like all of us with 10 week olds are having the same problem. Pretty sure we all have to just stick it out. I'm sure it'll pass. Scarab is doing the same thing. x)

  • @i<3mybasenji:

    I have just been ignoring her when she does it by putting her back onto the floor and refusing to play with her if she bites. Thank You!

    That is one good way to work on the nipping/biting issue. She's attempting to entice you to play, but she has to learn that what she is doing is not the right way to initiate play. How old was your Aurora when you got her? Puppies learn the first phases of bite inhibition with their mothers/siblings. Make sure Aurora gets plenty of exercise and good safe dog toys to chew. And continue what you are doing (the ignoring). If you make a fuss when she bites, she's learning that she is getting attention, which is what she wants. Be consisitent.

  • @seaslugg:

    It sounds like all of us with 10 week olds are having the same problem. Pretty sure we all have to just stick it out. I'm sure it'll pass. Scarab is doing the same thing. x)

    Welcome to the forum…. who did you get Scarab from? Many of us are related by our Basenjis, especially here on the West Coast

  • I got her when she was 8 weeks old. She has lots of toys and lots of walks and play time. Thank you for confirming i was taking the right approach with this.

  • Basenjis chew,this s a fact of life.
    It might sound like a crazy thing to do,but I bite my pups back.
    It teaches them that I'M THE BOSS !
    It has worked for me for the almost 36 years that I've lived with
    the little beastys.
    You can call me crazy,or wrong
    I don't care
    Works for me,and my dogs all respect me,and love me.

    Kathryn

  • My 10 week old is doing the same thing, constant biting despite ignoring her and stopping play when it happens. I did get bitter apple spray from the pet store and she won't go near anyones feet or ankles when we spray them.

  • I got my basenji Aurora from Beaubri basenji in BC.

  • @Rocky1:

    Basenjis chew,this s a fact of life.
    It might sound like a crazy thing to do,but I bite my pups back.
    It teaches them that I'M THE BOSS !
    It has worked for me for the almost 36 years that I've lived with
    the little beastys.
    You can call me crazy,or wrong
    I don't care
    Works for me,and my dogs all respect me,and love me.

    Kathryn

    Wow, Kathryn - that's funny! I'm sure you just nibble a little. Their feet smell like Tostitos, so just wondering -does the rest of the dog taste like a snack??? LOL

Suggested Topics

  • Problem with Crating !!!!

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    Chealsie508C
    It's true, I've never had to even think about crating until I got Oakley. All previous breeds were no problem staying loose in the house, oak is very house destructive so that was a no go, we also went through crate phobia but at 16 months he tolerates it better than I ever imagined
  • Marking problem

    Behavioral Issues
    47
    0 Votes
    47 Posts
    19k Views
    KipawaK
    @Therese: I avoid calling him dominant because that word seems to draw fire in the dog world with new training methods and I don't really know that describes what he is. Sober is also a therapy dog and exceptionally good with small children and the tiniest of dogs. He completely respects me and my husband and without much formal training is probably one of my best trained dogs. That said he (who Kipawa is very much like) is very strong willed. When Fran took Kipawa we warned her consistant fair ongoing training would give her a Sober in her house, but letting him take over or encouraging it will likely give him license to challenge situations. I think she and Darrell understand this and are doing a great job. I think continuing what they plan will be great and they will have an amazing adult dog when he is finished. Kipawa is out of a line that matures very slowly and for his health and well being we believe in his case it would be good to wait to neuter him when he is fully mature. I think the key is changing the behavior, by peeing Kipawa out (maybe only a dribble will remain as would with my boys) it will likely not cause as much embarassment or damage while the behavior is corrected. If Kipawa has his dad's bladder (which he did when he lived here) he can pee quite a lake if left to his own.Therese I am so thankful, Therese, for you and Kevin guiding us with Kipawa. As you mention Sober's peeing ability, Kipawa is definitely the same. He does have a healthy, big bladder. He gets a good pee right before we go to bed around 10:30 p.m., and upon rising at 7:30 a.m., he is not interested in going out right away to pee. He needs/wants his 'loves' in the morning. We do that 'within' our morning routine. I have a coffee first, at which time he sits with me, and after that he goes out for his first morning sniffs of the day and a pee. Then he is fed. We are using the technique of 'peeing him out', and that is really working for us. After about 4 good long leg lifts, he usually only has drops left. Then when those go, the problem of peeing on people is 'eliminated'. Kipawa is also going to be a therapy dog like his Dad Sober (meet and greet paraplegic and quadriplegic folks). He is very loving to any human he meets. We are working very hard on the 'good neighbour' requirements and we have accomplished many of them. And we have decided to leave Kipawa intact until he is fully mature. Over the last week I have spoken to and read so much information on the detriments of neutering. As Therese said, being fair and firm lets Kipawa know who the leader is. Perhaps that is a better word than dominant - just indicate your dog is a 'lead dog'.
  • Problems with other dogs

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    djaan, how about removing your spam link… then people might think your posts are serious.
  • Thyroid problems and behavior

    Behavioral Issues
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    818 Views
    No one has replied
  • Harness chewing

    Behavioral Issues
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    5k Views
    ELERICKSON40E
    @Mia: Yes it is in the backyard, and no it's not fenced :( I wished it was. He is fine when we are going on walks, but as soon as he is left alone for more than 5 min he chews it up in a matter of a few minutes! Would a martingale collar work? I think the reason teh harness doesn't work is because he wedges his jaw on the shoulder part of the harness, and I figured that maybe a martinglae collar would work better since he can't get to it. Ahhh why can't he be more like his calm sister Mia lol… Welcome to the club! Trixie chewed her way thru at least 5 - 6 harnesses and yes also in a matter of minutes. The only time she has a harness on is when she is going for a walk or if we are taking her in the car. She has had her current one for at least 3 months ! It's a miracle, but I feel your pain!
  • Chewing

    Behavioral Issues
    22
    0 Votes
    22 Posts
    8k Views
    BasenjiDivaB
    Cory seems to really like her crate at night. It is beside our bed and when she sees that we are on our way to bed, she goes right in and does everything but shut the door after herself. My husband is away on a trip and so the other night I left the crate door open at bedtime to see what she would do. She still stayed in there all night. She didn't come out until my alarm went off the next morning. At least if she starts to shred at night I should hear it. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and hope that doesn't happen. Is Keoki in the room with you? Pat