@basenjicurious
It’s great that you’re doing your homework on the basenji. I think the reason you read all these “horror stories” is because they are not your typical dog. They are a beautiful and highly intelligent breed with a very strong prey drive. My Kembe is my first basenji but I was familiar with the breed because my brothers were basenji owners. I got her when she was 1years old - she was returned to the breeder by the previous owners. Kembe has never been destructive, she has free reign of our house, and I can leave her at home alone. It’s extremely important to exercise them regularly - especially exercise and stimulate their minds, and establish a routine (I can set my watch to my dog). They are definitely trainable - it scares me to see how smart she is and also well behaved. Basenjis are extremely lovable and hilariously funny. If I have a treat that my dog especially likes - she will do her whole “repertoire of tricks” without me even asking her. She dances to let me know it’s time to eat and will sit right next to me and hit me with her paw when she wants to go for her walk.
I think our basenji chose us - when we went to the breeders home to look at her - She jumped up next to my husband on the couch and curled up! I was sold on her! I really hope you find a basenji that right for you!
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My basenji goes all nuts with wet towels!
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We call those love nibbles. They do it to each other as well as us humans.
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The little quirks that these guys have are amazing. Have they tried the 'diversion' tactic on you?? You are sitting down eating supper then they go do something bad so that you have to get off your chair to go see what they are doing….meanwhile they are circling behind you on their way to jump up on the chairs to get at your food??
LOL, oh yes…. you learn to "take your plate with you"!
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Yeah you learn to take your plate reall quick!! That or push in your chair. I swear sometimes they are smarter than me
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Tucker knows how to unroll socks. I get them together and roll them then throw them into the clothes basket to take upstairs and he will grab a pair, take off with them and I will find them upstairs apart. It takes him like 5 seconds.
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Gbala is into wet hair which is very embarrassing when she climbs on to guest's shoulders and rubs her face all round their heads!
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haha Maca is a champion stealing my food! i think my work's launch was safe and get back to grab my bag and voila! just found the bread.. and the ham was gone.
She licks my foots too. And thats a good thing for me. lol
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We make guests put their purses up on the counter, because the b's think it's a game to root for kleenex.
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My guy likes to rub against wet towels, or pull them down and roll on them. Also wants to lick you dry…...all of my Basenjis have felt it their duty to dry people or each other. But what my guy really goes nuts for is skin cream. If I am putting body lotion on after a shower he jumps on the bed, sniffs the cream and rolls around like crazy. I humour him by putting a little bit of the cream either on the bed or on him. He absolutely loves it! (of course, he will roll in disgusting things outside, so that makes me wonder what my skin cream smells like to a Basenji!)
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If you really want to see your basenji "roll" in something that smell nice to me anyway, take the scented parts out of the magazines you get, open them up and put them on the floor. You know what I mean, the "samples" you get either in ads, like the Bon, etc…the dogs go crazy for them..As well as dryer sheets, empty soap wrappers...
Just a hoot to watch them roll. -
My husband is a heavy equipment mechanic and some of his jobs meant that he would work on the Florida beach…. the minute he would take off his boots, Lucy (and then Lola) would smell his boots like they were filled with rose petals.... and then our b's would roll, and roll, and roll~ all over his boots! What in the world could they smell?
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It's no fail that everytime I come home from work or anywhere really and Oakley finds the exact shoes I wore and bring them to me and licks them! Even if I mix them in with my shoe collection he "just knows" and isn't satisfied unless he gets them. I find it humorous but I'll admit I've had to buy quite a few new pairs as they dont last long with Oakley in the house- I'm such a pushover and he knows it!!
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ALWAYS…. HE will follow me, jump up and try to get my wet hair... scratch on the shower door to get it...LOVES wet towels. he ESPECIALLY loves my teen daughter... she smells GOOD. LOL