One thing I have always done with my dogs is anytime I catch them chewing on something they are not supposed to, I tell them no and give them what they are supposed to chew on and tell them "good dog" You may have to do it a 100 times or so, but they get the point. Also, anytime Dash/Sissy is chewing on something they are supposed to you praise them. Try to catch them doing something right as much as possble. That way they don't only get attention when they are doing something bad.
I would suggest 1. doing several bouts of exercise before going to bed; while 15 minutes is all she can handle do some then quit then some more then quit then some more; this way she'll be doggonetired (:)) and remember the best basenji is a tired basenji; 2. maybe she needs to be put in an exercise pen in the bedroom (not quite like being in a crate) for the night until she grows out of it.
I have been trying to do the whole positive praise with her but I'm telling you she gets in these moods where for a solid half hour to one hour she does everything she is not supposed to do and I swear she is smiling at me and laughing the entire time!! We all play with Trixie outside in the yard inside the house, we just can't seem to wear her out!! Keep in mind she also has a big sister named Josie that she plays with. I keep telling my husband she needs a brother!! can't seem to convince him yet of that. He just looks at me and says (AND YOU WANT 2 B'S??????!!!!) and my reply is yes. I'm hoping she will grow out of it?? LOL She is only a year old, but thanks for all the suggestions. I appreciate your wisdom!!
I also have had good luck with a spray bottle - they hate it and actually, all I have to do most times now is just show it to them!
My basenjis ate underwear also - the trick is to put everything in the hamper and put the hamper in a closet and close the door. My dogs are never loose in any of our bedrooms unless we are there - too many things for them to get into. They're allowed loose in the living areas of the house without supervision because those areas are dog proofed. Bedrooms are just too hard. We keep all the bathrooms doors shut as well because they consider the bathroom trash a delicacy.
Also, I've noticed if my guys are exercised enough, they chew a lot more. If Willie is run on a regular basis, he's fine, but if it's been a while because of the cold or other bad weather, he'll eat a remote, or chew on a leather box that he's totally ignored for two years! It suddenly becomes interesting for his bored brain.
Spray bottles are wonderful things. But this is a B you are talking about. They'll behave… as long as the spray bottle or you are watching them. If not, well... say good-bye to the blanket.
The rules are finite: whatever you don't want them to have, don't give them access to. A little tough at times as you'd think putting laundry in a laundry basket (or blankets folded neatly in a basket waiting to be put away) would do the trick but oh no! Lest we forget that laundry baskets have holes in the sides for ventilation and therefore, a more challenging space to pull articles thru!
sometimes I wonder what it would be like to spend a day thinking like a B... how tired the mind must get! No wonder they love sleeping as much as they do!
Yeah we have been doing the spray bottle for a while. I am seriously considering bringing the water hose into the house. I think that might get her attention!! LOL Half the time I think I would be scared to be inside her head!!! LOL Trixie also likes to pull everthing out of the laundry baskets (and she can do it in about 2 seconds when it is on the way to the laundry room! But the other day she drug the basket for me to the laundry room!! What a smart B!!! Ha Ha
A lot of people focus on all the things they don't want their dog to do but forget to reward them for all the things they do want them to do. Even though the attention you are giving them for doing the wrong things is negative it is attention. Try rewarding when Trixie is doing something right even if it is only for fraction of a second. You may be surprised to see the length of time she does those things increase as you reward them.
I know that the behaviorist I worked with stressed that - try to ignore inappropriate behavior whenever possible and reward the good. Small treats work well. I have trained my basenjis some very helpful things with treats. One of my favorites at the dog run is "get in the car!" It used to be hard for me to get them in the car when it was time to go - I'd have to catch them and you know how hard that is. So whenever they got in the car, they got a treat. It became something they would do every time because of the treat. They'd jump in and whip around and wait for the goody. Now I have a car with remote doors and the sound of the door opening is enough! But it has worked with other things as well, like "in your crate," or when I ask them to sit or stay (stay is still one of the hardest) - all the basic obedience. And they'll still do these things without the treats because of the original association.
Exactly, you start with a high rate of reward at the beginning and then move to a variable reinforcement schedule so they don't know when they will get the treat. The important thing is that even when they "get it" you make sure that you are still rewarding them periodically. Dogs are great gamblers, they will if there is a chance that it will pay off then often they will give it a try.
Exactly, you start with a high rate of reward at the beginning and then move to a variable reinforcement schedule so they don't know when they will get the treat. The important thing is that even when they "get it" you make sure that you are still rewarding them periodically. Dogs are great gamblers, they will if there is a chance that it will pay off then often they will give it a try.
Especially a Basenji…... 
Believe me we do reward Trixie with treats when she does something good!! The problem is I have trouble ignoring her bad behavior becuase her bad behavior is normally something destructive!!
Then use redirection. If she is doing something you do not want her to do redirect her to something you want her to do so you can reward the behavior. So if she is chewing on shoe, redirect her by trading the shoe for a chew stick or a nylabone then praise her for chewing on the appropriate object.
That is what I have been doing and don't get me wrong, things are getting better!! Sometimes I think she thinks it is a game because she does'nt always chew up the things she is bringing me, sometimes she just brings things to me and has that look of look what I can do Mom! We are hopefully doing everything right with her but that is one of the reasons I plan on taking her to training classes!!
It sounds like Trixie has learned the concept of trading up and is seeing if you will trade her for something better. This isn't a bad thing. My obedience instructor's whippet does this when they are out visiting her horse except the thing he brings to her to trade for duck jerky are sheep placentas, YUCK! But it is way better then him eating them.
Well we tried what everyone suggested here on the forum last night. Trixie was doing her usual 9:00 pm digging in her favorite leather chair. We gave her one of her toys and she stopped. This took about 4 times of her starting to dig and us giving her one of her toys but she did finally stop. (Keep in mind but time number 4 I had a water bottle in my hand). She looked at me like WHY CAN'T I DIG IN THIS CHAIR? ALL YOU PEOPLE DO IS SIT IN IT!!) Sometimes the looks she gives me are priceless and soooooo funny!! But we are making headway!! Thanks again!!!
Well we tried what everyone suggested here on the forum last night. Trixie was doing her usual 9:00 pm digging in her favorite leather chair. We gave her one of her toys and she stopped. This took about 4 times of her starting to dig and us giving her one of her toys but she did finally stop. (Keep in mind but time number 4 I had a water bottle in my hand). She looked at me like WHY CAN'T I DIG IN THIS CHAIR? ALL YOU PEOPLE DO IS SIT IN IT!!) Sometimes the looks she gives me are priceless and soooooo funny!! But we are making headway!! Thanks again!!!
I agree with everyone's posts but some things are just in their nature & really you can't stop them from doing it.
Digging on the chair or couch or their beds or the rug…is their nesting habit. They all do it & it's just what they do before they settle in.
They're hunters by nature so they will inevitably hunt things they shouldn't...rodents, small prey, your shoes etc. 
You can manage some things but not all. It's just who they are :eek:
I agree with everyone's posts but some things are just in their nature & really you can't stop them from doing it.
Digging on the chair or couch or their beds or the rug…is their nesting habit. They all do it & it's just what they do before they settle in.
They're hunters by nature so they will inevitably hunt things they shouldn't...rodents, small prey, your shoes etc.
Yes I agree. She is quite the mighty hunter and her nose is to the ground always!! Alot of times when she is digging in the couches and chairs she is trying to bury a bone. She will stuff a bone into the corner and actually take her nose and push imaginary dirt?? over the bone. It makes us laugh!!
It sounds like Trixie has learned the concept of trading up and is seeing if you will trade her for something better. This isn't a bad thing. My obedience instructor's whippet does this when they are out visiting her horse except the thing he brings to her to trade for duck jerky are sheep placentas, YUCK! But it is way better then him eating them.
Yes Trixie has certainly learned the concept!! She does very good with her training as long as she knows that she is going to get something in return!!
Yes I agree. She is quite the mighty hunter and her nose is to the ground always!! Alot of times when she is digging in the couches and chairs she is trying to bury a bone. She will stuff a bone into the corner and actually take her nose and push imaginary dirt?? over the bone. It makes us laugh!!
Yea, my B does the same, the first time I saw this I was so intriged, they are so smart. It is a funny thing to watch, Sahara will take a bone around the house in her mouth for the perfect place to bury it. If she can't find a place she is happy with she will prance around whinning the sadest noise like she is so sad. I actually pitch in and help her find a place, and she will most of the time agree on the place, she checks it out and then walks off. These dogs spoil you for any other breed, they are the best.
