Oakley would eat sour smarties or sweet tarts over sweet potatoes or zucchini 100%. I often think it's weird how similar his taste for sour and tart candies resembles mine!! I do however like fruits and vegetables more than him..
Even though I don't have a basenji , but I have a black Lab. He drools every time I take him outside and play catch with him. YUK!! slobber all over the ball, slime city, drool just dripping off his ball.
We have actually been really lucky in this regard. Our backyard is enclosed by a picket fence reinforced with chicken wire around the bottom. It was here when we moved in last year. Cyrus has never tried to dig or climb out of the fence at all. We are actually hoping to replace our fencing with vinyl this year, so it will be even more secure. Cyrus does not have access to the outdoors when we are not home, however. He is too clever for his own good, and we worry about what he would do if left to his own devices!
I can understand the need to give him a bath. For me, I didn't want to be the bad guy in his eyes when he was a pup and me new to him, so I took him to a pet salon. (Yes - if he gets spoiled, then so do I for this job.) They have the right equipment to keep him in the tub, clean ears and clip toe nails. It cost me $25 including tip . . . but at least I didn't have to do it and he was so happy to see me when I picked him up. I felt like his hero.