Bless your husband for saving her and all of you for keeping her! Basenjis are very smary and tricky, but not all are escape artists, well they all can be, but in a happy family with 2 good buddies to play with, she may not try and escape. Some pups just love to dig…but...if she is digging at the fence, that could be a probelm. I have had basenjis since the 70's, with a 4 ft chain link fence, and the only escapes have been from the gate left open by meter readers, and friends loitering int he doorway. Teaching her to sit when the door is opened wil be a big help, that is where 95% of basenji escapes occur. And as you already know, she is rather a fool in traffic. Teaching to love a crate is a good thing, especially in emergencies, but many basenjis are not destructive once they are grown and don't really need to be crated forever. She will learn your routine from the other dogs and follow their lead, at least until she realizes she can boss them around! Basenjis are wonderful and occasionally very frustrating, you will find a great support group here!
Welcome!
Anne in Tampa
@WBL:
Basenjis are known to be master escape artists from even 6ft fenced yards. So it might be better to crate her if you don't want to close the dog door. And I'd say even more beacause you have a chainlink fence, they tend to use those as ladders. Now granted some never do climb, but since your husband did find her wandering the street, chances she might have escaped the first time. I don't mean to scare you, just trying to help.
I do not agree with crating them or closing them off from the yard… "if" you have a secure fence... and of course depending on the area you live in... I have never crated mine, they have a doggy room in the house with doggy door to outside and have access to it 24/7. We do have 10ft privacy fences with padlocks on the gates and there is no need for anyone to ever have the access the back for things like "meter reading" as it is out front.... and the house is set back off a quiet street with no neighbors close as it is a very old neighborhood.... and really a 6' fence is OK depending on the type of fence.. in our area of California, I don't know anyone that crates their dogs if they have a secure fenced yard.... Just my opinion....
Thank you for the welcome….and advice...we have started watching Abby closer..Here are a couple of pics...Not very good...taken with camera phone.
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She is very cute... and I would suggest that you consider have blood drawn for a DNA Fanconi test especially since you have no idea were she came from.. you can learn about it at www.basenjihealth.org
She only digs in the middle of the yard…LOL which is a good thing if she is going to dig I guess...we have never seen her even put her feet on the chain link fence we have. And the only thing she has bothered in the house is paper towels...she loves tearing them up if we leave them lay someplace. The people who had her MUST have taken time to teach her things. She is pretty well behaved, and will sit on command...The Vet did do the Dna blood test and all was good. And I have to agree..they are a breed all there own..LOL
She only digs in the middle of the yard…LOL which is a good thing if she is going to dig I guess...we have never seen her even put her feet on the chain link fence we have. And the only thing she has bothered in the house is paper towels...she loves tearing them up if we leave them lay someplace. The people who had her MUST have taken time to teach her things. She is pretty well behaved, and will sit on command...The Vet did do the Dna blood test and all was good. And I have to agree..they are a breed all there own..LOL
Your Vet can not do the DNA test for Fanconi, your Basenji must be entered on the CPP site and the blood has to be drawn and sent to the U of Mo…. if this was done, sorry to doubt, but it is important that everyone understands that this is NOT a test that can be done by your Vet, only drawing the blood and sending it off with the required paperwork and payment for the DNA test
Yea, she is a Basenji, and a pretty darn cute one at that! My B, stays in and out of my house all the time when I am gone. I also have a doggie door, but also underground fencing, where you have the chainlink. I don't see a problem with it except that she might get into your things in the house. Basenji puppies like to chew things, at least mine does, when she was younger I use to come home to chew marks here and there. I close off part of the house, (living room, bathrooms, and bedrooms). She might be good though b/c you have the other 2 dogs for her to play with, I just want to make you aware of this behavior, they are very curious and like to investigate. My B will dig to get rid of energy, she likes to dig in the corners of my sofa, looking to hide her treats, and sometimes just to dig. I am trying to change that behavior now, outside OK, not inside. These dogs are very loving, and loyal to their other pack members, bet when she is older that she will be the head of the pack. Good Luck!
Good luck trying to change the dig behavior… have never heard of anyone able to do this... they almost all do it....
Welcome! Looking forward to hearing about and seeing more of your adorable pups!
Again for everyone you can find the informtion at www.basenjihealth.org
Where at in Illinios? I am also from a small town in IL and my baby girl's name is Abby. Too funny. Definetly keep an eye on her my Abby is in a 6 foot privacy fence she has not gotten out of the fence but she has escaped from the house and they are hard to catch. Unfortunetly she may have been dumped as not everyone is cut out to own a B! Good luck with her and maybe if we are close enough we can have a play date.
She is very cute! 
It's wonderful that you have taken her on. Good luck with everything.
She is darling and you are now OWNED by a Basenji!! Mine is a mix (basenji and whippet) and she still does the B500 through the house (furniture is ALWAYS involved). My Hollie only digs after seeing other dogs do it… a learned behavior(?). I agree with the forum members who suggest crating Abby, for her own safety and your piece of mind. Hollie has gotten out of the dog lot where I work about 4 times. She is NEVER outside without me now. I couldn't stand it if something happened to her. Good Luck!!
