Brat Home Visit
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Hey there! I actually went through a home visit with BRAT. They basically look if you've basenji-proofed your home…ie-covered the outlets, any wires/cables exposed, any poisonous stuff around like cleaning solvents or plants, where you keep your garbage, locked cabinets, books/mags/shoes lying around the place, any potential hazards for escaping like accessible open windows or unsupervised doorways, etc.
Basically make yourself basenji-height, and think like a 2yr old & look around your house & ask yourself "how can I get into trouble!" :D and there's a good way to start :)
Hope this was helpful!
You can also check out the Basenji Companions website & they have a page on how to B-proof your house. http://www.basenjicompanions.com
How much time did the home visit take? Was your yard checked out too for fencing material, height and potential escape holes? Curious . . .
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It is basically the same thing. They get into things just like a toddler would so the dangers to a toddler would be the same to a b. One of the things that would be different is a basenji can climb and jump unlike any toddler (that I know anyway). So you also have to watch for things a little higher (counter tops, balcony's, fences that they may be able to jump over, etc.) I also had a home visit and what jys1011 stated is exactly what they go over. If they do happen to see any hazards they will just let you know that it may be something you want to fix. Nothing to get too stressed out over though. They are very good at making good matches so if you know that B is right for you and you've done the research, I wouldn't see any problems.
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The yard is checked out as well. They're basically just making sure that the dog is being placed in a FOREVER home. They don't want the dog ending up back at a shelter or being hurt by something that the new owner was not aware of. So they'll go over anything harmful in the house (wires, cupboards, etc.) and they'll also check exits, yards, etc. to prevent the dog from getting loose and ending up back at a shelter or even worse, hit by a car.
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Yes they do check the yards especially the height of the fence & any gaps that there may be a chance to get out…if you're about 17in tall & weight about 20lbs & can wiggle through small areas :)
Although my yard is not completely fenced in & neither was the BRAT Screener so she understood & that was fine.
Sry to highjack but does that mean if my house is toddler/baby/childproof that we are Basenji proof?
Babyproof is NOT enough…I had to clear the counters as well as clear a breakfast table that had some decorations. I left a book on there once & C3 was able to HOP :eek: on to the table & didn't even need a running start :D talk about athletic! The book was shredded to bits :mad:
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The home visit is not really a "test". It's to help you make your home basenji safe, and to get an idea of your lifestyle so they can place the best possible basenji in your home. Don't worry about "appearing" like anything. As a general rule: All basenji owners have at least one loose screw.
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Caesar could preform the ricochet (sp) test for all furniture. When they do their crazy run through the room Caesar will jump onto the leather couch and only touch the back cushion and back to the floor like a pinball… At a full running pace he would launch himself over our big leather chair, clearing it.....
I think the best way to check your furniture to see if it is basenji proof is to take a test run! LOL...
My rule of thumb for basenji proofing is...if it is on the floor it's free game...if it's on the table it's off limits when I am watching....and if it is mine, it is out of reach...
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This week I have been thinking I have a few loose screws missing as well, Sahara has been into everything this week. She has tried to chew on everything, even though I give her rawhide everyday. Do they cut teeth at 12 months, she will be 1 yr. on the 31st. I have a living room chair that has a wood back that I discovered at Christmas had been chewed on terribly, then this week she was found chewing on the other wooden chair, (I put the chewed one in a room with the door closed) what does she do but attack the unchewed one. Today I laid my jacket down and turn around and she has gone into my pocket and pulled my cell phone out and is chewing on the clip, well, she ruined that. Oh, yea this is the worst yet, I lost a tooth due to a bad bite that I have, (should have had jaw surgery when I was young), not noticeable to anyone, but to the point, haha!!!! Well, I just invested into a dental plate, I took it out and laid it on a table, Sahara and I fell asleep in the recliner, she woke up and grabbed the plate, (I didn't know she had it until after I found it on the carpet). She chewed the tooth half off, now I have to take it back to the dentist, probably will cost me about $100 to replace. Plus the fact that she had it in her mouth, I love my dog to death, but I don't kiss her in the mouth. This year she also scratched the lens of my new glasses and that cost me $100 to replace, so YEA!!!! I KNOW I HAVE A FEW LOOSE SCREWS, B/C I STILL LOVE MY BASENJI!!!!!!
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My other dog ate my sons retainer twice. There must be something delicious about the inside of his humans mouth to a dog! Yuck! ha ha
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My other dog ate my sons retainer twice. There must be something delicious about the inside of his humans mouth to a dog! Yuck! ha ha
They like it because it's expensive.
Vegas
