Ok, this Kell is one thinking, stubborn, silly and infuriating Basenji boy!! He has decided all books must be shreded, I have already bought one from the library. He has been sitting on our bed studying my desk for a couple of days, he has pulled things off of it numerous times, he is so very tall, that it is hard to keep anything out of his reach. So we have distracted him or just called his name to get his attention off of the desk. This morning as I was getting ready for work, I noticed him (in my mirror) doing the same stare at the desk. I called his name and he disappeared from the mirror so I went back to putting on makeup when I heard a loud noise, Kell was standing in the middle of my desk, looking like he was not sure how he got there! Last night he tried to broad jump over our coffee table in pursuit of the girls and he managed to land in the middle and slide across and knock everything off of it. And then today, while I was at work (Thank you God), he waltzed into Duane's office, and while Duane was in his recliner, proceeded to pee on the dog bed, when Duane got up to put him outside, he started running thru the house and stopping just out of Duane's reach to drop a poo off, all thru the living room and dining room area. I don't think my ears would have survived Duane's comments, but I almost fell over laughing when he described this "afternoon exercise period". This is only 2 days with this B boy, no wonder you have to be a very special type of person to love this breed. Love him dearly, but we were worn out! This evening he is being a very "good dog", guess he knows when he has pushed his humans to the limit. Gotta love em!
I use baby gates and shut door to keep a b from area's where the human isn't.
He needs to be taken out every 3 hrs like he is a puppy cause he doesn't know the routine, and not sure where the peeing is ok…
When I get a new b in, I keep them in the room with me, crate them when I am gone, and take them out a lot, with a lot of walks....
They are new and learning... as are you...we are all hoping this goes well.
Hi, Sharon, we have had Kell since April 17th, he has done remarkably well, is well house trained, he had just been out with everyone else when he came back in and decided Duane looked too comfortable in his recliner. He knows that he is not suppose to go in the house and we do use baby gates, he purposely came into the office where Duane was - made sure he was looking at him and peed and then ran off dropping the poo in his wake, Duane swears he was laughing at him. He was easily house trained, just has the same objections as our others at going out in the rain or into damp grass, but we work past that, this was just a "good joke" on Kell's part I think. He sleeps in bed with us all night long, wakes us up with his arwfs around 6 am, goes out to potty, has 1/4 cup of kibble and then either comes back to bed with us or goes to sleep in the open crate next to the girls. He is crated like the others when I am at work and has not had an accident in his box in a couple of months now. I just think this was Basenji Hi Jinx.
Sounds like you and Kell are learning to communicate…laugh.
Sometimes, when my b's don't get enough exercise, they get "froggie" in the house.
Bouncing off everything....
He is such a funny boy, his antics keep us laughing at him on most days, he can be such a clown and then switch into a very regal and haughty boy, typical B I guess, he is just so much of a Basenji.
Do you wear Kell out? Buddy was really crazy and obnoxious when I first got him and just plain wearing him out and just working with him calmed him down.
Yes, we wear him out until we are worn out, he is the Energizer Bunny of the basenji world. We have been owned by this breed for over 30 years and he is the one with the most enery we have ever had the joy of living with. He goes until all his energy is gone and then he just drops and goes to sleep and he sleeps HARD. He is so very sweet when he is asleep! He is dangerous though because he thinks things out and I swear lays out plans for his next attack on our possessions or the other Bs, so I guess I should say, he is still when he is plotting! Keeps us on our toes trying to stay in front of him or just stay even! Wouldn't trade him for anything!
Yes, we wear him out until we are worn out, he is the Energizer Bunny of the basenji world. We have been owned by this breed for over 30 years and he is the one with the most enery we have ever had the joy of living with. He goes until all his energy is gone and then he just drops and goes to sleep and he sleeps HARD. He is so very sweet when he is asleep! He is dangerous though because he thinks things out and I swear lays out plans for his next attack on our possessions or the other Bs, so I guess I should say, he is still when he is plotting! Keeps us on our toes trying to stay in front of him or just stay even! Wouldn't trade him for anything!
Sounds like my situation. I have had 4 Basenjis over a period of 35 years and Buddy, 1 yr, 8months is the most energetic and obnoxious of the 4. He's the most friendly too! He's been pretty good about leaving what's not his alone though. He's very entertaining at the dog park or where ever I take him as he let's out these loud Baroos at people or dogs.:D
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, dogs are built for physical activity, we will drop of exhaustion long before they do if we depend on physical activity to tire our dogs out. Dogs are not built for lots of problem solving and mental activities which we excel at. Giving dogs problem solving games to play each day will help in getting rid of some of that excess energy just like a long math test leaves most people ready for break.
There are some games here, http://dogtrainer.quickanddirtytips.com/play-games-bad-weather.aspx There are also some great ideas in Jean Donaldson's The Culture Clash. Interactive toys like Kongs, Busy Buddies and Treatstik also can be good.
I found that taking the Basenji on different excursions to new and different places helps. Not just doing the same walks down the same streets. Go downtown with them, find new places to hike on trails, etc. New sights and smells helps calm them down. Take a trip to a lake or the beach if you can.
I try to go to different streets while walking. He loves to play with toys, and is not toy destructive, he doesn't ty to kill the squeakers and destuff them like my other boy did for years. We have an antique baby crib in the living room that overflows with toys when they are put up once a day, by the end of the day though 70% of them are back scattered all over the house along with all the kongs. I only wished we had a dog park closer than an hour and half away. He is so sociable I know he would do well in one. He is a joy though, has helped heal my heart over the early loss of my Gambit boy.
I try to go to different streets while walking. He loves to play with toys, and is not toy destructive, he doesn't ty to kill the squeakers and destuff them like my other boy did for years. We have an antique baby crib in the living room that overflows with toys when they are put up once a day, by the end of the day though 70% of them are back scattered all over the house along with all the kongs. I only wished we had a dog park closer than an hour and half away. He is so sociable I know he would do well in one. He is a joy though, has helped heal my heart over the early loss of my Gambit boy.
Be patient, he'll calm down and mature. Then one day you'll say "remember when he was so crazy with energy",:D
He is dangerous though because he thinks things out and I swear lays out plans for his next attack on our possessions or the other Bs
Why is it that I find this adorable? 
Please remind me that I said this when I eventually get my B boy.
I found that taking the Basenji on different excursions to new and different places helps. Not just doing the same walks down the same streets. Go downtown with them, find new places to hike on trails, etc. New sights and smells helps calm them down. Take a trip to a lake or the beach if you can.
Really good idea, Dan - keeping the mind challenged on fresh, new things. Thanks for that.
I have come to the conclusion that all Basenji people are just a bit crazy, we brag on thier "badness", we are "proud" of the destuctive things they do, "mine ate a chair" I can beat that mine at the couch - TWICE, mine ate thru a wall, or mine destroyed the inside of my Lexus! But we are addicted to them, can't live without one or more in the house and underfoot. do you think they have a pill that can cure our nutiness over our Bs? Wouldn't take it if they did.
