Hi Hoot,
Welcome to the forum. I wanted to introduce myself to you because I too adopted a dog for the same reasons. I wanted a companion for my Golden Retriever who is also my service dog. He had gained a lot of weight during a period where I was sick with my MS. I decided to go to our local shelter and found my baby Taz. He had a great personality and got along well with my Golden "Levi" . I too did not know what kind of dog he was until my BF figured it out. All we knew was that he was hound/terrier mixed. Little did I know he was Basenji or even what a Basenji was. I learned quickly. lol.. He too likes to chew a lot and we have to put everything out of his reach, especially cell phones (from experience) He won't mess with the remote control though. He does like to table surf and will take anything from gloves to mail to cellphones off the tables. He is a very loveable dog though. He loves to be in my lap and is a leaner. You will probably find she is very cat like as it is a trait of basenji's. My Taz likes to lean up against me when i am getting ready in the bathroom or when I am standing around. He is very partial to me though he loves my BF (not sure why) but he doesn't sit with him unless I am out of the room. I have to put baby gates up to keep him from going into the kitchen or from going upstairs to table surf in the bathroom or bedrooms or keep the doors shut. You will find baby gates very helpful. Also you will find that keeping lots and lots of chew toys around will be very helpful to keep her attention off of things she shouldn't chew. We use Nylabones for powerful chewers and they love pigs ears and will take them a while to chew them. Kongs are great as well because they can chew them and not destroy them as they tend to do to other softer plastic toys. I have also found he loves tennis balls and won't destroy them as well. He is fully crate trained but will sleep in the bed with me when my BF is not here. They are very playful as well. Females do tend to try to be more dominant but being a dominant person can offset that problem. Here are some pics of my Taz and you can see they look very much alike. Taz's tail is curled but not nearly as much as a full Basenji. His ears also tip more like a terrier as well. He sheds very little though when I brought him home he was shedding very bad and I don't know if it was stress related to him being at the shelter or if it was just his diet. I feed him purina pro plan sensitve stomach and skin formula which consist of salmon, brewers rice and oatmeal which are very healty for them and keeps their fur shiney and their skin healthy as well as their stomachs. You will find though the longer you have her you will fall in love with Basenjis. I hope you enjoy her and have lots of fun.
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Basenji-less in Austin, Texas
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Keeping my fingers crossed…I hope you get that little girl soon.
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Petra, thank you so much.
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I'm so pleased for you, I hope she turns out to be your perfect girl!
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Thanks, Patty. Even if she doesn't. I've started the process with the home visit and pet permission from the apt. complex.
I need to call my vet. I have no clue if they are experienced with B's. Hmm. Putting that on my to-do list! -
Arwen, if you want an adult, you might also consider a breeder's retired adult… one that has lived with cats. I am always protective of cats with any dog that hasn't grown up with them. That said, even dogs that lived with cats may not be good with other cats.
But your desire for a rescue is wonderful... it's where my heart is too. I keep wanting a well bred Chow... and always end up with a rescue chow or chow-mix.
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Debra, I do hope you can find your Chow. As an ex-groomer, that is a breed that I was never very fond of. The good ones were amazing but the bad ones really ruined that breed for me.
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BOUNCE! I met with the B.R.A.T volunteer this morning for my home visit. I think it went very well. Now to wait to hear if I am approved and if Nayru wants to love me…I mean live with me.
No, I mean love me.
In the mean time, I've acquired a foster puppy who may be a failed foster. He's a chihuahua x dachshund as near as we can guess. Unneutered and about 5-6 months we think, Batman already has his neuter/HW/shots scheduled for next Friday.
I have someone who wants him but if he and Nayru get along, I'll keep him. She'll need a friend, right???
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Cool!!! Good luck!!! Hope you get a new B soon!!!
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Thanks!
Me too. -
Arwen, this is really good news. I hope Nayru does get on with your foster - it sounds as though you are already attached to him.
The best of luck.
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Patty, I am. He's such a little love. My BRAT volunteer wanted to swipe him.
I realized my gut reaction of NO NO NO HE'S MY BABY might be telling me something. :| -
Hope everything works out well with Nayru and how about some pics of your failed foster
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If Nayru loves him, here is Batman, the failed foster attempt. He's a chihuahua x dachshund we think. Definitely gifted in the cute area. Not quite housetrained but getting there.
Loves belly rubs and leather sandals. :|
Some of his toy haul from my trip to PetSmart.
On a 10" square couch cushion. I'm very firm about my policy about animals on the furniture. Only when their feet are tired of being on the floor.
We went to the park. He had a lot of fun. He crashed when we got home. He still had his loaner collar on. This was sized completely down and he could still slide out of it. The owner of this collar was supposed to hit about 50# (Catahoula mix) but he tips the scales at 95 now.
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He looks a sweetie. How big is he? I totally agree with you about animals on furniture. After all you have to think of their poor tired feet!!
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I measured him with a piece of typing paper, lol. He's about 8" tall and maybe 12 long? Like a long-bodied chihuahua.
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Batman is very cute, thanks for posting the pic
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Batman is cute! Love the ears!
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I have the cutest picture of him playing with a 150# Saint Bernard mix. I didn't get the shot of him trying to BURROW under the big dog's chest, but it was some kind of sweet. And Foolish, the big guy, didn't care a bit.
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Great - I should think he could easily disappear in the St Bernard's mouth!!
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Patty, Batman has no fear and seems to have a preference to larger dogs as playmates. There was a Boston Terrier puppy (we think they are about the same age) who does not know how to back down. Batman got very cranky and moved from play to STOP IT really fast. Dugan doesn't get dog messages at all. Batman decided Einstein, the Catahoula (100#) mix and Foolish, the Saint mix (150#) were his faves.
