Chike loves to play fetch….but not when I want him too of course....just when he wants too....

If we only knew what they were thinking…..Chike and Brandi have different eating habits but they eventually worked it out between them. Through some fights here and there they have learned whose bowl is whose and they surprisingly respect each other now and don't eat out of each others bowls even if one decides to leave some food for later.

One of my favorite b moments also involved food. I had picked up some treats from the doggie bar at petco and gave them both a treat when I got home. They both took their treat but Chike spit his out. Brandi gulped hers down and went outside. In a minute Chike was begging for more and I saw that his was now gone.

I, being the ultimate softie, thought he had decided he liked it and gave him another one, which he took and ran outside. In just a minute he was back begging for another. I thought there is no way you ate that so fast, but again being the indulgent parent I gave him another, and he promptly ran ouside.

Then feeling bad for not giving Brandi and equal share I took a couple outside for her. There she was on the porch chewing her treat with two more un eaten ones laying beside her. Chike was taking them to her.

Good luck...

sort of looks like an alergy to me…maybe call the vet and see if he could take benedryl....I have used that on another dog, but not sure about basenji's.

My kids escaped once and we never figured out how. The yard they were in was "basenji proof" but they somehow escaped. I spent half the night and kept several friends up searching to no avail. The first thing the next morning I went to the animal shelter and fortunately they had been found.

They were found on a car dealers lot about a mile away from home. When the animal control people took me to the cage Chike was curled up on the floor. When I called him he picked up his head, did his normal wake up stretch and yawn, and looked at me like, "well it's about time you get here, I'm hungry".

The only other time he has gotten away was when he somehow snapped his leash to chase a squirrel. The squirrel got away and he didn't try to go anywhere else.

I am wondering if anyone has tried to train a basenji to use a litter box.:eek:

I have seen such things in pet stores and as much as Chike hates the cold, the wet, the snow…etc...I have been wondering if he could learn to use a litter box. Well of course he could learn...lol...would he CHOOSE to use a litter box is the better question.:D

If anyone has tried or had success let me know.

My b, Chike, has been with me three years now and he is the first "purebred" dog I have ever owned. I have always been a dog person but always got my babies from the pound.

Butterscotch was one of those pound puppies that ended up being a basenji mix. She was such a wonderful dog that when I lost her I decided I wanted my next baby to be a basenji.

Butter, as I called her, joined the family near Christmas as a present for one of our boys. He picked her out at the pound and named her Butterscotch because of her color.

Our vet was the first to tell us she was part basenji and that is when her strange and adoring traits began to make sense. I wasn't surprised to learn how b's understand everything you say because I had many conversations with Butter and stangly felt she not only understood but in her own way answered back.

She loved to sleep between my legs and could find the most amazing places to hide when she didn't want to go outside because it was wet or cold.

I thought once that she had somehow gotten out and had run away after we had spent hours looking for her. We were worried and was just hoping someone would find her. It happened to be raining that day, and we found her all warm and looking at us with that "why are you bothering me" look at the bottom of the laundry hamper.

She loved her family, tollerated our friends, and loved to go walking and chase squirrels.

She was 15 when her kidneys failed and we had to let her go. I spent several hours with her at the vets office before I could say goodbye. It took me a while before I was ready for another dog, but when the time came I knew I needed a basenji.

Now that I have Chike I can't imagine not having at least one basenji in the house.

I think Booger will love a new friend…When I got Chike as a puppy the breeder felt very strongly about having two b's. She believed in opposite sex and an age difference. I deferred to her judjement and she found an older rescued bitch that was supposed to be very friendly.

They got along fine for a few days and then for some reason the older bitch went after chike, cut him up really bad and broke his lower jaw. She went back to the breeder and Chike spent several days in the hospital.

While that is an awful start, once he was well my vet kept his eyes open for a possible addition and we eventually found Brandi. She was about 3 at the time, had been turned in to the pound after her owner died, and was amazingly sweet and kind to Chike who first thought she was a new chew toy. They have been best friends ever since and Chike simply will not abide doing anything or being anywhere without Brandi.

The only time he has torn up things he was not supposed to was when i once took Brandi to the groomer without him. I came home to torn up pillows and such and as soon as we came home he looked at me and peed right in front of me....I learned not to seperate them again....

And as for picking things up....Brandi barked and barked when we brought her home and within a few months she had totally stopped barking. Now she may bark at a squirrel, but she has become basically barkless.

Good luck!!

Chike starts making really quiet whining almost whimpering noises…I have always thought it odd that he doesn't dance around or go to the door...he just starts his little "go out" noise and I know it's time to go.

I has gotten pretty cold here in Chicago and it has been snowing today. It always amazes me that when the weather is nice we can walk forever before he decides to go....but when it is cold and wet...he can do all his business in 60 seconds flat.

I certainly learned some time ago that Chike, is as most b's exceptionally smart. Now he has outsmarted me and I have no idea what might work.

I take the dogs with me in the car farily often and use dog seatbelts. About two months ago Chike pops up to the front seat with me. I thought the harness had broken or accidently come undone.

After a couple more trips with chike bounding out of his seat and being unable to find anything wrong with the harness I started paying closer attention.

Shortly after I had buckled him in I watched him as he took the seat belt latch between his two front paws and poked the button with his nose until it came unlatched.

I just happened upon this forum by accident and am quite thrilled to find such a place.

I live in Chicago with Chike and Brandi. Chike is my 3 yr old Tri Color Basenji, originally from Oklahoma. We rescued his best friend Brandi from the pound. She is all heart and love but I have no idea what breeds she came from.

I look forward to reading everything here and making some new friends.

Brent