Sugar and Spice...or at Least Sugar

Does your Basenji melt in the rain? Are their paws sweet like sugar or salty like popcorn, because both sugar and salt melt in water.

Denny Basenji is the ultimate martyr when it comes to going out in the rain. The ears go flat, the gait becomes droopy and resistant, the cold nose butts my leg to let me know that he has done his business and it is time to go in before he melts away entirely.

Baths are the worst. We have shivering, indignant suffering for about three minutes, and then...then the piteous whimpering begins. If, after a minute of this, I have not remedied the situation by removing him from the death trap known as the tub, he begins to yowl. He is melting like the Wicked Witch of the West, in cast I haven't noticed.

Denny is happiest when he is dry, sitting in the sunshine with 72 degrees, low humidity and a rawhide between his lips. Then again, can you blame him?

Dog Development

Here is another very interesting blog, this one about Dog Development, from our friends at the Pet 365 Blog.

Click here to view the Dog Anatomy post.

Putting the FUN in Fundraising!

Wow! What an exciting day we had on Sunday! Mr. Calvin Cuddles, my friends Ellen and Kylee (and Kylee's pug Tuffy), and I all went out to Shelburne Museum Goes to the Dogs to raise money and awareness for Basenji Rescue and Transport (BRAT). It was one "wild party" for dogs and their owners and there were so many great things going on! A cowboy parade and costume contest, dog demonstrations, disc dog Vermont state championships. Plus DOZENS upon DOZENS of dog rescue groups and dog-tastic vendors!

Ellen, Kylee, and Mr. Calvin (the ONLY basenji of the 1,000 dogs at the event)

Someone's getting tired!

And he is out like a light! :)

Basenji Magic

What makes your basenji magic?
To borrow a lyric phrase from The Producers, is it that fabulous face?

Is it that little curly tail that wiggles in excitement or those dainty white feet that smell like popcorn? What about the wonderful pointy ears and the way they swivel like satellite dishes?

Or is it that soft, sleek coat that has no doggy smell? The enchanting eyes that are impossible to resist? The expressive wrinkles that make them look worried and in need of attention? The lovely elegant gait or the freckled tummy that’s so fun to kiss? Can it be the yodel when they’re hungry? Is it the impishness or the sweet snuggliness? Is it that they are wonderful to sleep with, or how determinedly they plot to get what they want? The unwavering concentration when they stalk squirrels or bunnies? The sigh of contentment when they settle on your lap? Their joy in simple things like Charlee Bears or other treats? How happily they greet you when you come home?

Or is it more than the sum of all this? More than all these parts of the equation, no matter how lovely they might be? What makes us fall, tumble happily, into complete devotion to our magical little creatures?

To paraphrase Cole Porter,
Is it just the look of them, the sweet of them,
the pure of them, the east, west, north and the south of them? Was it love at first sight, first snuggle, first donut tail wiggle? There are so many factors about basenjis that enchant and delight. Is it any wonder we love them so.

We Are Family

It's official, as of September 4, 2011. Shaka and Audrey are adopted, and after four months their foster home is now their forever home.

When my first basenji Bow crossed the Rainbow Bridge in March after a battle of more than a year with brain tumors, I knew that I did not want to rush out to find a replacement. She could not be replaced. I told myself that I should give it at least six months before even considering another dog. I even contemplated other breeds -- Whippets, Ibiza Hounds, Carolina Dogs and others. All appealed to me, but I kept coming back to basenjis. While open to fostering and transporting, I wanted to really think out what characteristics might next one would have. I felt it would be impossible to adopt another red and white female since she would remind me too much of Bow or that it would be asking too much of her to try to "replace" Bow. The idea of a pair entered my mind, but I was not set on that. Tricolors appealed to me, but when I looked at them it was as if I saw Bow hidden under a partial shroud of black.

Whatever happened, I was intent on thinking out and planning my next adoption so that I would have the "perfect" basenji whatever that meant. My main objective was to be mindful and careful and not rush into anything that would result in a bad match for me or the dog.

Barely a month after Bow's departure, I got the call to rescue Shaka and Audrey (then known as Shacka and Crybaby) who after a couple of days on the street had landed at the Solano County Animal Control facility. When those two came charging out of the kennel it felt like the closest I will ever come to childbirth. Audrey was so frightened and unable to make eye contact except to give an occasional glance of "Please don't hurt me," and Shaka gave an intent stare of sizing me up and seeming to give a look of trust. I've yet to meet a basenji with such an intense stare. His auburn eyes have a unique greenish tint to them that is also unique. Audrey's coat looked more like that of a porcupine than a basenji, and she was very underweight. The white in both of their coats was dingy and dusty.

They came to me under desperate in pretty melodramatic circumstances. But from that first day, I was deeply touched by what I felt was a sense of great appreciation on their part to be treated with respect. They may have been confused, frightened and dirty, but they clearly had an enormous capacity for love and learning.

Over the course of our four months together, the changes have been gradual and dramatic. Audrey now always greets me with a wagging tail and joyful eyes, her coat is now even and silky smooth after three months of supplements and getting her weight back to normal. Shaka was gregarious from the outset but a bit pushy. He has learned to do a perfect food bowl sit, and they continues to be very proud of his "shake" that he was able to do the first day in the household. Audrey has completed basic obedience class, and Shaka will finish his this Saturday.

Four months later, I think back to our first night together and how Audrey seemed to be such an especially fragile case. She was suffering from kennel cough, and more than half of her ears were covered in mange. After going through the loss of Bow, I felt that seeing another sickly basenji girl suffer was more than I could take. I was intent that I would give her and Shaka safe harbor until a long-term foster could be found but would not let myself get too involved.

Looking at her four months later, with both the mange and cough distant memories, I realize how both of them have helped me heal from the loss of Bow and honor her legacy.

From the first day I knew they were diamonds in the rough. They are now the jewels in the crown.

My goal of finding the "perfect" basenji may not have been attained, but over the course of our four months of getting to know each other it was increasingly clear that we three are perfect for each other. That is why I set September 4 -- what would have been my parents' 63rd wedding anniversary -- as the adoption date.

Fish Oil

Two years ago at the BRAT convention in DC, I remember petting someone's basenjis who had the softest fur I'd ever felt on a dog.  Marveling, I asked the owner what kind of shampoo they used.  They told me that it wasn't shampoo -- they simply fed their dog a high-quality food, and a daily capsule of fish oil.

In the past year, I have been experimenting with different kinds of high-quality dog food (see my previous posts on What Difference Does Food Make?) and the jury's still out on which one seems to have the best impact on my dogs.  We're presently feeding Blue Buffalo, but I think I may switch again because I'm not seeing quite as big a dietary impact as I'd hoped for.  However, about a week ago I was at Costco and I had a coupon for a big bottle of 1000mg fish oil capsules for $5, and I remembered the advice that I had received at the convention.  I bought the bottle, and started feeding my dogs each one capsule of fish oil at night with dinner.

That was about a week ago, and in just two days I was amazed to notice the dogs' fur was already getting softer.  We're now 7 days in, and my two little basenjis feel like soft velvet, and I swear that even their eyes seem brighter.  They absolutely love the fish oil with dinner (I slit the capsules open and squeeze the oil over their food), and I was surprised that it doesn't seem to give them bad breath as I had feared.  My only complaint is that the fish oil smells absolutely GROSS and there's no way to squeeze out the capsules without getting some on my fingers!  So, if you don't mind washing the smell of dead fish off your hands (it comes right off, I promise), I highly recommend feeding your dogs one capsule of fish oil every day with their food.  It costs virtually nothing for the capsules, and it really makes a huge difference in their fur and their health! 

Wimauma Basenjis Update

It's been quite some time since we have done an update on the basenjis of the Wimauma, Florida group.  We had a mini-reunion of quite a few of the group at the BRAT convention in June in Chicago.  It was great fun to see so many of the them.  Fortunately, most of our adopters keep in touch with Pam and me.  Here is Pam's update on the remaining ones.

-Debbi Johnson

*     *     *

Greetings,

 

It has been awhile since the last update. There are just a few Wimauma "adults" left here, with possibly only one still not yet committed to a forever home. We still refer to them as adults, even though all of the Wimauma pack have now reached adulthood. It is getting harder to let go - they are so happy, settled and easy here. They so often take a backseat to so many other things (needy new fosters...) without any complaint. Five Wimauma adults take less time than one new foster with medical issues. They are incredibly well-behaved and have done a fantastic job of helping new, fearful or not-so-well-mannered fosters settle into the routine here, teaching them how to socialize, how to play and how to enjoy life. While they are still quite keen for the hunt, they are also quite content to spend the day inside with us in the air conditioning. They all, including Nadra, will stay laying down while I approach, ready to accept some stroking. At night, getting to sleep can be a bit difficult. They have discovered how pleasurable a belly rub is - and it is hard to say no to their gentle insistence that now is the right time.

The adults who have moved onto their new forever homes are settling in, some faster than others. A few have been impressing their new families with their hunting skills - and kills... They do seem to make more progress in their settling after they have a good pack reunion. Having a visit with old pack mates seems to reassure them that the world is okay (as does the opportunity to hunt). It would be nice to be able to have the pack cycle through all of the adoptive homes to help everyone feel at home with their new families. I have been very lucky to have been able to see all but one of my Wimauma adult fosters in the past year. They have made me feel honored by appearing to recognize me. Soon, they will all have enough memories with their current families that I will become a distant memory.

The pack that remains here has a lot of fun. Twice daily tumble sessions (in the morning and at night when the temps are at their coolest) give them a bit of exercise. They have managed to get in a few more kills - rats, squirrels and, of course, an endless number of lizards. I have been lucky in that the toads are not spending too much time in the yard. A frog tempted them to go into the pool, but they are not all quite that brave. Fana did actually get in on the first step to go after it (she is the least intimidated by water), but going for the full swim was not in her plans. 

The pool has provided some entertainment for them. They are quite excited or worried when the neighbors' grandkids are swimming and squealing in the pool next door. When we go for a swim, they race around the outside making all kinds of noises, very worked up. If we "flounder" by the edge, Pogo will try to grab an arm, as if he needs to pull us out. When a b falls in (it has happened a couple of times - new fosters are watched carefully to make sure they learn how to be around the pool - and learn the way out), Pogo tries to pull him or her out. He has actually stepped down into the pool on the first step to retrieve a little girl b. He regularly spends his time laying at the halfway point beside the pool, in "lifeguard" position. He will be staying with us, joining Portal as a permanent part of our pack.

I could go on about cute little behaviors of each one - Ali paws for attention, Mosi uses a pacifier (a large object in his mouth)  when he is excited by squirrels or the neighbors' grandkids, Nadra acts shy, though she is one of the most serious players - but it is time to pass this on. There may not be many more updates about the Wimauma pack in the house - there are very few that are still looking for their forever homes. They will soon be a warm memory of the best basenjis I've ever had - and updates will come from their new forever homes!

-Pam Hamilton

 

 

 

New Available BRATs: Kinja, Ojii, and Jessy

NAME: Kinja
DOG STATE: Kansas
DOB: 12/09/1998
GENDER: Female
COLOR: Red and white
WEIGHT: 24

Kinja is a sweet, inquisitive 12-year-old female basenji looking for a new forever home. She is quite friendly, calm, and yet youthful for her adult age. She would love to have a family that could spend time with her, and let her be a couch potato with them. Kinja likes to window watch and go for walks. As a typical basenji, Kinja is very curious and likes to check out bags/purses. She can be trusted in the home alone and is also making great progress with crate training.

Click HERE to check out more of Kinja's story!

NAME: Ojii
DOG STATE: Pennsylvania
DOB: May 2010
GENDER: Male
COLOR: Trindle (Tricolor with brindle)

Ojii is a high-energy young trindle boy, with a lot of curiosity and personality. In his down time, he is a cuddler. And he even gives hugs! Watching Ojii is quite comical; he is goofy and sometimes clumsy. He enjoys playing with his humans and other basenjis in the home. As with any young dog, he puts everything in his mouth and will need to be watched through this phase. Ojii's preferred family would include humans that like to have their basenji in every part of their life, because he will be following them around everywhere. A family that is home enough to limit his crate time and provide long walks would be ideal.

Click HERE if you're interested in making Ojii part of your family!

NAME: Jessy
DOG STATE: Texas
DOB: 12/15/2001
GENDER: male
COLOR: Red and white
WEIGHT: 26

Jessy is a good old boy. You would never know he is 10 years old; he is lean, fit and very energetic. He does well with other dogs, and even knows how to respect cats. He will run and play with children, but it is always best to make sure the kids are dog-savvy when it comes to being around Basenjis. Jessy is housetrained and fully knows that outside is where he is to do his business. He is not destructive, although once he did take a liking to a pair of sandals ... there was just something that intrigued him with those sandals. He enjoys the comfort of a chair or couch to relax in when permitted. He also has no fear of heights and at times may climb higher to see what is on the table.

Click HERE if you'd like to take Jessy to some great new heights!

These and many other beautiful Basenjis in need are available on the main BRAT page. Please take a look!

Our evening walk

Ivan and Dasa love their evening walks through our neighborhood. This evening we went out around dusk so they wore their puplights. Dasa also has a reflective leash because we want to make sure we’re visible. Most of our neighbors know us, if not by name then as the people with those little dogs.

We also associate a lot of our neighbors with their dogs. Ivan and Dasa like to make a stop at Monti the Maltese’s mailbox diagonally across the street from ours. We stride briskly up the street, past houses and yards belonging to Charlie the Papillion and Watson the big yellow dog. A bit farther along, as we pass a high wooden fence we are greeted by a very deep woof from points unseen. We turn the first corner and send Carmen the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel into paroxysms of frenzied barking. Then we come to the black labs’ house. Dasa’s little ridge goes up and she huffs indignantly.

The black labs seem like very sweet dogs, so I don’t know why Ivan and Dasa are so horrified they live in our neighborhood. We can always tell when the labs are walking their people past our house because Ivan and Dasa act as though a lab-alert siren has gone off. They race circles through the house, jump on the couch, check out the window, race another circle, jump on the couch, etc. as the labs amble sedately down the street.

The Munchkins know exactly which house belongs to those evil labs, and they make sure they pee on the lawn every time we go past. Heaven forbid we should actually meet the labs on our walks. Ivan and Dasa go into a turbo-charged flurry of agitation. We hold onto their collars until the labs go by and then our munchkins tow us determinedly down the street, certain they must pee on every spot the labs dared to pee on or their street will be ruined. (The labs’ people are quite nice and appear to be amused by Ivan and Dasa’s blatant efforts to rule the world or at least their tiny corner of it.)

Cars occasionally slow down to ask us about Ivan and Dasa’s puplights or else how to get out of our neighborhood. The streets are all dead ends, almost like the tines of a fork with a few extra spokes bristling out of them. After dark, this can be a maze, and we’ve helped quite a few confused motorists escape to Main Street.

During some walks we go past the pugs who run out into their yard to bark and then make funny little steam engine noises in an effort to recover from the jog across the lawn. We never linger near their yard, I’m worried one or both of them would have a heart attack. Then we move briskly past the beagle’s house. If he’s out in the yard, he begins baying and galloping up and down the fence. Other days our walks go past the house with large cages of parrots and other tropical birds in their garage. The birds are quite vocal, and Ivan and Dasa find them most interesting.

Our evening walks are entertaining for all of us. When we come back home, the Munchkins are ready to settle in for some snuggles before bedtime. Unless, of course, the labs go past our house. Then tooth brushing and bedtime stories have to wait for a few more laps of the Basenji 500.

The (Mis)Adventures of Guppy First in an ongoing series

Guppy came to us as a foster who was quickly going to be outnumbered at his current foster home due to an influx of dogs that came to be known as the Wimauma Pack.

Guppy has dwarfism and though small in stature-his personality looms (very) large. The first time we met, he was being carried under the arm of his foster mom, sort of like a football-I approached-giddy with excitement to meet someone so cute - I made some cooing noises and he snapped at me much like a snapping turtle, almost to tell me to cut out the baby talk. That action alone set the tone for his personality.

We took him home and he soon became part of our pack. He made fast friends with the resident Basenji mix, Norah and made sure to antagonize Kitty Love as well. Everywhere we went we took Guppy, soon potential adopters were stacking up. We were excited for him to move to a forever home and live a long happy life. Sadly though, the potential adopters dropped off and after the second potential adopter decided to pass (she now has said she regrets that decision) he became a permanent member of our pack and has been creating crazy storylines ever since.

Safe Cleaning

A number of common household cleaning products are toxic to pets or, at the very least, can irritate their skin and respiratory system. Luckily, most pet stores and online pet retailers are savvy about carrying pet-safe cleaning products. Keeping pet-safe cleaning products on hand is great for those quick clean ups, but there are also some very common household items that are effective and great for pet-safe cleaning. Here are some of the best:

1. Alcohol: Isopropyl alcohol is a great disinfectant and nontoxic once it dries. Dilute alcohol to remove dirt and stains from surfaces like countertops or the floor. A full concentration of rubbing alcohol may hurt your pet when not dry, so as a rule of thumb, dilute ¼ cup rubbing alcohol with 1 gallon hot water.
2. Baking soda: This inexpensive product is a great substitute for scouring cleansers. Use it to scrub the tub, sink, and even the kitchen floors. As an added bonus, it deodorizes as it cleans. Sprinkle it into your carpets to remove pet odors; it’s even safe to use on upholstery! It can also replace your toxic metal polishes or be used to scrub out the litter box.
3. Borax: This product is found in the laundry aisle. Use as directed with your usual laundry detergent to get your clothes and pet bedding really clean in the washing machine. It can also be used to scrub the tub and tiles in your bathroom, and even kills fleas! Borax is a naturally-occurring mineral made of very sharp granules. Sprinkle some into your carpet, rub it in with a broom and then just vacuum it up.
4. Drain cleaner: Commercial drain cleaners are incredibly toxic. For a natural alternative, pour half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of white vinegar down the drain, and then cover it with a dinner plate. After half an hour, run hot water to see if the clog has dispersed. If not, try again, and then use a plunger. If that still doesn’t work, use a commercial drain cleaner or call a plumber. Do not, under any circumstances, try the natural method after using a commercial cleaner. The resulting fumes can be toxic.
5. Cornstarch: Cornstarch does a great job of cleaning rugs, windows, and even polishing some metals.
6. Mineral oil: Replace your toxic wood polish with mineral oil. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice for a fresh smell. Mineral oil is flammable, so keep it away from open flames.
7. Potpourri: Some store-bought potpourris contain chemicals that are harmful to pets, as do all scented candles and air-freshener sprays and plug-ins. Instead, put cinnamon sticks and cloves or cinnamon tea (don’t forget to add water!) on the stove over low heat for about half an hour. Only do this while you’re home – don’t forget and leave the house with the stove on.
8. Salt: Use coarse salt as a scouring powder.
9. Steam: There are quite a few handheld steam cleaners on the market today, and since they use only heat and water to clean and disinfect, the result is completely pet-safe.
10. Steel wool: Plain steel wool and a little elbow grease will clean food that's stuck on pots and pans.
11. Vinegar: A vinegar/water solution is great for cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, and windows. It will also clean rust stains.

via http://petid.homeagain.com/Newsletters/2011/august/pet-safe-cleaning.aspx