• I give them a bath every 2 months and cut their nails every week reason why I cut their nails so often is that you only need to cut a tiny bit no risk of bleeding also it keeps their paws nice and tight.I also brush their teeth couple of times a week.
    They are both so accustomed to the grooming so they rarely protest;)


  • That is so funny hearing all of you that bath so often…. mine are lucky (unless we are showing) if they get a bath 2x a year... However I do brush them at least once every two weeks and go over them with my hands looking for lumps and bumps... and during shedding season, at least once a week... I can honestly say, mine have never had a doggy smell... one thing that I love about Basenjis. And ever this time of year when they lay in the dirt... it just really "falls" off of them... the dust...

    I do nails at least every two weeks, every week if showing... and I use a grinder and not clippers. Brushing teeth should be a daily thing...


  • I didn´t wash Max for 6 months then the pup came and i´m not sure i´ve never been allergic to dogs had them all my life.But suddenly I started to feel this rough sensation in my throat.It´s like the air is pungent not with odour but something that feels sharp when i breath.I then read on the forum that you could minimize the allergens by washing more frequently the dogs.I certainly hope i´m not developing an allergy my doc said it´s rare since I haven´t reacted before in my life but puppies have more allergens .I would be devastated if I had to give up dog´s so I hope this is a sensitivity and that by Myran growing up it will pass.I vacuum and wash the floors twice a week.
    About the clippers that´s what we use in scandinavia I never heard about dremmel ?before I came to this forum.
    I hope this explained a bit more thoroughly:))


  • @myran:

    I didn´t wash Max for 6 months then the pup came and i´m not sure i´ve never been allergic to dogs had them all my life.But suddenly I started to feel this rough sensation in my throat.It´s like the air is pungent not with odour but something that feels sharp when i breath.I then read on the forum that you could minimize the allergens by washing more frequently the dogs.I certainly hope i´m not developing an allergy my doc said it´s rare since I haven´t reacted before in my life but puppies have more allergens .I would be devastated if I had to give up dog´s so I hope this is a sensitivity and that by Myran growing up it will pass.I vacuum and wash the floors twice a week.
    About the clippers that´s what we use in scandinavia I never heard about dremmel ?before I came to this forum.
    I hope this explained a bit more thoroughly:))

    Dremmel is a rotary tool that can be purchased at more hardware stores. I use the ones that are battery operated. Most pet stores on line carry them too, made by Oster, but you can get them much cheaper at the hardware stores. I used the sanding band and you just grind the nails instead of clipping them off… In my opinion much easier.... go to a pet supply website and search for nail grinder


  • Ok is it used because it´s better for the nails or just because it´s easier both my dog´s are so used to it that it takes less then 15 minutes to cut them both.I use a sanding band for Max dewclaws(not legal to cut them in sweden same as you can´t cut ears or dock tails) but that´s about it:)


  • @myran:

    Ok is it used because it´s better for the nails or just because it´s easier both my dog´s are so used to it that it takes less then 15 minutes to cut them both.I use a sanding band for Max dewclaws(not legal to cut them in sweden same as you can´t cut ears or dock tails) but that´s about it:)

    I think both, better for the nails and easier for the dogs… I can do all 5 of mine in under 15 minutes... but of course that is because I am used to using it.... I always made the nails bleed with clippers


  • I´ve been lucky sofar that´s one of the reasons I do them every week to avoid injuries.It was much more difficult in my childhood when we had two black greyhounds(showdogs) which ofcourse meant blacknails that was a challenge.


  • @myran:

    I´ve been lucky sofar that´s one of the reasons I do them every week to avoid injuries.It was much more difficult in my childhood when we had two black greyhounds(showdogs) which ofcourse meant blacknails that was a challenge.

    Yes, that is for sure, black nails were/are harder to trim…. the grinder makes it a little easier... but like I said, I am used to it and so are the Basenjis...


  • I´ve tried to look for dremmel but clipping seems to be the thing in our part of the world.


  • You may want to try to contact the company themselves-see if they'll ship one to you. Anyone have a link for the Dremel company??


  • How about a foot file the smoother side that´s what I use for Max´s dew claws.The one´s that owned him before ahd let his claws grow too long so it´s taken be sometime to get to acceptable length especially the dew claws I couldn´t clip them so I used the file.


  • Mine are self bathing. Like my cat, who is self petting, just stick out your hand and he'll rub against it.


  • @tanza:

    That is so funny hearing all of you that bath so often…. mine are lucky (unless we are showing) if they get a bath 2x a year... However I do brush them at least once every two weeks and go over them with my hands looking for lumps and bumps... and during shedding season, at least once a week... I can honestly say, mine have never had a doggy smell... one thing that I love about Basenjis. And ever this time of year when they lay in the dirt... it just really "falls" off of them... the dust...

    I do nails at least every two weeks, every week if showing... and I use a grinder and not clippers. Brushing teeth should be a daily thing...

    I wouldn't say that mine "need" baths, but I sure can tell the difference. Their coats feel "dusty" to me {in the summer after they've lain in the dirt/dust of the yard}, and their white just doesn't look as white. I love how the coats feel after the bath, and the whiteseems to sparkle. So I don't bathe the Basenjis because they stink or anything, but they just look and feel so much nicer.
    {Gypsy, on the other hand….. NEEDS bathing! LOL}


  • Gibbs likes to explore the shower too..but ONLY if he knows he can exit upon choice. I have found him dancing around in the bathtub trying to rip up the suction cup plastic (need I say more?) bathmat many, many times. He also learned to flip the lever up and turn the water on to get a drink! I was worried about the hot water lever so I have taken to closing the bathroom door. He only gets entry to the bathroom if I am home and can keep an eye on him and what he is up to. If he does leave my side I KNOW I better check and see what his bad-boy-self is investigating….as for grooming: unless he is a muddy mess, no bath. He will allow it but looks insulted. The pet wipes will help sometimes but most of the year he does his own Basenji-self-cleaning-ritual. Gibby adores the glove brushing! He thinks that's pure Momma-love time and I just talk to him as he gets a brushing so he thinks of it as petting. The vet attends to his nails and on occasion if he is tired and sitting on my lap I can use an emery board to smooth them.. We are on our 10th toothbrush--it's not that he so strongly dislikes the teeth cleaning but he flippin' loves finding where I store the toothbrush for him (ugh). He really had some damaged teeth and I just try to clean them as best as I can. He allows you to use the finger-swab brushes easily as he thinks he's getting a treat. It's so funny how particular they can be..

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