Wworm

Worm here-- wanted to introduce myself... I hope we can be friends!

What a terrific place to meet other bassets and basset people! you were immensely helpful when I got here a couple months ago. it helped my person figure out what to do with me!! but my person was so busy taking care of me, she never had time to post anything until now. it took this long to figure out how to post pictures of me.

My name is Worm because I came with a bellyful of worms and I'm told I squiggle like a worm...! I am a 7 month old boy And i just got neutered

Some questions (now this is my person talking...)
--What to do about stick-eating? Worm eats a dozen sticks/day (not with my blessing) (Worm says 'well, they're organic, aren't they? what could be so bad about them?). Hard to avoid because he goes out for #1 & #2 and there are sticks all over this apartment complex, even in the concrete areas. He picks them up and crunches on them before I can stop him! Then when I try to get it out, he swallows them...
--Does your basset chase other animals? Worm doesn't do anything. He looks at cats, squirrels, and birds and does nothing... is that strange?

Here are some pics of me!

also, here are some links that were posted before-- wanted to share because they are funny



Photos - Bay Area Beagles (Hayward, CA) - Meetup

"I don't know if I like being sniffed..."
Photos - Bay Area Beagles (Hayward, CA) - Meetup

"All ears!!"
Photos - Bay Area Beagles (Hayward, CA) - Meetup

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klm42005

Welcome worms....I myself am new as well and am a 4 month old male...my name is Woodrow Hayes and I have been told I have another trip to the vet in a week also for this neutering thing....

I have not noticed any stick eating but Woody does pull up on the grass (that is exposed now do to the snow melting) and the left over leaves get picked up as well....as far as chasing animals, he has an older mix chiuahua that serves his chase purposes....and little people (my 13 and 12 yr olds). other animals are way down the list...

Hope you enjoy the site and we can become fast "forum" pals...

Woody and his mom

MollyMcFrecklesMom

I have a stick eater!! Molly has been obsessed with sticks since the day I brought her home. On walks, she'll pick one up and carry it, head held high as though she is proud of this new treasure. I draw the line at letting her chew them. She used to swallow it, but now just chews them up and leaves a mess for me to clean up. If she manages to bring one in the house, she will run and hide with it and growl if I try to take it. I've learned that a treat or a finger full of peanut butter is enough to make her drop it and let me have it.

I pick my battles with her, but sticks simply don't seem like a good thing for a basset belly

MollyMcFrecklesMom

And before I forget, welcome to the family, Worm!!

Annie714

Welcome Worm! Such a handsome young man!

Annie is not into sticks at all. She will indulge on some kitty roca (poop) if given the opportunity though. As for the birds, squirrels, etc, when she was younger she brought me two birds (ewww) and there is one squirrel that terrorizes her in the backyard. Thus far it has managed to stay on the walls and trees, I fear the day that it gets bold enough to test the ground with Annie around. Annie has also been known to chase leaves blowing in the wind, only to be scared if they suddenly blow back at her.

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Blog about the antics of Annie and I. http://thechickandthehound.blogspot.com

Lightning&Stomps

Oh Worm, your coloring reminds me of what Lightning used to look like. He too had that beautiful mahogany red on his face. His face started lightening up (not graying!) quite early. I love his white face, but I do miss that beautiful rich brown. As for the hunting instinct, a rabbit could jump over Lightning and he wouldn't notice. But skunks are a different matter! I think he thinks they are cats, and he loves to play chase with the kitties (he doesn't try to hurt cats or skunks though). I would worry about the stick eating and do whatever I could to prevent that, although others on here will have to give you tips for that. Welcome Worm!

Mikey T

I tend to go with worm as it relates to sticks, while not total safe no chew is I don't think the risk is appreciable different than say a greeie. Then again just for perspective I had a dogs whose favorite chew toy was alluminium can which he shreddered. I never took them away from him because he did not eat them so I tend to be on the more tollerant side of these things.

You can try a bunch of the deterents out thie bittering sprays tobassco etc. They tend to work with the less intellegent breed but not bassets. for the following reasons

1. the bassets delicate palate often find such deterants more like condiments ie flavor inhancers.

2. the disciminate exceedingly well especial after a history of rewarding behavior. So it is likely the dog through smell or other sences can discrimiate the "tainted" sticks and avoid them and only grab the untainted ones.

So your only sure fire method besides pickup and removing each and everyy stick before taking worm out is to use a basket muzzle. These are the only safe muzzles to use with an dog during exercise/activity because they allow the dog to pant and cool himself. They are often recommended by rock eater. Rock are more likely to cause a blockage than a stick.


Macey, Toughy and Mariah sure think so. especial bandit the blind beagle that ended up climbing a tree chasing s squirel

bassets in cover

2hounds

Well my girl Lily ended up in the ER from a stick getting lodged in the roof of her mouth. =( Be careful w/the stick thing!

~Heather

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Mommy to Gibbs and kitty kitty Eva

Dear sweet Lily (ATB ) you will never be forgotten.

roscolaylamommy

Rosco was and some times still is a stick chewer. I say chewer because he generally tends to chew the stick but doesn't seem to swallow too much of it. To date he has never had a problem with getting sick or having blockages from them. It might be possible that Worm (great name by the way) is using them to help shed some baby teeth.

Now that Rosco is older, he still will chew a stick from time to time but not as much as when he was little. This might have to do with the fact that he finds rawhides and bully sticks to be a much tastier chew alternative. (I wouldn't recommend rawhides for puppies as some pups seem to get upset tummies from them).

bassetmom26003

Welcome Worm, you have such lovely velvety ears........

"Drop it" was one of those commands I wished I had taught Bentley early on, it would have saved me alot of scary moments. Perhaps as suggested by MollyFrecklesMom you could try stuffing a few treats in your pocket and when Worm picks up a stick command "drop it" and try food reward. Do you leash walk your boy? Maybe keeping him close by you can intervene early and break the habit. I'm no "Cesar" here just some thoughts

As for animal chasing, yup......squirrels, birds, rabbits, raccoons (that just scared me to death) he was game on for the hunt. He never caught anything but he had fun trying. Seemed like it was always the late night trip when I was tired and wanted to go to bed we had to walk around the yard in circles looking for that rabbit he smelled! Wow, I will miss that (sniff).......

Kathy and Angel Bentley ATB 3/1/11