Hello all! I am so excited to have found this community as my boyfriend and I are about to become proud owners of our first Basenji! 
We've wanted an indoor dog for years, and now that we finally are in an apartment that allows it, we can't wait to get started. We were going to adopt from the local humane society, but Chris was doing work for a house and turns out that the owner has a litter of Basenjis for sale (8 wks, I believe). Chris went to look at them and fell absolutely in love with a black, white, and tan pup, and has been dog-proofing the apartment and balcony ever since meeting him.
We've owned and trained outside dogs before, but we want this to be our first indoor dog, especially since we've read all about their escape tactics. We're also hoping he'll be a bit of a guard dog, as there have been break-ins in this area before.
We're planning on getting a crate to keep in the kitchen (one of those adjustabe ones is what we're looking for so the pup can grow into it) and help with potty training. We're also planning to get:
Adjustable collar
A short leash for potty walks
A long extendable leash for play in our long driveway (when all cars are already home)
LOTS of chew toys (what are their favorite types?)
Treats for praising while training (tips on best kinds of treats?)
Food (what kind? We're going to ask what the seller has been using, and see if we're happy with it…but we want the best we can get, so suggestions are welcome)
Heavy, non-plastic food/water bowls
Bitter-tasting spray for the balcony chairs we don't want getting munched
Is there anything we're missing, or any specific types of chew toys, treats, and food you would recommend? We're really excited about the new addition to our family and are grateful for any suggestions you can offer!
Looks like you have a great start. As far as food, start with what the breeder was using. There are many threads here about food, but I will say that you really want one with the least amount of grains, especially corn and beet pulp. They have no value for a dog and many Basenjis develope allergies to corn and other grains.
Has the sire and dam been DNA tested for Fanconi? This is something you can and should check out for yourself at www.offa.org. Also has the breeder done other health tests? A good place to learn about health concerns with our breed is www.basenji.org or www.basenjihealth.org
You will find out lots of information here…welcome. We would love some photos and updates on your b. If they have a gentle puppy class, you do need to start with socialization. Its most important for this breed.
I'm missing….. a camera and a photobucket account.. 
Welcome to the forum
If you haven't brought your pup home yet, send a toy (or a couple) and a worn t-shirt to the breeder. That way the pup will get used to your smells and will have a familiar toy to come home with. Otherwise, basenjis are not the greatest watch dogs. They don't bark, but at my house, the young basenji knows everything going on, even before our malinois.
My pups like the soft squeeky toys and food dispensing toys. The food dispensing toys do keep the pups occupied for a little while too. Kongs you can stuff with treats are also nice. Nylabones.
Treats - my pups like human food - nothing too spicy or surgary, but meatballs, chicken cheese are always a hit.
Welcome to the forum, when do you get your Pup?
Thanks for all of the quick responses! I'm glad this is such an active community.
I need to talk to the breeder about DNA testing and other health issues, because I don't think this dog is/has a pedigree. We live on a tiny, itty bitty island called St. Thomas where dog breeding is not popular at all; it's a miracle we found a full-breed anything - this is our first non-random breed dog. There aren't any training classes I've heard of, either, but we do have two dogs in neighboring houses which the puppy will be visiting often. We do have good vets here, and will be taking the puppy to ours within a week or two of having him home. Thanks for the helpful sites, tanza!
Pictures will be up asap, I promise! Chris got a new camera for Christmas, and you know how people with new cameras are, let alone people with new cameras AND new puppies!
Thank you agile for the toy recommendations! We're picking up the pup tomorrow (wheeeeee! :D) and buying these things today and tomorrow morning, so I don't think we have time to send a toy or peice of clothing. I'm hoping since he's so young, we'll be able to make him feel like we're his family, and he'll want to protect us and our home while we're here or away. I know they can't bark, but I have read that they have an aversion to strangers, which is what I'm hoping will at least lead to some menacing growling should someone manage to enter our apartment while we're away.
Finalizing doggie-proofing in the place right now; thanks again all for the suggestions!
You can have your pup DNA tested for Fanconi and I highly suggest that you do for your own peace of mind. You can order the test kit, as it is a Cheek Swab and do it yourself, Vet not necessary. Here is the link, just scroll down to the Fanconi test
http://www.offa.org/dnatesting/index.html
You can have your pup DNA tested for Fanconi and I highly suggest that you do for your own peace of mind. You can order the test kit, as it is a Cheek Swab and do it yourself, Vet not necessary. Here is the link, just scroll down to the Fanconi test
http://www.offa.org/dnatesting/index.html
Thank you! How convenient
Are you going to litter box train your b? As its an inside dog, or will pup go outside to do
its business?
Are you going to litter box train your b? As its an inside dog, or will pup go outside to do
its business?
We're going to try to train it to go outside. We'll keep him in the crate at night while we sleep (for now, until he is trained) and take him outside first thing in the morning when we take him out of it. I'm home most of the day and will watch him, and take him outside if I see him sniffing around looking for a spot to "go". I'll also take him outside before putting him back in the crate before I leave. I'm usually only gone 3-4 hours, then I'll come back (or if Chris beats me home, he'll come back) and again take him outside as soon as I (or Chris) get home and take him out of the crate.
I'm hoping a combination of my supervision and the crate training will get him to understand that if he needs to go, he should signal he wants to go outside. Chris saw a video of a Basenji trained to ring a bell by the door when she needed to go outside; he wants to try to train our pup to do the same.
Welcome to the forum..so exciting to hear of your new puppy..yes we need, I mean want pictures..please.
Sounds like you have a lot already planned out, definitely do the fanconi testing, for peace of mind…and crate train for house training but also for the puppy's sense of his own cave and space they actually end up loving having a place to retreat to when they get tired or what not...
Has the breeder done any potty or crate training? If so, ask her/him what tactics they used, so you can continue on in their steps (of course only if you agree with their tactics).
My basenji doesn't ring a bell, but bats at the door if he needs to go out, even in the middle of the night and he does it loud enough for me to hear, but yes, if you put a bell on the door, on a level where he can reach it, then touch the bell each and every time you go out with him, he will pick up on that real quick. Otis will even take his collar of the hook and try to put it on himself, if he gives up come up to one of us and throws it on the floor in front of us like he is saying.."put it on, I want to go out"..very smart.
Search and ask on the forum, there is lots to learn and lots to laugh about ..they are an amazing breed, you are in for a treat..again, Welcome.
Welcome and the best of luck with your puppy. You couldn't have come to a better place for advice and interesting Basenji titbits.
Really young puppies don't really sniff aroudn for a place to go, they just go. Especially peeing, where ever they are when the urge hits they just go. So pretty much when they wake up they go out, when they play for 10-15 minutes, they go out, when they eat then they go out. Lots and lots of taking them out.
Welcome to the forum! Crazy, I'm staying in Culebra right now and planning to visit St. Thomas this week. I know your basenji will love it there. The climate is perfect for them.
Really young puppies don't really sniff aroudn for a place to go, they just go. Especially peeing, where ever they are when the urge hits they just go. So pretty much when they wake up they go out, when they play for 10-15 minutes, they go out, when they eat then they go out. Lots and lots of taking them out.
Ah, I didn't know this…typical newbie housebreaker mistake, I'm sure. I might...might lay down some puppy pads inside the house, hoping to attract the puppy with their scent, and then if he has to go inside I can cross my fingers that he will go there…but I know from experience that those things are not foolproof...and if I keep a pad inside, the pup might take longer to learn that I prefer for him to "go" outside. Hmmmm...
Welcome to the forum! Crazy, I'm staying in Culebra right now and planning to visit St. Thomas this week. I know your basenji will love it there. The climate is perfect for them.
Hehe; cool beans! I had read that they like warm climates and thought, "woot!" If you go to Megan's Bay I can wave down to you from my house. (Oh, and Culebra rocks - I was there a couple months ago while taking classes at the University of Puerto Rico. I LOVE that you are on this Basenji forum while on vacation…if you are :P.)
Really young puppies don't really sniff aroudn for a place to go, they just go. Especially peeing, where ever they are when the urge hits they just go. So pretty much when they wake up they go out, when they play for 10-15 minutes, they go out, when they eat then they go out. Lots and lots of taking them out.
Great post lvoss… and totally right on... puppies "just" go.... and as much as you take them out, you still will have accidents...
Really young puppies don't really sniff aroudn for a place to go, they just go. Especially peeing, where ever they are when the urge hits they just go. So pretty much when they wake up they go out, when they play for 10-15 minutes, they go out, when they eat then they go out. Lots and lots of taking them out.
Excellent advise! As a new B owner ourselves, taking your puppy out as much as possible in the beginning month - whether it needs to go or not, is also an easier way to help with the outdoor training. Doing this will help your puppy understand that once outside, he can / should eliminate, but the key to helping him understand is to praise, praise, praise, praise him to high hell when he does go! Providing him with a special treat will help further his progress. Also watch for his cues for when he wants to go outside like hanging out by the door. It took our B about a month to potty train him and for him to give us cues that he needed to go outside. When I saw Kairoe regularly hanging out by the door, I got rid of the pee pads and never looked back.
We also kept our B's crate door open at night so he had access to his indoor pee pad - something that he'd use at least every couple of hours. One trick that we used to help him find his way, was to keep an already soiled paper towel on top of the pee pad. As well, once he'd come out of the crate, we guide him to the pee pad area and give him a cue of "do your business" or "go potty". What you'll get is a puppy missing the pad at times but if you time it right, you'll be able to scoop him or the pad up and place him or the pad in the right elimination spot. In time he will understand [with lots of praise and guidance] that the pad on the floor is his designated area.
Welcome to the forum and good luck!
Emm & Clar
Welcome to the forum. Lots of good advice is here.
