Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Training
  3. Doggie door and 'litter' box

Doggie door and 'litter' box

Basenji Training
  • KipawaK

    When we get our basenji, I would like to incorporate a dog door and was wondering if anyone has put one in that leads from the house to the garage where a doggie 'litter' box would be. Our dog would have free access at any time to the box.

    Has anyone had good success with a doggie door used for this purpose? Has anyone had good luck with the doggie litter box? What's the best filler for the box? Has anyone used clumpable cat litter? Or is that too fine a product. Thanks!

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • Tayda_LennyT

    I have Tayda trained to use a litter box when I am not home - since she has Fanconi and has to go very often. I put a thin layer of "Equine Pine," the stuff used for horse stalls in a large ~2ft x 3.5ft shallow tupperware. It took her just a day or two to learn to use it and no problems since then. She does not use it when I am home though….

    –--------------------------

    Michelle

    0
  • renaultf1R

    My puppy was litter trained. I had an xpen set up in my bedroom with her crate and a litter box for when I was at work. Worked like a charm. She never went to the bathroom in her crate and when good weather came I had no problem transitioning her to completely using the outdoors. Like Tayda's mom, I too used Equine Pine (you can get it cheap in big bags at Tractor Supply - much cheaper than the similar Feline Pine).

    With the doggie door and your b going out on its own to use the litter box, I would say that might be a stretch - especially if it is a puppy. I know my pup was never trusted to go on her own without me outside watching her. She would have been too distracted in the yard (she's a busy girl :D) and if I didn't watch her I know she would have come back in and pee'd. Many threads on here of new pup owners that have that happen, so instead of leaving it to chance, I just made sure to see her go to the bathroom.

    0
  • thunderbird8588T

    A thought for the future, i agree that you need to be out with the pup to make sure it goes. However we successfully used an existing Cat door with our adult Basenji, ours led into the garden but the theory is the same. He used to go in and our whenever.

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

    0
  • tanzaT

    I have a doggy door for my kids.. that said with baby puppies, took a bit of training till they used the door to go out… Problem with puppies is that they have to "go NOW"... to late for them to remember a doggy door is available. But they catch on pretty quickly

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • KipawaK

    Thunderbird, what size (inches) is your cat door, because we currently have one on the door that leads to our garage - I just thought it looked a bit small for a basenji.

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • thunderbird8588T

    @Kipawa:

    Thunderbird, what size (inches) is your cat door, because we currently have one on the door that leads to our garage - I just thought it looked a bit small for a basenji.

    Our Door is 7" high by 6" wide it was already in for the cats and Benji used it, in fact he charged through it with a tremendous clatter. Idealy it could have done to be bigger but he was quite a small male.

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

    0
  • KipawaK

    That's what our cat door is. I guess I can use it so long as it doesn't become too much of a squeeze for my future B.

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0

Suggested Topics

  • G

    Litter Box

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    eeeefarmE
    When I lived a bit further north, my 2nd Basenji and I used to go cross country skiing. My current boy wouldn't last ten minutes in the cold that girl could handle! When we came back home she would head straight for the wood stove. When I damped it down for the night, she would practically crawl underneath it! Of course, at bedtime she was cuddled up in our bed with us. :) I have never used a litter box, but there have been times when I wished I had trained for that. Boots do the trick when the weather is extreme.
  • LyshL

    Halti's

    Basenji Training
    16
    0 Votes
    16 Posts
    6k Views
    LyshL
    @CanisBasenjius: Lysh, You didn't say why the trainer suggested a Halti. To what end? I normally only recommend the Halti to owners of large dogs who are having serious pulling or reactivity problems. If Hope pulls, I prefer the Sense-ation or Wonder Walker to the Easy Walk, as I do not like the martingale effect on the EW and feel it gives less clear feed back and they seem to require more frequent adjusting for fit. WRT spitting out treats I have two thoughts: Try higher value (think real food, like boiled chicken) She may be slightly anxious and unable to accept food One of my dogs is an anxious fellow and usually cannot accept food in certain environments because he is too "on". It took roughly 2 years of living in our new neighborhood before he could accept food on our walks. Just a thought there. It took me a long time to realize that's what was going on with him. She has a lovely play style. Lots of give and take. Love that! Hi Thanks for the information. I agree with you and wasnt too interested in using a Halti on her and would prefer the easy walker etc. The reasoning she suggested we try the halti is because she wouldnt settle down and was basically like a fire cracker on the end of the lead no matter what you did and no matter the treat value, her food, liver treats, meat etc. But i took into consideration that it was a new place, other puppies and her 2nd outing and that shes a basenji, possibly even that she was bored. (maybe the trainer hadnt as all the other puppies where much more "easier" to calm down?) I think she was overwhelmed by everything as-well because by the next lesson, she was top of the class and even demo dog. She was calm and happy and vocal when she wanted to be. She done everything to a T. So we did not bother with the halti. Now that she is fully vaccinated and we have been out and about i walk her in a harness and she is a perfect little puppy apart for the occasional "omg its a bird" … yank! she even does anything strangers ask of her (sit, drop, stay etc). She accepts food whenever we are out and gladly ate her lunch at our recent fundraiser pet markets event for the RSPCA (attached some pics) Im very happy with her progress and we are starting puppy primary school for 6wks next month and then we are beginning agility and obedience classes. :) [image: attachment_p_120540_0_hope.jpg] [image: attachment_p_120540_1_pig-ear.jpg] [image: attachment_p_120540_2_poser.jpg]
  • AJs HumanA

    Here's one that'll mix it up a bit

    Basenji Training
    21
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    6k Views
    tanzaT
    My Basenjis have always loved radishes… I would start them young with them... just tossing them on the floor whole... they would roll and toss them around the floor and then finally biting into them... a couple of days of that, they were hooked... makes a great treat... but I did make sure they were a bit on the sweet side then the "hot" side
  • SarahRNS

    Litter box training advice

    Basenji Training
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    And you might want to try putting it outside and try getting her to go on it there and then try moving in inside….
  • N

    Doggie Doors? Your experiences/opinions?

    Basenji Training
    36
    0 Votes
    36 Posts
    12k Views
    youngandtiredY
    I have a doggie door and we love it, not to mention my Basenji, Sahara. I also have underground electric fence, so that keeps her in the yard. I leave it open most of the time, but I have had to close it when I didn't want her to go outside. I have not had any trouble with other animals coming, I live just outside the city limits, and my town is small, not many wild animals near me. It has been really warm here in NC so I have not closed it at night, but when cold weather comes I will close it. Sahara goes out by herself when she has to potty during the day, but most of the time I take her out at night on her leash. She does not like the darkness by herself, silly girl. haha!!!! By the way I never use the crate anymore, she is free to go since I got the fencing.
  • WrobelzooW

    Poopin' in the crate…

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k Views
    youngandtiredY
    Sounds like a typical B to me with the pooping on the B training manual. You sure you don't have my B, she is quite smart also. Be patient your B will get the idea, and being home next week so you can work with her/him will help. They are very smart, my B learned pretty fast, and when she would go outside I always gave her a treat that she liked. You have to have the treat in your pocket and give it right away after he/she goes to potty, they only remember 30sec. after the fact. Good Luck!