Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Behavioral Issues
  3. Problem with Crating !!!!

Problem with Crating !!!!

Behavioral Issues
  • A

    We are having major problems training our 5 month old Basenji to stay in his crate. He freaks out when we close the door, crys, screams, poops and pees. We feed him in his crate, he sleeps every night in his crate (with the door open) but as soon as we close it he freaks. Does anyone have any suggestions?????

    0
  • J

    He does not want to be alone and might feel trapt with door shut. Maybe he needs a brother or sister to keep him company. Give it time and he will adjust slowly.

    0
  • B

    Has he been good all along? Our girl was terrible the first week we got her but we rode it out and she sleeps all night happily in there now, I was tempted to leave the door open also but afraid she would get into trouble. It was hard but try ignoring the screaming, that is what we did and it worked.

    0
  • KanangaK

    Some dogs will simply be crate phobic, and it takes a bit of work to try and reverse that mentality with them.

    Kananga is crate phobic but he has improved over the years. Initially though, he was allowed full roam because crating was not an option. He was not destructive while outside of the crate so it worked out very well. Over time he has gotten more comfortable with his crate when shutting the door. I'll do this time to time when I'm cleaning to help isolate him, and he will be OK for a short period of time. I would never leave him in there and leave my home though, I know he still has that phobia and will injure himself while I'm gone.

    You will either have to work through the phobia with proper conditioning, or accept the fact they are not willing to be crated and find a way to leave them out while you are gone. I don't have much experience trying to reverse the phobia as with Kananga it was very strong and he was fine to just be out all day, but I know others on here have had success with working through it when crating is a must and free roam is not an option.

    0
  • Shaye's MomS

    Some people have said that if you keep the crate next to your bed and put your fingers in when they get frantic it will help Personally, I was never able to successfully crate Shaye - all our overnight troubles stopped when we just let her spend the night with us. She has been able to sleep through the night and wait till morning to go out to do her business since she was about 13 weeks. As for the trouble they get into, it never happened overnight, and when we got her a companion, the panic over our leaving her also went away. She still finds trouble to get into if we aren't careful, but that's just the breed. She's over 3 now, and seems to be a little better. She never has been crated, nor has her basenji/sheltie mix sister, and we are all just fine overnight. Just saying. We are older, and neither of us ever even heard of crating until we got our basenji, so maybe we aren't the ones to advise you.

    0
  • Chealsie508C

    It's true, I've never had to even think about crating until I got Oakley. All previous breeds were no problem staying loose in the house, oak is very house destructive so that was a no go, we also went through crate phobia but at 16 months he tolerates it better than I ever imagined

    "I know I've found the breed for me because he totally turns my life upside down and I love it!"

    0

Suggested Topics

  • I

    Crate Problem

    Behavioral Issues
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    7k Views
    S
    Yesterday it was three poops on the morning walk :-)
  • P

    Major Crate Training Problems

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    7k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    As some of you may recall, I had HORRIBLE problems getting Keoki to crate – took me until he was 9 mos old {and three crates!!} before he would sleep at night at all w/out screaming and shredding his bedding. For him, the issue was NOT crating, but separation. I could put him in the crate and while wasn't crazy about it, he would lie down and go to sleep as long as I was in the room w/him. As soon as I moved to leave, he would go absolutely insane. X-pen didn't work either as he tore his nose up while moving the pen across the floor. I finally bought a large crate {-a great dane could be comfy in our current crate} and we crate Keoki and Jazz together. Jazz would prefer to be alone, but she has always been a dog that rolls with the punches, so she does fine. Keoki now runs to his crate if I just say, "Go to bed". They go to bed at 10 PM and although I open the crate door at 5:30 AM, the seldom come out before 9 AM. I can crate them when guests are over if necessary {Jazz gets uncomfortable if too many people are over}, when we go out, and all night w/no complaints. {I am home all day, most days}. My family says he still whines at the window for a few minutes any time I leave the house, which is funny to me because he doesn't seem to be particularly attached to me when we're all home together although both dogs seem to know that I am THE MAMA and they behave best and listen most to me. I wonder how often the dog's anxious behavior in crates is like Keoki - not a crating problem, but a separation anxiety issue.
  • ?

    Crating

    Behavioral Issues
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    2k Views
    agilebasenjiA
    mine are all in the same room - it's the den and has a large sliding glass door so everyone can see out. Digital, the brindlewonderkid, is left to go where ever he likes. Usually he's in the den or bedroom.
  • shep_18S

    Random aggression problem

    Behavioral Issues
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    dmcartyD
    Couple of things: First have his Thyroid Checked. I am not one that thinks thats the answer to every things - but it is easy to test and is a quick fix if that is the cause. I don't think I can post a link here but if you go to my icon and click on my info there is my website - on the basenji info page - there is a link to Basenji Thyroid info. On the off chance that I can post a link here it is: http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/Thyroid.htm Second - I am also in MN and would be happy to help you specifically if you want someone that is 'basenji savy' to give him a look see.
  • W

    Crate Training

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    dmcartyD
    hard to say if crating was a big negative in her puppy place for her that could account for her behavior now? Have you called her breeder to ask her/him? They sometimes can give you wonderful ideas that can help faster than the rest of us because they know their puppy.
  • C

    More peeing problems??

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    C
    thanks to all your suggestions. this is the second day/night now and she has peed outside. She has started to go towards the door when she needs to go to do a pee, so i've let her out..stayed with her until she does (which has been very quick, it used to take 5 or so minutes but now only 5 seconds..which is great!! She gets alot of praise when she does and she is quickly allowed back inside. Fingers crossed it stays that way!! Yes all bedroom & toilet doors shut..i learnt not to let her out of our sight as she is very sneaky??? One more question which i find odd..why is there a need for her to clean up after herself after peeing on the floor or her bed??