5 basenjis later......a christmas bell about the size of tennis ball. One door all the time, hang on door knob low enough for paw and nose to reach easily. EVERY time you go out, ring the bell, hold puppy paw and tap bell, or nudge puppy nose to make bell ring. Eventually puppy will realize..ring this thing and I get to go out this door....down the road you my get ring just because....but let them out anyhow. Bell is portable good for visits and motels. Good luck
I was extremely fortunate- I acquired my Basenji as a returned dog to the breeder @ the age of 1 year - I have say she "chose us" - that said - she was potty trained. I was extremely vigilant about taking her out to do her business. She is currently 13 year of age and has NEVER POOPED OR PEED in our house. She would wake me @ 1 - 2 am to take her out - I would have a Basenji in my face pawing me To wake me up -which was good but exhausting to me. I had my husband put in a doggie door which was a blessing - enabled her to go out @ anytime. My basenji was @ one time crate trained 12 years ago - she is now de-crate trained -lol- - has the run of our house - NO DESTRUCTION - she is the most wonderful dog you could ask for! We absolutely LOVE HER! She brings so much joy to our lives - could not imagine life w/out her!
I think it just takes a while. The puppy needs to be sufficiently self-aware and you need to be sufficiently aware of the patterns. You figure out that at X time they need to go and you get them out or watch for signs they want to go out, and then you get them out. It's a two sided learned dance as it were. It's also not likely to suddenly be working 100% as if you've turned on a switch. Basically like many other things it's an iterative process.
Generally in my experience Basenjis don't want to do their business in the house, and you don't want them to either, so things work out.
Dogs, especially Basenjis, love routine. They always go outside for a piddle whenever they have finished eating. They need to go as often as you do, so don't forget them. Mine now go to the door and swipe the glass, or rub their nails on the wire, and they get to go out, even if it is 3am. Be obedient to their call, and train yourself to respond. They quickly get the message, as you will.
Agree w/ ROUTINE! My basenji eats @ the same time twice a day. She goes for 3 walks @ approximately the same time each day - weather permitting. We do 2 to 5 miles per day - I FITBIT it. She receives her snacks after her walk and EXPECTS it. She goes to bed w/ us @ same time each night and wakes upn@ same time. She has an internal biological clock. Her clock is so strong that I have to stagger the time by 15 minute increments when we have DAY LIGHT'S SAVINGS TIME. Routine is definately the KEY!
@joan-duszka said in Teaching my guy to signal:
5 basenjis later......a christmas bell about the size of tennis ball. One door all the time, hang on door knob low enough for paw and nose to reach easily. EVERY time you go out, ring the bell, hold puppy paw and tap bell, or nudge puppy nose to make bell ring. Eventually puppy will realize..ring this thing and I get to go out this door....down the road you my get ring just because....but let them out anyhow. Bell is portable good for visits and motels. Good luck
Excellent idea. I'm going to try this--I'll report back with success or failure, hahah.
Lots of helpful feedback and info here -- thanks to everyone so far, both for ideas and for sharing your experiences. I'm fortunate to be in a life stage where I can be home with my boy a lot at this early time in his life. He's three and a half months.
Otherwise, my roommate donated a clicker to the cause that never worked with her dog, and we started that today. Looking forward to him having all of his shots and being able to do energy-letting things with other dogs besides his brother.
Mine scratch on the kitchen door. Resulting in a frequent need to repaint - so now I have clear plastic in the door panel.
But I forgot to cover the outside, cos they also scratch when then want back in if I've shut the door against the weather. I need to redecorate the outside and then put plastic over it.
This entirely self taught habit is good for getting them out to empty but Hoover has learned to scratch the door when she is hungry or just wants attention. So in fact, the Basenjis have taught ME to open the door at their command.
The easiest way to teach to use a bell is with the "touch" command. When it's time to take them out to potty, I give the touch command and out we go. They learn quickly to signal for pottying. If we go out and the dog lied, lol, no treat. Works easier with a female since the males' hollow leg lets them pee every time.
We do a routine with pups.. every time they wake up, eat, or play, immediately out they go.Once their bladders have better control, the bell makes it easy for one to signal if they need an extra potty. I hate the idea of them holding it in because they can't tell anyone what they want.
Here are Mary's instructions on targeting (touch). If you check to the left and right, she has a lot of other training instructions:
I think signalling is a great idea, although I have never used it. A friend taught her two Bichons to do it with a bell at the door. My dogs always let me know when they needed out. We had a regular routine, but if a potty break was needed at some other time, restless pacing and trotting toward the door was a pretty clear picture. Never a problem.
Worst thing is the sound of a dog beginning to retch and jumping off the bed at 4 a.m. Seldom managed to get outside quick enough!
