Agree with @elbrant and I'd like to add, when you return be very matter of fact, do not make a big fuss, particularly if she is excited and effusive in her greeting to you. Sure, acknowledge her if you must but don't make any sort of big deal out of it. Go about your business, e.g. if you've been shopping, put your things away before spending any time with her. Your goal is to make your absence just part of a normal routine, nothing to be excited about. I've had two separation anxiety dogs, and you know you have won the battle when the dog just glances at you in an "oh, you're back" way and doesn't bother getting off the couch! Yes, people like it when their dog greets them and makes a big fuss, but if you feed that behaviour you give too much emphasis to your absence and that can grow into anxiety in your dog.
Just received my 4 Months old Basenji
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@zande 
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Sorry Sammm, Forum won't let me copy/paste photos. PLEASE can you email it to me as an attached.jpg and it will be embedded in her pedigree within minutes !
email address is sallypwallis@gmail.com -
@zande done
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@sammm
Photo is up - try to get parents' pics ! -
@sammm Oh Sam-She is SO beautiful!!!! Wishing you and Laika a lifetime of love and laughs and Basenji antics!
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Hope that she is settling in.... she is lovely
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probably, never..it might be her character
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@nancyss Thank you sooo much:)
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@tanza She is thank you ! However i have a small problem, don't know if you can help: how can you make her stay alone for 2 hours without crying her soul out, and without destroying everything in the Kitchen? Last night was her 2nd night alone in the kitchen and you don't want to know what she did... i think she was committing suicide lol... any recommendations?
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Don't keep her away from you at night. She should be in your room close to you. Many use a crate next to their bed, others have their Basenji sleep with them.
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@eeeefarm Thank you !
And what about leaving her for 2 hours alone?
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@sammm - At night? Why is she not with you at night? Even if they are to sleep in their crate, it should be in the same room as you?
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@sammm said in Just received my 4 Months old Basenji:
@eeeefarm Thank you !
And what about leaving her for 2 hours alone?
You need to work up to that. She's a baby, after all, and not used to being all alone. Find ways to distract her when you need to go out, e.g. toys, a stuffed kong, something that will keep her occupied, and if possible only go out for a few minutes at first, gradually lengthening the time as she adjusts to your absence. And make things as "matter of fact" as you can. No big scenes when you depart or when you return, no fussing over her if she greets you, better to ignore her for a few minutes when you come back, so she doesn't get the message that your absence is a big deal.
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@sammm said in Just received my 4 Months old Basenji:
@tanza She is thank you ! However i have a small problem, don't know if you can help: how can you make her stay alone for 2 hours without crying her soul out, and without destroying everything in the Kitchen? Last night was her 2nd night alone in the kitchen and you don't want to know what she did... i think she was committing suicide lol... any recommendations?
We made the mistake of leaving our second pup alone in the kitchen the first night we had him (quite a number of years ago). Big mistake and not a good outcome at all. The second night we brought him into the bedroom in a crate and he was an angel. We've done that with new pups ever since.
Leaving her alone during the day may be different. My guess is that it will be. Just put a treat in her crate so she likes the crate and then leave her there. No doubt there will be some drama when you leave but she'll probably go right to sleep after a few minutes.
If you don't have a crate the first order of business would be to get one.
She is very cute.
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@donc - My comment is that when you give them a space that IS Theirs... and you are not in the home they will settle down... but if you are home, they need to be with their people
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@eeeefarm Thank you very much! Will start implementing what you have said
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@tanza said in Just received my 4 Months old Basenji:
@donc - My comment is that when you give them a space that IS Theirs... and you are not in the home they will settle down... but if you are home, they need to be with their people
Completely agree. I was just addressing leaving her alone during the day when I assumed everyone would be out. I see that as different than alone in the kitchen at night. Now that I think about this, your point about being home or not may be the difference between night and day. At night you're home. During the day likely not.
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@Sammm congratulation on your new pet!
Mine is 5 months too and is still not comfortable at
Home. I have a small backyard but he is even scared of being alone there. Is yours doing better?
Cheers
S -
Some Basenjis are never comfortable out in the backyard alone. I had two that didn't mind, and two that very much did mind and would not stay outside alone. All of mine adjusted to being alone inside, but with my last two it took time.
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@steven12 Laika is doing great! She finally feels safe at home. She is very calm yet she plays a lot. At night she sleeps in any bedroom (in her bed)... i'm sure the best is to come..
Sam
