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Minor crate issue

Basenji Training
  • rockonrushR

    Hi. We just got our 11 week old basenji last Wednesday. You can find pictures of her in the show off section if you want. Her name is Victra.

    She's been very good with just about everything to be honest. She has been teething but it's fairly easy to redirect her unless she really just wants some human flesh lol.
    She has been learning simple tricks fairly well.

    The only problem we have is something with the crate. We take her out on regular walks (every 30 minutes to an hour unless she is sleeping) and she typically goes every time.
    Here's my problem: For the past 2 nights I will take Victra out just before bedtime. She will pee or poo, and then I will give her some extra time just in case she needs to do both. Once I feel good about the time I've given her I bring her inside. I go straight to the crate with her for bedtime. She IMMEDIATELY started circling and attempted to poop. I got lucky and stopped her just as she was about to. I got her outside and within 5 minutes she pooped. But 2 nights ago we had a similar issue when she went outside and urinated, and then within 2 minutes urinated again in the crate.

    Funny thing is, after the initial issue, she will sleep in her crate with little to no fuss ALL NIGHT. She passes out and hasn't woken us up until 8am or so. She's been fantastic. I just want to make sure she doesn't go in the crate right after a walk. I'm guessing this is because she doesn't completely see the crate as a place she lives yet and is in a habit that is a bit difficult for her to break.

    I would appreciate any advice but in the mean time I'm just going to keep walking and loving her as often as possible.

    EDIT: Also just want to note that she went into the crate semi voluntarily when she pooped. She was not anxious at all and actually enjoys entering the crate by herself sometimes. For example, if we give her a treat, she tends to bring that to the crate so she can chew the treat inside the crate.

    Thanks!

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  • D

    At 11 weeks I wouldn’t worry about it, the first 6-9months or so, accidents happen. Especially if the dog gets anxious. Some dogs are a dream to house train, others can take over a year even though you do everything right.

    Sounds to me like you are doing everything right, is the crate where you sleep? Basenjis often don’t like to be alone.

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  • rockonrushR

    @dagodingo that's good to hear. It's nice to know that it seems normal. It's just so strange that she does it within seconds of entering the crate each night haha.

    And yes, we keep the crate next to the bed and she whines for 30 seconds and then sleeps for hours. She is a very good girl.

    D 1 Reply
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  • N

    WHAT a little sweetie. Hope you all are very happy together.

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  • D

    @rockonrush My girl was hard to house train, she would also have accidents in the crate. After 12-18 months maximum they are by far very clean dogs and any accidents after that would signal a medical problem unless they were not let out for a long time. Over 12 years accidents due to old age happen, but most basenjis will not be happy about that even then, they are very clean dogs from my experience.

    If she takes her treats into the crate that is a great sign as it probably means she looks at the crate as a safe place. Never use the crate as a time out or punishment as that leads to a negative view of it.

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  • rockonrushR

    @dagodingo great advice thank you. I'm looking forward to Victra being a neat-freak when she gets older haha.

    Whenever we have to suddenly put her in the crate, in case we are cooking or something like that, we try to give her a small treat in the crate so that she understands nothing is wrong.

    tanzaT 1 Reply
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  • tanzaT

    Have you taken a urine sample to the vet to check? Many puppies regardless if from a responsible breeder or not get UTI... her actions do not indicate that exactly but it could be that she is not completely emptying her urine/bowels.... always check medical issues first.

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • tanzaT

    @rockonrush said in Minor crate issue:

    @dagodingo great advice thank you. I'm looking forward to Victra being a neat-freak when she gets older haha.

    Whenever we have to suddenly put her in the crate, in case we are cooking or something like that, we try to give her a small treat in the crate so that she understands nothing is wrong.

    Why are you putting her in the crate when you are home? She needs to be with the family...?

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • rockonrushR

    She only get's put in the crate when we are doing something where we cannot keep a close eye on her, and if there's only one of us home.

    If I am cooking with a skillet or dealing with raw meat and can't suddenly drop everything I'm doing to stop her from doing something, then I crate her. Same thing when I'm taking a shower and can't stop her from eating toilet paper. This is usually for at most 20 minutes which seems perfectly reasonable to me.

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  • eeeefarmE

    Sounds reasonable to me, too. Yes, there will be times you need to keep her away from trouble when you can't supervise. As she gets older, you can train her to stay away when you are cooking (if that is your wish) rather than being underfoot, and hopefully you can begin to trust that she won't get into trouble while you are distracted. The problem is when people constantly use the crate instead of observation and teaching the dog what is acceptable. Pups cannot learn the rules of the house whilst confined to a crate!

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

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