Hi all!
Happy to have found this forum.
My husband and I just adopted a rescue pup. His name is Finn and we suspect he is a basenji/chihuahua mix. He is approximately 1 year old and about 14lbs.
We just adore him! It is only night 1 and we know we will need patience and consistency in training.
I was initially nervous as all our research said basenjis are challenging to train. However, I am really looking forward to a trail companion and a pup that hopefully can go along with us on day adventures.
We never crate trained with our previous dog, a beagle mix who would eat anything and everything and had us wrapped around his paw. 
We are highly motivated to crate train Finn as it seems that is important for when we have to leave the house for a few hours. Our crate is about a week out on delivery unfortunately. Can’t wait for it to get here.
I am curious who has their basenji crate trained but has their pup sleep on their bed at night? We really want our little guy with us in bed at night and the crate only used for daytime. Thoughts?
Thank you!
Caitlin
If you are going to use a crate during the day you absolutely shouldn't be using it at night too, way too much crate time, so yes, let your dog sleep with you at night and crate when necessary during the day, but not when you can supervise. Dogs don't learn much while in a crate. They learn by being with you.
Hi Caitlin!
Welcome to the basenji family! I crate trained both of my pups in the beginning (just when I was at work or not home-there was no way to keep them "contained" without chewed doors or any separation fences they couldn't climb so it was for their protection but anytime I was home they were out and definitely always sleep with me. The cool thing is after a while, about a year and a half with my first and a year with my second, they became quite house trained and reliable to where now I don't have to crate them at all! They are fine in the house without me. I do keep a lot of toys and chewies just to keep them from bothering anything they shouldn't and I've had great luck with mine not being destructive at all except for the stray napkin or winter hat fuzzy (some things are just too tempting...). I still leave their crate up just to go in or if I need it (visitors, etc.) but I don't actively use it too much. Also, I have huge crates to give them lots of space and always keep toys (just be careful if yours eats toys or could get into trouble with them) and a clip-on water dish in there. You want them to be really comfy so they don't mind being in it...Good luck with your pup- keep him busy, a tired basenji is a good basenji!
@eeeefarm thank you!
We rehomed Nelly when she was about 18 months old from Spain. She had been crated for the two day road journey. We still crate her when she is left and sleeps in it every night. She is very happy and she can often be found having a nap in there during the day. She has a water bowl that affixes to the inside. In fact if I just leave her in house for 5 mins (not worth crating I thought) she got very anxious and peed by the door!
@caitfleis Hi Caitlin. Very cool news. I've never had a Basenji or Basenji mix puppy. All three of mine were adults when I got them. The first one hated crates. The newest two are fully crate trained. Having a crate trained dog is a huge advantage especially in the car. I transport mine several times a week and I gotta say that I love not having them climbing over seats, trying to get in my lap, trying to stand on the dashboard of a small car, etc. I will always have crate trained dogs going forward.
Make sure you don't use the crate as just a timeout or punishment location. From what I've read on this forum you want your pup to associate the crate with good things like meals, treats, a place for toys, a quiet place to escape, a warm den, etc.
It's easy to let a Basenji wrap you around it's paw and I fully understand why, but it's equally important to be "Alpha". Set rules and consistently ensure that they are followed, or you risk your little guy asserting himself and trying to dominate you.
You're gonna have fun! Let us know how it goes.
@aprilk thank you! Very helpful information.
We have other friends with various breed dogs who stopped using the crate after a few years because their pups mellowed and knew the rules of the house. We’ll see!
@jengosmonkey thank you!
Totally agree - Crate is never for punishment!
We haven't tried to put him in a car yet but the foster family said he was stressed both on the car ride from the rescue and the ride to deliver him to us. He’s had a lot happen in his short little life in the past few weeks so I want to give him time before we take him places. I am thinking of get a seatbelt that hooks to his harness for the car for safety.
Thanks so much!
Safest travel in the car is crate, period.... never ever loose. If you are using a crate during the day, then at night they need to be loose, otherwise too much crate time
My Basenji just turned a year old and he is crate trained for sleep from his first night home. Hi kennel is next to my bed. "Kennel Up" and he goes into the crate awaiting his special kennel treat used only for crating. Never have used the kennel for punishment. He really likes his kennel. I tried to get him to sleep with me and he promptly jumped off the bed and went into his kenned and waited for 2 treats because he went in without being told. I do use the kennel when I leave the house and he has never balked. I have also used a "shower" of treats for special circumstances...sprinkling treats and kibble over him when he has been kenneled from a really good time in life. I have put beds, kennel pads, towels in the kennel, and he promptly chews them to pieces. ...So lays on the plastic tray. That makes me feel bad, but....I have yet to find anything he will not chew up. He will pull it out through the mesh when not kenneled or tear it apart when kenneled when I am not home. He is not the boss and does not get another pad/bed!
How about sending us all of pic of Finn? I am pretty sure we wold all love to see him. You said your in Napa. Is that as in California or another state? We have a Basenji meet up the last Sunday of every month at Point Isabel (Richmond area). Just google Point Isabel and you will see the area. At one time (its been a few years) we had a total of 22 basenji's. What a sight that was to see them all running! On average, we have around 8 to 14 now.
@basenjimom2 I’m in the South Bay! I’d be Interested in knowing more about the location.
Edit: Just found it. 23 acre off leash dog park. The largest in the US. It has its own dog wash and cafe. I’ve lived in the Bay Area my whole life. Never knew it existed.
Binti was 6 years old when I adopted her. She was not fond of her crate, but I left it open with a nice soft blanket in it, and would randomly put a treat in it a couple times each day for her to find. Before twoo long , she associated her crate with good things and she will nap in it of her own volition.
Let us see a picture of your new addition! And congratulations!!!!
@JENGOSMonkey Surprise, surprise!! If your interested go to Meetup.com and look for Basenjis of Point Isabel (also there is a Facebook page under the same name, that shows pups from our meetups). Once you find the group on MeetUp.com, join, and you will get a reminder a week before about the meetup and ask if you are going to go or not. Or if you just want to check it out first, its the last Sunday of every month at 11am (try not to be more than 10 to 15 minutes late please) and we meet in front of the Sit and Stay Cafe. If its raining we don't go, drizzling we still go. Lots of fun.
Thank you all for the advice and info on the Bay Area meet up! We'd love to join once we've gotten him acclimated to our home and a few of our friend's dogs.
In the meantime, here is a photo of our sweet little boy!
@caitfleis
He’s 🥰 ADORABLE!
️
@kembe thank you!
Finn is adorable
He looks like a truck load of fun. Good looking little dude. Happy you’ve found one another. 
