Screaming must stop!

[eeeefarm]

@mikesull said in New Basenji owner from Texas!:

I am giving him tons of love and commitment, etc. not 24-7 and he doesn’t enter the bedroom etc. he’s a dog. quite the condescending crowd.

I agree with 8 weeks was definitely too early. The dog will be fine. This is not an advice forum as fyi. Its a my way or highway column.

I have to wonder whether you researched the breed you have chosen? Basenjis, more than many breeds, do best when they are with their people, which would include in the bedroom at night. Sure, not every owner will do it that way, but you are likely to have less issues and a better relationship with your dog if you do. People on this forum are passionate about the breed. We don't all agree.....I have my own "agree to disagree" items with some people.....but I think everyone gives advice in the hopes that it will prove useful and make both you and your pup happier.

Certainly you can do things your own way, but there is a lot of experience on this forum so inevitably you will get advice you may not wish to follow or that does not work for your dog. I find that if I listen to everyone, try things that seem promising (and even some that don't, you might be surprised at what works), eventually I find solutions that work for me.

[mikesull]

Thanks and yes I researched. All well - agree to disagree on dogs in beds.

[NancySS]

@mikesull He's only 8 weeks old...he is really young to be away from his pack. Now, you are his pack and he wants to be with you. Can you take him with you when you go to the bathroom and to your home gym for example? Remember he had brothers and sisters with him ALL the time...and now he panics when he finds himself alone. You sound really frustrated...I am concerned that you are "getting pissed" this early in his adoption and training. He will settle down but it is going to be a difficult process if he senses that you are angry with him every time he calls for you. That's what he is doing, calling for his pack. You are all he's got now. If you feel that this is too much for you, I think everyone here understands that. Basenjis are not for everyone, they are pack animals, but if you find out he is too much trouble for you, I ask that you return him to his breeder or go the Basenji Rescue and Transport site and they will take care of him in foster until he can be adopted. It would be better for you and better for him....and I mean this kindly, not in a "condescending" way.

[tanza]

@nancyss - I would say this is true for 99% of puppies placed at that age... especially at an early age and depending how they were raised.

[elbrant]

@mikesull said in Screaming must stop!:

"he doesn’t enter the bedroom etc. he’s a dog", "tons of love and commitment, etc. not 24-7", "my way or highway"

He's a baby... where are your expectations at? Realistically, what did you think having a 2-3 month old dog would be like?

[coldsenji]

I will admit that I am not the best at this either...
Young dog, so scary to be alone: Let's make it more fun! Good stuff happens when you go away (like the washroom)... so get the good treats out! I used to throw quite a few Cherios or kibbles on the floor to keep my dogs busy in a positive way.
Clicker training is good for Basenjis. Train him to go into his crate by himself but don't close the door yet. Teaching 'down time' is important and takes time.
Tire that Basenji brain with training.
It is difficult because Basenjis are pack dogs. They do their own thing but do not like being alone.
Good luck!

[mikesull]

Hi - all has improved dramatically with the crating rules. Its just 100% better and structured vs me breaking every rule so he didnt cry. Now he cries some but already slowed that down. Today he ran on beach for an hour and was so tired i had to carry him home lol.

[Dagodingo]

@mikesull My first B would scream the house down whenever he was in the crate alone. Neighbors told me it sounded like a small child being tortured or something terrible. Finally solved the problem with a second basenji, she kept him company and he was fine with that, no screaming.

Second B was fine so long as another B was in a separate cage close to her.

Third B just sits in the crate alone and stares at the door waiting for you to come back lol, (we set up a camera to monitor him).

One thing that was consistent, all three are far better off staying alone in a room on their own napping while you do stuff BUT only after they are about six years old. Seems 6-8 is the mellowing age.

So I guess all are different.

[Dagodingo]

@mikesull "Today he ran on beach for an hour and was so tired i had to carry him home lol."

A tired Basenji is a good basenji, rule #1 in my book.

I look at it that I enter a contract with each dog, they get lots of walks, play, good food, warm sunny sun room, sleep on bed, worshiped like kings and queens. In return they don't drive me too crazy and when I am really serious, they obey me lol.

[ChrisF]

Sorry Mike about the hostility you feel on this forum. I have figured out they just can't help it. Lots of Basenji advocates that are experts and I think their dogs may be more important than people. It is a good idea to read others questions and learn from that rather than putting yourself out there to be chopped up.
I researched too but still had no idea what I was actually getting into. We went to puppy school and then I hired a private trainer who had lots of Basenji experience....it is hard to get through the first year. But trust me it will be worth it to persevere.
I used a crate, and no it has not been in my room near the bed ever. She started in the laundry room at night only and I used daytime gates so I could control her location with me. Also I bought a playpen type fence to be on the deck.
Now she is 3 yrs old and we are down to one gate and a fenced back yard. She has a bed on the sofa and in the guest room, and on the back deck.
She basically has the run of the house minus the bedrooms. (Well she thinks the guest room is her room).
I am sure you are doing lots of things right. What I find with this breed is that they are so smart you have to develop dog psychology. They must understand that you are the boss without you raising your voice or hand against them. I have developed a routine and it seems to work for us. For example while you are establishing that you make the rules don't put your dogs dish down until you begin your dinner. Small thing but once she learned that we eat first and she must wait until I put her dish down that made me the boss. But you need to be consistent. She gets it and she sits licking her lips as she sees her dish on the counter. There is no jumping or drama about it anymore.
This process of you being a dependable and caring provider that your dog can predict behavior from you will pay off.
I have had times of discouragement too. I think if you limit the crating to when you can't be there and keep your life in a predictable pattern you will find the dog fitting in and settling down.

[mister science]

get a recording from the breeder of the dogs in his kennel when they are all crated up and talking to each other-play that while you are 'out'. a little young for a basenji to 'leave home'?

[JHewell]

May not work for everyone but the best thing I did was to throw that crate out the door. Afterwards Sarge seemed to be more relaxed and adjusted. Now 5 years later and no crate in sight things are great. Just give him a spot on the back of the sofa to look the window and he's happy.

[sakuhn62]

Basenjis sleep with you or you pay the price. We crated our pup for a while short periods but now only for behavior issues. We still have the crate and leave it open where we put her toys she is free to go in and out we seldom use it now she is 3. Basenjis are people dogs and need lots of attention and exercise.

[Kembe]

@jhewell
Re-think the use of the crate. I also got rid of the crate - my B was crate trained but I like to say I “de-crate trained her”. She has free reign of the house and has never been destructive. I wanted her to be free w/out restrictions. Now fast forward and she’s now 15 years old with some issues - wish I had kept her crate trained because there have been some situations where it would now be good for her SAFETY to be in a crate, Learn from my mistakes - hind sight is 20/20.

[JKent]

I have a 9 month old who wanted to follow us everywhere at first. It was a lot easier once she was old enough to safely climb the stairs.

As she has matured we are finding that she often chooses to stay in the other room or in her (open) crate as long as the door isn't closed and she can come and find us if she needs us.

Looking back it was quite a short space of time that she had this intense need, but it was hard not knowing when it would end. Letting go and allowing her to follow us made it a lot less stressful.

[JKent]

The other benefit of allowing them to follow is exposure to different sights and sounds such as hair dryers etc, so they will be less likely to be fearful of them later on.

[mikesull]

Thanks all. How about feeding? Breeder left food out all day for the puppies and his adult dog. They seemed to nibble all day and not over eat. I have kept same so far - but maybe better to change to 3x a day?

[eeeefarm]

@jkent said in Screaming must stop!:

The other benefit of allowing them to follow is exposure to different sights and sounds such as hair dryers etc, so they will be less likely to be fearful of them later on.

They also get the opportunity to make mistakes, so you can teach them the rules of the house. I can't emphasize too strongly that a dog in a crate is learning nothing.

[eeeefarm]

@mikesull, I've never followed that practice. Generally a healthy Basenji is going to gobble up the meal unless you are feeding too large a portion. Stale food is off putting and can cause problems with palatability. Better to put the food down and if it isn't promptly eaten, remove it. Four meals a day decreasing to three a day sounds right for a pup, for an adult I would say twice a day. Others may chime in on this, but I think free feeding is a mistake.

[tanza]

@mikesull - I never recommend free feeding. Put the food down, if not eaten in 10 minutes tops, take it away. And dry kibble is pretty boring for any dog. Mix a bit of wet canned with the kibble. Even with my litters I never ever free fed... 3 meals a day till 4 months and then twice a day. Snacks inbetween like a cookie or two...