How do you all get your Basenji's to let you know they need to come in the house? They can't bark like my other dogs. My puppy is scratching my door.
@julie4444 - That would be a doggy door.... I have always used one.... their only other option would be to scratch at the door. At least in my experience. And is this a glass sliding door or solid door?
@julie4444 Mine are scratchers. I've heard that some people have used a string of bells for the pup to paw at. I haven't tried that yet. If you do, let know if it works. 
I have both a sliding door for my back yard and a regular door for my front door. I'm hoping to not use bells outside if it can. I'm going to visit people out of town. They won't have bells outside their door.
@julie4444 doodle and I visited a (much loved) family member today. They have two dogs and a doggy door. Doodle decided the best way to ask to come in would be to stare inside through the doggy door (instead of using it). LOL Bless her heart, I'm guessing it's the first time she's seen one. Maybe she'll "get it" on the net visit. 
Puppy is doing the right thing ! I have a perspex sheet attached to the door, inside and out, which is easily cleaned and means the door remains uninjured.
Then how do you all do a doggy door? I heard they climb fences.
@julie4444 Yes, they climb anything - as long as they are confident it will hold them. I have 3 and 4 foot chain link fencing around my vegetable patch and that keeps them out because it is very loosely strung. They know it wobbles so they don't try to climb it.
But they also dig. So I have bricks and things in places which might be vulnerable, buried.
Basenjis will outthink you too ! They are a CHALLENGE !
@julie4444 - If you have a glass sliding door, there are inserts that you can put in with a doggy door. Not sure what you expect the pup to do since they don't bark and they want in. Hopefully your front yard is fenced as you mentioned that the front door was solid? And yes privacy fences are best.... we have 10 to 12' solid privacy fences.
@julie4444 They do climb, but you can successfully secure your backyard/outdoor space. Many styles of privacy fencing are effective, loose rather than taunt fencing (as @Zande suggested).
A dog door installed to give them access to the (secured) outdoor space is probably the best solution. (My goal... first I need a place with a yard.)
@julie4444
Watch this video on Lucy the Basenji using bell chimes. link text.
That's great, Kembe. I think I'd need one outside as well. I live in northern Minnesota and the bugs are a pain of they get in. Seriously, our mosquitos are huge!
@tanza yeah, it's a newly built home with no fence.... nor will there be one for a while.
30+ years of basenjis. Get bells...inside and out. An unasked for hint..about digging...fill each hole with poop kick a little dirt over it and no more digging in that spot. Keep doing that at every hole every time you see digging or a hole. Basenjis are soooo very tidy...it takes no time at all
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Bells work great only my B has discovered I will get up and go over to the door at which point he trots off to the snack cupboard and waits for a snack. Threatens to cut me if I don't give him one.
I've heard of pet doorbells or mats, and I just looked them up to make sure I was remembering that right. A few places have them - amazon and home depot for example. I would read reviews first, but usually if you try something like that and it doesn't work out you can return it within 30 days.
@julie4444 said in Communicate to come inside:
That's great, Kembe. I think I'd need one outside as well. I live in northern Minnesota and the bugs are a pain of they get in. Seriously, our mosquitos are huge!
I understand. Ten thousand lakes and every lake has ten million mosquitos!
We don't let our dogs outside unintended. The vast majority of the time they are perfectly content to hang out, but if something of great interesting -- like a neighborhood cat -- shows up then all bets are off. We've had them go over six foot fences which they couldn't climb (don't ask me how). And yes, they will climb.
You could probably do a piece of plexiglass and insert a dog door in that. The downside of dog doors is that other critters can use it. You could also train her to ring a doorbell but unlike scratching that would take some effort.
@jdambro said in Communicate to come inside:
Bells work great only my B has discovered I will get up and go over to the door at which point he trots off to the snack cupboard and waits for a snack. Threatens to cut me if I don't give him one.
That is EXACTLY what my basenji does! I don't have any bells - I have a broom hanging on a hook next to the door and he swipes at the broom which makes a noise that gets my attention.
I hope Julie4444 has a fenced yard and does not leave her pup outside unattended for any length of time. That's just asking for trouble and is dangerous for her pup.
@joan-duszka Yes! I have been putting her poo in her holes, but dust think to put dirt over it. It does work! But it bothered my sister who saw it. I'll put dirt over them from now on. 
Thank you, everyone! You all were a great help! I didn't feel so alone with this special breed. I ordered a dog door bell for my Clara to press to let me know she wants to go potty. I bought a Mighty Paw on amazon. I could see me taking this to other people's homes as well. I'm tempted on the idea of a doggy door insert for my sliding door, but since I don't have a fence, I'll pass. But what a great idea!
