Basenji slave in need of potty training help
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Personally, I don't allow pups in training access to unlimited water while crated; mostly because they just always make a mess with it. But I rarely leave them for more than four hours. If I had to leave them all day, I would definitely provide water. Your pups sound totally normal for their age. There will still be accidents for a long time to come. Particularly because they don't have an older dog to show them where the right place is to go. Your training would probably go more quickly if you limited the space they had while you are gone…it will be a long time before they realize it isn't appropriate to go in that big x-pen area, because they can "designate" one area the toilet, and another for sleeping, and another for eating, etc. That is why crate training works so well...they usually hate to potty where they sleep and eat. But, I can understand that you want them to have more space during the day...but just know it will take longer for house training :)
And, again, just my opinion, but I think pee-pee pads delay the whole idea 'the only place to potty is outside'. If you *want your dog to go potty on the pads regularly, then by all means use them (high rise apartment dwellers come to mind)..but if you want the dog to go outside, don't *give them a place to go inside...just clean up the accidents, and watch them all the time :)
I would imagine it will be more difficult to train littermates, because they kind of feed off each other. And it is hard to watch two ALL the time, because they go different directions ;) Give yourself some time, and patience, and you will all do fine :)
By the way...looks like a really nice set up in the kitchen! Lucky pups.....
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I second that those puppies were really lucky to have you find them and give them a home and what seems like a lovely family. I have read your other threads and think it is wonderful how much you have done to give these puppies a warm, loving, comfortable home. Good luck and keep up the great work.
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Thanks, I really appreciate all the support I've been given from this forum. It's good to know that we're on the right track with the training, and that my pups are behaving normally. I am being very patient and trying to be as consitent as possible with training. I understand that it will take longer to potty train since we aren't home during the day as much as I'd like to be, and that they have the peepads too. They are responding very well to the bits of treats they get when pottying where they are supposed to. I thought maybe that's why smart little Cooper has been peeing so much! Oooh I pee on the pad or outside, I get a treat! Pee pee pee pee :)
And just cuz I love to share my cuties, I've attached a couple more pics.;) Sorry the quality stinks, I can only upload pics from my cell phone for some reason. The ones from the camera are too big.
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I also provided my dog a water bottle in his crate while I was away. IMO, it's the best option. it provides water when you are away for long hours, they can't possibly make a horrific mess with it, and they won't gulp down a ton a time (which leads to accidents). my dog had a lovely habit of swimming in his water bowl - literally. he'd dig in it, knock it over, splash about…. so the water bottle solved a few issues for us.
i think your setup is GREAT! I do agree w/ Andrea though, training will take longer since you are away for long hours, and need to use the pads. don't worry though, it may take longer, but it WILL happen. just keep at it, sounds like you're doing great.
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I tried a water bottle with Querk in his crate when he was a puppy, but he managed to chew a hole in it, during the course of a day. Then the next one he managed to pull the metal spout out of the cap…he was a complete basket case in his crate though :x
I usually use a small ceramic crock, if I need to...but they still seem to dance around in it :)
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When you look at those faces and little bodies - ya just gotta forgive 'em. They're so young, but your attention to training and details about the house will pay off big time. This is one really smart breed. As you already noticed:
Oooh I pee on the pad or outside, I get a treat! Pee pee pee pee :)
As long as you're on to him. I don't reward for going on the pee pads. Only when Daisy (12 weeks old) goes outside and for when she pees or poops outside. If she goes on the pads, I don't give her any attention. If I catch her peeing on the floor, I do my best to stop her mid-stream - with a loud "DAISY!!" Then I whisk her outside soon as I can. It takes a lot of time and effort to do all this hawking but I think it's the only way to house train. Soon enough, that job will be done. Every dog is different. I went thru this last year with Duke. I remember it taking Duke 2-3 mos. before I noticed I wasn't cleaning pee & poop in the house anymore. (ahhh - that was a nice thought!) But I had to catch him and show him. I wasn't using the treat method though. (this forum wasn't known to me last year) Maybe Daisy will catch on sooner by using treats and because she has Duke to help show her too. :rolleyes: Anyway - stay positive with your mission - it's exhausting - but it will get better. :)
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What an amazing pen you have there! Wow! I wish I could do something like that in my house. ;)
While we were away during the day at work, our puppy would be created w/out any food or water. I found that everytime he had access to water he just drank and drank which leads to little messes. Now that our little pup is over 3 mts I still have to watch his water intake. At times he just wont stop. -
OMG look at that little one climb. Too cute. I wonder if my B has any idea he is capable of climbing. Probably not since he just stares up at the tree when he chases the squirrels.
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I do hope she losses interest. My B girl Sugar climbs. X-pens are definitely out unless they have a lid, and then she'll scream. I can block the kitchen off with baby gates if I have visitors but not from her-she'll hop right over from a sit. She has climbed the fence to get at a squirrel, but since I watch her I got to her before she got over. I'm just waiting for the tree climbing to start!
