Belly Bands?

[GriffinsMom]

Has anyone used belly bands to aid in housebreaking? Just wondering if there are any secret "tricks" to housebreaking a basenji.

[youngandtired]

It's key that you stay on a schedule, like every 2-3 hrs. depending on the age of the dog. If you have a puppy of course you will have to take them out every 2hrs. It took me about 2 mos. to teach my B, and then she had it, no more accidents in the house. I would take her out often with a lease and walk her around in the back yard, and when she went I would give her a treat, so have the treats in your pocket, and praise and praise some more. I would say, Good girl, Potty outside. You have to have a word that you use all the time for going, it is also key so your dog will know what she is doing for all this praise. You can also take up their water after 6 or 7 pm, I don't do this myself, I just make sure she goes outside before she goes to bed. Basenjis can be stubborn, mine would try to go back inside before she went, like trick me into thinking she was sniffing the ground and head for the back door. These dogs are very intelligent, they will try to have the upper hand, you have to be in charge. There were times I would walk her around the yard, and walk some more, and be so tired of waiting, almost giving up and she would go, and boy would I praise then. I now have a doggie door, and it is a breeze, she goes out and comes back in. I also have underground fencing so as not to worry she will run off. If she went inside my house now I would know she was sick and off to the vet we would go. Once they have the idea it is there to stay. Good Luck, remember to be patient and have those treats ready, dogs don't remember anything past 30 seconds.

[nomrbddgs]

I just picked up a puppy last night and she was already starting to go in a box with shredded newspaper. Young and tired's right-consistency and patience are the key. After eating outside, before bed outside, when they wake up outside, in the middle of play outside-you get the picture. We're very wet up here because of the snow right now, so mine won't go outside for another few weeks-all kinds of nasties in the ground that she doesn't need right now. When she does go use the praise to death routine and the familiar Potty Outside thing. It does work! Good luck.

[Quercus]

@GriffinsMom:

Has anyone used belly bands to aid in housebreaking? Just wondering if there are any secret "tricks" to housebreaking a basenji.

I have heard people (other breeds) have really good results from belly bands…but I envision a Basenji ripping it off in seconds.

There are no tricks to housebreaking any dog, other than supervision, supervision, supervision.

I can't remember what Griffin's situation is? How old is he? How long have you had him? What are you currently doing for house training? Are you using a crate or tether?

On a personal note, our 14 week old puppy just started getting the hang of house training this week. We haven't been as vigilant as we could have been....but she has turned a corner. And she came to us with some substrate confusion (that means she prefered to pee and poop in her crate!) That isn't uncommon with pups that are born in the snowy frozen north!

[tanza]

Belly Bands are used for elderly dogs that have problems, typically not a puppy. As stated the key is consistancy… for house training... and if you have a doggy door all the better (however I don't nor would I ever trust undergroud fencing.... seen more then one dog and a number of Basenjis just "zap" right through it... especially if on the chase)

[youngandtired]

My underground fencing is very good, she will not go over it b/c I have trained her not to. If she did she would probably be dead, lots of cars go by and she chases them just shy of the fence. If she goes close the collar device will give off a beep. When we are playing fetch outside and I throw the ball and it goes near the fence line she will stay put. She looks at me as if to say, "Go get it Mommy, I'm not. It has been great for us, I work and so does my hubby, and Sahara loves to be outside when the sun is shinning.

[Quercus]

@youngandtired:

My underground fencing is very good, she will not go over it b/c I have trained her not to. If she did she would probably be dead, lots of cars go by and she chases them just shy of the fence. If she goes close the collar device will give off a beep. When we are playing fetch outside and I throw the ball and it goes near the fence line she will stay put. She looks at me as if to say, "Go get it Mommy, I'm not. It has been great for us, I work and so does my hubby, and Sahara loves to be outside when the sun is shinning.

Just an interesting related story…not a commentary. A client of mine has a dog that is very nicely trained to their underground fence. They had had it for a few months, and the dog had never attempted to cross it. But one night, it snowed over a foot, covered the flags. The dog went right through it, and took the shock! The "context" of the fence changed for her when the terrain looked different. Luckily, after the snow left, she hasn't tried to cross the fence again.