Skip to content

Morning Tantrum in Crate

Basenji Training
  • I think she is just going thru an adjustment period. The most important part is to never let her out of her crate, or pay attention to her when she is screaming in her crate.

    It is a good sign that she is fussing when you leave, it means that she is bonding with you, and doesn't want you to leave. Keep in mind that it probably wasn't her choice to leave her last family…and she may have some separation anxiety because she is wondering where they went. But no matter how heart wrenching that is, you have to be firm on the rules of no attention when fussing, and not baby her. She will get used to your routine soon.

    Tell your co workers that all that noise is normal :) I feel your pain! Hang in there!

  • Thanks for the support. I think you're right about her having separation anxiety. Whenever my husband or I leave the house, the other is left with a panicky little girl.

    I think we're going to have to be really strategic about when we crate her. I have a feeling that if she put up another fuss when my co-workers were there, they would be very unhappy. I should have warned them ahead of time. They were sort of left having to answer questions and they didn't know what to say. It was a surprise to them that this could happen.

    I actually went and talked to the neighbors and they were really understanding. At first they thought a baby was being abused. They were just worried about Lola's safety.

  • Hmmm, many a Basenji owner has been accused to "beating" children when their Basenji is unhappy!!! So much for so many of these web sites that say they are quiet???… NOT

  • lovinglola, I feel your pain. Dash did that at first when he was small. I agree with Andrea that she is adjusting. Please be patient. I think a routine of when she gets in the crate would help or even put her in there when you are home but only for a minute and let her out only when she calms down. But chew toys and something she can destroy will help her stay busy for a while. Good luck.

  • @LovingLola:

    Thanks for the support. I think you're right about her having separation anxiety. Whenever my husband or I leave the house, the other is left with a panicky little girl.

    I think we're going to have to be really strategic about when we crate her. I have a feeling that if she put up another fuss when my co-workers were there, they would be very unhappy. I should have warned them ahead of time. They were sort of left having to answer questions and they didn't know what to say. It was a surprise to them that this could happen.

    I actually went and talked to the neighbors and they were really understanding. At first they thought a baby was being abused. They were just worried about Lola's safety.

    Did Katie say whether crating was an issue at Lola's former home? If so, you might need to retrain her to staying in a crate. But it sounds like she often stays in there quietly, right? Is there somewhere you can place her crate where it is less likely to be heard if she screams?

    It usually best to come up with a crate routine for each time you leave. Make it sweet and simple. Chew treats (kongs, bones, stuffed with yummies) put in, dog goes in for a food reward, you say 'bye, be good' and walk out the door. The more stressed you get, and the more you fuss over her, the more her anxiety rises. Also, there is the DAP diffusers you could try. They diffuse some sort of dog calming pheremone. Lots of people have used them with quite a bit of success. Google it and you will find plenty of info.

    I think the more strategic you get, the more stress it causes…just do what you need to do...give it a couple weeks, let your co-workers know it will get better...and see where you are then.

  • LovingLola I have used the DAP diffusers and it has worked for both anxiety in the crate and also with anxious peeing in the crate.

    For some reason my dogs started a delayed reaction to separation anxiety. I couldn't explain it..they were fine for 4 months & then it was madness. But the advice here is very helpful. Don't make a big fuss about putting her in OR taking her out.

    I also think the DAP has helped quite a bit too. Topaz was having some consistent peeing & pooping :eek: in the crate for reasons I couldn't explain. Once I started using the DAP it's over & she's great. She goes in lays down & we say good bye.

  • I didn't talk to Katie about crate issues, but I think I will. Now that I think of it, she is quiet at night, but we haven't crated her much more than that.

    I think the idea of starting small, sort of retraining her, is a good idea. We're going to start with small incriments of time, with toys and a kong. We're also going to do it at a better time, like Saturday at lunch, when fewer people are around to be bothered. Oh, and my husband noticed our bedroom window was open, so that was probably part of why everyone could hear her so well. Ooops.

    I've never heard of DAP diffusers, but I will definitly give it a try. Anxiety does seem to be her biggest difficulty right now.

    At least the mornings are much better. The whole letting her out to pee and then letting her sleep on the bed thing is working great.

  • I'm starting to wonder if Lola is testing our boundries in the morning and doesn't really have to pee. For the last couple weeks, she's been waking up early (between 4-6am) and before she starts putting up a fuss, we take her out to potty. Then she wanders back into the crate and sleeps for a couple more hours with the door open. We stopped letting her on the bed after she woke up, because it was making the evenings tougher. She wanted to get in the bed right away. (Of course when she looks at me with those longing eyes and paws at the bed, I just want to scoop her up with us and snuggle the bejeezus out of her :D )

    Last night, for a couple reasons, we let her sleep all night in the crate with the door open. She sleep the longest ever, not having to go potty until I was actually ready to get up. So, I wonder if it's such a terrible thing to let her sleep with the door open. On one hand, I don't want to "ruin" her crate training. On the other hand, last night was the easiest night ever!

  • As they say, whatever works… but of course "if" she decides to just get up and "come" into bed by herself.. she can..... And really they do catch on to the morning snuggles.... without making a mess out of crate training...

  • Also, what if she decides to go see what she can chew on while she waits for you to wake up and let her outside to pee.
    Oh, there are so many reasons I can think of not to let her free at night, and my Jenny is a pretty good basenji when compared to the descriptions of "typical". Lola is obviously comfortable with the crate, and trying to figure out how to manipulate you ("shaped your behavior" in clicker training lingo) into not crating or leaving her.
    @Quercus:

    I think she is just going thru an adjustment period. The most important part is to never let her out of her crate, or pay attention to her when she is screaming in her crate.

    It is a good sign that she is fussing when you leave, it means that she is bonding with you, and doesn't want you to leave. Keep in mind that it probably wasn't her choice to leave her last family…and she may have some separation anxiety because she is wondering where they went. But no matter how heart wrenching that is, you have to be firm on the rules of no attention when fussing, and not baby her. She will get used to your routine soon.

    Tell your co workers that all that noise is normal :) I feel your pain! Hang in there!

    IF you break down and let her out while fussing, you will be reinforcing the fussing behavior. Also you will be strengthening the behavior, thus making it more difficult to extinguish or change. AND if you wait longer and longer (and while the fussing escalates) before breaking down and giving in, you WILL increase the intensity of the fussing.
    Be strong, breathe deep, use earplugs if necessary, and RELAX. It helps to be cool and aloof about the situation.

Suggested Topics

  • Diggs Crate?

    Basenji Training 4 Jan 2021, 22:15
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    3k Views
    Hey. I have my first Basenji and the diggs crate is great but I must admit it is heavy and bulky to take up and down the stairs. I had to buy an additional crate for travel because it was becoming too much. If you were looking for something to travel with I definitely wouldn’t recommend it especially because it is expensive. My puppy loves it though since he can see everything from it but you could get that from another crate.
  • Peeing in the crate

    Basenji Training 20 Nov 2010, 15:51
    0 Votes
    76 Posts
    26k Views
    @Janneke: Sorry.. but she hates her crate… and she has to be in it for 8 hours a day... And you don't walk her in the morning...? I would start with making sure your dog is tired in the morning before you put her in her crate. And maybe you can try to leave her loose in the house so she can move around? This is not only to you, but I read it so often on this forum that dogs spend entire days in their crates... I just don't understand that people can put their dogs in crates 8+ hours a day (I'm not including nights..) I agree with Janneke here - if she hates her crate, she may pee in it because she gets extremely unhappy there. Not all dogs need to be crated - I've never had a dog who was crated, and the two I have now are loose when we're gone because Shaye, who was 10 weeks when we got her, always hated it, never changed, and started breaking baby teeth on it. When we leave we leave them with a treat to get their immediate attention, and they usually sleep or keep themselves busy, with no damage or upset. Of course, we aren't usually gone more than 6 hours when we leave them.
  • Crate

    Basenji Training 1 Jul 2009, 09:27
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    I have the same story as nobarkus - we moved our first puppy's crate around a few times. Even from a full backyard view to a shared front bay window view (had to make room for B #2), she's always been pretty good. I think as long as the pup understands crate = happy place, you'll be fine with wherever. I used & still use treats. And to my much appreciated surprise, my little crate hater boy has become the model crated B of the 2 - he was soooooo vocal during his first month, but now he just lounges - and now my female is the whiner. :p
  • 0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    Our dogs do wander in and out of each other crates. They will even lay down in the others crates. Having said that, I am of the opinion that each dogs individual crate should be their own safe place. I know our Boston uses hers as a place to retreat when she does not wish to be bothered by the Basenji or just senses she needs to be out of the way. Roo our Basenji actually seems to respect that and will usually leave her be. Of course her crate is smaller so it would be difficult for both of them to be in it at once. Jason
  • Crate suggestions

    Basenji Training 6 Mar 2008, 02:22
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    @tanza: Do you use a wire crate? I have always used General Cage Crates.. and they have lasted for many, many years… I have ones that are 16 yrs old that are just in great condition. http://www.generalcage.com/Shopping/default.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1 We use wire crates too. The tray in the bottom locks so they can't push it out and its hard to destroy :D
  • Pooping in the crate

    Basenji Training 5 Jan 2007, 14:55
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    6k Views
    You might also try a small crate… if the crate is too large, then they can poop or pee in one part and still have a clean area in another...