Any advice???

[Jylly18]

Hello,
I have a question for everyone about Basenjis and what I can do with mine during the day. I live in Wisconsin and my husband and I adopted a basenji back in February. We are both teachers, and so when we were gone during the day we put Tosca in her crate until we got home from work. This worked wonderfully last year, she doesn't mind being in the crate at all, but I am worried about this upcoming year. I work in a city about 30 min from where we live, and this year my husband got a job there as well. Last year, when he worked here in town, he was always able to be home at 3:30 to let her out, so she was never in the crate for more than about 8 hrs. This year, with both of us leaving earlier and coming home later, it will be about 9, and that is if we dont' stop for any errands or anything on the way home.
Even though she is great about going in the crate, I still feel bad leaving her in there that long, so I am looking for some advice…

First, my husband was looking online and found a product his brother uses. Its a shock collar, you have a main base that you store in the garage and then the dog wears the collar, and gets shocked if she goes beyond a set radius from the base. Although it works well for his dog (a german shorthair) I have told him that I don't think those work for Basenjis and he disagreed, can anyone shed any light on this issue? I have heard both good and bad things about these for basenjis, and I don't know if it is something to try or not...

If not, does anyone have any ideas on what we can do with her while we are at work all day? I looked online at Xpens but they look too short, like she could get out. I would be willing to consider an outside pen also, I know it wouldn't work in winter but at least it might be good the majority of the year...and if an outside pen might be a good idea, does anyone have any recommendations as to what kind?

THe only thing I have found so far was a BIG crate at a pet shop in town. It is not as big as an outdoor pen, but it at least was much bigger than her current crate, however it was very tall, I wish they could have taken some height off and made it wider.

Like I said, any advice would be great, I am just starting to think ahead to next school year.

[dash]

Jylly18, Dash has had to be in his crate for 9-10 hrs every now and then. It is not an issue. We keep him and our other dog in an expen together and they do fine.

[achandl2]

Shock collar + basenji= very bad idea! At least in my experience. I never tried one on Manning because I tried it with Rascal. She quickly discovered that a running start would get her across the line in a flash. You might want to try using a baby gate to keep her in a "basenji" safe room while your gone. It works for my two although I've heard mixed reviews from other people.

[Jylly18]

Thanks for the tips! I thought the shock thing wouldn't work, but I just wanted to hear if anyone used it successfully. As for the baby gate, could your dog get over it? I always hear how they are good at climbing and getting over obstacles, I didn't know how that would work.
Thanks again!

[achandl2]

I think the climbing thing depends on the dog. I would say that it works for them 99% of the time. When it doesn't work they actually push it down instead of climbing. Try setting the gate up when your only going to leave for a short time first. That way it helps them get used to it. Also, when I am staying in one room and don't want the dogs wandering around the house without me I lock us all in the same room with the baby gate. Getting him to associate the gate with something other than you leaving will probably help. The possibility still exists he might climb over it but its worth giving it a shot. Good luck!

[dmcarty]

First leaving a basenji outside when someone is not home is not a good idea. if they get stuck in a fence chasing something you are in trouble. If you are looking for something to do inside - have you considered Doggy litter. I do know some people that have used it before quite successfully.

x-pens - you can get taller ones - I don't know how close you are to Dr. Foster and Smith warehouse but they have some great ones - tall and heavy. You can get extra panels and make a top. Clip it all the way around. If you've trained your dog to use litter - that could be in there too.

I will say though that my dogs have to do 9 hours almost every day during the school year. No real probems - but when I'm home they do have a huge yard.

You might also advertise for a dog walker and see if you can find someone in town to take your dog for a walk.

Where in Wisconsin are you?

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

Jack leaps over baby gates like its a small bump in his way, lol…but thats Jack...

[Jylly18]

Thanks again, everyone! Dmcarty, we live in Kiel, which is a small town in eastern WI, near Sheboygan, which is where we work. Maybe I shouldn't even worry so much then, I just thought there might be many more days than last year where she will be in the crate from about 7-4:30 or 5. Maybe we will try the baby gate when we are home and see how that works.
I was also looking on craigslist for an outdoor pen, and some people have one, but do you think I have to worry about her digging under it? I found one for only $175, that has 4 sides and a roof, but no bottom.

[srjeeper]

Are there any "Doggy Daycare's" in your area where you could put your B a day or two each week? That way the weekly crate routine would be broken up and you'd have certain days for your errands also.

[hdterry]

Shock collars do not go well with Bs. BRAT will not let you adopt a rescue from them if you plan on using one. In my personal opinion I think they are down right cruel and owners that use them should have their pet removed. I can understand your concern about leaving Tosca in a crate for 9 or more hours. Doggy daycare is a good alternative a few days a week. Good luck.

[dmcarty]

I actually have a shock collar story. The first basenji I placed in a wonderful home. As years went on they would go 'up north' which in Minnesota is almost anything north of the Twin Cities. IN any event - I found out after the fact that when they were up north (way up north in the middle of no where) they used a shock collar so that their dog could enjoy the great outdoors. There were very few cars up where they were. They found it to work very well - until it didn't. What had happened is that after using it all summer - they found that the dog stuck around so they didn't use it. The beginning of the next summer season - up they went and they opened the door (thinking that the dog had learned his boundaries from last year) He started running and ran out into the road that had probably 3 cars a day on it -and met his end. They thought that using the shock collar 'trained' him and didn't realize that for basenjis - there is a constant need to test boundaries. A hard lesson.

The concept of a shock collar is supposed to be a 'training' tool not a full time use tool - since basenjis are smart enough to know that there is no zap if the collar isn't on. It really doesn't work very well for them.

[ChaseandZahrasmom]

I work about 30 miles from my home and DH is in the military with odd hours or he is always gone. Both furkids are crated, seperate and do fine but I had the guilt feelings too so I have a pet nanny that comes in and takes them out on days that I have school at night or when I may have to work late. I also have our neighbors who have a key to our house and I can call if it looks like I am stuck in traffic and I am worried.

We do doggie day care at a few places a couple times a month as well.

I know what you mean about the guilt feeling though, but I know that I can't trust either one of them out of the crate without supervision.

[tanza]

9 hours is not that horrible for an adult Basenji… but while I would never use a shock collar or an underground fence, it is down right cruel, IMO and I would never trust one..period... ... I would not put them in an outdoor pen unless set up like a regular kennel with indoor and outdoor access. Like was said, you can buy x-pens and put tops on them.. this is what people who go to dog shows do all the time.... Litter box training is an idea too... of course the best idea would be doggy day care, or hire a neighbor kid to walk her every afternoon.....

[MaxBooBooBear]

I have one bedroom in my house that is my dogs' room when I'm away from the house. I shut the door, and there is pretty much nothing in the room except except their blankets, water, and my computer desk and a bookcase that I enclose in an X pen so that Tyler and Zoey can't get into any trouble. Then there's a dog door to the backyard which also has an X pen set up so that they are limitied to where they can go in the backyard unless I'm at home and open it up. Zoey does not like to do her #2 business anywhere in the enclosed backyard area–so I always have to open up the backyard X pen let them out in the a.m. before I leave so that she can do her morning business (otherwise, she does it in the front room at the opposite end of the house). Then the X pen in the backyard gets closed before I leave the house. My backyard is also fenced all around, but none of my dogs has ever tried to get over the X pen (I have the tall size).

[lvoss]

@Jylly18:

First, my husband was looking online and found a product his brother uses. Its a shock collar, you have a main base that you store in the garage and then the dog wears the collar, and gets shocked if she goes beyond a set radius from the base. Although it works well for his dog (a german shorthair) I have told him that I don't think those work for Basenjis and he disagreed, can anyone shed any light on this issue? I have heard both good and bad things about these for basenjis, and I don't know if it is something to try or not…

Basenjis do not tend to do well with a shock collar. Many are willing to take the shock if they feel the pay off is big enough. Not only that they do not protect your dog from some other animal coming into your yard and doing your dog harm.

@Jylly18:

If not, does anyone have any ideas on what we can do with her while we are at work all day? I looked online at Xpens but they look too short, like she could get out. I would be willing to consider an outside pen also, I know it wouldn't work in winter but at least it might be good the majority of the year…and if an outside pen might be a good idea, does anyone have any recommendations as to what kind?

X-pens come in different heights and you can buy a top.

http://homeandkennel.petedge.com/catalog/thumbnail.jsp?No=18&parentCategoryId=194&N=2452&subCategoryId=381&categoryId=310

Another option to doggy daycare is a dog walker. My petsitter also does dog walking and actually there are a lot more dog walkers locally than petsitters. My mom has used a dog walker for her dogs especially for her 15 year old lab who needed walks every 3 hours.

Other things to think about is coordinating so if one of you needs to run errands one day that they other person is not so the days are fairly consistent in length.

[luzmery928]

I undersatnd how u feel. There are days my B has to be crated for 9 hrs as well and we hate it but it's better than any other option especially for safety reasons. Just remember that dogs spend most of there day sleeping so it should be fine. I do recommend that on days when this happens (even if it is everyday), try taking your B for a longer walk.

[Duke]

@luzmery928:

Just remember that dogs spend most of there day sleeping so it should be fine.

It's true!! We both work and my two are crated all day - 9 hours, Mon - Fri. When I come home, they're groggy but ready to get out, stretch and go outside. They get lots of exercise zooming around and around. Before you know it, they're tired and ready for bed like the rest of us. Weekends are the way things should be - not crated and with us most of the time. I wish they didn't have to be crated so long, but can't feel too sorry for them, because they have a very good life with lots of love, chewy's and activity. I am lucky that they accept their crates (beds) and know the routine on the days everyone gets up early. I should also mention, that we normally get up early 5 am and they get lots of inside / outside opportunity and exercise before being crated at 7:30 am.

Good luck to you both Jylly18!

[youngandtired]

To start, NO ONE here likes underground fencing, so you won't get much support here for those. I myself, have underground fencing, and I love it. Sahara, my B will not jump the fence, yes she tried at first but now she does not at all. Once your dog knows where the boundaries are it will not go to near, there is a warning before the shock, the collar will beep twice to let the dog know to back off. Sahara takes off when the beeping starts, she has learned. Yes, I hated it when I would see her try it, but she doesn't anymore. I was at my neighbors last week talking in their yard, Sahara was standing in my driveway whinning for me, she did not jump the fence. Of course she was rewarded for that. Lots of hugs and kisses for being such a good girl. Sahara is home with my hubby until he goes to work at 3:00pm, I work in the mornings, so she is usually sleeping when I come home at 5:00pm. If I didn't have the fencing she would have been hit by a car by now. She loves to chase cars and will just shy of the fencing, the car comes by and Sahara is off chasing the length of my yard. When I run errands I do not worry about her being in the yard, I don't have other animals in my yard, it is against the law here to let an animal run free. I live on a busy street, so yes I like underground fencing, it has saved my Sahara's life many times. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. haha!!!!:D

[tanza]

@youngandtired:

To start, NO ONE here likes underground fencing, so you won't get much support here for those. I myself, have underground fencing, and I love it. Sahara, my B will not jump the fence, yes she tried at first but now she does not at all. Once your dog knows where the boundaries are it will not go to near, there is a warning before the shock, the collar will beep twice to let the dog know to back off. Sahara takes off when the beeping starts, she has learned. Yes, I hated it when I would see her try it, but she doesn't anymore. I was at my neighbors last week talking in their yard, Sahara was standing in my driveway whinning for me, she did not jump the fence. Of course she was rewarded for that. Lots of hugs and kisses for being such a good girl. Sahara is home with my hubby until he goes to work at 3:00pm, I work in the mornings, so she is usually sleeping when I come home at 5:00pm. If I didn't have the fencing she would have been hit by a car by now. She loves to chase cars and will just shy of the fencing, the car comes by and Sahara is off chasing the length of my yard. When I run errands I do not worry about her being in the yard, I don't have other animals in my yard, it is against the law here to let an animal run free. I live on a busy street, so yes I like underground fencing, it has saved my Sahara's life many times. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. haha!!!!:D

Maybe it works for your dog… but I still would never take that chance, especially if I was not home... and while it works for you... it is certainly not for 90% of Basenjis (and in my opinion.. no dog)... again while your dog may stay within the bounds... it keeps NO ONE/NO CRITTER/NO OTHER DOGS out of your yard.....even a human could come in and easily steal or hurt your dog... Oh and by the way.... fine that it is required that animals don't run free... and of course we all know how well people respect some laws....

[MaxBooBooBear]

@tanza:

… Oh and by the way.... fine that it is required that animals don't run free... and of course we all know how well people respect some laws....

And even when people do their best to comply with the law, there are so many times when dogs get free unintentionally.