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Dog door

Basenji Training
  • Just wondering if anyone uses a dog door or since I am sure some of you do rather if you could point me in the right direction. My Basenji is just 12 weeks old; I want to get a door she will be able to use for the next few years so how big of a door should I get? The one for medium dogs has an opening that is 11 1/2 by 7". It says it is for a medium dog but the opening seems small. Will this be big enough for her in the long run?

  • That's what we have and it is priceless. We have that size and it is perfect for both my B and beagle. We have the one that is part of your sliding glass door. We had to put a heavy curtain over the door to try and keep from it getting to cold in this winter but it is still worth it.

  • Mine dog door is larger, probably 10-12 wide and at least 16 inches tall. Mine can go in and out at great speed, but no matter how they push and shove only one at a time can go through it. My dogs are mature, not escapers so they have full indoor and outdoor access 24/7.

  • Something to keep in mind about dog doors is that not just the dog may use it. An incredibly stupid squirrell came into my mom's house through the dog door. It didn't live long, the basenjis dispatched it in the house.

  • Mine is 11x8 and the dogs do just fine. Kate uses it like duck blind for squirrel hunting (I guess that would make it a squirrel blind). She sits watching for long periods of time until she has one close enough, or a gathering large enough to scatter, then pops through at a full run.

    I've never had a critter voluntarily enter through the pet door, but I've had Kate bring in her catch of the day 4 times.

  • is a dog door, of course if you have some kind of fencing. I have underground fencing, which I love, and Sahara does fine with it. My biggest laugh is when she puts the front half of her body out and looks out to see what is going on, and the rearend is in the house. It is so cute, I just love that curley tail.

  • @lvoss:

    Something to keep in mind about dog doors is that not just the dog may use it. An incredibly stupid squirrell came into my mom's house through the dog door. It didn't live long, the basenjis dispatched it in the house.

    LOL! That is too funny!

  • Strangest dog door experience for us: many years ago we had 5 basenjis. We were in the living room one rainy night and heard kibble crunching in the kitchen. We looked around and had all 5 dogs with us so I got up to see what was going on. A wet cat was eating kibble at the dog bowl, and before I could panic/figure out what to do, all the dogs ran in there and….nothing! They just looked at the cat and went back into the living room. These same dogs would have jerked my arm off if that cat had crossed the road near us on a walk, but on a cold rainy night, they called a truce and let it eat in peace. A bit later the rain stopped and the cat went back out.

  • Now that is compassion. I have only had my B for three weeks but what a character.

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    First, the pic of her in the too big (for now) vest is adorable!! @roguecoyote said in My dog snuck out the front door off leash tonight.: but I'm aware that extra weight isn't good for the breed, I think that the issue with the added weight is related to her age. Once she is fully grown (12-18 months?) she should be able to carry some supplies: a baggy of kibble, a typical water bottle.... Things you might want on hand if you were going to go for a hike in the woods. Just let her grow up a bit first so that her muscles and bones are strong enough.
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    "I can't think what you all mean! I sleep with Basenjis every day of my life - Yours with love," Jewel (16 and a half)"
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    Sounds neat Lisa, let us know how it goes if you try!
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    I am not sure how old you basenji is, but i found basic training very helpful at the park. Caesar could understand what i expected from him when out. crazy running is normal humping or biting is very poor conduct at any dog park no matter what size…it is an action often immitated and is to show dominance there is nothing wrong with a basenji that prounces around stiff when other dogs are sniffing them....that is there way of saying, " you may sniff, but not dominate me! I am basenji". the hair standing on the neck and back or posturing is another way the basenji asserts him or herself at the park.... typically hair standing means nervous or scared= i watch that more closely than posturing or puffing up.... i am weary of the large dog areas when there are more than one pits in the mix. they naturally translate the basenji running as game and will try to tag team as well as play more orally than i like. if your basenji is humping a lot and is fixed, the small dogs may not be providing enough exercise or stimuli.... I try to have my basenjis in dog pens with vislas, bird dogs and running physical dogs. chasing retrievers is a great way to burn that basenji energy when casear was young and had difficult times at the dog park that seemed only addressed by a time out, we would leave and tight leash walk together. as soon as he would pull i would stop walking until he sat. then we would walk again. i also used hide and seek at the dog park as another technique for the park. Both my boys know to keep me in sight at all times. this keeps them from going off and getting into too much trouble. i would hide behind a tree until they realized i was gone and they found me. also, leaving the park with the dog in the pen is another way to let them understand that they should keep you in their sites. i did that a few times when i had a friend there with me and they stayed in the dog area. there is nothing more annoying IMO than an owner with treats in the dog park. or an owner with a dog on a leash in a dog park. or a person holding their dog in the air in a dog park. or a small unsupervised screaming and running child. the best rule is to communicate well with your animal. realize that time at the fenced dog park is free time for them to learn how to socialize. i have learned that basenjis do guard. if i am standing in the dog park, they run, sniff and play. if i sit in the dog park they will post near me and not go to far away. have fun, try new techniques, and watch other dog owners and how they participate with their dogs. you may pick up some good tips and see bad behaviors that you may want to avoid. as socialization continues at the park, your basenji will adapt and learn how to communicate with the least amount of conflict, so they can sniff as many butts as possible....
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    He still paws it open prior to going through, but he goes through which is >>the important thing. LOL That's how our older cat goes through too! Jazzy goes {or went, since she's banned from them now} nose first and had to wiggle and squeeeeeeeeeeze the body through little by little. She looked ridiculous! LOL
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