Skip to content
Basenji Forums
  1. Home
  2. Basenji Training
  3. Doggie door and 'litter' box

Doggie door and 'litter' box

Basenji Training
  • KipawaK

    When we get our basenji, I would like to incorporate a dog door and was wondering if anyone has put one in that leads from the house to the garage where a doggie 'litter' box would be. Our dog would have free access at any time to the box.

    Has anyone had good success with a doggie door used for this purpose? Has anyone had good luck with the doggie litter box? What's the best filler for the box? Has anyone used clumpable cat litter? Or is that too fine a product. Thanks!

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • Tayda_LennyT

    I have Tayda trained to use a litter box when I am not home - since she has Fanconi and has to go very often. I put a thin layer of "Equine Pine," the stuff used for horse stalls in a large ~2ft x 3.5ft shallow tupperware. It took her just a day or two to learn to use it and no problems since then. She does not use it when I am home though….

    –--------------------------

    Michelle

    0
  • renaultf1R

    My puppy was litter trained. I had an xpen set up in my bedroom with her crate and a litter box for when I was at work. Worked like a charm. She never went to the bathroom in her crate and when good weather came I had no problem transitioning her to completely using the outdoors. Like Tayda's mom, I too used Equine Pine (you can get it cheap in big bags at Tractor Supply - much cheaper than the similar Feline Pine).

    With the doggie door and your b going out on its own to use the litter box, I would say that might be a stretch - especially if it is a puppy. I know my pup was never trusted to go on her own without me outside watching her. She would have been too distracted in the yard (she's a busy girl :D) and if I didn't watch her I know she would have come back in and pee'd. Many threads on here of new pup owners that have that happen, so instead of leaving it to chance, I just made sure to see her go to the bathroom.

    0
  • thunderbird8588T

    A thought for the future, i agree that you need to be out with the pup to make sure it goes. However we successfully used an existing Cat door with our adult Basenji, ours led into the garden but the theory is the same. He used to go in and our whenever.

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

    0
  • tanzaT

    I have a doggy door for my kids.. that said with baby puppies, took a bit of training till they used the door to go out… Problem with puppies is that they have to "go NOW"... to late for them to remember a doggy door is available. But they catch on pretty quickly

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

    0
  • KipawaK

    Thunderbird, what size (inches) is your cat door, because we currently have one on the door that leads to our garage - I just thought it looked a bit small for a basenji.

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0
  • thunderbird8588T

    @Kipawa:

    Thunderbird, what size (inches) is your cat door, because we currently have one on the door that leads to our garage - I just thought it looked a bit small for a basenji.

    Our Door is 7" high by 6" wide it was already in for the cats and Benji used it, in fact he charged through it with a tremendous clatter. Idealy it could have done to be bigger but he was quite a small male.

    Shelley

    Basenji Malaika

    Basenji Malaika
    Basenji Kwame

    0
  • KipawaK

    That's what our cat door is. I guess I can use it so long as it doesn't become too much of a squeeze for my future B.

    Fran Harder, BAB

    With Barney in my heart

    0

Suggested Topics

  • O

    Puppy Pee Pads/Litter Boxes

    Basenji Training
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    6k Views
    K
    We found that our Lela got used to peeing outside very fast - just over a week if I remember correctly. We started out with lots of newspapers on the floor, making it less every day until one piece remained. I recall only one or two mishaps inside.
  • S

    Litter box training

    Basenji Training
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    12k Views
    T
    Yes, they will use it for poop - but if they have diarrhea they might not be able to make it to the box! Of course, the best thing is to figure out what's causing the diarrhea, which I'm sure you are working on. Half an Immodium usually works for ours if it's a temporary stomach upset from eating something they shouldn't… Terry
  • c-busC

    Dog door

    Basenji Training
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    4k Views
    c-busC
    Now that is compassion. I have only had my B for three weeks but what a character.
  • JannekeJ

    First time 'off leash'

    Basenji Training
    28
    0 Votes
    28 Posts
    11k Views
    lvossL
    What is a "training leash"? Is it a long line? Long lines are great for teaching loose lead walking and working on recalls. Many people seem to think that walking a dog off leash is a good thing, when in reality it is in most places breaking the law. There are some places that you can walk your dog off leash without being in violation of the law but in many places there are not many safe places that you can walk your dog off leash. As Janneke said, a real benefit to working on a long line on recall is that if your pup ever does get out then you have a tool to get him back. Name response, coming to his name with various distractions and in various places could very well save his life some day. You can play the come game in the house having people in different rooms call his name and give a treat if he comes. You can work on a long line outside calling him between two people. Only treat if he comes when called not if he is just running back and forth between you. As for him listening to you, are you taking him to training classes? What is your role in training him? The more you work him, and the more consistently you work him, the more he will listen to you. You can start really by just taking a handful of one of his meals and just ask for some basics before giving him the main meal. Sit, down, stand, I practice targeting, what ever you may be working on until you have used your handful then when you are done ask for a sit and then you can give his bowl.
  • M

    Litter box training

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    senjiS
    Deke was litter box trained as a pup. I to did away with it, he doesn't have any weather issues. I still have it. Mybe I should try it for my new princess. Gracie will not go if its wet. I've cleaned up poop three times from her. She does pee outside…..I think...I haven't found any wet spots. We used that litter like yesterday's news. He pretty much stopped using it on his own he preferred outside but would use it from time to time.
  • C

    Travelling B's

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    senjiS
    Glad to hear the trip went well. I'm sure there are people on here that can tell you more, but Bs are about 17 inches at the shoulder. I use my crate all the time. Deke LOVES it. He'd rather sleep in there then with us! It's also his "safe" zone. I have two (human) girls 6 and 10 they are not allowed to bother him in there.. other kids that come over are also told to leave the him alone when in his crate. It is in our kitchen so he's always near us. He actually likes it covered(it's like a den), he's in it when ever we're not home and at night. When he goes to my parents it goes to and his bankets and the cover. He gets a treat most times he goes in. We trained him to go in with the command "crate" but "bed time" works at night. When he was little we just picked him up and put him in we said "crate, good boy" and gave him treats. He just learned to love it. Good Luck