Basenji, I'm Overwhelmed…..HELP!!!

[Shaye's Mom]

Do try letting him sleep with you, rather than crating him - mine would not stand for crating, screamed her head off, did her business where she was and outside the crate, broke puppy teeth - when I just let her go to bed with me (a walk before bedtime is a must for emptying), she was just fine and never made a mess. We got up and walked her, and there's been no probem. As to the separation anxiety he is exhibiting, he is still a little guy, and you have to be patient with the crating, I understand. We never did solve that problem, some dogs just can't be crated. All the problems, crating, separation anxiety, destruction, went away when we got her a companion. Some basenjis just can't deal with being alone. BUT many do, and well, so take the advice of those who have successfully overcome the problems, but don't feel like a failure if it's you who have to adjust.

[jonny b.]

ps. i know they are quiet because my husband has battled cancer for the last 8 years and the last 2 years he is home in bed much of the day. so he is there to hear them and never does. but they dont hear him either… and our neighbors have commented often how much they enjoy watching the dogs from their window and how the dogs really are satisfied and happy in the outside kennel.

[Kananga]

One thing worth mentioning… my B is pretty much 100% crate phobic. He has been since day 1. I accidentally gave him full roam of my home during the first couple weeks that I had him and I came home to a happy B and not a single thing moved/destroyed. Ever since he has been given full roam w/o problems (occasional furniture chewing when he was still a puppy, but it was minor and he outgrew that quickly).

Sometimes you have to experiment to see what works best. Dogs are just like us regarding preferences. Some will be fine with crates, others not so much. I think all the opinions shared thus far provide an excellent direction in where to go with this issue.

[Basenjimamma]

Pippin hates his crate too…if the door is closed...but he has learned to deal with it in short spurts..like a two-3 hours or so..more and he goes balistic..at night he sleeps where he wants, mostly in bed with our son or in his crate with the door open..if left in his crate I leave teh radio on and give him some crate only toys, seems to work OK..

[Maya]

Maya never had a problem with her crate, she was always really quiet but I do agree with the others about over-crating and, as I was working when I got Maya as a pup and she was crated during the day, she was allowed to sleep in bed from 9 weeks old

An alternative might be to have the crate in your bedroom if you dont actually want him in the bed.

[DexterDex]

At first we tried to get Dexter to sleep in his crate which was right beside our bed, and after a little while of whining he usually fell asleep in it (we had to dangle our fingers into the top of the kennel so that he could smell us), but we shortly after realized that letting him sleep with us was easier for all of us, as he slept much longer without waking up or wanting to go out to potty (he knew not to ever potty in our bed so that was no problem) and we didn't have to spend the first 20 minutes of bedtime trying to calm him/wait for the whining to end…not to mention it is nice snuggling with him. Also, I DEFINITELY know what you mean by the whining/screeching it drove me crazy too at first, and at times I was just thinking to myself PLEASE, PLEASE JUST LET IT STOP, I just want to take a shower in peace! BUT then something magical happened...we discovered kong and kong paste. We started putting kong past into a kong and putting it in his kennel (that was the only time he would get it so that it would only be associated with the kennel) and it didn't take long at all before he saw us take the kong out of the pantry and he would run into his kennel without us having to touch him or say a word. I think it also has to do with the fact that he just got used to being in there from time to time and realized that mommy would always come back to let him out soon enough. With time and his favorite treat it all worked out pretty quickly! Hope things get better for you guys too, soon!

[dcmclcm4]

If you do not feed him in his crate, I would do that. All my Bs get fed in their crates and they will go to the crate when I am carrying the bowls. The crate is always positive.

All my Bs sleep with me. I got Arnie when he was 3 1/2 months old and he was with his littermate at the auction in the same wire crate. I had to stop overnight at a motel and he slept with me in bed but when I went to take a shower and he was crated in the other room, he started making a lot of noise. I moved the crate in the bathroom and I talked to him while taking the shower! Now he will yodel sometimes with the other dogs and he is 10 years old.

When he was a little older I took him to doggy day care because even though I came home at lunch, I did not think he was getting enough socialization and activity. I think this also helped in crate training.

Jennifer

[gbroxon]

I never could get Magnum used to his crate (although his breeder, when she was showing him, had no problems whatsoever…but, then again, he wasn't alone when he was with her...there were other Bs crated near him), although I gave it a wondrous try. Since I couldn't take off anymore time from work to work on the issue, my DH built him an indoor/outdoor kennel. Magnum still doesn't like to be alone, but handles it much better when he has room to roam (and an outdoor spot for those outdoor "activities.")

That said, I'm all for crating if it can be done, at least until the B has matured into a "responsible" adult. LOL!

[agilebasenji]

I hope our OP is still around. It seems to me that often basenjis go through a phase of crate-hating. I think Susan Garrett's dvd Crate Games could help, but I also agree with many of the other posters that if the pup is crated during a normal work day, being crated at night is too much. Sometimes pups perfer a wire to a plastic crate (or visa-versa), sometimes an xpen is needed if the dog needs a little more room. Zest now loves her crate, but she did go through a crate-hating phase. Feeding in the crate and Crate Games did help with that. She will still sometimes pitch a fit (ripping up bedding) if crated at work or agility trials, but at home she's very good and she's usually good in the car. As far as crating the pup while you take a shower, I would give Z a really good chewie and she'd come into the bathroom with me while I showered. Of course now she will run into the bathroom anytime I'm carrying clothes, but I don't mind.

[wizard]

The day-time crating will have to be relearned (the Crate Games reference will definitely help) and made into a fun thing. It will take some work but can be done. Feed in crate (with door open at first if necessary), throw treats in crate so pup has to go in to retrieve, whatever to make it a fun place. The kong is also a wonderful invention. Make everything you do with the pup FUN FUN FUN.

[Basenji_noob]

I have stopped crating him at night. It seems to be working better but while he's in the crate during the day does he ever stop screeching? He's screeching when I leave and screeching when i get back. please tell me he doesnt do that all day and also please tell me that he'll grow out of the screeching stage when my girlfriend and I aren't around.

[Kananga]

@Basenji_noob:

I have stopped crating him at night. It seems to be working better but while he's in the crate during the day does he ever stop screeching? He's screeching when I leave and screeching when i get back. please tell me he doesnt do that all day and also please tell me that he'll grow out of the screeching stage when my girlfriend and I aren't around.

As others have mentioned, it's something you'll have to work with your B on improving.

I don't know if he'll "grow out of it". More than likely it could get worse if left as-is. I only crated my Basenji for a week and a half until I realized it just wasn't meant to be. His anxiety got worse every day it seemed.

I think moving away from crating at night will help. There's no doubt about that, but you will have to do some crate training to improve the crating during the day. There is some great advice in this thread alone.

[DexterDex]

@Basenji_noob:

I have stopped crating him at night. It seems to be working better but while he's in the crate during the day does he ever stop screeching? He's screeching when I leave and screeching when i get back. please tell me he doesnt do that all day and also please tell me that he'll grow out of the screeching stage when my girlfriend and I aren't around.

It's not just going to stop by itself. He could get used to it with time, like many have said, and doing things to make the crate a funner place for him will help also. You've just got to put in the effort. Then again, as also said, some don't ever like it apparently… You never know till you give it a good try though. There are many great ideas in the thread so far...

[Maya]

Is he your only dog?

When I crate mine I always try to put another one in with them so they are not alone. If you have another friendly dog that could be company for him that would probably help a lot.

Also, how big is the crate? Does he have space to move around, play with his toys, a seperate area to pee on and one to sleep on? I think Maya's baby crate was about 4ft so she had plenty of room and didnt feel claustrophobic in it. She will now happily sleep (alone when necessary) in a smaller crate with no problems.

[Basenji_noob]

Thanks to everyone to who has commented and helped my girldfriend and I with our Basenji pup situation. I am gonna start feeding him in his crate and I will try these crate games to see if this helps. Also I bought a kong with some peanut butter flavoured Kong paste, that will be his crate only toy for when I leave for work.

Any pointers on how to begin over again with crate training? Can I put the crate in another room to do this or should i begin with where it is now(which is in my bedroom, beside my bed.).

If anyone has any more suggestions please keep them coming.

Again, everyone has been a big help and thank you all very much!!

[dcmclcm4]

What type and size of crate are you using? Some dogs like a wire crate so they can see out while others like a travel crate which makes it darker.

Jennifer

[DexterDex]

Well when I started with the kong, his crate was moved to another room, but it was really just because it was in the way where it was before; I'm really not sure if that had anything to do with the improvement however. It may or may not have. Many people say to leave the crate where you and your family will be for the most part of the day so that he may go in and out of it to get treats/toys as he pleases, but I didn't do that. I put his crate into a room that we never go into unless it's to crate him and it wasn't a problem at all. My reason for doing that is because sometimes I crate him while guests are over or because I need to do something in the living room and I can't let him around and if his crate were where he could see me he would not want to stay in it and would cry, but in the other room he didn't even know I was home so it was ok with him. I think that with all the other steps you are taking/plan to take, you can probably leave the crate wherever you choose. Good luck, I'll be hoping for you!

[Basenji_noob]

im using a wire crate for medium size dogs. 2ft x 3ft x 21/2ft. The kong and kong paste failed. He had no interest in it whatsoever. Frozen oatmeal in the kong also didnt work at all. I moved his crate into the living room and he seems to kinda like hanging out in there. My issue with this is that we cant put him in there while we are at home to shower or anything because if he can hear us he's screeching. The crate retraining isnt going so well. He likes his crate but will only like it on his own terms. High value treats dont seem to interest him when its having to do with going in the crate. He can hold his bladder throughout the night however he gets quite restless in the morning hours but still doesnt get up or whine just moving around to get comfortable, which i understand is not a problem just annoying.

Since i have gotten buddy my stomach has been in knots to the point where i cant eat, i feel sick to my stomach all day and have trouble sleeping. I realize this is not a B problem but was wondering if anyone can relate to my situation. Im not sure if this has anything to do with buddy specifically but im having trouble getting back to my usual self. This issue has only came to light since getting my buddy. Anyone understand or relate to this….

[nomrbddgs]

My personal thoughts are 1) DON'T TAKE THIS PERSONALLY!! You are stressing too much over the crate issue which is why your stomach is in knots. Have your tried an x-pen? Sometimes it also makes a difference, as Jennifer stated, between a wire crate and a plastic crate. You will need to crate train him for the car, or if you go away, however, so I would keep trying with the crate.

Back to square one. Feed him in the crate. Start with the door open and then slowly adjust it so the door is closed, then locked. Then, after eating, or while he is in the middle of eating, take him outside for a potty break and put him back in for a couple of minutes. I have one girl who will scream, throw herself, do a Linda Blair exorcist routine, poop, throw it, etc while crated in my house. However, in the car, or in a hotel room, she is not bad. In the hotel room, when I leave she settles down and is quiet. Most dogs, in my experience, will settle down after 10-15 min of you being gone and are quiet, then, when they hear you, they start back up again. So you may think they are screaming the whole time, when they are actually not.

Sometimes toys, foods work, sometimes they don't. I had to ride it out with my youngest boy. He's a year now and he's just settling into a crate routine. If I say crate, he will go in and be quiet, but it took about a year.

There are no magic bullets. Some people are also great at crate training, some people are not so good. I'm not the greatest, but persistence is my key. Also, take him for rides in the car, in the crate. IMO this helps also.

[tanza]

I didn't go back and read all, but have you talked to Buddy's breeder? What was the situation he was in before you got him?

And another consideration, considering your level of stress over this situation is that maybe it would be best to return the pup to the breeder. Perhaps this is not the best breed of dog for you. Remember, animals pick up on their human's emotions…. and if you are that stressed out, believe me, they know it.