IMO it is a myth that Basenjis cannot have good manners on a walk. Yes, great if you can do off leash, but when circumstances dictate that a leash is necessary then walking calmly without a lot of drama and pulling should be achievable. Personally I do not like long lines or flex leashes. Or allowing dogs to eat whatever they find on the ground, which can in some cases earn you a trip to the vet or worse. Like most dogs, Basenjis are not overly discriminant about what they will ingest. A short leash and being observant can protect them from unwelcome outcomes. Mental exercise will also go a long way with any dog. But one should have a definite opinion about who is running the show, and it should not be the dog....they are quite willing to take up the position should you abdicate.
Wet grass/rain issue
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So since June when I got Basil we haven't had much rain and it was usually over night. Today was the first day where it was raining since late after noon and is still going. Usually we spend a lot of time outside but today we played inside. However, he hasn't had a BM since this morning and usually goes at least twice a day. Right now he's continually whining and I know it's because he has to go to the bathroom. Since his dinner I've taken him out about 10 times, trying to get him to go. He's gone pee twice but won't go poo. He whines the entire time and runs in every direction until his leash line yanks him back. I've tried going out there with him and playing to comfort him, I've tried taking the line and pretending to walk him. He just whines and isn't interested. When we get inside he whines and whines and tries to look out the window and whines. I've tried laying out a puppy pad as well thinking maybe he'd go on it but he refuses to. He's now in his kennel but periodically whines… I don't want this fear of wet grass and refusal to eliminate on it carry into adulthood... what can I do? I even had my older dog go out with him and she eliminated but he wouldn't... what do I do for my poor boy?
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Take him for a walk on the leash. B's HATE the rain and getting their feet wet. It will suck for you because you have to take him out in it, but suck it up and put on a rain jacket and go for a 1/2 hour walk. We had to do that all the time whenever it was raining when we lived in the city. It was the only way to make them go.
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Take him for a walk on the leash. B's HATE the rain and getting their feet wet. It will suck for you because you have to take him out in it, but suck it up and put on a rain jacket and go for a 1/2 hour walk. We had to do that all the time whenever it was raining when we lived in the city. It was the only way to make them go.
So I did what you said… we went for a walk.. I don't mind being out in the rain at all... I used to love playing soccer in the rain. Anyway, i took him to the park and he had TWO bm's lol and one pee.. i knew he had to go! I just didn't like that he was whining, i felt bad for him. So he's gone and now he's in bed sleeping soundly. Thank you!.... I can't wait for the winter... I live in Winnipeg... we have about six months of straight winter... snow all the time. Should I invest in some booties and a jacket now? lol
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I spent over an hour in the rain with Cara, she was soaked I was soaked she cried– no way would she go. I gave up. If she poops on the back porch, she poops on the porch. I never imagined I would have a dog I could NOT teach to go out once I got the feet wet-- but I give up. I have never owned a dog that hates the wet ground like she does. Fortunately she WILL go on the walk or porch, so such is life. Hopefully your dog will continue to do better. I have fought this with her for a year and have finally accepted that her holding it til she gets diarrhea (I even MATCH STICKED her, and it didn't work) isn't the solution. I don't often fail in training, but this one, she has trained me.
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(I even MATCH STICKED her, and it didn't work) isn't the solution. I don't often fail in training, but this one, she has trained me.
As a last resort, I'll use a match. Just a paper one, and not the "business" end, but it usually works for me. (one good thing I learned from show people!) But we are lucky here, since I have a barn and a hay shed. Taking him inside the hay shed in wet weather or when it is too cold outside usually does the trick. (it's just as cold in the shed, but out of the wind and his feet don't get so cold on the hay….saves me putting on his boots when I'm in a hurry!).
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HAHAHA!! I am glad that he went for you. I found that they kind of get excited just going for a walk and forgot all about the rain and wet grass. But if it was our own yard they would just stand and stare at you like you were killing them, holding up one paw. As for the winter, I live in northern Alberta and it can get to like -40 C here, I have tried booties but for the amount of time they spend outside to go its not worth it. I do however put jackets on them when it gets colder than -20. They like the snow because it's just cold on their feet, not wet. We shovelled them paths around the yard so that the snow was hard-packed and they would zip out the doggy door, do their business and then come whistling in to lay in front of the wood stove again!
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But if it was our own yard they would just stand and stare at you like you were killing them, holding up one paw.
OMG! That is PRECISELY what the drama queen does, hold up one foot and cry. I wish I had a shed. I have thought about putting a tarp or cover over one area…hmm.. that may be a solution but the problem is the yard slopes ever so slightly downward... Have to think about that. Maybe one wrap around area that would work for.
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We have done the tarp thing for them before as well. Took it off of our deck and attached it. They didn't mind that but first you had to get them down the stairs to even go under there!!
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We do have a shed and mine run through the rain and into the dry to poo. Luckily they've learnt from each other.
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[QAs a last resort, I'll use a match. Just a paper one, and not the "business" end, but it usually works for me.
Okay, I think I can figure this out, but I have to ask in case I am wrong. Using a match?
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I have told this on myself before; when it is an all-day rain, we load dogs up and drive about 5 miles to an overpass that is almost a block long, we park and walk back and forth under the highway. The dogs are very happy and get completely emptied out, then we go home dry. Fortunately we only have to resort to this a couple of times a year, most of our rains are only a few hours at most!
We have a dog park much closer and they will go there in a light rain, much easier than trying to drag them around the block.I think a tarp in the back yard is a great idea!
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http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/matching.html (You can use vasoline instead of spit and while I have HEARD the sulfur end works to make the dog need to poop, I do not use the sulfur end!)
How To Match Your Dog To Make It Poop
Take one or two paper matches and put the sulfur tips briefly in your mouth to wet them.
Straddle your dog facing its butt.
Pull the tail out of the way and insert the now wet sulfur tips of the matches in your dog’s anus. Deep enough that just the ends of the matches are visible and hang out just a tiny bit.
Release the dog.
Usually the dog will start squatting almost immediately to expel the matches. If the dog doesn’t, then you can repeat the steps above.
Do not insert more than 4 matches at a time. Rarely do you need to use 4 matches but some dogs are more stubborn than others.
When the dog squats to expel the matches, it will usually poop too. Don’t forget to clean up after your dog.
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Voodoo doesn't like stepping out of the house when it's raining, but once we are walking he is fine with it. We have been walking in the rain most of the week (and it's supposed to be summer…).
Wet grass isn't a problem at all. I can make him sit, lay down, stay in it...
He even likes playing in the water, and even an occasional swim. -
[QAs a last resort, I'll use a match. Just a paper one, and not the "business" end, but it usually works for me.
Okay, I think I can figure this out, but I have to ask in case I am wrong. Using a match?
Just what you think…....insert it very gently. Usually it's enough of an irritant that it induces them to get down to business.
I like to just use the paper ones, as it seems to work for me. A breeder I know sends everyone out in the backyard with matches in their butts on rainy days, then she knows who has and who hasn't!Oh, I see Debra has already covered this.....
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Can you put up one of those 'Easy Up' tents or some sort of umbrella so the grass or a patch of sand is there for the elimination on those kind of days. Uzie's previous owner told me that Uzie would not eliminate outside when the weather was foul (Tenn). The first time it rained here in Fl after his arrival, I luckily had a canopy erected. I promptly wrapped him in a 'blankey', carried him out about the 30yards to the canopy, and put him down on the dry sandy area. Success even while it was raining. I opened the gate and he 'ran' back on his own to the house. Now, with the company of my other two, he will actually go outside and do his business during a 'sprinkle'. It gets cold here in the winter (Florida standards….!) No snow, but we do get freezes...another obstacle i am sure.....
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I get a rain poncho on and walk mine..one at a time until they go. I end up soaked, but I know that they've gone. I've tried to "match" Zuni once and it didn't work on her!
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My boy has held it for 16 hours(#1)-(#2-48 hours) and we have had to carry him down the stairs when it rains. He HATES to get his feet wet. I will now take him under a tree in our yard and he will eventually go. My female now does the same thing-under a tree and right back in to be dried.
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Sadly, this is why I look forward to Winter.
Kananga is extremely fussy outside during the warmer months, whether its moisture on the ground or in the air, he is extremely difficult sometimes.
In the Winter, however, he knows to go and go fast. He's experienced temps as low as -20 to -30 F (without windchill), and knows we only stay outside for a very brief moment and then we're back inside. Somehow he has learned that cold/snow = go fast.
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Snow means we shovel a bare spot in the yard or they wont go! I guess they would eventually but the whining and standing and staring in the snow isnt worth it. So, we dig a trench and a spot with grass.
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Oh I can't wait until the next rain fall and then winter time! Thanks guys, the walking helped so I'll try that for now and I'll try to find some all weather booties
