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How to stop pottying in her crate?

Basenji Training
  • Hello! I just adopted a 6mo old B mix from the humane society and am stuck on potty training. I take her out to the same place first thing in the morning, when I get home from work and at night. We have gone on long walks, played in the park and even went to the dog park. She will not go potty outside! (never even once). She is crated when I am not at home and at night and every time I find that she has used the bathroom in the crate… even if I took her out right before. I don't know if it was a bad habit from previous owners or if she is just scared. Does anyone have any tips for correcting this behavior and getting her to go outside?

  • no real magic on this issue. I had some of that too with my new girl….You may be right about what she was used to previously , are you able to find out details? anyway, you're being as consistent as possible. There is a crate where a space is provided for 'denning' and one for potty. If this is not possible, maybe you can put her crate in a small confined area, take off the grated door, and provide a potty area away from the crate made from an old cookie sheet, some sod like the grass you have outside (bury some scent from her previous potty urine and a stool sample on the sod so she gets the idea. This idea worked for a client of mine and a new puppy that had to stay home until someone came home, and it comes from a VHS tape from a UK trainer named Barbara Woodhouse....those new fangled potty pads are a take off of this idea too.http://modernpuppies.com/pottytrainingpuppyapartment.aspx

  • Are we talking both urination and defecation? If she will at least pee outside, that's good. For the poop, I would use a suppository (when you are sure she needs to go!), and hopefully that will compel her to do it outside, at which point lots and lots of praise!!! If it works, I would continue along those lines until she starts getting the idea. The best time to start this training is a time when you don't have to leave her for a long period, e.g. a weekend when you are home. (I had a friend with a cat that would only use the litter box, and would ask to come inside in order to use it, so if she has become used to going in her crate, it may just be habit, and it may be that she thinks that is the appropriate place.)

  • Try feeding her bran cereal (with NO artificial sweeteners listed in the ingredients!) softened in plenty of water an hour B4 a walk. This has helped me correct crate/indoor pooping issues with several puppy mill fosters by increasing the urge to eliminate; They poop outdoors, giving me a behaviour to reinforce. She might be a shy pooper, too–if you can, find her a screen of tall grass or brush for privacy, don't interupt her with praise or be loud offering it, and never yell or strike her for pooping indoors...many dogs won't potty within sight of their owners for fear of being reprimanded.

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    @jilliansquires Housetraining, you need to go back to potty training 101.... start all over again.... take her out "all" the time, after eating, sleeping playing, etc..... The biting as you describe it is NOT normal behavior. Have you done any Obedience training with her? Work her mind? And most important have you talked to her breeder?
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    Basenji Training 14 Mar 2012, 20:00
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    He does only poop in his crate, no urine usually. I am trying to gradually get him to like his crate, but I do think it might be a lost cause. But yesterday I left for about three hours and left him in the kitchen. When I got back, I opened the door and looked down to see not only my cat waiting for me but my dog as well… He found a way to get out of the kitchen and have the run on my apartment. I now know why basenjis are called escape artists. I was happy to find that although he had an accident in the living room, he didn't destroy anything. But I won't count on one time to trust him alone. I am going to stick with the kitchen and try to make sure he can't get out.
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    Basenji Training 8 Mar 2011, 03:54
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    Well, I hadn't really thought much about litterbox training, but thankfully we won;t be needing to look for alternative options to outside pottying. Things have all seemed to work out great over here. I think it just took me a little while to get accustomed to everything, but everything is running smoothly now. Thanks everyone.
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    @Ann: Hi Dan. Thanks for your feedback. Noel will be 5 in November. (I don't know how she spent her first 4 years.) Our fence is 6' so other dogs can't get in…it's her reaction to them that could cause problems. I'm sort of a hyper worrier since Noel has a weak front leg. It was badly broken in December and, when there's squirrel/dog activity around the yard or in the alley behind us, she forgets about her leg and goes into a full run and jump mode. It's great to see her fly over our 2' stone ledge and run the periphery of yard like a guard dog or chase a squirrel back to its tree, but if left outside alone all day there's the potential that she'll overdo it and tire out her leg to the point of pain. I know I'm sounding over-protective...The vet recommends plenty of exercise but in small doses to avoid the fatigue thing. (I'll be posting some queries soon in relation to this!) OK Ann, now I see your dilemma here. This is a tuff one keeping a Basenji still or low activity especially when you're not there. The only other thing you could do is set up a kennel run or large dog pen to reduce the area. see this picture. http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_kennel_runs_pen_fence_.htm
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    Our dogs do wander in and out of each other crates. They will even lay down in the others crates. Having said that, I am of the opinion that each dogs individual crate should be their own safe place. I know our Boston uses hers as a place to retreat when she does not wish to be bothered by the Basenji or just senses she needs to be out of the way. Roo our Basenji actually seems to respect that and will usually leave her be. Of course her crate is smaller so it would be difficult for both of them to be in it at once. Jason