Skip to content

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.

Suggested Topics

  • Diggs Crate?

    Basenji Training
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    4k Views
    G
    Hey. I have my first Basenji and the diggs crate is great but I must admit it is heavy and bulky to take up and down the stairs. I had to buy an additional crate for travel because it was becoming too much. If you were looking for something to travel with I definitely wouldn’t recommend it especially because it is expensive. My puppy loves it though since he can see everything from it but you could get that from another crate.
  • Potty Accidents

    Basenji Training
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    6k Views
    D
    Be careful on over using treats... mix it up with joyous praise and a rub under the chin and pat the back. If you do treats only they can think if they stop getting treats they might think it's bad behavior and change the potty behavior, but by mixing it up they still get the praise and reward with a good job, also always use their name with praise, and never with discipline. I'm reading this book about raising and training basenji's and it's also what my folks said they did that worked with their basenji
  • Crate training

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    5k Views
    AnaA
    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.
  • Crate Time

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    2k Views
    ShannaniganS
    Thanks for the link, Ivoss! And thanks for the wire suggestions, as well guys. Chris is actually a plumber, so we have a surplus of PVC lying around! I'm sure that's going to be Chris' next favorite project; once it gets going I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes. :) Any ideas on what the maximum space between pipes would be? We don't want him wriggling and squeezing his way through. This might really help for while I'm away!
  • Crate suggestions

    Basenji Training
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    3k Views
    VanessaV
    @tanza: Do you use a wire crate? I have always used General Cage Crates.. and they have lasted for many, many years… I have ones that are 16 yrs old that are just in great condition. http://www.generalcage.com/Shopping/default.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1 We use wire crates too. The tray in the bottom locks so they can't push it out and its hard to destroy :D
  • Crate peeing!

    Basenji Training
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    hdolbowH
    mia only gets water when were there to watch her and take her out about 10-15 minutes later.. whenever shes taken out of the crate she goes straight outside.. and before we put her in we take her out again, whether thats 15 or 20 minutes or an hour. i've quickly learned that water goes RIGHT through them. so taking the water out of the cage should work! she has an occasional accident but not everyday.