Skip to content

Basenji potty accident(s) problem

Basenji Talk
  • I have a basenji thats a little over a year old and there is something that I still haven't figured out. She keeps having accidents in the house when I leave the place and no one else is home (or if anyone leaves her a lone in the place for any period of time).

    For instance, I just took her out in the morning and then a couple hours later I got to throw the trash out and she pee'd in the house after I left. Why does she keep having accidents when someone leaves her for a little while in the house?

    Its a little annoying to crate her every time I have to step outside…

  • If a dog is anxious about you leaving then it doesn't matter if she just went, she will release her bowels as a result of her anxiety. Without conditioning her to be ok with being left alone you won't adjust the behavior. If her anxiety is mild you can try to occupy her with a toy such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter and try leaving her for very short increments like 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes etc…

    If it is worse then the crate might provide the comfort and security she needs to feel better about being left

  • Agree with Chealsie, it is most probably separation anxiety. I have cured a couple of mine with the use of a roller treat ball. Keeps them busy when I leave, and I find it's usually right after you exit that the problem occurs. It sounds like that is what is happening with your dog, as even a short absence causes her to urinate or defecate. If she is kept busy with a distraction of some sort, it may help you to avoid this problem.

  • Good advice already given, so I'll throw in a possibly odd sounding thing that worked wonders for us: tell your B out loud what you are going to do, and when you'll be back (make sure you are back when you said you would be!). It works like an energy contract that helps the dog to sit it out calmly. Our Binti was ususally nervous before we would leave; she would walk around, moan a bit and so on. When we started the talking out loud routine, a wonderful thing happened: she would stop walking around, stop moaning, and went to lie in her preferred place and fall asleep. Give it a try.

  • I should also note, I have a dog with pretty severe separation and confinement anxiety which has taken years to manage and decrease…as kjdonkers mentioned, I do tell Oakley what I'm going to do and where I'm going and that I will be back soon and to be a good boy and it has helped...whatever the psychology behind it- I do it religiously

  • I agree with telling them you are leaving. Sneaking out can result in panicked looking for you, which is not a good thing.

Suggested Topics

  • Are Basenji's okay with Hamsters?

    Basenji Talk
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    4k Views
    CrazySenjiC
    Short answer- NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Basenjis are hunters and most will do anything in their power to get to the critters in their environment. Mine spend most of their outdoor time looking for chipmunks that live under the shed. If you decided to get the hamster it will have to be kept in a room where the basenji can't go. I have and do keep basenjis and small animals in the same house but they aren't allowed near them. I don't think they even know I have the geckos and snake! Some dogs are fine with small critters but I personally would not let them near each other. It's not worth the risk in my opinion. Accidents happen in the blink of an eye! Also, rats make much better pets for kids than hamsters. ;)
  • Multy Basenji's

    Basenji Talk
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    4k Views
    nomrbddgsN
    Totally agree with Pat. I have two intact female B's. They are NOT the best of friends and have to be watched constantly. They are never alone together. Yes, they've gotten into knock-down drag-out fights. I've been in the ring with slit throats, chewed up ears, scabs, etc. Not a good idea at all. I can control it simply because I watch them constantly and when they start to show signs of aggression, one goes into the crate. But it's not easy, it's stressful on everyone, and I really don't recommend it.
  • Basenji's in the news

    Basenji Talk
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    KiroGurlK
    wow very cool….
  • Having the Flu with Basenji's

    Basenji Talk
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    4k Views
    ChaseandZahrasmomC
    I don't have the flu but I am home from work today because I am going to get a shot in my foot to kill a nerve. I am nervous beyond words and Chase and Zahra have been cuddled up with me all morning which really has helped to keep me calm. I wonder if the podiatrist would mind them coming into the office with me for the shot? :D
  • Rou's Tips For Basenjis

    Basenji Talk
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    5k Views
    rouR
    I have had several inquiries in regards to our basenji book, so I thought I would compose a few paragraphs about its origin. Sometimes I get carried away when I write, but Rou's book is not so verbose as this posting! When my daughter Sophie was in second grade, she and I created a 36 page, full-color children's book entitled "Rou's Tips for Basenjis". Rou is our red and white companion basenji. Sophie and I were inspired to create a book showcasing many of the delightful aspects of owning a dog, in particular, a basenji. I was a typical girl growing up. I loved all creatures, cute and furry. When I was seven, I had my tonsils removed. I dreamt about the moment my parents would enter the recovery room and present me with my get-well gift: a fawn. It was a real disappointment to receive an Etch-a-Sketch. The need to love a creature cute and furry seized Sophie approximately the same time. Our family never even discussed owning a dog until Sophie bought a complete set of Tintin books for her sixth birthday. Within hours, the girl was enamored of Snowy and pined for her own very clever, small dog. For the next year, we visited animal shelters and dog shows. We discussed the issue end-less-ly. Since several family members have allergies, we narrowed our dog search to include only hypoallergenic breeds. At a Portland dog show, we met an enthusiastic, responsible breeder & her crew of award-winning dogs. We couldn’t even pronounce the word basenji properly. However, we were impressed that the breed is 5000 years old. It was no wonder the basenji had endured: they neither barked nor shed; they were intelligent, personable and clean. Intrigued, we read a stack of great books about the history, the build and the show qualities of the basenji, yet we weren’t able to find much information geared towards children. We continued gaining knowledge about basenjis and their needs; we visited a new litter basenji puppies and fell in love with them. A sweet, beautiful, agile red and white girl was an ideal match for our family’s personalities and lifestyle. In February of 2004, our family was delighted to bring Roussi the Basenji into our lives. It quickly became apparent that the name ‘Roussi’ was a bit too tricky for a young child to annunciate. Sophie’s front teeth were still in the process of growing in. She couldn’t say the ‘s’ sound. The poor kid repeatedly had to tell people “No, her name isn’t Ruthie! It’s Roussi!” It didn’t help that the two words were pronounced virtually identically. It drove Sophie crazy. Ultimately, the name was shortened to Rou. At the tail end of the year, Sophie’s teacher assigned Challenge Projects to her second grade class. Although 'weather' was the theme for the month, her teacher encouraged her students to pursue whatever Terrific Idea inspired them. Sophie and I love art and books. Perhaps a Challenge Project could combine both passions. If Sophie and I were to actually compose a book, I was concerned about the battling temperaments of two independent, strong-willed females. However, I am fortunate that my daughter still wants to spend time with me. How long that will last, I can’t be sure. We agreed to write Rou’s Tips for Basenjis. The To-Do list was a bit daunting. Sophie illustrated the entire story with her wonderful whimsical drawings. I’d say, “I need a bathroom scene!” Clipboard, paper, pencil and click eraser in hand, Sophie would disappear. When she returned with her mini masterpieces, I colored them and cut them out. Placement on the page was a mutual decision. We discovered that working as a team and having to compromise was not always easy. I have never had a tougher art director than Sophie. When you’re seven and a half, you know what you like and what you don’t and you’re not shy about expressing your opinion. Once the drawings had been completed, we took advantage my husband's skills as a professional photographer. Though his specialty for the last fifteen years has been photographing inanimate high-tech objects, he agreed to take all of Rou’s pictures. We spent one Saturday afternoon in the studio with a hefty chunk of cheddar and a happily cooperative dog. Countless hours later, we self-published Rou’s Tips for Basenjis. The book was made entirely in Oregon, printed on recycled paper, with a sewn binding for additional durability. You can visit Rou's website www.roudog.com. For those that can’t get enough of the breed, you can visit Rou at www.dogster.com/dogs/399665 and meet her fabulous Pup Pals. Here are a few lovely comments about our book: "I felt that the interpretation of Rou's thoughts may be the greatest insight ever into the Basenji mind." ~New York "This is a great book that truly gives a true depiction of Basenji personality. A very entertaining book that will make you smile." ~A Registered Therapy Dog "Sure, it might be a children's book (my daughter certainly loved it), but it's also a good primer on basenji behavior for new owners… sort of like "What To Expect With Your New Basenji" ;)" ~The Florida Coordinator of Basenji Rescue & Transport So, if you made it all this way, congratulations! If you have any other questions, we are always delighted to respond. Thanks for your interest! Best wishes, The Rou Crew: -pamela, Sophie & of course, Rou
  • Washing Basenji's

    Basenji Talk
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    3k Views
    ArtiA
    I wash my dogs teeth every day. On beginning was hard…they do not like this-however I can this make. Care about teeth is very important-I use paste-STOMAGEL and Petosan.