Skip to content

Stop giving food if basenji seem like he is getting used to crate?

Moved Basenji Feeding
  • My 1 1/2 year male appears to be behaving better when we put him in the crate. We have been giving him a kong filled with kibbles and yogurt to ease separation anxiety. Should we start to give him less and less so it is not addictive and we are not reliant on using that to help keep him in the crate without too much pushback?

  • Why in the world would you change what is working?

  • I never crated Fred, or any of my dogs so I don’t have any experience...but If you have something that’s working, continue with it.

  • Agree you should keep doing what you're doing. The kibbles and yogurt in a kong are a great idea. This combo will keep a dog occupied for a while and they are usually ready for a nap after the hard work of getting a snack. :winking_face:

    In the context of observing that your dog is behaving better, It may be that your guy is just maturing. We've always been able to stop crating when the dog is about two years old. Seems like a magical age when they can be left alone and not be bored or disturbed or whatever. You can of course keep crating but you will likely have the option of not doing that shortly.

  • Someone told me, a long time ago, that with any other breed, food should not be used to get a desired behavior once it's learned. But with basenjis, it's ok to use food - all the time.
    My dogs are ok in a crate but to get them in it, I throw a couple of pieces of dry puppy food. I will be doing this as long as they live. It works!

    Keep up with the food - it works!

  • There's a consensus! I will continue as now. Thanks to all.

  • I occasionally throw a couple of treats in Binti's crate so when she comes by, the crate has magically provided food! She loves her crate now! Food works!

  • You can also FREEZE the kong. Makes it last much longer. :)

Suggested Topics

  • Picky Basenji

    Basenji Feeding
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    7k Views
    CrazySenjiC
    Zande’s recommendation is spot on for a healthy dog who is simply picky. I cried myself to sleep many times over one of my dogs. I was convinced he was going to die! He’d like a food a few days and then stop. I mixed everything into it, tried raw (he hates it), tried every protein, every type of food, etc etc. Same results!! The only thing that worked was finding a food he liked and I felt comfortable feeding and stuck with it. Yes he’d skip some meals but at 5 years old he now eats his food with very little issue. You REALLY have to practice tough love and sick to it. If your dog is healthy it WILL work! For the record, I feed Fromm and rotate flavors. He does not do grain free as the good carbs help keep weight on him.
  • 0 Votes
    11 Posts
    13k Views
    Buddys PalB
    wow, read all through that facebook link you gave, so scary! thanks for the flag to be watched, definitely!
  • Baby Food?

    Basenji Feeding
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    3k Views
    S
    I give it to dogs who don't eat…or to hide pills in. But not as a regular thing.
  • When does a Basenji need "senior" food

    Basenji Feeding
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    nomrbddgsN
    IMO unless a dog has specific health problems, I've never given senior food. My old heeler/am esk mix is over 10 and she still gets what everyone else is on - Nutro for sensitive stomachs. She's still a PITA and wants to play all the time.
  • Good Food

    Basenji Feeding
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    6k Views
    Chelbell26C
    @Robin_n_Jack: I was having the same problem with Jack recently…he's 2...he wouldn't eat, I called it his anorexic phase. He would eat acouple of bites in the morning, ad about half of his food in the afternoon. There has been a lot of excitement around lately (Dad's home, and we are packing to move) so I thought that might have something to do with it, and I figured he would eat when he was hungry. He hasn't been acting lethargic or sick, just not eating. Finally, after trying everything I could think of, treats in with the food (worked for a little while) pretending to eat it my self and trying to hand feed him(he looked at me like "If you think it is so good, why don't you eat it?) this morning I mixed some water in with the food. Next thing I know, it was all gone. Yay! no more Ally McBeal doggie! Glad to hear that he is eating again. :-) I think we all know what its like to worry that your B isn't eating enough. :rolleyes:
  • What Do You Feed Your Basenji

    Basenji Feeding
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    4k Views
    abby_basenjiA
    I feed abby Hills science diet puppy small bites and some times hills puppy in a can mixed with dry.