Help with Escaping Basenji
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Hi Kai,
I too have had escaping Basenjis. And usually it was the females. Have no idea why. They could scale the fence in a flash. One could even climb a tree with low branches. I thought this is really a cat - just looks like a Basenji.
So, how did I resolve the situation? Instead of the chain link or wooden fence, I installed a vinyl fence, split spaced slat design, 60" tall, with traditional vinyl full slat lockable gates. Something similar to the picture included here. This fence type was successful for two reasons: 1) the vinyl - to slippery - their paws can't gain traction, and; 2) the space in between the slats also prevents them from gaining any type of hold. At 5 feet they can't jump it!
My fence had a wide slat followed by a narrow slat in an alternating style.Two cautions (and these hold true for any fence and a slatted fence with a space between slats): 1) the bottom of the fence must be at ground level or just slightly above ground with pavers underneath if you have a digger or soft uneven ground, and; 2) the space between the slats should not be wider than 2.5". They may get a nose through but their head won't fit. Once this fence was in they just quit trying. Instead, they would run up and down the fence line or just stare through the slats or stick a nose through on occasion. Hope this helps.
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@kai said in Help with Escaping Basenji:
He’s been staying inside while we are gone
Frankly, I have NEVER left any of mine outside while I am away - they have loads of bedding which they move around the kitchen floor to suit themselves and they sleep quite happily. We have a saloon type half-door/gate set close to the floor which keeps them from roaming through the house and the kitchen is a large room, even for the 8 Basenjis we had at one time before natural wastage reduced the pack.
In any case we have never left them more than 4 hours in day time.
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There are launch pads and there are launch dogs. A puppy of ours (many years ago now) went to live with three poodles. They stood in line so the Basenji could leap onto their backs and reach the shelf with the goodies which she then threw down to her 'canine ladder' -
<deep sigh>
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Hello, I am Aileen, mother of 2 basenjis. We just put up a fence after about a year of discussing the best option because I had read all about their escape tricks. I don’t presume to be an expert, but I can hand down some advice. I love my dogs and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. “B” number one is the first purebred dog I ever purchased, so spending that kind of money instantly made him a big investment. Doesn’t sound nice but it’s true. And I love him and our new girl so much that I know what it would do to me if ever one of them was killed on the busy streets surrounding me.
First of all never let your basenji off leash. They will run and not listen to you at all. They take it as a major victory to get away like that and would never think twice before running in front of a car. Make that a hard and fast rule for yourself and never break it. I’ve been so tempted to let him run in a park or out in the country but I don’t because I couldn’t live with myself if I ever lost him.
Now. About the fence. We built the fence piece by piece so every vertical board goes to the ground. The verticals are 5 1/2 in. Wide, generally 5ft. Tall, some places taller depending on the contour of the ground. We foolishly made the verticals 4 in. Apart and noticed if he really tried, and we caught him trying, he could squeeze through. So we had to put verticals on the outside. My husband split 5 1/2 verticals for the back side. He can’t get through the spaces that remain. By the way, the horizontal pieces have to be on the outside of the fence so he can’t get any foothold.
Last of all I don’t leave him out by himself. He could dig his way out but with me there I could prevent it. I think these pups are too valuable to leave alone. Dogs do get stolen. Just heard about an incident. He’s happy inside, even crated. The fenced in area is where he can run and stretch his legs etc. But don’t leave your pup alone.
If anyone is interested in building their own fence, contact me because my husband has some good tips for you. -
Basenjis are quite variable in their response to fences. I have had some that never ever tried to get out, despite digging holes to China in the middle of the dog run, but not near the fence. I have had climbers and others that never considered climbing. And I have had Basenjis with reliable recalls that I could indeed let off leash, although I took care not to do it close to roads. My girls were happy in summer to spend all day in the dog run, preferring it to the house. My boys preferred to be inside and didn't like being left out in the run, even on nice days. They are all individuals. None of mine were door dashers, as I trained them not to be. So much depends on the individual's temperament, the training you give them, and their relationship with you. Playing "keep away" and having a poor recall is certainly not limited to Basenjis!!!
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@kai - I have 10 to 12 foot solid wood privacy fences... we had one area that had a gate to the garden area, the gate was about 5 1/2 feet tall... my tri girl could launch herself from the ground to the top of the fence and then would climb on top of the 12 foot section.... needless to say, the gate height was increased
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Also, never underestimate a Basenji lol. My Suzy was in the park one day and we always have the dogs on 26 ft extendable leashes. It’s an art form to use them and we use them even in the back yard which is fenced in. Anyhow, this particular day there was a squirrel and a small solitary tree, so the squirrel ran up the tree. Thinking nothing of it, I let Suzy run up to the tree and sniff where the squirrel had been at the bottom. Nothing unusual as I have had three Basenjis and they all chased squirrels. However Suzy was a genius amongst Basenjis lol, she wrapped her front legs around the trunk of the tree and used her back claws to dig in and climb. She was three foot or so up before I grabbed her lol. One of the most amazing and shocking sights. So beware if you have trees anywhere near the fence.
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I feel that I am saying that 17th years ago.. my basenji Casanova was an expert Escaping! And I had same situation... they are so intelligent and they will figure out how to scape no matter you do! I had to live with that! ...I so miss my dog... :( he passed away almost 2 weeks a go... :,( enjoy him!
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:( I am sorry about your dog.
