Skip to content

Puppy and confined spaces

Behavioral Issues
  • This post is deleted!
  • @lustopher - I can honestly say that having Basenjis and raising Basenjis for over 30+ years... baby gates will not contain them... sorry to say... we built many years ago wooden gates that are over 4' high and do NOT have anything they can latch their feet onto to pull themselves up to climb over. Trying to keep a dog in a kennel when you are home is next to impossible... sorry to say... They are going to complain because they want to be with you...

  • @tanza
    I have seen my boy clear 3 feet from a standing start off a slippery hardwood floor, and have no doubt at all that 4 feet wouldn't have kept him in had he wished to be elsewhere. Like cats, Basenjis can find their way onto counters and table tops if the incentive is compelling enough. Yes, put a lid on the x-pen if you want to keep them in, and emphatically yes, don't confine them when you are home, they just get upset and frustrated. Teaching manners in the house and requesting what you want is a better approach, IMO.

    (Perry knew exactly what I meant when he was underfoot in the kitchen and I said "Be somewhere that is not here!" He would adjourn to the living room couch and leave me in peace.)

  • I have nothing to add, just that Roux, at the tender age of 4 months, figured out that if she has a running start, she can get on the kitchen counter. 4 months. I suspect when she's grown she'll be able to fly!

  • The dog in the video doesn't look like he's been crate trained. I'd recommend training crate skills plus impulse control drills. Also, practicing being alone before you actually leave him alone would probably be useful. A lot of people only make use of the crate when they're about to leave, instead you might first want to work on crate skills when you're not going to leave. As for practicing being alone, well, most pet dog owners don't do this at all, they just leave the dog for a few hours whenever they want to go out. You'd probably find more success with practicing these skills first before moving to real world experiences, just so the dog has some idea of what's going on. If you don't focus on the habituation stage (the first, beginning stage), then you're unlikely to have great success in real life instances.

    Also, I wouldn't leave anything soft in the crate with the puppy, because it's only going to stimulate them and increase their energy, and because they're confined it will increase drive and motivation, but it can't get out, so it will build frustration, which in turn will build drive even more, etc. It's a horrible cycle. If you leave the dog with anything, pig's ears and bully sticks are what I'd choose. Of course, with these there's always a chance that they can choke if not supervised. However, it may be an option for the beginning when you're training being alone (which in the beginning shouldn't be very long; you build up duration slowly).

  • This post is deleted!
  • @lustopher - Please note that your puppy has been taken from his "littermates"... that he is used to being with, you are now his littermates, the reason that he follows you around... this is normal for any puppy from any breed.

  • This post is deleted!
  • @lustopher - Have to say, when you have one that is what is going to happen... think about it... if you have a human baby they would do the same at the age they are crawling and/or walking. You really, in my opinion expect them them do something different? Like human kids, some have issues being separated from the "family".... May I ask if you have the TV or radio on when you try and leave him? That might help...

  • @lustopher said in Puppy and confined spaces:

    it's about time he starts to also understand that he doesn't always have to leave his chewing to check out what we're doing

    It doesn't happen often, but I agree with @tanza on this. He's a baby and it is pretty "normal", but also remember that dogs are pack animals. You, your significant other, and the pup are now his "pack". If you are in another room and he comes to look for you, I would suggest just ignoring him. If he comes to you, give him a pet and go back to whatever you were doing. He will either go back to the room he was in, or settle down somewhere in the room you are in. Both of which should be acceptable. This is something that may be less frequent as he gets older, but probably never disappear entirely. Which is a good thing, I think.

Suggested Topics

  • My vet says my puppy is too aggressive

    Behavioral Issues
    51
    0 Votes
    51 Posts
    8k Views
    helle deviH
    @giira2121 as @donc said First off, if a vet thinks neutering will change aggressive behavior you should look for a new vet. That is such a discredited myth. If she doesn't know that what else doesn't she know? When considering whether to neuter, I'd suggest you check out the link below. It has scientific research to dispel many neutering myths. It's a brief but very thorough booklet discussing the pros and cons of neutering/spaying, more science based than anecdotal. https://my.puppyculture.co.uk/resources/flipbook/spay-neuter-booklet/ There is definitely less societal compulsion to spay/neuter in Europe.
  • Crazy puppy (1yr) not calming down at all

    Behavioral Issues
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    14k Views
    G
    Your story is so similar to mine, though mine is two and has not changed. Totally destructive. Even though he has had lots of training, gets mental stimulation, and goes to the dog park every day, he is no longer fun to be around. My brand new wood floors and furniture are ruined, my car is scratched up and dirty and he refuses to come to me. It is cold here, too, and when I took him to the park yesterday (all ice, snow, mud and cold water) he would not leave…even after all the other dogs left. The only way I caught him was that his paws were beginning to freeze and he could only keep three on the ground at a time. It was dark by then, I was nearly frostbit myself. I have had several GOOD dogs in the past. This one has been to the "best" trainers in town, has a great vet and a nice home. I don't think it would be ethical to adopt this monster out, so I am considering putting him down myself and cut my losses, both emotional and financial. I just wrote a note to the breeder to see if they have similar problems with the dogs they sell. I had such high hopes.
  • Does my puppy not like me?

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    3k Views
    B
    Mine do the same….visitors get the full "treatment" , Tail wagging, low growling, yipping, the works. I tell ya.......:rolleyes:
  • Minor puppy growling

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    7k Views
    E
    You're right! My wife and I have animals since childhood and since we are maried, almost 25 years. We are really animal-lovers and we can't stand it when folks take animals, just for their own satisfaction. We once bought a abused Parrot for a lot of money, only to give this bird a better place. I am delighted to her that someone of this forum understands what we are trying to say. And the last thing we want, is that people think that you can establish a good relationship with your Basenji through yelling, hitting etc. That kind of constantly fysicaly and mentaly abusing isn't right for no animal! ;) @Quercus: <<we see="" correcting="" as="" the="" last="" posibility="" but="" we="" believe="" that="" sometimes="" it="" is="" necessary.="">> I don't think you will find anybody here that disagrees with that…at least not that has spoken up about training issues. Corrections definitely have a place...but some folks' form of correction ends up doing more damage than help. Yelling, spanking, etc don't have much meaning to a dog. I think corrections in the form of voice are particularly effective during puppyhood when puppies are learning all about what is acceptable. I think physical corrections with an adult dog who is showing aggression in any form is a mistake.</we>
  • Spayed Puppy Question

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    DukeD
    @Quercus: When females are spayed, it removes the estrogen production which in turn had masked the natural androgen (female testosterone) in her body. So, yes, I believe that spayed females will sometimes have some more masculine characteristics. But also some unspayed females will exhibit more masculine traits during "the season"….the other day Bella decided she would try to breed Luna @@ and Luna seemed happy to oblige. Hopefully Daisy will go back to her normal, less testosteroni, self in a few weeks..... Thanks for your replies Andrea and Pat. My curiosity in observing them is eye opening to say the least. I thought I'd seen it all with all the bickering and full out brawls when resolving together some time ago - in March. LOL with the Bella and Luna!! :D Silly girls . . . I can guess you've seen and observed more than the average parents of furkids. Thanks again - will wait and see how the "world" changes here. :D
  • Socializing the puppy

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    BarklessdogB
    Dog Park basenji http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3YihpHn4Wg