Any advice???

[tanza]

@youngandtired:

To start, NO ONE here likes underground fencing, so you won't get much support here for those. I myself, have underground fencing, and I love it. Sahara, my B will not jump the fence, yes she tried at first but now she does not at all. Once your dog knows where the boundaries are it will not go to near, there is a warning before the shock, the collar will beep twice to let the dog know to back off. Sahara takes off when the beeping starts, she has learned. Yes, I hated it when I would see her try it, but she doesn't anymore. I was at my neighbors last week talking in their yard, Sahara was standing in my driveway whinning for me, she did not jump the fence. Of course she was rewarded for that. Lots of hugs and kisses for being such a good girl. Sahara is home with my hubby until he goes to work at 3:00pm, I work in the mornings, so she is usually sleeping when I come home at 5:00pm. If I didn't have the fencing she would have been hit by a car by now. She loves to chase cars and will just shy of the fencing, the car comes by and Sahara is off chasing the length of my yard. When I run errands I do not worry about her being in the yard, I don't have other animals in my yard, it is against the law here to let an animal run free. I live on a busy street, so yes I like underground fencing, it has saved my Sahara's life many times. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. haha!!!!:D

Maybe it works for your dog… but I still would never take that chance, especially if I was not home... and while it works for you... it is certainly not for 90% of Basenjis (and in my opinion.. no dog)... again while your dog may stay within the bounds... it keeps NO ONE/NO CRITTER/NO OTHER DOGS out of your yard.....even a human could come in and easily steal or hurt your dog... Oh and by the way.... fine that it is required that animals don't run free... and of course we all know how well people respect some laws....

[MaxBooBooBear]

@tanza:

… Oh and by the way.... fine that it is required that animals don't run free... and of course we all know how well people respect some laws....

And even when people do their best to comply with the law, there are so many times when dogs get free unintentionally.

[lvoss]

Here is my feeling and why though it may work for some people, I could never use one myself nor recommend one. It only takes 1 time that the dog does not respect that barrier for it to become an HBC (hit by car) statistic. It only takes 1 time that a neighbor's dog gets loose and comes into your yard and attacks your dog for it to end up dead or with hundreds of dollars in vet bills. In my neighborhood people are in general very conscientious about keeping their dogs on leash and yet we have still had loose dogs in the neighborhood on occasion because of a door dasher, or a dropped leash, or a totally freaked out dog because of fireworks. So the odds are that a loose dog will happen and I don't want my dogs to be put in the situation of choosing to go over that line to avoid an attack where they have a high chance of being HBC or staying and getting attacked.

[youngandtired]

As I said, No one here will say they like underground fencing, I know this and I don't agree, but we all have our opinions. Anyone can steal your dog if it is outside and you are not right there, there are only 2 dogs in my neighborhood, no problem there, besides Sahara if scared can go in the house through her door. Like I said she sleeps most of the time we are away in the house. My reason for posting that I like fencing is b/c I wanted to let the one that originally posted with the question to know that someone here likes underground fencing. It works for me, end of debate.

[Duke]

@youngandtired:

besides Sahara if scared can go in the house through her door. Like I said she sleeps most of the time we are away in the house. My reason for posting that I like fencing is b/c I wanted to let the one that originally posted with the question to know that someone here likes underground fencing. It works for me, end of debate.

Sahara's doggy door IS an advantage for you. We do not have a doggy door or a place to put one, except if I wanted to put one to the garage - and from the there in the house (2 dog doors). I don't want to do that.

In defense of the electric fence - we have one too as some may know here and it works well for us. However, I cannot let my two run unsupervised during the day because there are coyote, racoons and of course squirrels in the area. I wouldn't want to take the chance for them to encounter any danger, or even kill a squirrel and eat it…yuck. :eek: Overall though, they sleep most of the day. Even on weekends, they like to nap during the day, either in or out.

Everyone has individual circumstances and feelings of proper safety in our unique demographic areas.

[lvoss]

@youngandtired:

As I said, No one here will say they like underground fencing, I know this and I don't agree, but we all have our opinions. Anyone can steal your dog if it is outside and you are not right there, there are only 2 dogs in my neighborhood, no problem there, besides Sahara if scared can go in the house through her door. Like I said she sleeps most of the time we are away in the house. My reason for posting that I like fencing is b/c I wanted to let the one that originally posted with the question to know that someone here likes underground fencing. It works for me, end of debate.

Since you have no privacy fencing, I am curious what prevents other dogs or cats from using Sahara's dog door to enter your home when you are not home? I know people who have found other people's cats and even raccoons in their home because of the dog door and that is with privacy fencing to deter animals from coming onto the property.

[youngandtired]

I have had NO problems with the dog door, I live in a small neighborhood. Not many cats here and Sahara is the number 2 dog, and Sahara will keep anything from coming in her door, she is the guard dog. I have 2 cats and she won't even let them come in. haha!!!!!!!

[tanza]

@youngandtired:

I have had NO problems with the dog door, I live in a small neighborhood. Not many cats here and Sahara is the number 2 dog, and Sahara will keep anything from coming in her door, she is the guard dog. I have 2 cats and she won't even let them come in. haha!!!!!!!

Glad that it works for you.. but again… I would never ever recommend this as a solution....

[dmcarty]

re: underground fence - we have a story in MN. Youngster very compliant with fencing and does a great job and stays in the yard - Rottie comes into the yard and rips her to shreds - she couldn't run because she couldn't cross the fence without a shock - owners did come out and Rottie owner had to pay several thousands of dollars in medical bills and it was touch and go that she would live - she did.

More recently in the Minneapolis area - we had a pomeranian in the yard with IF and a Coyote came in and grabbed her doing severe damage before someone could chase it off.

I do know someon who uses it as an addition to a regular fence - which I think makes sense to me.

[youngandtired]

This was very sad to hear about, but I don't live where there are wild animals roaming around. The chances of this happening is 0% where I live. There is and always be horror stories to chat about, it is like that for vets also. For everything there is a pro and a con, that's life.

[BillyK]

Crate the dog. If it does well with eight hours, nine won't be that big of a deal. If you're worried about potty issues, I can only say that when the weather is cold, my girl can and will (by her choice) go 12+ hours without eliminating.
That being said, I don't recommend 12 hours in the crate. Just illustrating that they can hold it when they grow up, and your dog is obviously not a puppy anymore.
It also helps make it seem like being in the crate is "business as usual" if you don't make a huge fuss when you come home and let the pup out. When we come home from work, we don't even talk to our dogs while we let them out of the crates until saying "sit" at the front door - which they do lightening fast. They always act happy to see us, wiggley and much sniffing, but if we talk much before they get to pee, they get overly hyper and start jumping.
Plus, the less time spent chit chatting, the sooner they get out to pee.

[tanza]

@youngandtired:

This was very sad to hear about, but I don't live where there are wild animals roaming around. The chances of this happening is 0% where I live. There is and always be horror stories to chat about, it is like that for vets also. For everything there is a pro and a con, that's life.

You know there is never 0% chances…. and your right there are pros and cons... however there are certainly many more cons to IF's then pros....
I live in a very, very populated area... however there are all kinds of critters... including bob cats... that can and do come around... include stray feral cats and cats that people own that let them outside.... again I am glad that you feel safe leaving your dog loose just depending on the collar and are happy that nothing, no one would come in your yard....

[Vegas]

I don't think electric collars are cruel. I've worn one. I've shocked the crap out of myself. I've even taken some jolts with a cattle prod. There is only the "shock", no after pain.

That being said, I would never use an electric fence for a basenji. Their prey drive is much stronger than their fear of being shocked. Negative punishment does not work very often with basenjis. It's about brains, not brawn when it comes to training them.

Vegas

[tanza]

@Vegas:

I don't think electric collars are cruel. I've worn one. I've shocked the crap out of myself. I've even taken some jolts with a cattle prod. There is only the "shock", no after pain.

That being said, I would never use an electric fence for a basenji. Their prey drive is much stronger than their fear of being shocked. Negative punishment does not work very often with basenjis. It's about brains, not brawn when it comes to training them.

Vegas

Well I disagree with your comment about not being cruel… to a point... but I agree that negative punishment is not the best way to train a Basenji....

In regards to a regular electric fence, not the IF type, they do come in useful especially for fence climbers... or diggers for that matter.... and I know in one case the neighbors young male dog kept "eating" through the wooden fence to get to the Basenjis on the other side, especially when the bitch was in season... and electric fence (hot wire)... was a god sent