Oh BOY. Over the weekend, Zoe was adopted into a new home. Back home now, in the familiar place, all the familiar sights, smells, and sounds. But I head off to the office in the afternoon and, on the way to the car, hear what can ONLY be Ziggy howling.

I checked with the walker who comes by around 2:00. "Did you hear anything unusual today?" He also said that just before he got to the door, and just after he left, he heard a dog howling - but just couldn't believe it could be my always-silent Ziggy!

So I'm faced with an apartment-dwelling Basenji who has separation anxiety. It's the first time that he's been left in the apartment completely alone (even though it will only be for a few hours, but HE doesn't know that!).

So … I'm looking for all the suggestions that other B owners can give on how to soothe a lonely B who very well may be driving the other apartment residents to lodge complaints!

What can I do?

Lori

Miles really hated his crate at first. He wouldn't go near it. And if we even looked at him and he thought we were going to put him in it, he'd bolt away.

We eventually got him to put one foot in to get a treat, rubs, and lots of verbal praise. First one foot, then two. Then we'd try to get him to just be in the crate (no door closed). Once we made it that far- we'd try to get him to sit. Then sit for longer. But always, as soon as we'd close the door, he'd pee. Ugh. That was really frustrating.

We started putting hooves with peanut butter in his crate. Okay, I actually add a little crunchy biscuit in the peanut butter too. But now he'll RUN to his crate and can't wait to get his reward. He used to howl like a tornado siren every time we left. Now that he knows his morning routine, he doesn't howl. BUT– he will howl if we leave him in there any other time of day. Odd.

We had to do video tape surveillance. Have fun with that!!
Our original work with Miles can be found under the thread, "Miles: A Rescue" His video is on page 6. And it's a LOT louder in person than in the video. You should fast forward to about half way through the video to really hear him. We can hear him on the third floor while we're in the parking lot. In fact, we have had other people in other buildings comment to us that they've heard him. So far we haven't been kicked out. Good luck!

@ZenGrrrl:

Oh BOY.
So … I'm looking for all the suggestions that other B owners can give on how to soothe a lonely B who very well may be driving the other apartment residents to lodge complaints!

What can I do?

Lori

Get him another companion asap. I think you said you were adopting a B girl? If Zoe kept him from howling before, if he gets along with a new companion, that should keep him from howling. That's the only thing that really worked consistently with Max because of his separation anxiety.

Agreed…!!

Until you get your new b-girl, you might try leaving a radio on to a talk station

Did I miss something? why was Zoe adopted into a new home? Hope everything is ok…

As for the howling... not sure... tayda used to do that when i first got her and she was getting used to the place... then lenny came along and the rest is history!