Agree with @elbrant and I'd like to add, when you return be very matter of fact, do not make a big fuss, particularly if she is excited and effusive in her greeting to you. Sure, acknowledge her if you must but don't make any sort of big deal out of it. Go about your business, e.g. if you've been shopping, put your things away before spending any time with her. Your goal is to make your absence just part of a normal routine, nothing to be excited about. I've had two separation anxiety dogs, and you know you have won the battle when the dog just glances at you in an "oh, you're back" way and doesn't bother getting off the couch! Yes, people like it when their dog greets them and makes a big fuss, but if you feed that behaviour you give too much emphasis to your absence and that can grow into anxiety in your dog.
Lesson learned…
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Mica was in a plastic crate when she first decided to adopt me and walk into my life when I was gone at any time. But this was down in El Paso, TX and I didnt want the apt magrs. to know I was keeping a small puppy due to three months from retiring from active duty, not wanting to pay a security deposit. So, she was a stow-away and used to be lured with a peanut-butter kong- and treats, treats, treats into her crate when I left. Her tail used to wop-wop-wop against the side and she had a little wiggle butt - when I walked into the door. Since than, she has been allowed free reign(sp?) to creeping and crawling around where I live now. Little if any destruction has occured. She gets walks and has toys and is generally a real good 4-ped. She seems to have a visual memory, if she does something, and I catch her, and say "NO" she seems to remember with almost one correction. But she has managed to "own" my small collection of stuffed animals…and I have given them to her....
BaMicas mom
Wow, she was that quiet when crated as a puppy? Both of mine cried – that oh so special Basenji cry-like-you're-being-murdered cry -- when crated/left alone initially. Jazzy got over in a week, maybe two. Keoki, well, it was over a year, LOL, but he's finally stopped. And the old plastic crate? He pretty much at that, LOL. It is a mess - I have it now in the back yard in a big pen I put the dogs in when we have bbq's and stuff because neither one of them is very good with small children or strangers.
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I agree that age has a lot to do with it!! Ty was 3 before he was trustworthy enough to free roam when we were away. Kate, on the other hand, was over 4.
IMHO, the elder role model has a lot to do with it as well. Ty had a totally laid back, never destructive elder Bullie as an older 'brother'. Katie had Ty, another 'senji, who never instigated bad behavior, but I think was easily influenced to join in (and thus reinforce???) destructive household playtime and make it more enjoyable:(
Just FYI…..even with a reliable(?) older role model, 25 lbs of wild bird seed IS NOT safely stored in your kitchen, even if you're in a hurry and gone for only 30 minutes. It might become the newest play toy to be not only drug by some unknown force into the dining room, but un-stuffed and converted into a new race track surface to be worked in, with diligence, into the carpet. For the next 5 years your new race track surface continues to surface piece by every time you vacuum. (I have pictures, just don't know how to convert them from 35mm to this forum yet)
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Just FYI…..even with a reliable(?) older role model, 25 lbs of wild bird seed IS NOT safely stored in your kitchen, even if you're in a hurry and gone for only 30 minutes. It might become the newest play toy to be not only drug by some unknown force into the dining room, but un-stuffed and converted into a new race track surface to be worked in, with diligence, into the carpet. For the next 5 years your new race track surface continues to surface piece by every time you vacuum. (I have pictures, just don't know how to convert them from 35mm to this forum yet)
Oh my gosh!!! :eek: That is HILARIOUS, and makes me very happy that I store my bird seed in the garage. I won't even complain about the squirrels getting into the garage to get to it anymore!
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IMHO, I think some Basenjis can be left alone in the home and some can't. I have left Sahara alone for up to 5hrs. since she was about a year. I work part-time and my hubby and I are on different shifts so she is never left for longer as a general rule. Once she was housebroken, doggie door and underground fencing she has been free, but I do close off my bedrooms. I also think some Bs are chewers and some are not, Sahara has her teeth marks on lots of my stuff, some of my furniture is in the attic until DH can refinish them. She is a chewer and I do try to provide her with things she can chew. She doesn't chew up anything when left along only when we are home and she wants me to chase her with whatever she has in her mouth, the little devil. She doesn't chew as much since she is over teething, but don't leave your prescription eyeglasses, keys,
expensive sunglasses (my son's, and boy was he mad), or anything plastic. She dearly loves plastic, I don't think I have one plastic bin for storing in the attic that she has not chewed. But I still LOVE her, I am so weak with that wrinkle, pretty face.:D -
Omg birdseed in the carpet for years!! that's just so excellent.
Lycia never destroys things at home. Never. We have visited other's houses - she has been good. Then we stay at a new friend's place for 4 days and she manages to eat a pair of high heels, tupperware, 2 brushes, trash etc.. of course doing it to the roommates of my friend who I literally met that week… thank god they were forgiving, I was mortified.
