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Crate Guilt

Basenji Training
  • ComicDom1C

    Miranda and I have a gate on the bathroom that is off our bedroom. Roo's crate is also located in this bathroom which has a ceramic floor. Roo's food dish and water bowl live in this area as well. When we both leave the house, Bonzo our boston goes into her crate that is in the bedroom and Roo's dog bed is put in the bathroom along with plenty of toys to keep him busy. We started giving both dogs a couple of Chicken Chip treats when we go to leave and kennel them. This is worked out well for us because when we are getting ready to go, both dogs get walked, and as we come in the door we say kennel. They both run to their respective kennels and wait patiently for their treats.

    They have both gotten into the habit of going where they are supposed to because of this practice.

    Jason

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  • AnnA

    @nobarkus:

    How high is the fence Ann? The outsiders shouldn't be able to get in if it's high enough. I have dogs all around me but none attempt to get in. There's even 2 Pitbulls behind me and there's no attempt to get in. Buddy is perfectly fine in the back all day. I just bought him a dog house from COSTCO online and I put 2 thick towels folded up in there with a small water bowl. My first Basenji (1975-1992) lived outside its whole life with no problems. She was actually an excellent guard dog.
    How old is Noel?

    Hi Dan. Thanks for your feedback. Noel will be 5 in November. (I don't know how she spent her first 4 years.) Our fence is 6' so other dogs can't get in…it's her reaction to them that could cause problems. I'm sort of a hyper worrier since Noel has a weak front leg. It was badly broken in December and, when there's squirrel/dog activity around the yard or in the alley behind us, she forgets about her leg and goes into a full run and jump mode. It's great to see her fly over our 2' stone ledge and run the periphery of yard like a guard dog or chase a squirrel back to its tree, but if left outside alone all day there's the potential that she'll overdo it and tire out her leg to the point of pain. I know I'm sounding over-protective...The vet recommends plenty of exercise but in small doses to avoid the fatigue thing. (I'll be posting some queries soon in relation to this!)

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  • nobarkusN

    @Ann:

    Hi Dan. Thanks for your feedback. Noel will be 5 in November. (I don't know how she spent her first 4 years.) Our fence is 6' so other dogs can't get in…it's her reaction to them that could cause problems. I'm sort of a hyper worrier since Noel has a weak front leg. It was badly broken in December and, when there's squirrel/dog activity around the yard or in the alley behind us, she forgets about her leg and goes into a full run and jump mode. It's great to see her fly over our 2' stone ledge and run the periphery of yard like a guard dog or chase a squirrel back to its tree, but if left outside alone all day there's the potential that she'll overdo it and tire out her leg to the point of pain. I know I'm sounding over-protective...The vet recommends plenty of exercise but in small doses to avoid the fatigue thing. (I'll be posting some queries soon in relation to this!)

    OK Ann, now I see your dilemma here. This is a tuff one keeping a Basenji still or low activity especially when you're not there. The only other thing you could do is set up a kennel run or large dog pen to reduce the area. see this picture.
    http://www.seefido.com/html/dog_kennel_runs_pen_fence_.htm

    Buddy, Paolo and Dan

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    Piggy only has problems pooping when she gets panicky too. For example if we leave her home in a crate and someone comes in the house but doesn't come down to see her or let her out she will do it. We can't put anything in her crate or she shreds it, we tried everything. For a while I was even buying fleece baby blankets at the dollar store and tossing them if she pooped. We gave up on that after a while. The mess was terrible, so I can relate to hours of cleanup… by the time you get her cleaned up and the crate. We did some desensitizing and left for short periods like I described before, and that helped a lot. My friend that has a B went to the vet about her anxiety, hers would cry incessantly, and they actually gave her meds, prozac I think, for it. I think she tried it, but didn't think it worked enough to do it. Sounded crazy to me. It hasn't happened in a while so we have been lucky. She has come to terms with her crate now and will once in a while go hang out in it by choice, so I know she doesn't hate it. Have you tried one of those snuggle buddy things? I wonder if you could find some way to protect it if Darwin had an accident. Best of luck and lots of patience!
  • ComicDom1C

    Is your crate safe? What are your thoughts?

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    We have a plastic crate…I think it is a vari kennel, but can't be sure- but it is at least that type. We had a wire crate in the beginning, but it was too big, he had enough room to make a messs and get away from it, so he got the point where he would go to the bathroom in his crate, and then lay down on the other side. So, we got the smaller crate. He doesn't mind going in his crate when I leave for work, but it is not his favorite place to be. He doesn't usually go in there without being asked to, but he doesn't try to escape. It was funny, when my parents were here, he got to stay out all day with them while I was at work, and then he was sleeping in bed with us. After the second day of this, at about 9:00pm, he got up from the couch, trotted over to his crate and lied down inside, with a huge heavy sigh, and took a nap. I think we were wearing him out.