Skip to content

Doggie door and 'litter' box

Basenji Training
  • When we get our basenji, I would like to incorporate a dog door and was wondering if anyone has put one in that leads from the house to the garage where a doggie 'litter' box would be. Our dog would have free access at any time to the box.

    Has anyone had good success with a doggie door used for this purpose? Has anyone had good luck with the doggie litter box? What's the best filler for the box? Has anyone used clumpable cat litter? Or is that too fine a product. Thanks!

  • I have Tayda trained to use a litter box when I am not home - since she has Fanconi and has to go very often. I put a thin layer of "Equine Pine," the stuff used for horse stalls in a large ~2ft x 3.5ft shallow tupperware. It took her just a day or two to learn to use it and no problems since then. She does not use it when I am home though….

  • My puppy was litter trained. I had an xpen set up in my bedroom with her crate and a litter box for when I was at work. Worked like a charm. She never went to the bathroom in her crate and when good weather came I had no problem transitioning her to completely using the outdoors. Like Tayda's mom, I too used Equine Pine (you can get it cheap in big bags at Tractor Supply - much cheaper than the similar Feline Pine).

    With the doggie door and your b going out on its own to use the litter box, I would say that might be a stretch - especially if it is a puppy. I know my pup was never trusted to go on her own without me outside watching her. She would have been too distracted in the yard (she's a busy girl :D) and if I didn't watch her I know she would have come back in and pee'd. Many threads on here of new pup owners that have that happen, so instead of leaving it to chance, I just made sure to see her go to the bathroom.

  • A thought for the future, i agree that you need to be out with the pup to make sure it goes. However we successfully used an existing Cat door with our adult Basenji, ours led into the garden but the theory is the same. He used to go in and our whenever.

  • I have a doggy door for my kids.. that said with baby puppies, took a bit of training till they used the door to go out… Problem with puppies is that they have to "go NOW"... to late for them to remember a doggy door is available. But they catch on pretty quickly

  • Thunderbird, what size (inches) is your cat door, because we currently have one on the door that leads to our garage - I just thought it looked a bit small for a basenji.

  • @Kipawa:

    Thunderbird, what size (inches) is your cat door, because we currently have one on the door that leads to our garage - I just thought it looked a bit small for a basenji.

    Our Door is 7" high by 6" wide it was already in for the cats and Benji used it, in fact he charged through it with a tremendous clatter. Idealy it could have done to be bigger but he was quite a small male.

  • That's what our cat door is. I guess I can use it so long as it doesn't become too much of a squeeze for my future B.

Suggested Topics

  • How I 'trained' my Basenji 'Antigone'

    Basenji Training
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    22k Views
    AntigoneA
    Good Morning Debra, I do not feel as if have to defend why my HUGE dogs from the Dog Pound hated their crates. I still have an assortment of dog and cat crates from huge to small. Whenever my Basenji went to the Vet (which was often as she was a Cancer survivor and also had a seizure disorder which meant she had to take Phenobarbital 3x per day) of course she went in her crate. She didn't like it and complained until she fell asleep but she was in her crate. Big dogs from the Pound hate crates as it makes them feel extremely nervous as the crate is often like their cage in the Pound. Furthermore, it is not really safe to take a big dog that you don't know that well and put him in a crate; a great way to get bitten. I have had Malamutes, Rottweilers, Rough and Smooth Coated Collies, a Bull Mastiff and 2 Akitas. I know dogs. People call me when there is a Wolf or a nice dog that has been dumped by its owner and I usually end up rescuing it and finding a new home for him. I rarely get females for some reason. Regarding Amanda, she is the least famous person I know, I was not trying to impress anyone, I just included her as we rescue horses together and I got one of my Wolves from her. My Horse charity is a Charity. It is by Law and I am able to accept donations as I do what I say I do which is Rescue, Rehab, Re-Train and Re-Home horses. The rehab can take years and I have one 'Lifer' because she is so messed up health wise she will never have a saddle on her back because she weighs 950lbs and she should weigh 1100lbs. She has Gastric Ulcers from being drugged at the track. She is the 'Secretariat' great granddaughter. The Rescue is a 501©(3) Public Corporation and we pay taxes to the State and the Feds. That is why we are allowed to accept donations. I pay $1450.00 PER MONTH to BOARD the horses in the rescue. Donations have been down, clearly due to the economy but the horses get all they need including their joint supplements. Crate training is not something I find important for inside the house. In the car, yes! My big dogs have always ridden in their huge crates in the back of the car and fell asleep. We used to walk to the Vet. Antigone really hated being confined and let me know only the way a Basenji can, she shrieked just to let me know she was still the Alpha. I know how to use crates and I use them in the car but not in the house. My dogs and cats were all very long lived except for Howly so I think I can say I KNOW HOW TO KEEP THEM SAFE, HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND WELL. :) Antigone
  • Any tips for the 'stay' command?

    Basenji Training
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    T
    For a teenage boy to be 80% with distractions is great. We're very proud of him and his Mom for doing such a great job with him. His little sisters Olive (aka Fina) and Scarlett will be coming to visit us next week. I hear they are also doing well, in fact I could hear Scarlett barrooing at her dad when he called to tell us they were coming for a visit. The bending thing is a mistake I make frequently so I have to remind myself all the time to watch my posture. Therese
  • Doggie manners

    Basenji Training
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    3k Views
    KipawaK
    Patty, thanks so much for the info. I am going to order a couple of books and the DVD. Time to start a "dog" library. :)
  • Litter box training

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    5k Views
    senjiS
    Deke was litter box trained as a pup. I to did away with it, he doesn't have any weather issues. I still have it. Mybe I should try it for my new princess. Gracie will not go if its wet. I've cleaned up poop three times from her. She does pee outside…..I think...I haven't found any wet spots. We used that litter like yesterday's news. He pretty much stopped using it on his own he preferred outside but would use it from time to time.
  • Travelling B's

    Basenji Training
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    3k Views
    senjiS
    Glad to hear the trip went well. I'm sure there are people on here that can tell you more, but Bs are about 17 inches at the shoulder. I use my crate all the time. Deke LOVES it. He'd rather sleep in there then with us! It's also his "safe" zone. I have two (human) girls 6 and 10 they are not allowed to bother him in there.. other kids that come over are also told to leave the him alone when in his crate. It is in our kitchen so he's always near us. He actually likes it covered(it's like a den), he's in it when ever we're not home and at night. When he goes to my parents it goes to and his bankets and the cover. He gets a treat most times he goes in. We trained him to go in with the command "crate" but "bed time" works at night. When he was little we just picked him up and put him in we said "crate, good boy" and gave him treats. He just learned to love it. Good Luck
  • Using a Doggie Door

    Basenji Training
    26
    0 Votes
    26 Posts
    11k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    He still paws it open prior to going through, but he goes through which is >>the important thing. LOL That's how our older cat goes through too! Jazzy goes {or went, since she's banned from them now} nose first and had to wiggle and squeeeeeeeeeeze the body through little by little. She looked ridiculous! LOL