The NILF program is exactly the sort of thing your basenji needs. She has hit teenage time and like human teenagers is pushing authority. In this case, don't push her off the couch or yank the afghan from under her or any of those sorts of manuvers. Start by getting her attention just before she is going to jump onto the couch by offering a treat diverting her attention away from the couch. If she decides to come for the treat, she gets it, and then gets to be on the couch as a double reward; if she decides to complete her jump to the couch instead, she doesn't get the treat. Once she starts to look at you first ("asking permission") before she takes the couch then the reward becomes the couch. And to get her off the couch, use the reverse. Offer her a treat in such a way that she has to get off the couch to get it and click as soon as she decides to get off Once she understands that, add the "off" word. You might have to use treats just for this exercise that she wouldn't get any other time to make this more enticing to her. You might also want to introduce mat work so that she has to go to her mat or afghan or whatever, on the floor, instead of getting on the couch in the first place.
Poop problem
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Keoki, our 8.5 year-old basenji has begun having a strange problem and I am wondering what could be causing it. Within the last week he seems to be dropping one piece of poop about every other day when he is just walking around the house. Sometimes it happens after he has gone outside to do his business and others just at random times. He doesn't even seem to know it is happening. I am concerned that there might be something wrong or it is a nervous behavior or something.
He has done this before when we go on walks and he is really excited and can't make it to "his spot" but now that it is happening at random times and in the house I am not sure of the cause.
He was at the vet about a month ago and checked out great. Any ideas?
Thanks!
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I would take him back to the vet just to be sure everything is A-OK. If there hasn't been a change in diet or activity, this seems a little strange to me, but your vet will quickly reassure you.
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i'd try a chiropractor vet. my tri-ing dog sometimes has problems with sleep-pooping and it generally means his back is out. the holistic vet (who does chiro adjustments) said when the back is out, it is more painful to the dog to squat/push/poop so he's reluctant to do so.
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He is getting to be an old man. Dogs do go through the same aging processes we do. As people age, some wind up with fecal continence problems, most do not. It would be logical that dogs would be the same. They are, after all, mammals just like us.
If it seems like he doesn't even know it's happening, perhaps Agile is right and his back is out. The nerves are obviously not transmitting the activity to the brain. As for action you can take to keep your floors clean? I'm not sure whether they make Doggie Depends. At least he's a Basenji and not, say, a St. Bernard.
Good luck and please let us know how it goes. (Bad choice of words??? Oh, well…you get the idea.)
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Did the vet do a complete blood panel and urinalysis? I have not encountered or heard of this problem before but found this searching Google. I would try the Agilebasenjis advice.
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Please do let us know what the vet says.
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My oldie (Jewel) does this - its as though she can't wait to finish when she poops outside and then leaves a 'plop' indoors. I hadn't thought about it as a problem, just old age. I'll be interested to see what information you get from the vet. I don't have a cleaning problem with it either because she is fed raw and her poop is quite firm so doesn't really leave any stain.
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Seems to be simply behavioral, but I appreciate everyone's advice. I think he had a slight case of separation anxiety and was afraid to be away from us for too long. We have solved it by standing outside with him until he is done. We have a doggy door so he can come and go as he pleases, but it turns out he doesn't like that much freedom or he likes an audience. Either way we have not had the problem again since I posted. Thanks again though!
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My 2 dogs don't use our backyard unless its an emergency.
We walk them to "do" their business away from their yard…
