It figures that the first morning I decide to get up early & walk him for a few minutes, it's down pouring! :rolleyes: Ah, summer weather.

He did go outside to use the bathroom & came inside immediately when called. I know this was due to the rain though. Haha. I gave him his breakfast in a kong, mixed with some peanut butter. He went into his crate very easily after sniffing the kong for a second. Hopefully this continues :)

I will start walking him for a few minutes in the mornings, when it's not down pouring of course ;) I am hoping that helps him burn a little energy before being stuck in his crate all day.

Thanks for all the advice!

@nobarkus:

How high is the fence? Is it low enough for him to jump over? Can he dig under easily?
How about getting a dog run set up in the backyard?

I believe he could jump over it. He hasn't yet, nor shown any desire to try. However, I'm not convinced that if he didn't try he wouldn't be able to clear it. I just don't want to take the chance. I could put in a dog run. Although how expensive are those usually? I cannot really afford anything too expensive.

@nobarkus:

I walk mine for 30 minutes in the morning first thing at 4:30am, then feed. For the first month I had him I crated him while I was at work but now leave him in the yard all day with the crate out there, with the door open under a shade tree. Why can't you leave him in the yard during the day? He sleeps all night then with no exercise he has to stay in a crate all day? No wonder he's not hungry and is probably frustrated and wanting to stay out in his new yard.

I just don't trust him in the backyard all day. I truly believe that if he really wanted to get over the fence we have, he could. I worry that leaving him out all day will just be too long unsupervised & if he escapes, he'll be gone.

He does get exercise. While I have the yard, I do walk him in the afternoons once I get home from work. I also chase him around the house or play some games with him. He just doesn't get much exercise in the mornings.

@nobarkus:

How old is Dallas? Maybe low thyroid.

He will be 2 in Nov. I do believe it is him just being a stubborn basenji who doesn't want to get put in a crate all day long. He's fine in the afternoons when I get home.

@lvoss:

If putting him in the yard is not working, do you have time to give him a walk instead? Mine get a morning walk, they enjoy having that time with me and/or my husband. They also enjoy participating in our morning routine like being able to lick wet toes when you get out of the shower and catching some morning rays of sun before we leave which our backyard doesn't get in the morning.

I also wonder how is overall energy level and his appetite? You say he doesn't want to get out of bed in the morning nor does he want to eat his breakfast but how is he when you get home in the evening? It could be that a vet check is in order if he seems to have a significant change in energy and appetite.

If it is just his morning meal, try a Kong with his breakfast in it. You can mix it with a little yogurt and pumpkin and then give it to him in his crate. If you think the crate is the issue, can you give him more space like an ex-pen or gate off an area like the kitchen.

I suppose I could get up and walk him in the mornings. It's just difficult because I already get up at 5:30. I work in DC & have an hour plus commute from the suburb I live in. I do walk him in the afternoons when I get home. Those have been less frequent lately with summer storms coming through every evening.

Energy wise, he is fine when I get home. He darts out of his crate, ready for our walk. I let him run in the backyard after our walk for a little while. Then, typically before bed, I will chase him around the house, play some fetching or something similar to really wear him out.

I think it's more that he just doesn't want to be crated during the day. My roommate won't let me leave him out during the day though. She does not just laugh it off when he has detroyed things. He did rip a hole in her new carpet & well, he's lucky we are even still living at the house! Haha. A kong put in his crate is a really great idea. I will have to try that!

It has been a while since I lasted posted on here. Life has been busy! However, things have been going really well for me & Dallas. Well…except one thing...

We actually moved into a house back in May. The house has a huge fenced in yard, which Dallas adores. We have had a standard morning routine since moving. I get up at 5:30am & let him out. He stays outside until I let him inside for his breakfast. After eating, I put him back outside to go potty before being crated all day.

Lately he has not been following our routine whatsoever. :mad: For the past month or so, he has been refusing to get out of bed. I have had to carry him to the back yard. Then, after getting outside, he has decided to stop coming inside. Have you ever tried catching a basenji in a backyard at 6am? Yea, it ain't easy! I obviously cannot leave him outside all day & thus, he has made me late for work more than once!

On the off days where he actually does come inside on his own, he won't eat his breakfast. Actually, he never eats his breakfast anymore. There are days lately where I haven't even put him outside prior to leaving for work because I know I don't have time to try getting him back inside. I have tried taking him into the backyard with a leash to get him to go but he refuses to go potty that way. I only have so much time I can stand in the backyard in the morning!

He has been trained to be in his crate during the day since I brought him home at 9 weeks old. He is given toys in his crate to play with during the day. I give him treats whenever he goes into his crate. I just don't understand why he was accepting of his crate for so long & now he refuses to come in the house knowing that is where he's going to be put. :mad:

Do any of you have suggestions???

I'm about to just go get a tie-out & use that instead of giving him free range of the yard every morning. Although, I don't believe that would solve the no eating in the morning issue...

Great pictures. Cody is such a handsome boy. Love his face in that last picture! :)

As always, outstanding pictures! I visited Sweden a few years ago & loved it. It's such a beautiful country! Stockholm would rank as one of my top 3 favorite cities I have been to! :)

Congrats on the good news!

They are all adorable!

Awww. The puppies are adorable! Glad to hear that Gracie had a nice delivery :)

I agree that it is not abnormal. I've had Dallas since he was a pup & even now, he will whine when I leave. When he is left at my mom's house, he will whine & pace for around 5-10 minutes after I leave. Eventually he settles down though.

True separation anxiety is when the dog does not calm down after being left. I know of another basenji who injured herself trying to get out of her crate after being left by her owners. Her separation anxiety was to the point where as long as her owners were not home, she would not calm down & would completely destroy the house [after they stopped putting her a crate because she injured herself so badly].

I'm sure many other individuals can comment who are more experienced. I would think though that as long as she is calming down shortly after you leave, you shouldn't worry too much.

Congrats!!! :)

They grow up too fast I think! I love going back to look at Dallas' puppy pictures. He just looks so tiny! :) I can't do it too often though or I start getting puppy fever. Haha.

I'm am switching my boy from Blue Buffalo to Natural Balance Potato & Duck. I have had him on BB for about a year now, switching between the flavors every time I buy a new bag & he's done well. However, I decided to try a grain free food for a little while to see if I notice any differences. Anyone feed NB Potato & duck?

@lisatest:

What do you all think about getting a dog micro chipped?

Last night I caved and let her sleep in her bed on our bed. Amazingly no whining. I believe Mia won on this battle. :)

She is very precious and she puts a smile on my face every single day.

I got my boy microchipped when he was neutered. It didn't cost much extra & I like the extra sense of security I have now. Although, as Tanza said, they do wander. Dallas' started out on his shoulder blade & now is more in his front thigh. If that makes sense. The vet said it is not an issue now but if it keeps moving towards his chest, she will have to remove it & replace it in a better spot. However, it is still completely worth it.

Welcome to basenji ownership 101. They are so darn persistant when they want something. Dallas sleeps in my bed & is quite the bed hog! Also, he must sleep under the covers now! Once you give in, there is no going back. Haha.

So glad it worked out so well for you & that she makes you so happy. I look forward to seeing more pictures of her!

@tanza:

My Maggii always jumped and/or climbed… gates, fences, trees.. ggg... my OJ Boy never figured it out, he would just stand there and watch with an expression of "How you do that?".... gggg

Haha. Well Dallas & OJ were related. Maybe the Serengeti boys don't jump :p

@Quercus:

#15…seriously?? you read somewhere that Basenjis don't jump??? I wish somebody would have told my dogs that....they clear 3-4 ft easily...

Dallas doesn't jump! It's so weird & I have tried training him to do so. I imagine if he really wanted out of somewhere, like over a baby gate or something, he'd jump. However, when I told up a treat he will "dance" on his hind legs but has NEVER actually jumped into the air to get it. Well, he's jumped onto the sofa & from the sofa into the air. Perhaps that counts? Haha.

#3 - Dallas will retrieve but only for a few minutes. After about the fourth or fifth time, he stops bringing the toy back & would rather you chase him to get it back instead :p

#11 - Dallas prefers dirty, especially when eating them.

#19 - Sometimes Dallas acts like a lap dog. He loves cuddling in my lap :)

#26 - Ludicrous. My boy is a little love bug, as I call him.

Very nice page. I like how you explain the breed so well. He is so cute :)

She's adorable! Thanks for sharing the photos :)