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

  • Here's one that'll mix it up a bit

    Basenji Training
    21
    0 Votes
    21 Posts
    6k Views
    tanzaT
    My Basenjis have always loved radishes… I would start them young with them... just tossing them on the floor whole... they would roll and toss them around the floor and then finally biting into them... a couple of days of that, they were hooked... makes a great treat... but I did make sure they were a bit on the sweet side then the "hot" side
  • Litter box training advice

    Basenji Training
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    tanzaT
    And you might want to try putting it outside and try getting her to go on it there and then try moving in inside….
  • He's got it…

    Basenji Training
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    5k Views
    soulmateS
    Actually I have bought the muzzles in Austria at that shop: http://www.sofahund.at And yes, the dogs can open their mouths while running. This is the reason why I searched to find these muzzles. They also have the plastic-coated wire muzzles with the wire across the head. Regards, Esther
  • Litter box training

    Basenji Training
    25
    0 Votes
    25 Posts
    12k Views
    T
    Yes, they will use it for poop - but if they have diarrhea they might not be able to make it to the box! Of course, the best thing is to figure out what's causing the diarrhea, which I'm sure you are working on. Half an Immodium usually works for ours if it's a temporary stomach upset from eating something they shouldn't… Terry
  • First time 'off leash'

    Basenji Training
    28
    0 Votes
    28 Posts
    11k Views
    lvossL
    What is a "training leash"? Is it a long line? Long lines are great for teaching loose lead walking and working on recalls. Many people seem to think that walking a dog off leash is a good thing, when in reality it is in most places breaking the law. There are some places that you can walk your dog off leash without being in violation of the law but in many places there are not many safe places that you can walk your dog off leash. As Janneke said, a real benefit to working on a long line on recall is that if your pup ever does get out then you have a tool to get him back. Name response, coming to his name with various distractions and in various places could very well save his life some day. You can play the come game in the house having people in different rooms call his name and give a treat if he comes. You can work on a long line outside calling him between two people. Only treat if he comes when called not if he is just running back and forth between you. As for him listening to you, are you taking him to training classes? What is your role in training him? The more you work him, and the more consistently you work him, the more he will listen to you. You can start really by just taking a handful of one of his meals and just ask for some basics before giving him the main meal. Sit, down, stand, I practice targeting, what ever you may be working on until you have used your handful then when you are done ask for a sit and then you can give his bowl.
  • Litter box training

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k 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.