In addition to all of the above posts, there are definitely basenjis who will not be crated. I have one. Went through all the correct procedures trying to crate Shaye as a new puppy. We got her a wire crate, the right size, put a soft piece of our clothing in it, put it next to our bed at first so we could touch her through the bars - she screamed all the time she was in there, did her business wih her butt against the side so it would go outside, peed all over the place and sat in it, even though we were very slow and careful with it. The eventual result was she broke nearly all her baby teeth biting the crate, never calmed down in it, would not go in to eat, get treats or anything else. Her personality has never changed; she still backs off if she even sees crates other dogs are sleeping in. She is now nearly five, and she does not act like that when she needs to be kenneled at a daycare place, she seems to know it's different there, although if possible she will try to climb her way out at first. When she cannot, she will calm down and rest for the hour they put her in there during the day. Be patient, but if it just never works, so be it. Once Shaye got a little older and we got her a companion, she has been totally trustworthy while we are gone.
Crate suggestions??
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so, congo the amazing escape artist/superdog got a new crate last night. i left him along for an hour today, and by the time i got home he managed to escape the crate and had his blanket literally twisted around his paw cutting the circulation off. wth???!! he ate holes in his blanket and i have no idea how he got it so wrapped around his paw. thankfully i arrived home in time and he was just very upset and sore. i had to cut the blanket off of him. i checked him over and made sure nothing was broken, and it just looked a little swollen and sore. he didn't put any weight on it at first but after a few hours (and a dog aspirin) he seems to be feeling better. ugh! he managed to bend the metal bars in the cage and actually broke one trying to get out. they're not very bendable! i tried bending them myself and couldn't. i don't want him hurting himself. is there any crates you suggest? like what brands are better quality than the others. would i be better off buying a heavy duty crate??
