Skip to content

Newsom Going Potty

Basenji Training
  • Newsom is 14 weeks now and is a GREAT boy. I'm loving him so much every day and he and Shango are getting along great, bringing smiles all around.

    Newsom is a very good puppy and sleeps all through the night without going to the bathroom in his crate. I take him out first thing and he goes right outside and is rewarded.

    But.

    He has a habit of going to the bathroom in his crate throughout the day. I try to give him cool-down and nap times in his crate (which he goes into by himself. He really seems to love napping and hanging out in his crate…) and to be honest, I can't really figure out when he does it as I watch him really carefully but I'll peek into the crate and inevitable, there's a pee puddle. (and tonight, a little bit of poop). It's super frustrating and I don't know what to do....

    Help?

  • Is the crate too big? He should be able to lay down and turn around but doesn't need more room when potty training. That way it is harder for him to stay out of the mess if he makes one. This method usually works because dogs, especially the typical basenji don't like to be dirty.

    Also make sure to withhold food and water prior to crating and make sure he has had time to process and eliminate any intake.

    You probably already know this, but thats how I would start! :)

    Good luck

  • What were his living conditions like were you got him from? Usually depending on the pups age, there is usually a clue there.

    For example (and I am not saying that he is from a puppy miller)… but puppy mill dogs live in cages, eat in cages, poop in cages... they don't know any different... hence really harder to house train as peeing/pooping in a crate is natural for them. Same with a pet store puppy. So sometimes you need to look at those kinds of things when trying to figure out how to solve a problem. And sometimes you never can....

  • Thanks for the input you guys-

    The crate is not too big, it's the right size for him which is why I am so confused about why he's doing it. And he's NOT from a puppy mill, but was born to a home with a lot of acreage where he had a lot of outside time to run and play on a lot of land….

  • Do you feed him in his crate? He will be unlikely to pee/poo where he eats. Make sure he has had a potty break before going into his crate to eat. Then, TONS of praise when you let him out.

  • @Kipawa:

    Do you feed him in his crate? He will be unlikely to pee/poo where he eats. Make sure he has had a potty break before going into his crate to eat. Then, TONS of praise when you let him out.

    He does not eat in his crate. Thanks for this idea! Will try it!

  • How long is he in the crate during the day?

    Jennifer

  • @dcmclcm4:

    How long is he in the crate during the day?

    Jennifer

    Never longer than 45 mins.

Suggested Topics

  • Go To Ground Sport

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    1k Views
    tanzaT
    @beth314 - I think the issue with a Basenji doing Earthdog is that those dogs go underground to seek their prey.... (as in for trials they make tunnels and the prey is in cages at the end).... and that is not an activity that Basenjis really do. They might try to get to the prey by digging on the top of the ground, but going underground I don't think so.
  • Potty Training

    Basenji Training
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    4k Views
    AntigoneA
    My Dog used a Litter Box until 12 Weeks of Age. After that, I took her to the Horse Farm and let her 'Pack' with older well-trained Dogs. She mimicked their behaviors and she learned how to Sit, Stay, Come when called and lay down. The Dogs did a great job of training mine. I did not have very many problems. these dogs get a bad reputation for being hard to train but they really aren't. They are very stubborn and would rather die than negotiate. Therein lies the importance of understanding the Dog's body language, that tells you all you need to know. They are extremely intelligent and never forget a thing, including people and other animals. Good luck with it!
  • Potty Accidents

    Basenji Training
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    5k Views
    D
    Be careful on over using treats... mix it up with joyous praise and a rub under the chin and pat the back. If you do treats only they can think if they stop getting treats they might think it's bad behavior and change the potty behavior, but by mixing it up they still get the praise and reward with a good job, also always use their name with praise, and never with discipline. I'm reading this book about raising and training basenji's and it's also what my folks said they did that worked with their basenji
  • How to train a dog to go outside by himself

    Basenji Training
    26
    0 Votes
    26 Posts
    14k Views
    Chealsie508C
    Oakley will pee in the middle of the road or anywhere really but pooping is a whole different story…walking is the only way and he seems to do it in the same spots on our walks.. If the wind so much as sways it will deter him... In the cold he just flat out refuses to go! It is a basenji thing
  • Struggling with Potty Training

    Basenji Training
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    4k Views
    ChaseandZahrasmomC
    Fluffypony, Consider the kennels the best investment that you will make. We did not agree with crate training in the beginning when we got our Puggle, I felt that it was cruel to lock him up all day. We bought an excerise pen, put the pee pads in there and everyday we came home to shredded pee pads and a huge mess. Finally we decided to get the kennel because we could not take the mess anymore not to mention that we would have to bathe the Chase everynight after we cleaned up the mess. In time, we were able to trust Chase to be left with the kennel door open and he could be free in the kitchen because we had gates up. This took about 6 months. He hardly ever had an accidentonce he learned and got older. Then, we got Zahra, our Basenji, now they are both locked in their kennels all day, I don't trust Zahra to not destroy our house. She still has not fully learned that she can not potty in the house. She is getting better but if I give her too much room in her crate she will potty on one end and hang out in the other. I thought Chase was hard to train, Zahra is much worse. Maybe it is the fact that we got her from a pet store and she was there for so long and it was acceptable for her to potty in her cage and sleep in it. Yuck. Sometimes we let them share a kennel because when we first got Zahra she did not like to be apart from Chase, I think it made her feel safe to be with him in his kennel all day. Anyway, as a person who originally did not like the kennel idea this was my first dog, I thought it was mean now I know that they actually enjoy the security of it. They are pack animals. Hope this helps, Jenn
  • Crate and potty training help

    Basenji Training
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    8k Views
    C
    Yes husbands can be a trial at times. When my Kalya was dying from lymphoma hubby said no dogs for awhile! Kalya left on tues. for the bridge, on sat. we got a Basenji/Aussie mix, who was gonna be put down, and then3 months later got Mata Hauri Samuel to co-own. Now hubby is going in sept to the BOCA to see the african exhibit and meet some friends. Said he would love to at least see a tri! ggggg Carole