Potty Training


  • Hello Fellow Basenji owners,

    We just got our 11 week old Basenji last week. He was litter trained by the breeder so we have continued this to ease his transition. The problem is he won’t go outside and is prone to have accidents in the house even after he has gone in the litter pan. I am thinking I should give it more time but could use some suggestions!


  • Ohhhhh you have a long road ahead of you! Hahaha. I have a puppy myself and just when I think he’s got it I step in another puddle! 11 weeks is very very young to expect him to be house trained. Give it a few more months.

    Be consistant. After a nap, after he plays hard, after he eats, right when you get home, every hour..outside! Praise him like crazy when he gets it right.

    It has been my experience that basenjis take awhile to house train. He will get it!


  • Thank you so much! Appreciate the advice!


  • Be observant. Learn the signs and react quickly. A week isn't much time to make that transition, but it seems strange that he isn't using the litter if he was trained to it. I don't agree that Basenjis are difficult to house train, but perhaps males are slower to learn than females. My girls were very quick to understand and become reliable.


  • @jacesmom - If you take him immediately outside after naps, eating, playing he will go outside.... but you have to take him... not expect him to tell you he needs to go out. Way to young for that. And I litter box train my pups and tell new owners to make that change from litter box to outside, take some of the litter you are using and put it out side, they pick up the idea pretty quick.

    Many of us are related by our Basenjis, who did you get him from?


  • Ditto Tanza's comments. Be consistent about taking him to potty (whether the litter box or ourside) and at regular intervals for now. When he does go, be sure to praise him (so he knows it's a good thing to go "when asked") and give a treat. Move the litter box to the doorway then to outside so he gets the idea - you can also train a particular area in the yard as well if desired. Always praise and or treat when he goes when you take him - that will help.


  • Great feedback. Thanks everyone! I got my pup from Kabars Basenjis in Poulsbo Washington. The breeder partners with Khani’s Basenjis in Portland.


  • 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!

Suggested Topics

  • 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
  • Having issues potty training

    Basenji Training
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    2k Views
    thunderbird8588T
    Congratulations on your new Puppy, how about some pics:D
  • Clicker training

    Basenji Training
    3
    0 Votes
    3 Posts
    3k Views
    lvossL
    Edward, Positive reinforcement methods like clicker training work wonderfully with basenjis. All four of my basenjis are clicker trained. I guess you could even consider Sophie to have started before birth since I was clicker training her mom while she was pregnant with the litter. The purpose of the clicker is to mark the behavior that you want so you could also just use a word like "yes" or "Yay" or "good dog" followed by a treat. I use clicker training to train a variety of behaviors such as sit, down, attention, name response, stay, stand, go to mat, front, point, hand targeting, and the list goes on. I also use it in agility training.
  • Basenji slave in need of potty training help

    Basenji Training
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    7k Views
    nomrbddgsN
    I do hope she losses interest. My B girl Sugar climbs. X-pens are definitely out unless they have a lid, and then she'll scream. I can block the kitchen off with baby gates if I have visitors but not from her-she'll hop right over from a sit. She has climbed the fence to get at a squirrel, but since I watch her I got to her before she got over. I'm just waiting for the tree climbing to start!
  • Training the Termite

    Basenji Training
    2
    0 Votes
    2 Posts
    2k Views
    nala121498N
    That is too sweet! Keep us posted on his progress…and more pictures, please!
  • Rain & potty training

    Basenji Training
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    4k Views
    MantisM
    i always thought it would be a great idea to have an overhang over the grass for rainy days….