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Indoors dogs & sleep

Behavioral Issues
  • ZenGrrrlZ

    To follow up on my previous question "How much does your B sleep?" here's some more specific info. Both of my dogs are indoors, inside my apartment with me, unless I take them out for a walk or to the dog park. There's no lawn or yard for them to play in. So they spend all day curled up on my bed, on the floor in my room, or sleeping in the sun on the balcony. What they don't have are opportunities to play with any other animals (dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, etc.) or chase anything or explore any part of the natural world. They're stuck in a human being's house all day long, everyday! So I worry that they must be bored to death - and so, just sleep. NB: Ziggy is 9 years old, Zoe is 6, so both have long since passed the "puppy energy" phase. Any thoughts about this situation? ~ Lori ~

    The Z-Pack: Zen and Ziggy

    In memory of Zoe and Zhara Baroo

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  • BDawgB

    It's the same situation at my house. Lexi's had more socialization throughout her life– Miles, well, we just don't know what situation he came from. But my dogs will be lazy if they are allowed to be... you know, content to sleep in the sun. That does not mean they are lazy all the time though. They will run with you as long as you can go... :) Just make sure you get on the floor with them and talk to them and play. And of course regular exercise/run/walks are essential too!

    Miles & Lexi's Mom

    www.stelladot.com/barrick

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  • dashD

    If it makes you feel any better, we do have a fenced in back yard and I was so excited that Dash could run around like a crazy man. But he generally jumps into the lawn chair in the sun and takes a nap. If he is not doing that he is scoping the fence for weaknesses. He has found a couple.

    Jennifer

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  • JazzysMomJ

    We have a fenced back yard also, it's maybe 1/3 acre or so. It's plenty of room for the Basenji 500, wrestling, ball chasing, and squirrel chasing.
    And both Jazzy and Keoki do all of those things –- for a little while. The bulk of the time is spent sleeping in sunbeams, whether that be in the lawn chair, the deck, the sand pits for our horseshoes, or a little patch of dirt off the deck.
    They sleep A LOT.

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  • jys1011J

    I'm sure if they lived in wide open space with acres & acres to roam they would still sleep oh about 18-20hours! :eek: :eek:

    I feel bad too..they're cooped up all day at my house too! But when I do take them out to a fenced in area to run around they only do so for about 15-30minutes & then they sit & look at me like…ok let's go home now Lady...:)

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

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  • J

    I am fortunate that I can take Hollie with me to work, and I do (everyday). She has lots of interaction with the people I work with and my employers two dogs. Hollie is different from most of the dogs mentioned in this post. She loves to play, run, hunt, etc and would stay at the dog park or anywhere fenced with a playmate for hours (granted I HAVE to be with her - no mommy = no play). As I have read here, a tired basenji is a happy basenji (and a tired baseji = a happy b owner!!).

    Lori, is there anywhere you can take the dogs to run when you are off work? A friend or relative with a fenced yard? I know most people don't like dog parks, but we visit ours ONLY early in the mornings when it's not crowded. Is this an option for you? I know they like to sleep, they are dogs, but they do need exercise and socialization too.

    Good luck. Let us know if you discover a way to get them more active.

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  • BDawgB

    Oh, the other thing I wanted to mention was that Lexi will go forever if she has woods– like squirrels to chase. Here in DC, we have graveled-treeless dog parks that are small. Lexi does not like those at all. It's too boring.

    Miles & Lexi's Mom

    www.stelladot.com/barrick

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    On the couch Gossy either justs sits on my lap or curls up next to me; on the recliner she prefers directly in my lap. On the other hand, if I'm on the couch in the evening Teddy will slowly climb up onto my lap as if he thinks I won't notice then he'll curl up leaning against my chest and go to sleep! If Gossy is already in my lap, he'll try to squeeze in between :)
  • VanessaV

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    hdolbowH
    i'm feeling your pain on this one. dan and i broke up a few months ago so i moved home and mia went from sleeping with rocky and maggie on the couch to sleeping in bed with me. if i'd go out at night, my mom, instead of crating her would let her sleep in bed with my parents. (because she cried and mom felt bad) then dad told mom he didnt want her in bed with them so mom would sleep in a spare bedroom just to keep her from crying in her crate! (typical grandmother.. she spoiled her rotten) Now dan and i are trying to work things out so i brought mia with me last night to stay over and he keeps maggie and rocky in the laundry room with their beds and they are content with that, but Mia was NOT having it. she sat at the gate and cried for a good 2 hours. They aren't allowed in the bedroom because he got new furniture, so she has to get used to it i guess.. Only time will tell i suppose.. but uggh that crying.. its enough to make you wanna pull your hair out. im hoping when the 3 warm up to each other again she'll stop..
  • Robin_n_JackR

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    C
    My son has been afraid of animals his entire life. We didn't know it until we were visiting a friend when he was 1 year old and their cat WALKED across the room. He freaked out. From that point on he was afraid of any live animal, but loved stuffed animals. He is 6 now and we just got an 8 week old Basenji. We talked about it alot, (he has slowly gotten used to our friend's cat, but every time the animal made a sudden move he jolted). He was excited to get the puppy, and we sat with him while he got used to exactly what the puppy would do. It has only been 2 months and my son is so good with our dog that he is not afraid of the dogs across the street who are high strung little fluffy things that always sent him runnning and screaming into the house. When I asked him about it he said he wasn't afraid now because he had one now. We waited to get a dog until both of our kids were older and could handle some responsibility. It was the best decision we made. He is still uncomforable around large dogs and other large animals, but has made remarkable progress. I don't know how your nephew will respond, but as he gets older he may realize that he has some control over the animals and that may help. Good luck!!!
  • J

    There was a little dog…

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    J
    Thanks for your replies. I guess in the spontanaity of the moment I did as I do with my other dogs, a no and then a quick taking the thing away since I'm boss and I'm the owner of everything ultimately. I do believe Rowdy was not being the bad growling type bite – he took his front teeth and nipped at my arm, pinching it, but it hurt! I will try to work on the "leave it" command, since I taught that to my mom's poodle and it worked well. Rowdy is smart and is finally getting some of the house rules down. Though he's sneaky when he isn't resting beside you and you forget to watch him... :)