got another vote
Maybe a new addition
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Sorry I took so long to respond and let you all know how things are working…but a lot to deal with lately.
I picked up the new old-boy (10 yrs) on Thanksgiving morning (how appropriate). He's very sweet and seems content to be wherever I happen to be (which has turned into a small problem). Although he obviously had a call name (tommy) for most of his life, I changed it to "Luny" (pronounced loony) - he responds well to it already.
I was told he was crate-trained and his previous life-partners said he was well adjusted to being loose in the house. Unfortunately, the crate training was when he was young, and with retired life-partners and a 4-legged pal around meant he was never alone. Ooh get the picture?
So the first time I left the house to go shopping I left him in the crate and he tore up whatever blanket and toy was in there (no problem they were old) and spilled the water. The second time I left the house I left him loose as I wasn't going to be gone long and I thought it would be a good test. My neighbor said he howled the whole time I was gone. Stupidly I also left the blinds down on the patio door and he made a mess of them and peed all over in front of the door - so when I came in I stepped right in.
Now you understand why I'm calling him Luny.
I will have to keep him in the crate while I go to work until he gets used to my house and to being alone (tomorrow I will make arrangements to come home from work early and maybe eventually I can find a basenji pal for him). He has no problem going in the crate and I've been feeding him in there so I think it's just the being alone part that makes him nuts. He gets a little worried if he wakes up from a nap and doesn't see me right away but again I think that will work itself out eventually. This morning after being gone to church for a couple of hours, he at least quit howling soon and I made sure he had an old rug and more toys to destroy to occupy his time. Then of course I gave him lots of hugs when I let him loose (and luckily he doens't seek revenge).
It will take some time to work everything out (I won't get new blinds yet) but I think we will get along fine in the end. He has a dog bed or blankets in each room so he can be near me wherever I am and he sleeps in his dog bed right by my bed. I'll get a couple of pictures soon. -
Congrats - I am familiar with the dog - it will be wonderful for both of you.
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He is bound to be a bit insecure at first, but once he learns that you always come home, I'm betting he will relax. How about some of those pup-crate-training tricks, like a kong filled with frozen low fat creme cheese mixed with kibble or treats? Or peanut butter? something that will keep him busy for a while.
It is a major "life-style" change for him, he will get used to your routine , and if you get him a basenji pal…better yet!
Congratulations on your Luny!
Anne
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Going outside, and coming back in, leaving him in the house, will get him used to you being out of sight.
Also, when you get home, please don't love him up or act excited.
Keep everything calm, and take him for a walk.
Once your home from the walk, then love him up.
You want your coming and going to be as calm and normal as if your going to do laundry in the garage, leaving the dog inside.
I hope this makes sense to you. -
Thanks Sharron - good tips (and I should have remembered since that's what I did when I first acquired EL D).
I've been hiding treats in some of the old toys but the kong trick sounds like a good one too. How much peanut butter do you put into the kong - enough just to coat the insides? -
I am passing on the wisdom of others, as I don't crate. I think some folks completely fill the Kong, packed with the creme cheese and kibble, but you wouldn't want that much peanut butter! You would want enough to keep him busy for a little while.
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Can you put a couple of dog biskets in it, coat it with whatever and freeze it?
Wouldn't that make it last longer? -
I'll try the freezing with bisket pieces mixed in. Right now all I have is peanut butter but I'll get some lowfat creem cheese next time I go to the store.
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Congratulations on your new lover boy. I'm very happy for you!!
Just a thought…..My dogs HATED being left in the wire cage in the kitchen. I moved it to the bedroom, closed the shades, and they were both quite happy. I used a blue tarp--the heavy duty painter type with fibers in it-- under the cage until the accidents (like water bowl tipping) stopped, but it didn't take long. I think they knew the bedroom meant sleep.
That was quite a few years ago. Neither are crated now.
Try your local salvation army or goodwill store for crate/cage bedding. I find baby blankets and rugs for 25-50 cents. Easier to throw away the chewed up stuff that way.
Good luck, and again congratulations on your new Luny (loony:p ) boy. I think El D is having a good 'senji roooo-like-laugh watching all this from the rainbow bridge. He's happy for you 'cuz he knows you're happy:)
Dawn
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I leave Luny in the kitchen mainly because that has flooring that won't be harmed when he spills the water bucket (I got one of those flat-sided ones that hangs with not a lot of water but he still makes a mess with it). When I leave in the morning it's dark out anyway.
Lately he seems "resigned" to having to be in the kennel when I leave for work - he no longer howls and doesn't pee in it and doesn't tear up the rugs much any more (I can tell he doesn't really like it though). He doesn't hate the crate because he'll go in there readily to be fed and look for treats so that's good (EL D never would go near a crate and he would actually destroy one if forced). Luny's still a little anxious when I "disappear" even for short times so I'm not sure I can trust him loose in the house yet but I'll work on that.
I leave him a kong with some peanut butter smeared kibbles - he hasn't yet learned (as EL D did early on) to toss the thing around so trying to lick out the insides keeps him occupied for awhile. We're progressing I think.
