Naughty Basenji need advice

Basenji Training

  • Beau has decided to take things out of the garbage in protest of being gated in the kitchen. The wierd thing is it is only in protest, he doesnt eat anything he just takes it out of the garbage usually the diapers and strategically places articles around the kitchen. He is so silent while doing this I have yet to catch him. I know i should move the garbage can into the pantry so he cant get to it but we use the can to block the litter box from the dogs since both our dogs have a taste for "kitty chocolates?". Another thing he does is when he gets seperated from me he poops… He could have just went outside and did his business but if i leave for the gas station he will find the energy to realease another present for me on the kitchen floor. I hate crating him and i dont think he likes it either, and i feel like a bad mommy. He screams and crys if i crate him up and i can hear him half way down the block when i come home from the gas station, so yeah thats a no go. Also he wont be a good boy on the leash. I dont know how many dogs i have leash trained ( i have worked at kennels and doggy day cares and a vet) i know i know how to leash train a dog... Beau aint havin it. He even gives me the dirty eye when i correct him or suddenly change directions to get him to pay attention. I am thinking about switching to a nose lead or a chest lead but i have never had to use these b4 if you have let me know how they work. I think that is all of his naughtiness. Despite his quirks he is awesome and i dont want to complain i just want him to feel comfortable enough that he doesnt feel it neccessary to have a bowel when im out of the house for 5 minutes lol. any ideas would be totally awesome and appreciated. :D

  • Houston

    Is it possible for you to place something heavy on top of the trash can (if it has a lid taht is), if not maybe get a new can with a lid? I have a trash can with a butterfly type lid on it, thanks god, because Otis pays a lot of attention to the can, but have yet to figure out how to get in it..
    As far as walks,, Otis is great one day and failing the next so I am no pro on this topic either, but that being said, several peeps on the forum have given good reviews on the regular harnesses as well as the gentle leader type harness. They work great, but just like everything else, it is pretty personal, you might have to try out each and see which one you, and Beau likes the best. I know that down here in Tx the 2 large pet stores will let you return things even if they are opened and tried so that might be the way to go. I have a martingale collar on Otis and it works great as long as I position it up under his chin when we go for walks..he immediately stops pulling and walks right next to me, with a loose leash. We are working on his leash walking and other things in an obedience class, and he is doing really well. Have you thought of signing Beau up for anything like that?


  • trashcompactor.


  • Sounds like your B is normal - try an obedience class - although mine is in one, due to graduate next week - she does what she's supposed to if in the mood, but if not, that old snarky face shows up and she just won't do anything. We're praying her mood is right for the testing next week.

    We found taking her to dog parks and once in a while doggie day care helped her over the separation anxiety so she would not scream and poop when we left her alone - we still try not to do it often though, since she does get a little destructive when bored.

    We use the Easy Walk harness on her, and it has made a world of difference, although lots of owners say the Gentle Leader works best, so it is a choice thing with you.

    Good luck - these are not easy dogs and you cannnot compare their behavior issues with other types of dogs you've had. It's more a partnership/friendship thing than a master/slave situation!


  • @agilebasenji:

    trashcompactor.

    I agree…gggg... I would never have dogs again without one....

    Other then that, you need to put the can away where your B can't get to it... you are just setting him/her up for failure by leaving it out...


  • I keep my garbage can up high on a bench in the laundry room that's off the kitchen. My previous RW, Ringo used to dump it over even with a lid on it so up high it went. Even the bedroom small trash cans are kept up high.


  • Our daughter was in kitchen when Jaycee upset the trash can so Ashley sat it up right away. There are metal feet and made loud noise on floor so Jaycee ran. Ashley hid and would wait until Jaycee would get close and she would make it make nosie on floor again.
    Jaycee would run at it and slap her feet and then run away and come back. After doing this three thousand times Jaycee will not touch the trash can she will run at it and slap her feet but no touch.
    Funny on Friday when we have to put out large cans for trash service she looked at big cans like o no those are the parents I have to go now. Jaycee will also run at them but she has not played at them like the one in the kitchen.
    May God be with us Jaycee has not found the one in the bathroom but I am sure that is just a matter of time.
    Maybe this will work for you it was a game here but it worked.

    Rita Jean


  • The second best investment I ever made for Basenji proofing was one of these…...
    http://www.newpig.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product9_10651_10151_124019_-1_109355__107939__CAN321-Round-Top-Trash-Container

    I found them somewhere else much cheaper (Target, Walmart??) but I can't remember where. I have a small one in the bathroom that I painted to match the decor and it has NEVER been 'senji violated–-and you all know that bathroom garbage stuff is irresistible:eek:

  • Houston

    we have something similar and Otis is sitting there in front of it trying to figure out how in the world does it open and how do I get something out of it..so far no luck..The bathroom trash cans have those swing lids, and they scare the crap out of him, when they move back and forth, so that is good..so far he has not attempted to get close, when/if he does I will get some more of those in the pic to twart any trash theft attempts


  • boy, this is all so FAMILIAR. :)
    if they just would not GO in the house, they are supposed to be house trained.
    if they just would not go nuts in their crates and chew them enough to get out.
    then they would be perfect. :) lol. gotta love 'em.


  • Yeah! Thank you, johnny b. I have 3 trashcans in my house, two are up where he can't get to them and the third is a step-can. He has yet to figure out how to get into that one:D


  • @Basenjimamma:

    .The bathroom trash cans have those swing lids, and they scare the crap out of him, when they move back and forth, so that is good..so far he has not attempted to get close, when/if he does I will get some more of those in the pic to twart any trash theft attempts

    I have the ones like in the picture and my dogs can still get into them. They are more work and I keep them up high facing backwards to make them even more work but if they are truly motivated to get into them which every so often they are. Of course, I have dogs that open drawer, cabinets and refrigerators. I think they like the challenge.

    As for our kitchen trashcan we have ours under the sink with a child safety lock on the cabinet installed sideways so the dogs can't open it.


  • Bella who is now 8 months old just started walking with a gentle leader nose harness. She has been wearing it less than a week but it has made a huge difference. She still doesn't let me put it on her easily and on occasion tries to rub it off but it is becoming a pleasure to walk her. My daughters 8 and 9 year old Basenji wear the gentle leader also and they even walk in the heeled postion so even an older dog can learn. I still let her sniff now and then and we have our potty places. I would highly recommend.

  • Houston

    good for Bella..


  • My parents have a really cool garbage that deters the dogs well. It's made of wood so it's rather heavy and a good solid wood lid with a flip top. They got it at some art/street fair years ago. Now granted my dogs have always learned to be very good with the garbage, but puppies and visitors are another story. lol And so far noone has gotten past this semi-Ft. Knox can. Although I'm sure it can be done if someone was determined. lol


  • @jinxed_1980:

    Beau has decided to take things out of the garbage in protest of being gated in the kitchen. The wierd thing is it is only in protest, he doesnt eat anything he just takes it out of the garbage usually the diapers and strategically places articles around the kitchen.

    Dogs don't do things "in protest". He is probably bored and just finding a way to entertain himself. That or he has learned that this behavior gets a reaction from you. Dogs are natural scavengers so he is only doing what dogs do. I'm surprised he doesn't eat it. Mine are inveterate trash hounds. Just get a good covered can so he cannot do this.

    Another thing he does is when he gets seperated from me he poops… He could have just went outside and did his business but if i leave for the gas station he will find the energy to realease another present for me on the kitchen floor.

    You might need to do a little remedial alone training. Sounds like it might be nervous deification. That or he learned not to poop in front of you, and is waiting for you to leave.

    I hate crating him and i dont think he likes it either, and i feel like a bad mommy. He screams and crys if i crate him up and i can hear him half way down the block when i come home from the gas station, so yeah thats a no go.

    This tells you he is not adequately crate trained, as others have said. Start from ground 0. Make the crate a super neat place where great things happen. Start by delivering rewards whenever he approaches it. Work up to him going inside, then inside with the door swung closed, then clipped, then inside door locked and he stays there a few seconds, etc.

    Also he wont be a good boy on the leash. I dont know how many dogs i have leash trained ( i have worked at kennels and doggy day cares and a vet) i know i know how to leash train a dog… Beau aint havin it. He even gives me the dirty eye when i correct him or suddenly change directions to get him to pay attention.

    The methods you're using are older, less effective ways of loose lead training. I suggest you get a Sense-ation harness or a Wonder Walker and sign up for classes with a good, positive reinforcement based trainer who can walk you through a good, fun way of teaching your boy to walk politely on lead.

    Good luck

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