I have the pup sleep with a large toy so it doesn't feel so lonely. I have these large fuzzy stuffed bones that are about as big as an 8 week old puppy. This litter of pups have been playing with Rio's old crate buddy bone so it is in some of the pics.
Is he only being crated at night or is he also being crated during the day?
Caesar cannot be in a kennel in the same room with me. he will scream now, and he is 6 years old.
i thought it would be great to have the kennel in the bedroom and dreamed of my basenji sleeping in a non caged bed when he was older.
caesar has been an indoor dog, crated while i am at work, and crated at night. he did acclimate but it took patience.
i test him from time to time and he is now okay to sleep out of the crate at night without me having to keep that third eye open.
caesar was so loud during his puppy years that we had to put his kennel downstairs. i forgot about that.
any attention is good attention and what your basenji wants is attention for the behavior that you dont want, which in this case is bad attention.
if you let him sleep in your bed and become part of your pack, the crate is far more difficult.
i found that petsmart sells bleached bones with peanut butter in them. you can find one of those or a nylabone to give your b when you put him in the crate. there is a lot of energy to burn in a young one and the licking or immitation suckling? might do the trick.
it is like a toddler fighting going to sleep.
I also found covering the crate was better. one, because basenjis are extremely temp sensitive and will never complain about being warm. and two, because it is more like a den and will make them feel safer.
let us know how it goes and stick with it. once your b is trained to understand the crate isnt punishment, you can move to a larger crate.
when you crate train, it is important to keep it small at first. then, add more territory. at least that is what has worked well for me.
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That hasn't been the case in our household. All of our dogs (except Querk) will happily sleep in our bed, and almost as happily sleep in their crate (at least quietly). Querk is never happy in a crate, partly, as I have said before, because we forced him to cry, scream and carry on in his crate all night long, for many nights before we let him sleep in the bed. I firmly believe that a slow introduction to a crate, particularly for 'only' dogs is important for dogs that tend toward the phobic side (some dogs acclimate immediately to being separated from their original family, some don't). These dogs aren't being spoiled brats...they are lonely and afraid of being alone...let's treat them that way....
Our dogs are part of our pack regardless of where they sleep...I agree that sometimes if a dog is exhibiting status seeking behavior (iow pushy) towards humans or other dogs in the pack, it may be time to restrict bed access...but a well behaved dog won't be "spoiled" by sleeping in the bed.
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Yes, but I would never let my toddler scream for nights on end because he was lonely or scared ;)</it>
Wow such great information. Thanks guys!!!
Chance isn't crated too long during the day. At tops 4-5 hrs. Only one messy accident. Wheew.
I once had a cover on his crate to make it den like but he tore through it like the little wolverine he is. I give him a puppy kong but he could care less. Once the crate door is closed, he goes balistic! I don't want to give in yet but I can't do many more of these nights. Even the ear plugs don't help.
Honestly I feel like I am torturing him to keep him awake at night.
Maybee a toy that is a little larger than him would help in the crate. One that I don't mind him tearing apart. 
Here's a question…Should I be rationing his water intake? If I just leave the water out, he will not stop drinking and we all know what that leads to...yellow carpet.!!!!
Vanessa, could you try an Xpen with some toys inside it overnight…maybe in your room? Kongs, food, and toys probably aren't going to help in the crate at this point, because it sounds like he already has a panic about being closed in the crate at night.
Join the fun Vanessa! Jasper crowed like a rooster every morning at 4.30 for about the first 5 weeks…....like clock work.:D
Once his routine is stable, he should calm down, this is all new to him. Whatever you do....... Do the same thing with him everyday and it won't seem so strange to him and he should relax eventually. Sometimes covering the kennel he's in can help........it darkens things and lets them know......time for night night!;)
All of ours sleep in beds, four with us and two with one of our Son's. We've had to crate individuals at night for various reasons and it seems as long as the crate was where they could see us it was never a problem. We used two x-pens together with the crate inside when we had the pups for the waking hours, letting them out under supervision only.
The last two pups where litter trained and that really helped big time.;)
It's is time to get Chance a buddy, I agree with Bdawg.:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: 
Things will calm down, it's all new to the little shaver.:D
Nicky was very much like you describe Chance. The only way we found was to let him into bed. With the girls we found if we had them sleep in the crate until they went out between 4-5am and then let them in the bed for the morning they didn't really mind the crate. We didn't have that option with Nicky because he screamed constantly all night.
Ivoss posted a message yesterday called "Training Levels" that has a link to some training material. I read through the one on crates. It sounded very good to me–but you're introducing the puppy to the crate very gradually. I wish I had had this forum and that material and people like Ivoss and Andrea available when Max was a puppy I will be much more ready for my next B puppy. I have to admit though--I am a sucker when it comes to a basenji scream. I would do ANYTHING for Max if he let out a scream That sound just breaks my heart--especially when it's coming out of your little baby.
Good Luck and stick with it...
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Yes, but I would never let my toddler scream for nights on end because he was lonely or scared
I found Caesar just had so much energy as a pup that he could just keep going and going. I suppose it will depend on your home and the environment you are trying to create for everyone to be comfortable. All it took Caesar was a chew treat when getting in the kennel to burn that energy off and fall asleep.
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Caesar has no problem now as an adult. During his puppy training time we found it was a bad idea to do the bed and the crate. I think that the idea that was put out there about a regular routine is great.
You are doing great!
It took us three months for our B's to get our routine. We got them as adults so it may be a little different. But routine is key for many dogs and keeping that schedule 7 days a week is essential.
I also had problem with TOPAZ wailing at night for no reason…figured out it was warmth thing. I finally decided one weird night to throw in my blanket with her & she went right to sleep. Now that's how she goes to bed with her blankey 
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Oh, yeah…if it just takes a chew treat...that is a piece of cake, absolutely I would leave a dog in his crate to fuss a little if he could calm down and chew a treat. But what we are talking about (I think) and the road it can go down, is a dog that screams hysterically for HOURS...is too upset to chew, or eat, or anything else in a crate. That is where my boy was, and it sounds like Lisa's boy Nicky was there as well. By forcing *that dog to work it out on his own, it simply "sensitizes" him to a crate, instead of "desensitizing" which is what you want.
As you stated, there usually isn't one *right answer for every dog...but those of us who have seen how *bad it can get, try to keep a puppy from even starting down that road of crate phobia.
Strangely, I found with my females, that they *rarely cried in their crates as pups...even the two that flew from Seattle to Ohio...but they always had each other. They were crated next to another dog immediately, and I think that makes a HUGE difference._
But what we are talking about (I think) and the road it can go down, is a dog that screams hysterically for HOURS…is too upset to chew, or eat, or anything else in a crate. That is where my boy was, and it sounds like Lisa's boy Nicky was there as well. By forcing *that dog to work it out on his own, it simply "sensitizes" him to a crate, instead of "desensitizing" which is what you want.
I agree. Caesar (as a pup) would do the hysterical crying if he was in the bedroom where he could see me and in the crate. It just wasnt fair. Then, the crate probably felt like punishment for him.
When the crate was in another room, it became his den. He received treats and didnt cry as much, but it did take some time for him to adjust where the routine is important. When his crate was in the other room it was easier for him to accept that he would get treats and be praised by going into the kennel. Then it became his place (not the place apart from mom).
I suppose maybe it will help you to know that the basenji crying is normal as a pup. We all have experienced it in some form. You are doing great and when the crying is too much, then address it.
Update…...
Last night I wore the little guy out. He would get to the point that even while putting in odd positions he would just try to close those eyes. Nope...I would clap my hands, make odd sounds, put the cat next to him, anything! It eventually made me tired just trying to keep him awake. I walked him into the bedroom with a treat and set him in. He fussed for about 2 minutes and fell right asleep. 3 hrs later he wanted to go outside and potty. I carried him out had him potty and carried him back and put him back to bed. This is where things usually go wrong. He fussed for about 3 min. I kept those earplugs close but he went right back to sleep. I found that if I make a sound like move my leg or cough he will quiet right down. Another 3 hrs later he woke up again and I followed the same routine and back in the crate. This time he got a little more fussy because the sun was rising.
Last night was the first good nights sleep I have had in 6 days. Bliss!
I don't want to jinx myself but cold it be he may be getting better? Ahhh I almost forgot. He's a Basenji. He's going to test me
Well thanks again so much for all the support. I don't know how I would make it through this w/out your kind encouragement!
that is great!! a different type of tired.
I have a basenji puppy coming next Friday and will be going through the same thing for sure. LOL. Then I will be getting tips from you!:o
that is great to hear. He sounds just like one of my children fighting bed time. give it a week and he'll test you just dont give in I just got our B going poop in his box using tricks I use with my human kids LOL.
that is great to hear. He sounds just like one of my children fighting bed time. give it a week and he'll test you just dont give in
Thats Great! How are the kids and Guru doing together?
BTW..thanks for the 411 on the collars at petsmart. It fits Chance purfect! He constantly scratches his neck though. I think it is because his "special spot" is right there. If you just touch it his foot goes crazy
We are going to be signing up for puppy school soon..you should too! Having another B in the class would be great!!! Double Trouble :rolleyes:
@Vanessa626:
Thats Great! How are the kids and Guru doing together?
BTW..thanks for the 411 on the collars at petsmart. It fits Chance purfect! He constantly scratches his neck though. I think it is because his "special spot" is right there. If you just touch it his foot goes crazy
We are going to be signing up for puppy school soon..you should too! Having another B in the class would be great!!! Double Trouble :rolleyes:
We plan on signing up for classes with Guru soon Im just not sure when let me know when you are and Ill seer if I can get in the same class That would be fun
The kids are doing great with Guru he seems to really love them. My oldest is teaching him fetch lol it is so fun to watch. My 3 year old thinks Guru is his playmate. Gurus safe place has become under my desk or at my feet. So I often have wet toes (he loves toes) hes trying to get them right now but I'm trying to hide them.
Oh and we are trying to train him to stay away from the diapers his newest curiousity (we cloth diaper) He loves to get the baby during diaper changes (Its almost like he is trying to give the baby a bath) Sammy just laughs and laughs. I moved my dipes so Guru cant get them anymore except when I leave one out (than I bonk myself in the head, lucky for me he hasnt ruined one yet.)
When I met you and the kids they looked like they really enjoyed him. :o
We plan on signing up with Aila. We used her last year and she was great! I'll get her schedule soon and forward it to you. It will be evening classes most likely but we'll figure it out.
How bout those binki's. Any better?
Chance loves feet too! I will be sitting down and he will just nustle right up against me and fall asleep. Its quite funny at times. He will just lick my pants over and over. Who knew they tasted so good :rolleyes:
I am going to invest in a pee post. I don't know if it will work but heck…better than nothing. Right now Chance really likes going potty by our front door :eek: No matter how hard I try to get him to go further away from the house he just pulls and pulls right back to the same spot. Maybee this will help keep him in an area.
