@Mantis:
caesar has been an indoor dog, crated while i am at work, and crated at night. he did acclimate but it took patience.
What I tell my puppy owners is that if the puppy will be crated during the day, then it SHOULD sleep with them at night. What is the sense of having a companion that is in a crate during the day, and in the crate at night?
I know many potential puppy owners tell us (I think they are afraid that we wouldn't want them to have a puppy in bed) that the puppy will be crated.
A few years back my reply was Ellen, it is okay, you don't have to lie to me.. we both know that Maya is going to sleep in bed with you! LOL Maya won, of course!
@Mantis:
if you let him sleep in your bed and become part of your pack, the crate is far more difficult.
I completely disagree with this statement. Most breeders have their bed dogs and some that sleep in crates. I have 4 intact males that sleep with me.. two 1y.o. intact males that share a crate, and the 11-week puppies that sleep in a crate.
All of my dogs are VERY well crate-trained. I have never had issues with any of the basenjis… the Whippet, on the other hand is the one that voices his opinion about being in a crate when he is in one.
@Mantis:
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.
Yeah.. MAYBE… just make sure that you don't have anything within 10 feet of this crate.. or they will suck it in like an anteater. Sure, you may think that the coat that is hanging 2 feet away is safe... you won't think that way when you find it as bedding in the crate... most of us don't appreciate a $200 Columbia Sportswear jacket as crate bedding.
@Mantis:
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.
Mine stay in the same size crate.. they never have issues with their crates..and one size should be fine. I use a little kitty cuddle bed in them when they are little.. I found some nice ones for $10 at target.. and got three of them so I could be alternating them in there and they always had a clean cuddle bed in their crate.
GOOD LUCK!