Basenji Escape Prevention

[MyChike]

My kids escaped once and we never figured out how. The yard they were in was "basenji proof" but they somehow escaped. I spent half the night and kept several friends up searching to no avail. The first thing the next morning I went to the animal shelter and fortunately they had been found.

They were found on a car dealers lot about a mile away from home. When the animal control people took me to the cage Chike was curled up on the floor. When I called him he picked up his head, did his normal wake up stretch and yawn, and looked at me like, "well it's about time you get here, I'm hungry".

The only other time he has gotten away was when he somehow snapped his leash to chase a squirrel. The squirrel got away and he didn't try to go anywhere else.

[raye_hicks]

I was wondering why you should not use electric collars with basenjis I have because our neighbors have chickens and they often let them out so my B's were stating to try to dig under our fence I used the electric collars to teach them not to dig and it has worked for me it has worked so well that now I just do the warning buzz and they stop. Also there is a basenji in my home town, his owners have the under ground fence and they say it has worked great for there Basenji I was quite surprised to see this.

[gbroxon]

We have Invisible Fence brand electronic fencing, and it works like a charm. It's very important to get quality electronic fencing and have your dog professionally trained.

It may not be the best solution for all Basenjis, but I know of a number of Basenji owners who have Invisible Fence brand fencing, and it does its job for all of them. For me, the risk of my boy escaping his boundary (which he's never done) is acceptable when balanced against life on a leash/tie. Once he was professionally trained, he's chased rabbits, squirrels, cats and deer through his area and stopped when he reached his boundary. He's never unsupervised when outside or left alone in his area. He's got two acres to romp around in and run to his heart's desire.

We live in a rural area on a dead-end street, so, of course, that figured heavily into our decision to go with the IF system. Due to the way our land is used, physical fencing was not an option, so I researched various methods of containment for a couple of years before deciding to go with IF. It was not a decision made lightly.

(I'm not out to start an argument here. I just wanted to express a viewpoint from my own personal experience.)

[renaultf1]

@gbroxon:

We have Invisible Fence brand electronic fencing, and it works like a charm. It's very important to get quality electronic fencing and have your dog professionally trained.

It may not be the best solution for all Basenjis, but I know of a number of Basenji owners who have Invisible Fence brand fencing, and it does its job for all of them. For me, the risk of my boy escaping his boundary (which he's never done) is acceptable when balanced against life on a leash/tie. Once he was professionally trained, he's chased rabbits, squirrels, cats and deer through his area and stopped when he reached his boundary. He's never unsupervised when outside or left alone in his area. He's got two acres to romp around in and run to his heart's desire.

We live in a rural area on a dead-end street, so, of course, that figured heavily into our decision to go with the IF system. Due to the way our land is used, physical fencing was not an option, so I researched various methods of containment for a couple of years before deciding to go with IF. It was not a decision made lightly.

(I'm not out to start an argument here. I just wanted to express a viewpoint from my own personal experience.)

I'm glad this works for you, but I could never do it where I live. We have coyotes, bear, fishers, etc. that if they came into the yard and Ruby couldn't escape, that would be the end of her. Also, my friends have Invisible Fence around their yard and their professionally trained German Shepard chased something, ran thru the fence, but then was afraid to come back in the yard…it took them a day to get him back...not good. For those 2 reasons alone, I couldn't ever feel comfortable with it. The prey drive is so strong, that I don't think it can ever be 100% predictable what Ruby would do.

[gbroxon]

As I said before, I'm not out to start an argument. I just thought the person who asked about it (Harley, I think) needed to know that it is indeed used successfully with Basenjis and shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. And also that a lot matters on the quality of the system and professional training is key. The systems you can get a PetSmart, Walmart, Cabela's, etc. are NOT quality systems.

[Duke]

@gbroxon:

As I said before, I'm not out to start an argument. I just thought the person who asked about it (Harley, I think) needed to know that it is indeed used successfully with Basenjis and shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. And also that a lot matters on the quality of the system and professional training is key. The systems you can get a PetSmart, Walmart, Cabela's, etc. are NOT quality systems.

I agree, as I have an underground fence. I have a Pet Safe Professional Pro Tx-1. It was professionally installed. We got it last year when Duke was 5 months old. This year Daisy got her collar when she was 5 months old. I don't know if the age of training has anything to do with keeping them within the boundry. We have been fortunate so far. Or maybe it's just that luck will have it and that every dog is different. I do not let the dogs outside without supervision either. We too have circumstances that prohibit actual fences. Our neighbors would have us tear down a privacy fence for sure. (Neighborhood Association Rule) We have a partially wooded 1/2 acre the dogs love hunting and running around in. Lots and lots of squirrel and rabbit. Duke & Daisy stop short of the boundry and do victory dances when they've bannished the varmints from their yard.

[Quercus]

I do agree GBroxon it seems that success with IF is really tied to the quality of training performed for the dog. A experienced 'fence' trainer will have much more success. I have had many, many clients be very happy with the Invisible Fence brand name.

I would certainly use IF in conjunction with a physical barrier, but I would be unlikely to use it alone, because of the fear of 'other' dogs coming into our yard, or cats, or coyotes. But if I had no other choice, I would absolutely use it, and just always ALWAYS supervise my B outside.

[lvoss]

I do think that it is important for anyone considering the use of an IF system to be aware that there can also be behavioral consequences to the use of an IF system. Here is a link to one study, http://www.leaonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/S15327604JAWS0304_6;jsessionid=nFup

[MacPack]

Escaping: We have been fortunate and have never had a fence climber or serious digger, but that front door was a personal challenge for almost every one over the years. Back when we had 5, and 3 young ones, we decided we were through chasing dogs down the street.

Our front door opens to a small concrete stoop, about 3 X 5 feet. Using lattice and a strong gate with a self-closing latch, may husband fenced in the stoop. Like the safety areas at dog parks. The door may be open, but they can't get far, as the gate is closed before the door is opened. Afer a while, they didn't even rush the door. My current 3 wil stand there with the gate open and not bolt, amazing, but they are 8,10 & 12 and have always had the gate in place so bolting from the front door is not something they have ever done. It is not the most lovely front door on our street, but….we have not had a dog escape that way in many, many years.

Now the meter reader leaving the side gate open is aonther matter! A sign saying something like"please keep gate closed, nice dogs will escape" can be helpful, I understand.

But the number one thing you cna do, IMHO, is train your basenji to come to a whistle! I culdn't whistle so kept a sports whistle on a string beside the front door. I trained them all to come to that whistle for very special, extremely yummy treats, it took about 15 minutes with occasional reinforcement. Most of mine would turn on a dime when they heard that whistle, and the one that didn't come back at least stopped his sprint to think about it.

Those are the ony pointers I have to prevent escaping. I am very lucky to live on a very quiet street, and when mine do get out, helping my husband take the trash out usually, they run up the street a bit and come home and race back in the house.

Anne in Tampa

[Barklessdog]

We have a 5' wood fence and buried boards all the way around the bottom.

We try to not leave them unattended. Also it's a good idea to check that the gates are closed. My neighbor called me, saying our dog was in our back yard. I put the phone down, ran to see, the gate was open, the dog was nowhere to be seen, I closed the gate, got back on the phone telling my neighbor I don't see the dog in his yard. I turned around and he was standing right behind me. He snuck back inside!

Ours too can open the sliding glass door, but will not close it behind her!

Our male saw a squirrel outside once and just lowered his head, charged full steam at the sliding screen door and blew it out of its tracks! Went right through it.

Also we think of our house as a submarine, with air locks, in that we close all doors behind us, while looking out for the dogs.

[RockysWoman]

@renaultf1:

I'm glad this works for you, but I could never do it where I live. We have coyotes, bear, fishers, etc. that if they came into the yard and Ruby couldn't escape, that would be the end of her. Also, my friends have Invisible Fence around their yard and their professionally trained German Shepard chased something, ran thru the fence, but then was afraid to come back in the yard…it took them a day to get him back...not good. For those 2 reasons alone, I couldn't ever feel comfortable with it. The prey drive is so strong, that I don't think it can ever be 100% predictable what Ruby would do.

I was told once that electric fences are not good for any of the sight hounds, simply for hte fac they will blow thru them onc ethey catch sight of something, and then be afraid to come back into the yard.

Rocky has proven to us that electric fences or other minor annoyances of that variety (think wood piles, going over chain link or thru it, screen doors - again thru, and other various items of this nature) are not worth the money to try to stop him. We can only trust him when he's leashed and we (aka me or my husband) are attached. He lulls others into a sense of security, making them believe all he likes to do it sleep and then bam! he's off with the leash trailing behind him.

I love being owned by a Basenji!

[tanza]

Electric fence (and not the invisible kind), but a "het" wire works well with a regular fence. Sometimes you need to wire the top and the bottom with your regular fence, but 99% of the time it works well.

I would never trust a Basenji (or any breed for that matter) with an invisable fence…

[wizard]

I took MacPack's suggestion and started training EL D with a dog whistle and an extra special treat (reserved only for the whistle). He's been doing real well with it. Sometimes he sneeks down to the basement or is out behind some bushes where I can't really see him - but so far he has always come to the whistle and lately it's only one whistle (at first I had to whistle twice). Yesterday he was out in the corner of the yard trying to get at the neighbor dog. With the snow pack I was a tad concerned he'd get over the fence so I used the whistle to call him - he hesitated but then came. I don't ever want to have to use it in the street or someplace but I'm glad to know he responds to it and will continue to work with him on it.

[MacPack]

I'm glad the whistle is working for you! I can't whistle myself, so have to use a coach's whistle. And the sound carries much further than my voice. And when they actually escape, it may not work 100% but if it just makes them stop and turn around, you have a chance to get their attention. Any escaped basenji instantly loses the ability to recognize their name.

Anne

[Garret]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and I was wondering… Is ok to use electric collar fences? I want to be able to bring my basenji's out in the yard with me and my family, but the city I live in doesn't allow me to build a fence that would be capable of keeping my basenjis in. They would easily jump over it since the maximum height of a fence for the front yard is only three feet. I am in a dillema because I don't have a usable backyard either. The only thing I can think of is an underground electric collar fence, but I'm not sure if that will work for basenjis. Any suggestions?

[sharronhurlbut]

Re escaping b's.
Put up a baby gate on the front door. You train the b's to stay behind it, with squirt bottles, and treats, and have visitors step over them.
Re dogs who get outside.
Before this happens work on calling your dog in the house and in the fenced yard using a word. We use "bisket" and when they come they get a bisket.
Once they got outfront, and we picked up the treat container and stood on the stoop and shook it.
They turned around like they were on a military parade and raised each other to get to the treat jar.
So, my advice is start training while they are inside and work on it so it can help you when the dogs do get out.

[tanza]

@Garret:

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and I was wondering… Is ok to use electric collar fences? I want to be able to bring my basenji's out in the yard with me and my family, but the city I live in doesn't allow me to build a fence that would be capable of keeping my basenjis in. They would easily jump over it since the maximum height of a fence for the front yard is only three feet. I am in a dillema because I don't have a usable backyard either. The only thing I can think of is an underground electric collar fence, but I'm not sure if that will work for basenjis. Any suggestions?

I know that there are people on this list that use one… for myself I never would, nor would I ever trust a Basenji with one. The other thing that really bothers me about them is that they do not keep anything "out" of your yard..

[sharronhurlbut]

The only true way to keep your dogs safe is with a physical barrier to keep them in and other critters out.

[youngandtired]

I have an electrical fence in my front and back yard. Sahara did cross it once or twice in the beginning but once I stepped the shock up a bit she stopped. She will not cross it, and believe me she has been tested. My cat sits on the barrier line just to tease her sometimes, daily really. I have gone next door and talked to my neighbor in the yard and Sahara will whine at the barrier watching me, but she will not cross it. Of course I praise her lots for this, she is so good. I love the underground fencing, it is so convenient, she has a doggie door and to be honest she comes in most of the time while I am gone and sleeps. She is not home very long with out someone here, I work days, and my hubby works nights. I will leave her for hours sometimes when I have errands to run or whatever and I have not had any problems. I have had it since she was about 6 mos. old and she will be 2 in Jan.

[sharronhurlbut]

What happens if some loose dogs get in and attack her…where does she go?

I am happy that its working for you so far, but this isn't something anywhere close to perfect.

I don't recommend these type of so called "barriers" sic to anyone.

Sorry, but they give a false sense of security to owners and little protection to animals who are in them.