Havana

Hello everyone! My name is Luis and my wife and I just bought a basset pup this weekend. Her name is Havana and she's a lemon colored basset and is six weeks old. We are waiting on pins and needles to take her home in a couple weeks. On a side note, we don't have any grass in our backyard, just concrete. I would like to build her a litter box and train her to do her business in the box. Have any of you experimented with a litter box? Do you think I could train her to use the box as long as I clean it every day?

baroosmom

You may want to clean it after every poo. I don't know if anyone told you yet, but bassets are famous for eating their..... well you know. It's really gross. We have to pick up after baroo every time she goes or she will eat it and then she smells

Maggie's Mommy

My Dad recently got a Toy Poodle last year. He & his Fiance decided to litter train this dog. They thought it would be easy because of her same size. Total weight 5 pounds. They are both retired but love to go out shopping, movies, etc. They also live in NJ and thought when the cold, snowy weather comes they and they dog wouldn't have to deal with all that. What a great idea. Wrong! The dog was 10 months and still not a bit housebroken. She just refused to go in that litter pan unless they physically picked her up and put her in there. One day, they decided to take her outside to the grass. That's what she wanted the entire time. To SMELL the grass and different scents. I think dogs go by smell and I don't know about litter training. I think it's possible if you have the right materials but not for a Basset Hound I can imagine the smell and mess if she walks in it. Maybe someone with first hand experience can offer some advice. Keep us posted!

Lightning&Stomps

I have a friend who's mother's dog goes on puppy pee pads in the basement. I don't know how they trained her to do that. But my question is, if you wanted a cat, why didn't you just get a cat? Sorry to be cranky to a new member, but Bassets are hard enough to housetrain as it is. I think you're asking for a lot of trouble. Your dog will go nuts unless exercised A LOT, and that means outside.

Baxter Basset

Welcome! When I got Baxter I bought him a dog litter box at PetSmart. I would line it with puppy pads, but he would eat the pads! Then I put the puppy pads in the box, put newspapers on top, and that seemed to work - for a while. He did learn to go in the box though. We had his enclosed crate (except for the front) in a flexible gate that we closed with bungie cords and his litter box was in this area. As he grew, (got him at 3 months and he's now just about 8 months) he began to go on the floor around the box and he would lay down in the box and rest! So, we removed the box and now we put down puppy pads and newspapers and he goes on that. The reason for all this is that there is noone home in the day to take him out. Our other 2 Labs are a lot older and able to hold it all day, but not a puppy.

murraysmom

http://www.oldefashion.com/Ownership.html

mgbrown66 posted this a few weeks ago- new basset owners might be interested in taking a look at it- it's a quick read with some good information-

Daisy'sLady

Welcome to the board Luis!

Congradulations on your new addition! I can't wait to see pictures!

Correct me if i'm wrong but i believe the idea is to build the dog a "litter box" outside as an alternative to having the dog do it's business on the concrete slab.....

I don't see anything wrong with that. I have heard of many people who train their dogs to go in a designated spot in the yard and i don't see how this would be any different. In fact i think its a very good idea.

If in fact you are refering to an indoor litter box then i would have to say i don't think that's the best idea.... basset's just arent small dogs. i think you would have a difficult time with it.


"if you wanted a cat, why didn't you just get a cat? Sorry to be cranky to a new member, but Bassets are hard enough to housetrain as it is. " ____ are rude comments really necessary? He is asking for our advice not our judgement.

Havana

Thanks for the vote of confidence Daisy! I will post pics as soon as I can figure out why I can't load my pics into my online host. I actually decided I'm going with astroturf or synthetic grass, as opposed to a litter box. I can pick up the excrement and wash the turf every day so Havana will have a clean place to do her business in each day.

Once she has all her shots and is big enough to get through the doggie door, she'll have full run of the back patio, as well as a comfortable spot in the garage to hang out in during the day while we're at work. We have a crate for her, so we'll get her crate trained and have a comfortable place for her to hang out in while we're at home.

twobassets

Welcome. We have a concrete area and grass but the kids aren't allowed in the grass unless supervised. Luther eats rocks! Sammy eats poop. The concrete is great because it's easy to clean. We have a friend who trained her Jack Russell to use one of those grass squares so I would think litter training could be done. Mine are too big - I would need a huge litter box!

Bassets are the best and you are going to love being owned by one.

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Suzanne, mom to Prince Luther & Princess Sammy who think they are Royalty and require they be treated as such!
Sasha Foo ATB July 16, 2002

Rubydoo

Welcome from Janice in southern California and ("The") RUBY!

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Take a basset hound to lunch today!
--Bassets rule....and drool!