Steadfast Farm Basenjis

10/22/2023

10/17/2023

New Champion Brag!!

After easily knocking out her Majors (plus a bonus for good measure!) pretty Xena took a break to whelp a lovely litter. She returned to the show ring in fine form this fall and with the help of the Signet Ladies wrapped up those final few points over the weekend!

Xena is *CH SFF Signet Bridesmaid
Sire: GCHB Arubmec's Fair Play
Dam: CH Signet Forbidden Tryst

Thank you, Ciara and Bentley, for all your hard work this weekend. I enjoyed spending the day with you and had so much fun showing Pseudo in the Group!Congratulations to the entire family on a hugely successful weekend!!

Special thanks to the Riley family for loving Xena and allowing her to come play in the show ring with us!

*pending AKC approval

10/13/2023

Once more saved from typing by Liz A Beth at Bellator Basenjis! Many thanks!!

For those of you with intact females and no plans to breed, it is also important to keep in mind that from a hormone perspective every intact female will experience a false pregnancy following a season so she may continue to exhibit behavioral changes for a few months following the end of her season, even if you do not see any outward signs of a false pregnany.

‘Tis the Season!

If you live in the USA/Canada/Mexico area you may be noticing your boys (neutered or intact) and even your girls (spayed or intact) acting quite differently around this time of year….every year!

It’s what a lot of people like to call “Basenji Rutting Season” or really, Basenji mating season. In our geographical area most basenjis typically come into season only once a year, around the fall (August through November) whereas other locations like Australia and New Zealand they come in from March to June, but again, generally once a year. Now there’s always the “exception to every rule” where the basenji didn’t read the provided “Basenji Handbook” and comes into season during an “off period” but hey, we know basenjis aren’t exactly rule followers anyway!

So your boy or girl may be more whiny, crying, show more signs of separation anxiety, temperamental, “ruled by their nose” and all around much more distracted and disinterested in people and even food! These are all normal and typical (barring a medical concern or condition of course!).

My girls tend to get more emotional and clingy, and I’ll say it, a bit MOODY during this time. They also sleep a lot more when actually in season (my girls are intact). This is all normal for them, it can last a month or two, then they go back to their same ole devilish selves. Intact girls’ “seasons” or actually being “in heat” can last anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 weeks and even longer if she experiences a “split heat” where she goes in, comes out quickly, and goes back in again. A general golden rule is to keep her away from intact boys for at least a month unless you want puppies.

My boys tend to cry more and whine more and “oohhhh momma poor me” more during this time of year. They want to spend a lot of time outside, sniffing everything their little noses can sniff and can be a little more “hard of hearing” than normal 😉 Some males will even refuse food if a girl in season is near by….they’re just thinking with their wrong brain! All these things, although can be frustrating and concerning, can also be normal, even for neutered males (again, barring any medical condition or concern). After a month or two, they will also go back to their normal selves…whatever “normal” can be with a basenji!

The key to making it through this season is patience. Work with your basenji, not against them, find whatever may help to soothe them. My girls want extra cuddles, my boys enjoy more yard time and vigorous chewing sessions to get their frustrations out. Your basenji(s) may want something different!

Since this time of year also pairs with the adolescence phase of development for basenjis born in the last year, you may see BOTH “seasonal” changes and “hormonal” changes. Suddenly they may be more on guard with other dogs, animals, and on walks. They may not want to be social and be more prone to picking fights with other dogs. They can be much more assertive or as some call it “aggressive” as their bodies are figuring out adulthood and hormonal changes.

I always advise my owners to “take it easy” with social situations and perhaps take a break from doggie daycare or play dates if their dog is exhibiting behaviors that show they’re not comfortable with that level of sociableness.

Fearfulness can also peak during this time of year with many dogs experiencing a late age “fear phase”. Fear phases are noticeable when your dog’s behavior towards something changes from what it used to be. Many times this shows up in a fear of the unknown and fear of the dark. It’s always important to act normal, and never force your dog to “face their fears” as they lack the cognitive abilities to know you forcing them is beneficial. When faced with a dog who may suddenly not like the dark, such as in my enclosed fenced in yard, I go into the dark areas and act normal, talking and playing with a toy or maybe even have treats. If the dog chooses to interact with me in the dark, they get lots of praise and rewards and treats thrown into the lighter areas so they can retreat from the dark and choose to interact again on their own terms.

Above all else, protect your dog. Remember basenjis have a great memory for negative experiences, letting them get through this phase without a negative experience will benefit you both in the long run!

One of my owners, a well educated trainer, dealt with her overly hormonal boy by going “back to the basics” with training and reinforcing stuff they started working in the beginning. He wasn’t interested in treats, but he loved showing off his foundation skills. She found what worked! Once the “season” passed, he started to think with his correct brain, their bond become even stronger! ❤️🐕❤️

So love your basenjis, in all their unique quirkiness….and know, this too shall pass!

*this is a general overview and may or may not happen to your basenji but it's good to be armed with the knowledge in case it does apply to you!*

10/11/2023

10/05/2023

09/21/2023

🎯

🐾 Wondering why skipping the 🐶 dog park 🌳 might be a good choice? Here's why:

1️⃣ Individual Attention: One-on-one time strengthens your bond and ensures you can focus on your dog's needs and body language signals.

2️⃣ Avoiding Risks: Bypass potential altercations with unfamiliar dogs or the spread of diseases and parasites. Conflict with other dog owners can happen, too, when the dynamics of the dogs in the park aren’t matching up and facilitating appropriate interactions. This is too often the case. 🐾

3️⃣ Controlled Environment: Choose the surroundings and stimuli, minimising unexpected stressors or distractions so that your dog can make better choices.

4️⃣ Tailor Exercise and Enrichment Opportunities: Customise activities based on your dog's age, breed, and health needs. Encouraging other activities that meet their biological needs is important. Hiking, canicross, scent work, sniffaris and more are alternatives.

5️⃣ Build Confidence: Without the pressure of the dog park dynamics, you can work on progressing with your games based training plan at your own pace, with less frustration and more real life results.

Prioritise your dog's comfort and well-being over popular dog hangouts. It's quality, not quantity, that counts! Your dog benefits more from controlled, uneventful fun than most experiences they might have at a dog park. 🐶❤️

09/14/2023

09/05/2023

Bellator Basenjis can always be counted on to save me some typing! Thank you Liz A Beth!

Are you looking for a basenji puppy?

Basenji Puppy season will soon begin (if it hasn’t already!) Breeders are finalizing their plans and ensuring their health testing is up to date. Making lists of potential buyers and continuing the screening process for the perfect homes.

Buyers should be getting on waiting lists and contacting breeders now if they haven’t already. Quite often by the time puppies are born, they’re already sold/reserved, so you’ll be waiting a whole year for an opportunity to buy one again.

As we all know, Basenjis generally only cycle once a year, so pups are available only once a year. If you haven’t selected a breeder yet, you’re having questions about your breeder, or just want to make sure you’ve made the right choice in your breeder, read on!

How to select a breeder:

1. Health testing!! Always ask if a breeder does appropriate health testing. The Basenji Club of America with support from the OFA and AKC recommends five tests for breeding animals. These tests are OFA Hips, OFA Thyroid, CAER Eye exam, DNA Fanconi, and DNA PRA. If a breeder says they health test ALWAYS ask to see the results for the parents, many times these are available for free and listed in the public OFA database. If a breeder does not share the results that is a red flag! Sometimes OFA charges for recording certain results, but that doesn’t mean the breeder shouldn’t have copies and they should readily send you proof of health testing. Avoid breeders who claim to “not have those issues in their lines” but can’t back it up with verified health tests. That’s another big RED FLAG! OFA hip tests for hip dysplasia, OFA thyroid is an autoimmune disorder similar to a silent cancer...by the time you suspect issues, it is often too late to reverse the damage. Issues can be severe aggression and mood swings among a long list of other symptoms. CAER Eyes exams check for many eye disorders including juvenile cataracts, PPM, corneal dystrophy, and the non DNA testable version of PRA. DNA Fanconi is a deadly kidney disease. This is a mouth swab or blood DNA test ONLY. Any other form of testing (like urine strips) is false, extremely outdated, and does not have reliable results. DNA PRA is also a mouth swab or blood DNA test for one form of PRA or progressive retinal atrophy which is a progressive form of blindness often occurring around 5-7 years old, but can be younger or older. Breeders that only claim their dogs are “vet checked” and don’t reference specific testing is a potential red flag as the appropriate tests can require specialized veterinarians or DNA tests which are a mouth swab done at home.

2. Visit before the purchase! If you plan to visit the breeder be sure they allow you to meet the parents. Do keep in mind though you may only be able to meet the mother if semen was shipped for the breeding or an outside sire was used. The breeder should still be able to provide photos and information regarding the father no matter what type of breeding it was. Breeders should be open to sharing their home/facility with you so you can see how puppies are raised. It is important to know the conditions in which the parents and puppies are raised so that you can be aware of who you are supporting when you purchase a puppy. No one wants to support a puppy mill or someone who doesn't care appropriately for their dogs. Also ask how many litters the breeder expects to have this year. Some breeders use a network of homes to help raise puppies, so their litter numbers may be higher than average. A potential red flag is a breeder who has many litters at one time in their home. It’s VERY time consuming to raise one litter and spend adequate time socializing and caring for them, it can seem like a full time job! A breeder with 3, 4, or more litters, depending on the number in each litter, could be a potential red flag.

3. Registration! Basenjis in the USA are AKC registered or sometimes UKC registered. Any other USA based registry is bogus, unethical, and unreputable and designed to trick unsuspecting buyers. Breeders should provide AKC/UKC registration paperwork to you upon purchase or proof of registration paperwork if they are registering the puppies online themselves. Some breeder contracts may state you do not receive paperwork until proof of spay/neuter or other contract terms are met, but these contract terms should be discussed before placing a deposit or paying for the puppy. Ask your breeder about their contract! Proof of registration should still be easily provided, if it’s not, that’s another red flag! Many pet puppy buyers state “I don’t care about registration paperwork” but you should! It’s the only way to preserve the breed we love and it allows the registries to track and flag potential unethical breeding practices and puppy mills. Any breeder requiring a deposit BEFORE sharing information about their breeding is a red flag and potential scam.

4. Health guarantees! Breeders should have some type of health guarantee. Types of return or replacement guarantees can be based on health issues and will vary among breeders and among specific state requirements. Be sure to read the contracts to ensure you agree and are satisfied with the Health guarantee a breeder offers. Good breeders will always try to avoid health conditions being passed to puppies but sometimes no matter what testing is done and how healthy the parents are things come up. Genetics are a gamble but your breeder should show concern and would want to know if something is wrong.

5. Contracts: A reputable breeder will always have some type of contract that will include details regarding things such as if you cannot keep a puppy it must be returned to the breeder. Other things a contract may cover will include information on if spay/neuter is required for pet homes, if a dog is on a co-own, if the puppy will have breeding rights, etc. Always ask to see the contract before purchase, this will ensure that you know what you are agreeing to before committing. You should have an opportunity to review contracts before placing a deposit or at least before puppy pick up and final payment. If the contract has wording you’re unsure of, don’t understand, or don’t feel comfortable with, talk to your breeder about it. Quite often a simple explanation can put all minds at ease. Contracts are often written in “cold, hard legal terms” so you may have a ton of questions, breeders love questions, talk to your breeder. If they give you a hard time or you don’t feel comfortable, go with someone else. It’s of utmost importance you have a good working relationship with your breeder built on trust and open lines of communication.

The above should provide you with a happy, healthy, and well adjusted basenji puppy who shouldn’t need much more than routine medical care. The total cost for a Basenji from reputable breeders can run $2000-$4000 depending on geographic location, transportation costs, and additional items that may come with the puppy or be required for travel. Remember this initial cost is an investment on the health and longevity of life for your basenji. When purchasing a purebred dog, cheaper very rarely, if ever, means better, and quite often will come with many more veterinary bills than a well bred puppy from an ethical breeder.

Your breeder should always be your first resource for questions and concerns. Facebook groups and dog forums are fun, and asking advice is easy, but your breeder knows their puppies, knows their lines, and will likely know much better and reliable answers for your questions.

Also remember, don’t forget your breeder! We all love pictures and updates...we raised them from birth and held and cuddled them long before they were in your arms, they will always be loved by us too!

Great resources for finding reputable breeders (remember, you still need to do your own research and vetting process on all breeders, regardless of where the recommendations come from)

BCOA breeder listing (paid advertisement page)
https://www.basenji.org/index.php/about-basenjis/breeder-directory

Email BCOA Breeder Liaison Denise A Vertrees [email protected] and Denise can provide you with names/contact information for breeders in your area that may not pay for a BCOA breeder listing.

Want more information about basenjis in general? The BCOA (Basenji Club of America) website is an amazing resource with tons of info and history about the basenji. Check out their Basenji University too!!

https://www.basenji.org/index.php/about-basenjis

08/31/2023

Excellent advice for new puppy owners!

I wanted to touch base on a common issue that breeders come across with new owners.

Realistic Expectations

You go to the breeders home. The pups are all social. They are quiet in the pen. The breeder shows you videos of them being totally relaxed at a dog show. All looks amazing and you bring your puppy home.

Then reality hits. The puppy may cry in the crate for the first few nights making you tired and agitated. The happy social puppy is refusing to greet the half dozen overly excited friends you invited over to see your new puppy. The puppy refuses to walk on a leash. Many are wondering how did my perfect puppy turn into a nightmare.

So let’s discuss realistic expectations of when a puppy goes home. First of all the puppy has been in the breeders home since birth. They had their mother and often littermates. They had their routine, were taught expectations and were completely in their comfort zone.

Now suddenly they are taken to a totally new environment. Picture yourself being dropped into an unknown country, often in a different part of the world. You know only a few words of their language. Differnt trees, animals, smells, temperature and people. Now in the middle of this we are switching up your routine, decide to have a party with people you dont know, and ask you to do jobs you have no idea about. Overwhelming to say the least.

This is what every puppy goes through when going to their new home. Stress manifests in different forms. From not eating, reluctancy to play and greet people. Being apprehensive at the vet’s office or as strangers reach for them. Diarrhea, vomiting and being depression can occur.

So what can you as a new owner do to help your little one acclimate?

- most puppies take 3-4 weeks to acclimate to their new home. Repeat after me THREE to FOUR WEEKS! Not a 1-2 days. I can’t stress this enough about how much time is needed for a dog or puppy to feel comfortable in their new home!
- limit guests during the first week. We understand you are excited to show off your new baby but they need time to adjust. Plan on waiting 1-2 weeks before inviting people over
- ask guest to sit on the ground and let the puppy approach them. No squealing and grabbing the puppy
- set up a good routine
- restrict the puppy to a small area of the house. This not only reduces them being overwhelmed but also allows you to watch them
- don’t expect a 9-13 week old puppy to walk on a leash. Instead work at home with a leash where they are comfortable. Let them drag the leash, use treats to encourage them to walk with you
- if your puppy is refusing to walk give them time. My first trips to town with puppies a walk around a small block took 1 1/2 hours. We only move when they initiate the movement as they need time to take in the different environment
- understand your puppy needs time to see you as family. Expecting an immediate bond is unrealistic
- train your puppy. This not only helps you to bond but the puppy to look to you for direction and input
- lastly be patient. Don’t declare “omg there’s something wrong with this dog”. Nothing occurs overnight. Outings should be planned at puppy speed. So while you might imagine a fun walk around the lake in reality your puppy might only be able to handle walking a short distance that day.

Most outings for me take a long time, as I am often just standing still as the puppy cautiously explores the new environment. Patience is key!

Remember if the puppy was wonderful at the breeder’s house but now struggling you as the owner need to help the puppy adjust which takes time, patience and training. have realistic expectations and give the puppy positive experiences. Each puppy is an individual, don’t compare your current puppy to past pets and judge their behavior based on how another dog handled things. Lastly, try to see thing’s from a puppy’s perspective and adjust situations accordingly.
Author: Karen Balinski of Killara Field Spaniels

07/26/2023

It's getting real around here! The countdown to the National Specialty has begun in earnest! We will be leaving Monday in order to make the looong drive to Auburn, WA- wish us luck?!
http://showsightmagazine.com/judging-the-basenji/?fbclid=IwAR0njz7L8WyuVBweY8SHiwUhzPvBy6Gt0gt-fivpDNSI9Flsb9oTKvpwV0c

Unlock the secrets of judging the Basenji breed with our comprehensive guide. Learn about traits, standards, and unique quirks. Read more..

07/18/2023

Basenjis are contenders for the title of oldest AKC breed. Paleontologists tell us that the first domesticated dogs looked a lot like Basenjis. They were already well established when they were brought up the Nile from interior Africa as gifts for the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Basenjis are depicted in ancient Egyptian artifacts, and traces of the breed can also be seen in ancient Babylonian and Mesopotamian art. 🐾

◾Enjoy the Basenji Article: https://bit.ly/3RrdPGH



Source: AKC

07/04/2023

Some (mostly correct) Basenji history accompanied by really cool photos!

The Basenji is thought to be one of the oldest domesticated dogs. His reputation as a non-barking dog may be because early people preferred a quiet dog as a hunting companion. Basenjis do bark, but usually only once, and then they are silent.

Another interesting aspect of this breed is that it may be only partially domesticated. The Basenji’s metabolism is unlike that of any other domesticated dog, and females only cycle once a year, compared to twice a year for other domesticated dogs.

The Basenji was used by African tribes to flush game into nets, carry goods, and warn of approaching danger. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1943, and to this day the Basenji remains a rare breed in the U.S

06/17/2023

So many details coming down to the wire for the National! Make sure you have saved the National website, https://nationalspecialty.basenji.org/, to your favorites and visit it frequently! Links to all events are available there! The shop is open for easy purchasing of all the National "must haves."

06/15/2023

Entries are now open! Enter online and access PL at our super www.dogzibit.com. We can't wait to see you all there!

If entering online and entering sweeps, note that sweeps classes will display after selecting your regular class from the drop down. See pic in comments for more instruction on this.

05/25/2023

I could not have said this any better.

STOP. SETTING. YOUR. DOG. UP. TO. FAIL.
👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼

🗣 "My dog keeps stealing food from the counters!"
👉🏼 Don't let him in the kitchen unsupervised.
👉🏼 👉🏼 Now train how to stop counter-surfing.

🗣 "My dog runs out the door & doesn't come!"
👉🏼 Don't let her near an open door.
👉🏼 👉🏼 Now train your dog to wait at an open door & to come when called.

🗣 "My dog barks at everyone who passes by the window!"
👉🏼 Don't let him look out the window.
👉🏼 👉🏼 Now train how to redirect & get a new behavior when people pass by.

LONG POST AHEAD. NO REGRETS.

📣 📣 📣 Man I'm going to say this out loud and very straight forward. I'm sick of people complaining about behaviors but doing nothing to change them.

🥺 😴 As a professional, I'm tired. It gets really exhausting to repeat yourself and keep saying to dog owners, "You know the definition of insanity, right?!"

📚 💻 Y'all there is a wealth of information on how to properly train your dog, and I actually offer quite a bit of it for free. If it's truly a problem for you and/or others then take time to invest in proper training from a professional.

Moreover . . . ❤️ 👩🏻‍🦰 follow the advice from your trainer. Put in the work. It actually doesn't take hours out of a day to get a behavior change in your dog. You can actually do this with a few minutes of training per day. Yes. It's true. If you do more than a few minutes you'll see more benefits but hours of training a day isn't realistic or needed. It's really not.

🚫🚪 Then there is management. Management will save your sanity. Full stop. Crates, gates and rest spots where Fluffy can go chill and be safe and comfy will set boundaries for you and Fluffy. It will also prevent Fluffy from practicing those annoying behaviors you dislike.

🤨 🧐 🤔 I want to say a vast majority of my cases are dogs with a lack of structure and boundaries. Owners cannot seem to set them. They feel awful crating a dog yet they complain that the dog is stealing items and barking while they take a phone call or get on zoom . . . or that they keep jumping on guests when they arrive but they don't want to put them away when guests arrive.

Setting boundaries and structure is something that benefits all living creatures, while also meeting all of their needs. 👩🏽‍⚕️ 👩🏻‍🦰 👧🏽 👱🏼‍♂️ Kids, spouses, bosses, co-workers, professionals .... those relationships thrive on boundaries. 🐾 So does your dog.

🤯 😳 My dogs have never been trained to a high level. By this I mean I've never titled a dog in a sport, formal obedience or the like. But you know what? They are incredibly low-key, easy to manage in all situations dogs that are good when I have guests and take them out in public. ❤️ 🐾 That matters to me more than titles . . . and this holds true to my entire client base. I don't work with clients looking for a dog to get an OTCH in obedience. It's not my specialty.

❤️ 💖 I just want to help people have a dog that's easy to live with, listens and does things when asked that are simple and practical. And I show people how to do this with very little time, busy schedules and lack of patience. However . . . they still have to do the work to make this happen.

🚫 🤹🏼 Y'all, I'm not a magician. 🪄 I'm a badass but I'm not magic. Anyone can do this. They just have to do it.

✅ Want to know how to make it simple but effective and get results you want? Let's get going!

05/17/2022

Our pretty "Julia" is now CH SFF Signet Runaway Bride!!

Champion #133

CH SFF Signet Runaway Bride finished her title with multiple breed wins over specials.

A special thank you to our dear friend Sergio Espejo for handling Julia.

Sire: GCHS Ch Arubmecs Fair Play
Dam: CH Signet Forbidden Tryst

Bred by Jenifer Sealy

05/06/2022

The lovely Signet Dragons Tale taking BOW for a 4 point major.

January 2019
Judge: Mrs Pamela Lambie

05/01/2022

The keeper puppies are learning to be show dogs!! I took 3 girls to conformation class today and from the looks of it- the Signet crew has been busy with our handsome brindle boy!

03/21/2022

My dogs spend more than 80% of their day in calmness. I'm going to challenge all of you to match or beat that percentage with your new puppies!! If you need help implementing the Calmness Wheel- let me know!

Calmness is King!
I mentioned yesterday that puppies need ~17-20 HOURS of rest/sleep a day. Adult dogs need ~15-17 HOURS of sleep/rest a day. It is up to us- their owners- to facilitate this downtime for our puppies and adult dogs.
We lead very busy lives these days and if we aren't careful, we unconsciously sweep our dogs right along with us into the hustle and bustle of our households. What do you think the consequences of an over stimulated, in-need-of-rest puppy are? --Definitely behaviors we don't want like- biting, an inability to disengage from things in the environment, attention seeking, pestering you or the other animals in the house and so on... In other words they act an awful lot like a toddler who misses their nap?!
What can really help mitigate these behaviors is starting our new puppies off living within the Calmness Triad or Calmness Wheel!

THE CALMNESS TRIAD:

PASSIVE CALMING ACTIVITY
* Meaty Bones
* Long lasting chews
* Stuffed Kongs/Bones (freezing them makes them last even longer)
* Food Puzzles
* Snuffle Mats & Lick Mats
* Scatter Feeding

ACTIVE REST
*Crates, Pens, Gated Rooms

CALMNESS PROTOCOL
* Feed when calm
* Time feeding to coincide with external distractions
* When you can't focus 100% on your puppy or if you don't feel like training- pop your puppy in their crate or pen with a Passive Calming Activity.

Management IS training and it's important we not let our puppies/dogs rehearse behaviors we don't want. Dogs become what they do everyday so implementing the Calmness Triad from day 1 is one of the best things we can do for our new friend!!

03/19/2022

Since Spring has pretty much Sprung- I thought a series on how to get your new puppy off to the best start possible might be a good idea!
From a trainer's standpoint- soooo many behavioral issues we see could be minimized if not negated if good management strategies had been employed from the puppy's first day in their new home!
Pictured is a puppy pen set-up currently in use for 3 Basenji puppies. They have plenty of toys and enrichment in the corner not pictured but what I want to focus on are the crates and litter box kiddie pool. You'll notice how close together they are. This makes it almost impossible for the puppies to miss when they wake up from a nap in their crates as puppies in general need to relieve themselves soon after waking.
If I were planning on bringing a new puppy home, I would, if possible, set up an x-pen in an area of the house where the puppy will be able to rest/sleep but not be completely shut away from all activity. Since this is not always possible, if I had to choose, I would place the x-pen where I could best ensure the puppy was getting the rest/sleep they need- which is 17-20 HOURS a day!
I would place an appropriate size crate for the puppy (not the size they will grow into unless a divider can be used to make it small enough) inside the x-pen. This way, I have the option of leaving the crate door open when not working specifically on crate training and still have my puppy safely contained.
Even if my new puppy was not litter box or turf trained, I would set up my puppy area in the same manner but would make a point of taking my puppy out right after they wake up, after a play session and soon after a meal. The Basenji puppies go outside to toilet at these times as well. Their litter box just makes life easier for their new owners overnight and during inclement weather.

Up next: Crate training and The Calmness Triad