Escape-Proof Crate for a Basenji

Basenjis have a well-earned reputation as escape artists — they're clever, determined, and will methodically work a standard latch until something gives. Before I point you toward anything specific, tell me a bit more: how is your dog currently escaping? Is he bending the wire apart, lifting the door latch, or doing something else entirely? And roughly how much does he weigh?

That's a latch problem, not a wire-strength problem — which actually narrows things down nicely. The fix is a crate with a dual-latch system on each door, ideally with a secondary slide bolt that works independently of the main one, so he'd have to operate two separate mechanisms simultaneously to get out. He's not going to do that. What you want is the Midwest Homes for Pets iCrate — specifically the double-door 30-inch model. Each door has two separate slide-bolt latches positioned at different heights. The wire gauge is solid, but the real win here is that both latches need to be disengaged at the same time to open the door. Most latch-poppers give up when the second bolt holds. It's also the right interior size for an 11kg Basenji — enough room to stand, turn, and lie comfortably, but compact enough to feel like a den rather than a room.

For most latch-poppers, the double bolt is enough on its own. But if you want peace of mind while you're out, add a simple caribiner clip through both latch loops on each door — it takes you two seconds to clip and unclip, and it makes the door mechanically impossible to open from inside. No tool needed, costs almost nothing, and it's a common solution among Basenji owners specifically. Some people also run the crate with the open side facing a wall so the dog has less physical access to the door hardware, though that's optional. The iCrate folds flat for storage too, which is useful.

Good luck with him — Basenjis are a handful but they're brilliant dogs. The carabiner trick in particular is used by a lot of working dog owners for exactly this reason. Once he realises the door isn't budging, most dogs settle into the crate quickly and stop trying.