The Basenji - Ancient African Breed Rediscovered

Upon hearing that the Basenji is a small barkless dog with an easy-care short coat, a person often jumps to the conclusion that this is the perfect apartment dog. Although a few of them do live in apartments or condominiums, their high activity level requires frequent walks or a fenced backyard. Basenjis do not bark, but they do make noise, and a Basenji left alone can make quite a racket. The breed's characteristic yodel or chortle can often sound like human laughter or crying. First recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1943, the Basenji is a very old breed that is considered both a sight hound and a scent hound.  The Basenji is a proud, alert little dog. His attitude is one of poise and grace. With his swift, tireless gait, he is often compared to a small deer. The breed standard calls for a male to be 17 inches in height and 24 pounds in weight. Females should be 16 inches tall and 22 pounds. The standard also calls for a square dog, so they should be the same in length as they are in height, giving them a characteristic "high on the leg" appearance. These dogs have a characteristic wrinkled forehead that gives them a puzzled look. They have a short, silky coat with a pliant skin and come in four colors; chestnut red, pure black, black and tan, and brindle. All colors should have white feet, chest, and tip of tail. White legs, face blaze, and collar are optional. The majority of Basenjis in the US and in the African bush are red and white.

Behavior and Habits. 

The Basenjis fastidious nature and dainty habits have made them popular. They clean themselves all over, spending hours grooming themselves just like a cat. (They also sit on the back of furniture and gaze out the window.) Puppies must be raised in a home environment with lots of human contact. Some experts feel that the Basenji is an early off-shoot of the domestic dog and hence is only semi-domesticated. Others feel that their high intelligence leads to antisocial and destructive behavior. Basenjis generally love children. Since youngsters and Basenjis can be very active, the continuous play can serve to wear everyone out. Most Basenjis live 10-13 years. One dog I know has reached the ripe old age of 22 years.

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/basenji.html

Breeds


Every week we will feature a different breed on our web site, trying to feature some of the lesser known varieties. 

There are some excellent resources for finding out information about the various types available, but one of our favorites is:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com

If you would like to see a dog featured, send us your suggestion via email will we will be happy to research it for you.