Basenji Dog Breed

By Daniel Stevens, author of SitStayFetch... for Your Basenji

Dog Group: Hound Group
Class: Hound

Description

Medium-small and quite athletically built, the Basenji is a handsome dog with a smooth, shiny coat and a sharp, intelligent expression. The coat of this breed comes in various colors: black and tan, black and brindle, copper or red. Some Basenjis have a white blaze on their faces, and they also have a furrowed brow, often making them look as thought they are constantly worried. The Basenji has a distinctive tail that curls upwards, and this breed has erect, elongated ears. This breed is unusual in that it doesn’t tend to bark. Instead, the Basenji uses his vocals to growl, howl and produce a repertoire of other sounds, which will depend on what he is trying to say and how he feels.

Temperament

The Basenji is a very affectionate and intelligent dog with a playful and curious streak. This breed is alert and energetic, and most Basenjis are eager to please their owners. This breed is probably better with older children rather than in families with young children that may tease and taunt it; the breed is also not always suited to cats and other pets unless it has been thoroughly socialized. They may get on okay with other canines, but dominance can play a part in aggressive behavior here. However, this breed does not tend to fight amongst one another, so a Basenji should get on well with others of the same breed. A frisky breed, the Basenji is a dedicated chewer, so you should bear this in mind when taking him in to your home and deciding on appropriate toys.

Height and Weight

The male Basenji tends to grow to around 16-17 inches in height, with the female Basenji reaching around 15-16 inches in height. The weight of a male Basenji can reach approximately 22-26 pounds, with females lagging slightly behind at 20-25 pounds.

Common Health and Behavioral Problems

The Basenji is at increased risk from kidney problems, eye diseases and infections, and intestinal issues. A neglected Basenji may also display a range of behavioral problems due to its need for play and company.

Ideal Living Conditions

The Basenji loves to play and therefore is best suited to an environment with space, such as a yard or garden. However, this breed will adapt well to living in an apartment providing regular exercise and play is provided.

Exercise Requirements

The Basenji is a curious and energetic dog, which needs plenty of exercise. This is not only to exercise his mind and satisfy his curiosity and energy levels, but also to keep him from gaining excess weight and becoming lazy, which the Basenji is prone to doing.

Diet and Nutrition

The Basenji is something of a vulture when it comes to food, and has been known to scavenge any food left unattended. This breed is also prone to weight gain and laziness if the diet is not properly monitored. There is no special diet for this breed, although a dry food will help to keep the gums and teeth healthy, and providing it is a quality dry food will provide all of the nourishment required. As with all dogs, fresh, clean water must always be available.

Life Expectancy

With a healthy lifestyle and no life-threatening illness or disease, the Basenji can average around ten to twelve years in age.

Grooming Requirements

Because the Basenji does not shed much at all, it makes the perfect pet for allergy sufferers. Grooming and maintenance is minimal, and a simple brush of the coat will keep him looking healthy and glossy. Another unique fact about the Basenji is that this dog cleans itself in the same manner as a cat, and is a very clean and hygienic canine.

Origin

The Basenji originates from Zaire, although drawings of very similar canines have been found on ancient Egyptian tombs. This breed is also known as the Congo Dog, and it is thought that the Basenji may have stemmed from a hunting dog used in the Congo by Pygmies. The year 1934 saw the introduction of the Basenji to Europe, and it was not until the 1940s that the breed was brought to America. The American Kennel Club first registered the breed in 1944.

Click here to read Dan's consultation with Simone about her problem Basenji

Getting to Know your Basenji

By Daniel Stevens, author of SitStayFetch... for Your Basenji

Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed. At Kingdom of Pets, we keep a large database of detailed information on the appearance, personality, and health requirements of individual dog breeds. Here's what you need to know about the Basenji:

The Basenji is classified as a member of the “sight hound” family, otherwise known as a “hound.” However, this breed is also referred to as a “Congo Dog” because it is one of the oldest breed dogs, coming out of the continent of Africa. In fact, if you were to visit Africa, going to some of the Egyptian Pharaoh’s tombs, you would see carvings or other depictions of the Basenji on the Steles. Just as they did thousands of years ago, the Basenji is a regal breed with a proud stance, erect ears, and a curled tail.

For many years, this breed almost completely disappeared but then in 1895 when the Europeans crossed over into the Congo, it was again discovered, becoming a favorite pet due to its high level of intelligence, speed, silence, and even courage. All of these special qualities made the Basenji a great help during wild game hunts. After being imported to the United States sometime in the 1930s, the Basenji became popular, which lead to the breed becoming a member of the American Kennel Club in 1943.

Physical Appearance

As mentioned, the Basenji has a strong, proud look that is hard to miss. This breed is small, typically between 20 to 24 pounds and about 17 inches tall. The hair is short, the eyes almond shaped, and especially when puppies the forehead is wrinkled. Watching a Basenji move is fascinating in that the breed trots similar to a horse with a double-suspension gallop at full speed running.

While you will see a number of hair colors, only some are recognized by the American Kennel Club. These colors include:

* Brindle White (black stripes on a red background)

* Red and White

* Black and White

* Tricolor (red, black, and white)

* Trindle (tricolor and brindle combination)

Temperament and Personality

The most fascinating aspect of the Basenji is that this breed does not bark although a simple woof sound is possible. Other sounds made by the Basenji include a squeal, chortle, white, or yodel. Basenjis are also insistent on being clean, often wiping the face just like that of a cat. While this breed loves to hunt and explore, it does not favor water.

Being an extremely smart dog, the Basenji is easy to train, learning commands quickly. Other temperaments include being independent, funny, aloof to strangers, devoted to the master, and even mischievous. Keep in mind if you buy a Basenji that they love to run and they are exceptional climbers. Therefore, a chain link fence is not necessarily a good barrier.

Most Basenjis are high energy and independent. While they get along well with children and other pets, it is usually recommended they be heavily socialized and supervised. In most cases, if this breed is raised around other animals, walked in the park, and exposed to a number of environments, it will do well. However, the Basenji is a breed of its own, sometimes being unpredictable and a little standoffish.

Health

Typically, the Basenji is a healthy breed although some might develop Fanconi Syndrome, which is an inheritable kidney disorder. When a Basenji develops this problem, he or she would likely not have any symptoms until around four. In addition, this breed can be a carrier of a recessive gene known as the Hemolytic Anemia, which can be tested for with a non-invasive procedure.

Other possible health risks include Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which is a form of degeneration in the retina, causing blindness, Coloboma, a hole in the eye’s structure, Persistent Pupillary Membrane, which are small threads going across the dog’s pupil, Malabsorption, an autoimmune intestinal disease, and Hip Dysplasia, which is a bone disease that causes symptoms similar to arthritis.

Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer and author of SitStayFetch: Dog Training To Stop Your Dog's Behavior Problems, one of the leading dog training guides on the market today selling over 21,000 copies (and counting). He currently heads the Kingdom of Pets (http://www.kingdomofpets.com) dog training team. See http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/dogbreeds/basenji.php for more on dog breeds.

Basenji - The Egyptian Dog

The Basenji is a small to medium sized dog weighing between 22 to 25 pounds. Their height is around 15" to 17". Known as the barkless dog, the Basenji (bah-SEN-gee) makes a low howl/moaning/yodeling sound instead of barking. They are also called the Congo Dog.

The smooth, shiny, dense coat is short and lies flat against the body. AKC acceptable colors for Basenjis are black, chestnut red, tricolor or brindle all with white on chest, feet and tip of tail in any color including pinto, white or brindle. The coat is easy to care for. Basenjis are also known for licking and grooming their hair like a cat.

This high energy dog makes an excellent watchdog. They are slow to warm up to strangers and will alert you if they see a stranger. They need a lot of exercise and play. Since they are a little on the independent side, they also enjoy some alone play. Chewing is one of their favorite pastimes, so load them up with toys so they don't pick your favorite pair of shoes as a chew toy. They tend to no do well with non-canine pets. With early socialization, they can do well with children and other dogs. Because they possess a little bit of an independent nature, early training is recommended to help curb any unwanted behaviors.

Originating in Africa, the Basenji dates back to ancient times in Egypt. Pictures of the Basenji are on the walls in ancient Egyptian tombs. They are mainly used as watchdogs in Africa to warn others of the presence of wild game and they often hunt wild game as pack dogs.

Just because the Basenji does not bark, does not mean that they are a meek, quiet lap dog. They are very energetic and need plenty of play and exercise. They are perfect for homes that enjoy outside activity and will make sure that their Basenji has time to run and roam.

Click here to read about SitStayFetch for the Basenji

By: Dakota Dog - Learn more about the Basenji or discuss dogs with other dog lovers at www.deardoggy.com/