BCOV-Information on Basenjis

WHAT ABOUT A BASENJI ?

The Basenji is an elegantly built, aristocratic looking dog. They are native to Central Africa. While it is true that he does not bark, he is certainly not a silent dog. He has a wide repertoire of doggy noises. He can scream, cry, howl, whine, growl, whimper and yodel. The Basenji is noted for his yodel. Something that other dogs are incapable of. This is usually reserved for when he is happy or excited or especially when he has been caught doing something he shouldn't - he is an expert at trying to charm his way out of trouble ! Basenji owners will tell you it is a delight to hear a Basenji yodelling. Their vocal chords are slightly different from other dogs making them incapable of barking, another fact that reminds us of how closely related they are to the primitive type dogs. Even Wolves and Dingoes cannot bark. The Basenji is not as domesticated as a lot of other canine breeds. Therefore you need to establish your dominance as the 'Pack Leader' when they are still young puppies. If you are firm but fair with them they will consider you the 'leader' otherwise they will take over this role quite happily.

Basenjis are a medium sized dog; measured at the shoulder they are about- 43 cm (17 in) tall for dogs and 40 cm (16 in) for bitches and about 9.5 kg (bitches) - 11 kg (dogs) in weight. Although they are a small dog they are very strong and extremely fast.
They have short, fine, silky coats which they constantly groom like a cat. He is meticulous about his cleanliness so that he rarely ever needs a bath and is almost odorless.
Also like a cat, they do not generally like water. Basenjis hate going out in the rain !
Because they originate in Africa and have very short coats they tolerate heat much better than the cold. They love to sun bake and will tend to follow the sun around the house coming in through the windows. They appreciate having nice warm cosy beds inside the house rather than a kennel outside and you might even find he would prefer to share your bed with you !

The Basenji is a hunting dog. They are still used by natives in Africa to chase large and small game into nets where it is then speared by the natives. Although both a sight hound and a scent hound, they can be selectively deaf and blind when they want to be. It is the natural instinct of a Basenji to chase things that are moving as they have a strong 'prey drive' and they are very alert to their surroundings. Basenjis are extremely quick and unfortunately have no road sense so a large percentage of Basenjis that get loose on the streets end up being hit by cars and killed.

For this reason, Basenjis should always be kept on a leash when not in a completely fenced area.

Basenjis are very mischievous, busy dogs and have loads of energy and love to play but they are also very intelligent and because of this they get bored quickly. They learn new commands quickly but they usually will only obey you if it suits them at the time. The trick is to make it in their best interests to obey you by using positive re-enforcement training methods such as food rewards. Basenjis are very food oriented. Be careful not to over feed your Basenji as they can get fat quite quickly.

Basenjis are very intelligent dogs but not in the way some people would like. Their unique combination of intelligence, independence, curiosity and energy - all traits which equipped them to be able to survive in the African bush or jungle - can make them a challenge to live with at times.

If you want an obedient, reliable dog that loves nothing more than to please you then a Basenji is NOT the right dog for you !

Some understanding of dog behaviour and a good sense of humour are an advantage to enjoy life to the full with a Basenji. They are not the breed of choice for everyone. However once you have been privleged to share your life with a Basenji, you'll find it very hard to live without one or two of them.

Their endearing qualities such as cleanliness, playfulness, independence, high intelligence and very affectionate nature make them a charming, entertaining and loving companion.