Basenji – Breed profile, characteristics and facts
Featured image by © bigstockphoto.com / Masarik
What is a Basenji?
The Basenji is a smart, compact, independent and “bark-less” hunting dog in the hound group. The Basenji is one of the oldest breeds in existence. They were imported to England, and later to America in the 1930’s from the African region of what is now Congo. The owner of the first one shown at the leading London dog show, Crufts, named them ‘Basenji’ after an African word meaning ‘bush thing’. Basenjis can still be found in Africa to this day, where native hunters traditionally used them to flush out small game. The Basenji also displays interesting feline traits such as cleaning himself all-over.
Pros and Cons
- They are sturdy, compact, agile, and graceful dogs
- Beautiful animal. Its coat comes in striking colors, with minimal shedding and grooming requirements
- Basenjis are very clean and cat-like in their self-grooming habits. They are also easy to housebreak.
- The Basenji possesses an intelligent, and highly alert disposition. Makes an excellent watchdog.
- Loving and playful with children
- The Basenji can be a bit difficult to train, and as such requires an experienced and confident dog owner
- Basenjis require high levels of activity to keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
- The Basenji can become very destructive when bored, or left alone for long periods of time
- They possess a strong chasing instinct, and can run off after an animal. They are also master escape artists
- The Basenji is a keen hunter, and can be aggressive toward other animals
Appearance
Group: Hound (AKC)
Height: 16 – 17 inches
Weight: 21 – 24 pounds
This graceful, compact dog is lightly built with a short back and crested neck. Its eyes are dark brown and almond-shaped, with wrinkles on the forehead and cheeks. Its short-haired coat colors consist of red and white, black and white, tricolor and brindle and white should be seen on the feet, chest and tip of the tail. Its hindquarters are medium width, strong and muscular. The tail consists of a single or double curl and sits over the dogs back.
Temperament
Basenji puppies they are playful, mischievous, alert and happy natured. They are however a primitive breed, and not particularly people orientated. Basenjis are a primitive breed and are generally less than obedient and can be quite difficult to train. Early socialization and puppy training are a must with this breed. A book published in recent years listed them second only to the Afghan as least trainable. One of the Basenji’s features is that they do not bark, however, they are far from silent as instead of barking they make a variety of noises including yodels, growls, chortles and howls. The Basenji does respond well to positive reinforcement training methods.
Grooming
The Basenji has been described as a cat-like creature when it comes to their attitude and grooming habits. They generally don’t require much grooming, and as a matter of fact groom themselves regularly much like a cat by licking themselves all-over. They don’t have any ‘doggy’ odor, and are generally great for people with allergies. The Basenji sheds very minimal hair and do not require much grooming other than an occasional brush with a soft-bristle brush or a hound glove. They have sensitive skin so make sure and use a gentle shampoo and flea preparations. Bathe your Basenji only as needed. As with all breeds, trim their nails regularly with a high-quality tool to avoid injury.
Health
The Basenji is a hardy, ancient breed. They are known to be prone to Fanconi’s syndrome (kidney problems), progressive retinal atrophy, inflammatory bowel disease, hip dysplasia, and eye problems.
Life Expectancy
A Basenji has a lifespan of around 12-14 Years
5 Fun Facts about Basenjis
- The Basenjis are an ancient breed, going back to perhaps 4000 BCE, and have ben depicted in many forms of Ancient Egyptian art.
- Basenjis are excellent hunters. They were used to flush out animals, killing rodents, sniffing out food. They excel both at sight and smell when hunting.
- Basenjis can take on a Lion! In Kenya, the Masai use 4-5 Basenjis at a time to flush out a Lion from its den.
- Basenjis are known as the “bark-less”dog. When they do make noise, it sounds more like a yodel than a traditional bark.
- Much like the Greyhound and Whippet, the Basenji uses a galloping motion when running and is incredibly fast.
Environment
The Basenji has been roaming the open African bush for millennia. An apartment is not preferable. Basenjis are energetic, lively and inquisitive, and would fare best in a house with at least a small yard where they can burn off some of that energy. Ideally the Basenji will be at its happiest when kept with two or three of its own. They tend to become easily bored, fat and lazy and will require lots of adequate vigorous daily exercise. The Basenji will fare well with an active family that can keep them occupied with tracking, obedience, agility games. A bored Basenji can become destructive. The Basenji is not an easy-going pet and is best suited to an experienced and patient dog owner who understands dog behavior. Training can be challenging, as the Basenji is a strong-willed, assertive animal with a mind of its own. The breed possesses a strong hunting instinct, and should always be walked on a leash so as not to run off after a creature. A securely fenced in yard is a must, as they are accomplished escape artists and have been known to climb trees and fences.
If you’re looking to add a Basenji to your family, consider adopting one instead. Rescuing an animal is a win-win for all, and you save a life.
