Africa’s ‘Barkless Dog,’ the Basenji, is a tiny, sweet-faced hunter with intelligence and grace. They are one-of-a-kind and enticing pets, ideally suited to owners who can satisfy their exercise requirements and enjoy the challenge of teaching this cat-like canine. Basenjis are petite, elegant hounds that stand 16 to 17 inches at the shoulder. Their shimmering short coat, tightly curled tail, furrowed forehead, and expressive almond-shaped eyes portray a range of nuanced, humanlike emotions. Basenjis are beautiful at a standstill, but they are much more attractive at a rapid trot when they have the long, fluid movements of a mini-racehorse. And, while they don’t bark, they do create an unusual sound that has been described as a cross between a chortle and a growl. Basenjis are picky and groom themselves like cats. This has been dubbed a “cult breed” since its numbers are limited, but those who are fortunate enough to acquire one do so with zeal.
Basenji
independent / smart / poised
Hound Group >>
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
17 inches (male)
16 inches (female
Weight
24 pounds (male)
22 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy
13-14 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Basenji
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
Basenjis are generally healthy dogs, and conscientious breeders screen for health issues such as hypothyroidism, IPSID (inflammatory bowel disease), and canine hip dysplasia. There are gene tests available to identify carriers of Fanconi syndrome, a kidney disorder, and progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA; these tests enable breeders to plan breedings that will not create those diseases. As with all breeds, a Basenji's ears and teeth should be checked on a regular basis.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Hip Evaluation
- Thyroid Evaluation
- PRA-BJ1 DNA Test
- Fanconi Syndrome DNA Test
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Grooming
Basenjis are finicky creatures. Their short coat is easy to care for, requiring only a fast once-over with a soft-bristle brush, a rubber grooming mitt or tool, or a hound glove once a week. Brushing spreads skin oils throughout the coat, aiding in its health and appearance. Basenjis don't have a 'doggy' odor, and they don't normally need to be bathed unless they get into something extremely naughty. As with all breeds, the Basenji's nails should be clipped on a regular basis because excessively long nails can cause pain as well as difficulties walking and running.
Exercise
Basenjis are highly lively, curious, and active dogs. To avoid boredom, they require a lot of daily exercise. Boredom can lead to harmful actions. Long play sessions in a secure yard or on a leash are essential. A Basenji should never be let to run free since the breed's hunting instinct is very strong, and the dog may be unable to resist the impulse to dash off on a chase. Giving the dog a structured outlet for those instincts and pent-up energy may be quite beneficial; many Basenjis enjoy and excel at canine sports like lure coursing, tracking, obedience and agility contests.
Training
Early socialization and puppy training sessions are suggested for all breeds, but with the Basenji's boundless energy, intellect, and mischievous nature, they are a must. Basenjis are sometimes described as 'catlike,' which may not auger well for training. They do, however, learn quickly in an encouraging and rewarding environment, particularly when positive-training approaches are used. They also lose interest rapidly, therefore training sessions should be limited to five or ten minutes.
Nutrition
The Basenji should thrive on high-quality dog food, whether purchased commercially or produced at home with your veterinarian's supervision and approval. Any diet should be tailored to the age of the dog (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to becoming overweight, so keep an eye on your dog's calorie intake and weight level. Treats can be a valuable training aid, but feeding too much can lead to obesity. Discover which human foods are suitable for dogs and which are not. If you have any concerns regarding your dog's weight or diet, consult with your veterinarian. At all times, clean, fresh water should be available.
History
Basenjis are vying for the title of AKC’s oldest breed. According to paleontologists, the first domesticated dogs resembled Basenjis. They were already well established when they were transported up the Nile from interior Africa as gifts for ancient Egypt’s pharaohs. Basenjis can be found in ancient Egyptian artifacts, as well as traces of the breed in Babylonian and Mesopotamian art.
These once-mighty civilizations fell millennia ago, but the Basenji survived as a semi-wild dog dwelling at the Nile and Congo rivers’ headwaters. Basenjis were highly valued by Africans as adaptable hunters with excellent eyesight, explosive speed, and a highly developed sense of smell. Basenjis are well-known vertical leapers, a technique developed to seek prey in the African grasslands. (An African breed name translates as “jumping-up-and-down dog.”) Father Jerome Merolla, a 17th-century Catholic missionary in the Congo, left behind this written description of the feral Basenjis he saw: “These dogs, despite their wildness, do little or no damage to the inhabitants.” They have red hair, short skinny bodies, and tails that are turned behind them.”
For thousands of years, the distinctive Basenji was isolated in distant corners of the African continent, unaffected by Western fads and preferences. The breed that so impressed the pharaohs was nearly identical to the kind introduced to the West in the late 1800s.
In 1895, a breeding pair was brought to England, but they perished soon after. In 1937, another pair was transported to England. They were displayed as natural curiosities, and this previously unknown breed created such a stir among the dog-loving British public that police were called in to keep the crowd in check. However, tragedy struck once more: the female and her litter of puppies died, leaving only the male, named Bois.
A Boston breeder who had recently bought a female named Congo purchased Bois. As a result, the first Basenjis were bred in America. More dogs were gradually brought to the gene pool until the Basenji was eventually established in the United States.