Basenjis aren't in group 10 (European show sighthound category) and they look quite different from typical sighthounds - especially the tails. I mean, if you didn't know the breed and saw one you wouldn't think it was some sort of lurcher. But I understand they do use their eyes a lot and many people would considere them to be a type of sighthound.
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Basenji
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Basenjis are one of the world's oldest "pure" breeds of dogs. Drawings and carvings of them have been found in the tombs of Pharaohs in ancient Egypt dating them back over 5,000 years. Throughout this time, the Basenji has remained virtually unchanged.
Unlike most breeds of dogs, the Basenji was not created by man but instead was created by Mother Nature herself. Nature selected the animals who would be deemed worthy of reproducing the next generation of Basenjis by a matter of "survival of the fittest". It was a tough world and only the most intelligent, strongest, healthiest animals with good hunting instincts were around long enough to continue the breed.
Basenjis have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with their African tribesman owners throughout time. The Basenji would be fitted with a wooden hunting bell that would make noise to drive prey towards his owner. The owner would then either net or spear the prey thus providing his family with food. The jungles of Africa are quite dense and rough in many areas. The Basenji was well adapted to hunting in these conditions. His small size allowed for maximum agility through the brush. His short, close coat would not snag on briers and his tough skin is not easily damaged by thorns. His coat carries no odor and thus helps protect him from becoming prey for a larger beast. His small, upright, curly tail would not be damaged easily by whipping through the brush as a long straight tail would be. His upright, hooded ears catch even the tiniest sounds of his prey. His far-seeing eyes can spot prey over long distances. The jungles are dense and prey may be few and far between so the Basenji had to have stamina. He is classified as a Sighthound by the American Kennel Club but true fanciers know that he hunts by both sight and by scent.
A person must never forget the origins of the Basenji in order to be a good owner. A Basenji must always be on a leash or in a securely fenced yard at all times as his hunting instincts are still quite pronounced and he is likely to dash off in pursuit of a squirrel or perhaps the scent of a neighbor's barbecue. When the hunting instincts kick in, he is unstoppable and is very likely to dash off in in his pursuit of game, even through the shock of an underground fence system. Please don't think that you can train a Basenji to stay in your unfenced yard either. Five thousand years of instinct cannot be curbed so easily. Being struck by an automobile is a very common cause of death for a Basenji.
Basenjis are a true "pack" animal and desire a structured home where all members know their order within the pack. A pack is led by an Alpha figure and it is the Alpha that makes and enforces the rules. A Basenji needs and respects an owner who is firm but fair as their Alpha. Many Basenjis are naturally dominant and desire a high-ranking position within their pack. If the Basenji views his owner as "unfit" for the Alpha position, the Basenji will move into the position, frequently becoming aggressive in order to re-inforce his new rank. An owner can prevent this from happening by socializing their puppy well with both people and other animals and by reinforcing their own Alpha rank from the beginning.
Basenjis are very bright dogs but this does not mean that they are necessarily easy to train. Keep in mind that the Basenji was never bred to be a subservient follower of mankind but instead relied upon his intelligence for survival. He is a free-thinking individual that sees no reason to blindly follow a given order. It is up to the owner to give the dog a reason and the owner can accomplish this with positive training techniques. The author finds her Basenjis to be eager and willing pupils that learn quickly and have fun while learning. The author uses a combination of training methods with her dogs and has found that clicker training is by far the best method to use with Basenjis.
The Basenji is a very active dog with a tremendous amount of energy for his size. Owners must commit to providing the dog with proper exercise, both physical and mental, every day. A bored or under-exercised Basenji can be extremely destructive. One or two short walks a day is not enough exercise for most Basenjis. Ideally, they should receive hard aerobic exercise in the form of a long walk or run every day with indoor play periods also. Even better would be a home where the dog will be involved in sports such as lure coursing, conformation, agility, obedience, tracking, or therapy work. These sporting events are a great way to spend quality time with both your family and your pet.
A question that the author frequently hears is, "Are they good with kids?" There is no black or white answer for this question for each child and each dog is an individual and every circumstance is different. Basenjis and children in the same household can be a tricky situation. It requires a tremendous amount of dedication from the adults in the household to make things work. You see, Basenjis are not always naturally tolerant of children and don't take kindly to being stepped on, tugged at, or teased. The parent must work overtime to teach their children (and any visiting children) how to be kind to the Basenji and also to teach the Basenji to be kind with children. This means constant supervision by adults anytime the dog and children are together. Many Basenjis end up homeless for the simple reason that the adults failed in teaching their children how to act properly and the Basenjis have started to demonstrate aggression towards the children in an effort to protect themselves. Another popular reason why Basenjis end up homeless is because parents underestimate the intense amount of time and energy it takes to raise and own a Basenji. Bringing a Basenji into your home is very much similar to adding a toddler to your home. They are mischievious and need constant supervision to prevent problems. They are high energy dogs that require vast amounts of exercise or they become destructive. If the parents fully understand what they will be getting into before they bring the dog home and are prepared to be in control at all times, they can usually make things work.
People often wonder how a Basenji will act around their other pets. A Basenji is certainly a danger to birds and rodents so you should never trust a Basenji around them. Use common sense and keep the cages/animals away from the dog. Cats are a different story. If the cat is bold and friendly, the Basenji and cat may become good friends and play together quite well. However, if the cat "acts like prey" and runs away, the Basenji will chase it. Basenjis will rarely hurt their own cats but they may pester them relentlessly. The owner may have to provide an area in the house that the cat can go to and the dog can't. Bringing a Basenji into a home with other dogs may prove to be something of a challenge. An adult Basenji may act rather aggressively towards the other dogs at first. He is trying to establish his place within the pack. Many a Basenji has walked into a home and completely dominated Mastiffs or Great Danes. It isn't the size of the dog that rules, its the attitude....something Basenjis have plenty of. Basenji puppies, on the other hand, may start out to be submissive to the other dogs in the household but as they mature, the Basenji is very likely to upset the old pack order and dominate the other dogs in the household. Ideally, the owner should have a good knowledge of canine behavior to prevent any serious problems at this stage.
Basenjis tend to be a very addictive breed and many owners end up with several of them. Once you've owned one, everything else is "just a dog". <smile> It is quite true that they are clean and virtually odorless but they do shed a tiny bit in the spring. They tend to house-train quickly and are usually quiet. They are not, however, totally "barkless". All Basenjis are capable of making a single "bark", usually reserved for when they are startled or excited. It has a different sound than a regular dog's bark and is sometimes referred to as a "fox bark". The Basenji can also make all of the other sounds that dogs make such as howling, whining, and growling, plus many sounds that are unique to the breed such as yodeling (a pleasant sound), snarking (their version of cursing), and screaming and shrieking (when unhappy).
Basenjis are not the "perfect" breed of dog. They have many characteristics that are unique to the breed that are not acceptable to the majority of the pet owning population. A potential Basenji owner must realize that their lives will be changed dramatically once a Basenji enters their home. This breed is not an easy breed for most people to live with. Are you up to the challenge?
Unlike most breeds of dogs, the Basenji was not created by man but instead was created by Mother Nature herself. Nature selected the animals who would be deemed worthy of reproducing the next generation of Basenjis by a matter of "survival of the fittest". It was a tough world and only the most intelligent, strongest, healthiest animals with good hunting instincts were around long enough to continue the breed.
Basenjis have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with their African tribesman owners throughout time. The Basenji would be fitted with a wooden hunting bell that would make noise to drive prey towards his owner. The owner would then either net or spear the prey thus providing his family with food. The jungles of Africa are quite dense and rough in many areas. The Basenji was well adapted to hunting in these conditions. His small size allowed for maximum agility through the brush. His short, close coat would not snag on briers and his tough skin is not easily damaged by thorns. His coat carries no odor and thus helps protect him from becoming prey for a larger beast. His small, upright, curly tail would not be damaged easily by whipping through the brush as a long straight tail would be. His upright, hooded ears catch even the tiniest sounds of his prey. His far-seeing eyes can spot prey over long distances. The jungles are dense and prey may be few and far between so the Basenji had to have stamina. He is classified as a Sighthound by the American Kennel Club but true fanciers know that he hunts by both sight and by scent.
A person must never forget the origins of the Basenji in order to be a good owner. A Basenji must always be on a leash or in a securely fenced yard at all times as his hunting instincts are still quite pronounced and he is likely to dash off in pursuit of a squirrel or perhaps the scent of a neighbor's barbecue. When the hunting instincts kick in, he is unstoppable and is very likely to dash off in in his pursuit of game, even through the shock of an underground fence system. Please don't think that you can train a Basenji to stay in your unfenced yard either. Five thousand years of instinct cannot be curbed so easily. Being struck by an automobile is a very common cause of death for a Basenji.
Basenjis are a true "pack" animal and desire a structured home where all members know their order within the pack. A pack is led by an Alpha figure and it is the Alpha that makes and enforces the rules. A Basenji needs and respects an owner who is firm but fair as their Alpha. Many Basenjis are naturally dominant and desire a high-ranking position within their pack. If the Basenji views his owner as "unfit" for the Alpha position, the Basenji will move into the position, frequently becoming aggressive in order to re-inforce his new rank. An owner can prevent this from happening by socializing their puppy well with both people and other animals and by reinforcing their own Alpha rank from the beginning.
Basenjis are very bright dogs but this does not mean that they are necessarily easy to train. Keep in mind that the Basenji was never bred to be a subservient follower of mankind but instead relied upon his intelligence for survival. He is a free-thinking individual that sees no reason to blindly follow a given order. It is up to the owner to give the dog a reason and the owner can accomplish this with positive training techniques. The author finds her Basenjis to be eager and willing pupils that learn quickly and have fun while learning. The author uses a combination of training methods with her dogs and has found that clicker training is by far the best method to use with Basenjis.
The Basenji is a very active dog with a tremendous amount of energy for his size. Owners must commit to providing the dog with proper exercise, both physical and mental, every day. A bored or under-exercised Basenji can be extremely destructive. One or two short walks a day is not enough exercise for most Basenjis. Ideally, they should receive hard aerobic exercise in the form of a long walk or run every day with indoor play periods also. Even better would be a home where the dog will be involved in sports such as lure coursing, conformation, agility, obedience, tracking, or therapy work. These sporting events are a great way to spend quality time with both your family and your pet.
A question that the author frequently hears is, "Are they good with kids?" There is no black or white answer for this question for each child and each dog is an individual and every circumstance is different. Basenjis and children in the same household can be a tricky situation. It requires a tremendous amount of dedication from the adults in the household to make things work. You see, Basenjis are not always naturally tolerant of children and don't take kindly to being stepped on, tugged at, or teased. The parent must work overtime to teach their children (and any visiting children) how to be kind to the Basenji and also to teach the Basenji to be kind with children. This means constant supervision by adults anytime the dog and children are together. Many Basenjis end up homeless for the simple reason that the adults failed in teaching their children how to act properly and the Basenjis have started to demonstrate aggression towards the children in an effort to protect themselves. Another popular reason why Basenjis end up homeless is because parents underestimate the intense amount of time and energy it takes to raise and own a Basenji. Bringing a Basenji into your home is very much similar to adding a toddler to your home. They are mischievious and need constant supervision to prevent problems. They are high energy dogs that require vast amounts of exercise or they become destructive. If the parents fully understand what they will be getting into before they bring the dog home and are prepared to be in control at all times, they can usually make things work.
People often wonder how a Basenji will act around their other pets. A Basenji is certainly a danger to birds and rodents so you should never trust a Basenji around them. Use common sense and keep the cages/animals away from the dog. Cats are a different story. If the cat is bold and friendly, the Basenji and cat may become good friends and play together quite well. However, if the cat "acts like prey" and runs away, the Basenji will chase it. Basenjis will rarely hurt their own cats but they may pester them relentlessly. The owner may have to provide an area in the house that the cat can go to and the dog can't. Bringing a Basenji into a home with other dogs may prove to be something of a challenge. An adult Basenji may act rather aggressively towards the other dogs at first. He is trying to establish his place within the pack. Many a Basenji has walked into a home and completely dominated Mastiffs or Great Danes. It isn't the size of the dog that rules, its the attitude....something Basenjis have plenty of. Basenji puppies, on the other hand, may start out to be submissive to the other dogs in the household but as they mature, the Basenji is very likely to upset the old pack order and dominate the other dogs in the household. Ideally, the owner should have a good knowledge of canine behavior to prevent any serious problems at this stage.
Basenjis tend to be a very addictive breed and many owners end up with several of them. Once you've owned one, everything else is "just a dog". <smile> It is quite true that they are clean and virtually odorless but they do shed a tiny bit in the spring. They tend to house-train quickly and are usually quiet. They are not, however, totally "barkless". All Basenjis are capable of making a single "bark", usually reserved for when they are startled or excited. It has a different sound than a regular dog's bark and is sometimes referred to as a "fox bark". The Basenji can also make all of the other sounds that dogs make such as howling, whining, and growling, plus many sounds that are unique to the breed such as yodeling (a pleasant sound), snarking (their version of cursing), and screaming and shrieking (when unhappy).
Basenjis are not the "perfect" breed of dog. They have many characteristics that are unique to the breed that are not acceptable to the majority of the pet owning population. A potential Basenji owner must realize that their lives will be changed dramatically once a Basenji enters their home. This breed is not an easy breed for most people to live with. Are you up to the challenge?
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Goodness me, where did you get all that from? They are sight hounds, I have been lure coursing and basenjis were having a go and causing havoc as they were difficult to get back in the lead and they cut corners!!!!!!!! Funny little dogs, not easy to live with in a pack as I have heard they tend to fight, I may be wrong on that score! :cheers:
I've met two people who each have 1 basenji and other dogs, including whippets. They say their dogs are fine with others, but one of them also says a great many basenjis are scrappy with other dogs. I didn't think Affieluver wrote that article so I asked in a pmail and got the reply that the source is http://www.geocities.com/yodeldogs/whatis.html
any comments agreeing or disagreeing with the info are welcome
btw, I heard a basenji bark (not yodel) at a dog show many years ago. just a single yap, not sustained barking.
any comments agreeing or disagreeing with the info are welcome
btw, I heard a basenji bark (not yodel) at a dog show many years ago. just a single yap, not sustained barking.
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thanks macha im quiet intrigued by these little dogs so will be interested to read anybodies experiences of them good or bad as i believe they are quiet complex little dogs :thumbsup:
Basenji's climb and so any wire fencing has to be a bit floppy so that it bends under their weight or they escape if they feel the urge to. They are wonderful to see lure coursing. Once at lure coursing I made a comment to a Basenji owner that they were brave lure coursing theirs because of the (I thought) tendency to fight. Hmmm I had eggy all over my face. My whippets lost sight of the lure and the inexperienced one then decided to play fight my other one (w00t) with the offender being disqualified. :b The Basenji's needless to say didn't put a paw wrong. They are okay with their own packs (bred in) but it's tricky to introduce bought in dogs from what I've been told.
My parents had a Basenji when I lived at home. She was a brilliant little dog, extremely playful, always came when she was called and absolutely fine with other dogs. She was a tremendous character and was good with cats. We didnt get her until she was a year old and she was a rescue and very nervous when she arrived, but quickly gained confidence and was easy to train. I think they are intelligent little dogs and I could imagine that if they got bored they could perhaps find mischief.
I have also heard from others that they can be a bit sharp with other dogs and we only ever had Sally so are no great experts but I would love another one day.
Judi
I have also heard from others that they can be a bit sharp with other dogs and we only ever had Sally so are no great experts but I would love another one day.
Judi
not often one comes across basenjis in rescues (or advertised for sale) even but there is a 2 year old tricolour bitch in Pennsylvania rescue at present:http://www.mlar.org/animals/1528
I came across this after following a link to the Main Line rescue notice about an Italian greyhound bitch in whelp who they took in after she was saved (in starved and dehydrated condition) from a puppy farm. the IG now looks fine as do the pups that survived (I think it was 4 out of 7).
anyway, about the basenji if you are in the US and interested in getting a basenji this is useful info. Anybody reading this who has basenji loving contacts in N America or participates in any basenji e-forum (I know theres at least one on yahoo groups) could pass on the info.
I came across this after following a link to the Main Line rescue notice about an Italian greyhound bitch in whelp who they took in after she was saved (in starved and dehydrated condition) from a puppy farm. the IG now looks fine as do the pups that survived (I think it was 4 out of 7).
anyway, about the basenji if you are in the US and interested in getting a basenji this is useful info. Anybody reading this who has basenji loving contacts in N America or participates in any basenji e-forum (I know theres at least one on yahoo groups) could pass on the info.
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