History and origin

The Basenji is regarded as one of the oldest dog breeds. 5000 year-old Egyptian reliefs which were found in the graves of the Pharaoh show pictures of this breed. It is said that the dogs were given as presents, from Centrally Africa, to the Pharaoh.

Till late 19-th century, the major task of the Basenji was to assist in the hunt of small game. They were and are still excellent rat-catchers who keep the villages free of vermin. As British explorers discoverered the tribes and their dogs the Basenji was exported to Europe and became a popular domestic animal.

Nowadays the Basenji is szill to be found as a working dog in Africa. They help their owners to case game into nets that are hung up between trees.

Till 1987 all Basenjis outside Africa descended from originally only 12 dogs. Breeders and lovers of this race began to worry about the limited genetic pool and an expedition to Africa was planned. Between 1987 and 1988 a group of Americans travelled to Zaire and brought back 14 Basenjis.

These dogs were registered at the American Kennel Klub and served to minimise the risk of genetic illnesses and to revitalise the genetic pool. The probably noteworthiest peculiarity of the Basenji is his inability to bark. Instead they express themselves with a mixture of growling and howl (yodeling).

Appearance and size

The Basenji is a medium-sized to small dog who reminds in his elegance very strongly of a small deer. His body is compact with standing ears and curled tail. His forehead shows deep wrinkles that give him an expression of dignity and his fur is short and silky shining. The most common colour is red-white, but there are also black-and-white, tri-colour and brindle Basenjis.

An adult Basenji is between 40,5 and 43,2 cm tall.

Charakter

The Basenji is an intelligent dog. He loves to play very much and is very active, however, does not have the "twitshiness" of other smaller races and so is rather quiet inside the house. They clean themselves extensively. Many people compare the behaviour of a Basenji to that of a cat and exactly like cats are also rather independent, however, remain only reluctantly alone.

Home and Family

The Basenji is an affectionate house comrade, however, not always the ideal choice for families with very small children. If he is well socialised and educated a Basenji absolutely fits in a family with older children. The Basenji is watchful and will tell you if strangers are approacing the house, not through barking but his general behaviour. However, the Basenji is no watchdog in the real sense and is not suited as yard dog at all !

Training

I would like to quote some citations about the training of Basenji from a book of Veronica Tudor William (1954), one of the first Basenji breeders. It is without question, that the Basenji needs a special kind of training. He is often regarded as hardly educateable dog, maybe only because the owners and trainers of these dogs do not get involved enough on them and do not understand their way of learning. The Basenji is a learning-fond, extremely intelligent dog.

A Basenji should be permitted to run of the leash at least now and then, but just in a secure area, i.e. there are no streets or rails close ! Trust and empathy on the owners side are necessary from the first day on so the puppy experiences that following his leader is entirely normal.

The quotes are of renomated dog trainers from the USA and England.

Mr. A. Phemister:

"Obedience has done a great deal for the dog game, and it has done much for the Basenji breed. The Basenji is very adept to any kind of training, whether it be for hunting, obedience or just the ordinary house training. I have trained many Basenjis during the years [...] and each Basenji has reacted beautifully. enjoying his training and the close association that goes with it. Ch Phemister´s Simba [...] did give us a great thrill when at the Manchester, New Hampshire, all breed and obedience show he won the highest score of all breeds of dogs- in all classes. He won a score of 198 1/2 out of a possible 200."

Mr. R. Fleming:

"I have trained many different breeds of dogs in my carreer as obedience trainer, but the dog which gives me the greatest pleasure to handle is the Basenji. Unlike most dogs, they are utterly independent little creatures, and one has as it were the raw material to make or mar; and careless handling can indeed ruin an otherwise excellent worker."

"I have found the Basenji reacts most favourably in training if controlled solely by the voice, which means that corporal punishment is completely cut out, and only stern vocal correction given, and always lots and lots of encouragement."

Special

The Basenji does not like to be left alone for a long time. Basenjis are intelligent dogs. They need mental excercise to prevent destructive behaviour. The bitches usually get in heat just once a year. So the majority of the puppies is born between late Okatober and early January.

Health

The Basenji is a very original and healthy breed with only few illnesses known. Most often there appears "Fanconi", a nephritic illness, and "Progressive Retina Atrophy" (PRA), that leads to the complete loss of sight. But there are very few dogs actually developing these problems.

The average age of a Basenji lies with from 12 to 14 years.