Description

The Basenji dog breed, sometimes called the African Bush Dog or Congo Dog, is small and muscular, with a distinctive curly tail and upright ears. The Basenji’s brow is slightly wrinkled, giving the dog a puzzled or quizzical expression. This athletic breed is as long as it is tall, and is surprisingly strong for its size. They are graceful and have a similar way of running to greyhounds, with a double suspension gait.

Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Look

The Basenji is a handsome dog. They are short-haired, with soft, sleek coat that is easy to care for. They also do not shed very much. Some common coat colours include red, black, brindle, and tricolour. Occasionally one does find ‘trindle’ Basenjis, which are tricoloured with brindled points. All Basenjis have white feet, a white chest, and a white-tipped tail.

Health

While the Basenji is generally a healthy dog, they are prone to a few health conditions:

• Fanconi syndrome
• Hypothyroidism
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Immuno-Proliferative Systemic Intestinal Disease (IPSID)
• Haemolytic Anaemia (HA)
• Hip dysplasia
• Sensitivity to environmental and household chemicals (these may cause liver problems)

At NewDoggy.com, we promote puppies coming from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines. NewDoggy.com’s Health Certificate certifies that all promoted puppies are in good health.

Learning

Basenjis are very curious and intelligent, but are also stubborn and can be difficult to train. They don’t particularly want to please their human, and seem more interested in exploring and attempting to escape! Basenjis do make up for their negative traits by being very clean and easy to house-train. Positive reinforcement training can be helpful for this breed, but the Basenji has an independent nature and needs a firm but fair trainer to bring out their best qualities. If you keep your Basenji interested, they will be much more willing to listen to you.

Temperament

The Basenji is an independent and strong-willed dog. Originally bred to hunt small game in the Congo region, the Basenji was prized for its speed and cunning, but this cunning means that the Basenji is not too interested in pleasing others. Nevertheless, the Basenji is curious, energetic, and affectionate. Early socialisation is key for this breed, as they are naturally suspicious of strangers and can be aggressive to other animals.

Living with

The Basenji has an interesting and unique voice: they do no bark, but they do make a yodelling noise due to the shape of their larynx. They can make quite a variety of sounds, including screaming. Basenjis are born watchdogs, and will vocalise if they think something is amiss.

The Basenji is a great dog for an active person who has enough time to keep the dog occupied. They love to play and explore, so if you’re interested in the breed, be prepared to spend a lot of time keeping your Basenji occupied. A lonely Basenji may try to destroy your house in an attempt to find some entertainment. They do tend to become attached to a single person, and can be quite reserved with strangers. Basenjis may also dislike other, non-canine pets. Having a Basenji and small pets such as hamsters in the same house can be a recipe for disaster due to the breed’s strong hunting instinct.